Rush Wines

Late Summer 2011 Wine Note

2011-09-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

Late...Summer 2011 Wine Newsletter
Greetings friends and fellow wine lovers...
My apologies for how long it has been since my last wine note...its embarrassing actually. Since my last note was back in April I will give you a brief family update prior to moving on to the wine selections. Ellen and I sold our apartment in Vancouver at the beginning of April and moved to Thetis Island full time (we are now wondering what took us so long, as we love it so much). Early in April we travelled to Spain to meet up with daughter Kelsey who was attending University in the small Spanish city of Huelva. We had a fabulous month in Spain and Portugal, with lots of adventures, great wine drinking, good birding, fabulous beaches, fantastic food and great weather.

The spring and summer has been busy on Thetis Island, between golf, tennis, swimming, the garden (despite the cool spring we have had a bumper crop of tomatoes, boysenberries, garlic, kale, potatoes, lettuce, peas, beans, turnips, spaghetti squash, zucchinis and beets, not to mention the bounty of plums, apples and figs), social engagements (Art Auction and Soiree, the Thetis Island Open, Ruby's trousseau party, beach parties, a Sauvignon Blanc tasting event, a harrowing mountain bike ride on Valdez Island, a fishing derby, a red Zinfandel and Noble Grape tasting party, the annual PGA {Progressive Golf Activity} dinner, the Thetis Island Parade and Dance Party, a summer solstice party, Auntie Kay's 90th birthday party, niece Carolyn's party, and I could go on and on), and a steady stream of visitors, whom we love to see.

Now that fall is starting to show, Kelsey (see Facebook page 'House of Zon') and Monica (www.monicarushdesign.com) are back at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo for their fourth year of Global Studies and Graphic Design respectively.

Wines: All of them have been taste tested, except the Eturnum Viti...and worth trying...

Thornhaven Gewurztraminer 2010, Okanagan Valley, BC
Price: $18
UPC: 00626990012313
Score: 90/10 (AG)
Remarks: This is a wine that you may want to hunt down. This year it has been made available in BC government liquor stores and it is well worth the look. Terrific intensity and length. 'The combination of freshness, varietal character and ripe citrus, lychee fruit flavours with a strong floral undercurrent are exceptional. Nobody does it better in BC or Canada'. We had this a few weeks ago as an aperitif, with brie cheese and fresh cherry tomatoes from the garden. Have I mentioned how fabulous the tomato crop is this year after a very slow start. Absolutely 'epic' as the girls like to say.

Emiliana Novas Limited Selection Chardonnay Marsanne 2010, Valle de Casablanca, Chile
Price: $18
UPC: 007804320476650
Score: 88/100 (AG)
Remarks: 'This unusual blend is an organically grown 60 - 40 blend of Chardonnay and Marsanne. The nose and palate are a mix of melons, lemons, pineapples perfectly balanced by ripe red apples with bits of honey and apricot in the finish; the textures are round and ripe. Perfect for that Thai curry, or grilled fish with fruit salsa'. We had this with BBQ ribs and was enjoyed by my resident chardonnay critic. The bottle was finished off a few nights later with some fresh crab. Almost any chardonnay is a good choice with crab.

Fat Bastard Chardonnay 2008, Languedoc, France
Price: $15
UPC: 3700067800045
Score: 87/100 (AG)
Remarks: 'A solid southern French label with a modern twist. It is fresh, light and elegant on the palate with a slightly sweet warm entry. Honey, baked pineapple, lemon peel and mineral flavours dominate its simple, fruity, forward style'. We enjoyed a bottle of this earlier in the summer with friends and had it as an aperitif with a few nibblies...Enjoyed by all. This wine is readily available in BC.

Bleasdale Second Inning Malbec 2009, Langhorne Creek, South Australia
Price: $16
UPC: 09316475001949
Score: 88/100
Remarks: A rare Australian variety that is fun to try. The plum jam, spice and savoury vanilla, coffee, tobacco, boysenberry jam flavours with a dusting of mushrooms in the back end went wonderfully with BBQ'd hamburgers...but then again, I like hamburgers with almost all wines.

Marques de Riscal Rioja Reserva, 2005. Rioja, Spain
Price: $28.95
UPC: 8410869450014
Score: 88/100 (AG)
Remarks: On our trip to Spain, Ellen and I were on a flight from Seville to Barcelona, our seat-mate was an American fellow who worked and lived in Israel. We got to talking about all sorts of things including wine. He recommended that we try this particular bottle of wine. He described it perfectly down to the white label and the wire around the bottle...and it sold for $14 Euro's. Sure enough, we were able to find a couple of bottles to bring back to Canada. We had one of the bottles back in May on my birthday with Monica and BBQ'd lamb chops. It was wonderful. The second bottle was given to a good friend who did us a favour around the house while we were away. I have found it in quite a few BC Liquor stores, including Duncan, Nanaimo and West Vancouver, the wire is the give away.

Eternum Vite 2008, Toro, Castilla-Leon Spain
Price: $25
UPC: 008437002948153
91/100 (AG)
Remarks: I have not tasted this one yet. It is in the cellar for a five year stay. This 'Toro tempranillo is made from 30 to 40 year old vines, 50 percent of which is is aged in new French oak barrels. Expect an inky black, red wine with a dollop of vanilla on the nose and bits of earth and black fruits. The palate is smooth and warm with more blackberry/blueberry fruit flavours. This wine needs five years to really come around but lamb chops would easily tame its fine grained tannins if you want to drink it now'. I have seen it in many BC Liquor stores.

Myself and a load of fresh tomatoes. Ruby Tuesday in the background. For those who have not yet met Ruby...she is mannequin that we bought while we were staying with Carels in Naramata Bench last year. She has been a real hit, and even had her own trousseau party earlier in the summer.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best Regards,

Keith Rush

My Favourite ‘Go To’ Wines

2011-03-13T14:25:00.001-07:00

From time to time I am asked ‘what are your favourite wines’? A number of thoughts flash trough my head…including the saying of an old friend of mine George Clare who says “I have never met a wine I didn’t like”, and of course it depends on what type of wine, a red wine, a white wine, a rosé, a sparkling wine or a fortified wine? As far as everyday wine goes, I have a number of ‘go to’ favourites that I will share with you today…Also included is a pick from the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, which features Spain as the regional theme. http://www.playhousewinefest.com/ Coincidentally, Ellen and I are off to Spain on Sunday to hook up with daughter Kelsey, who is at the University of Huelva for the spring semester.

First is a delicious red blend from South Africa…

The Wolftrap, is a blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, Viognier and sells for about $15 in British Columbia. It is a very versatile food wine that goes well with meats and tomato dishes. The 2009 vintage scores an impressive 88/100 from Gismondi on Wine (GOW): www.gismondionwine.com

Next is my recent favourite Pinot Gris from Argentina…

The Bodega Lurton 2009 Pinot Gris has been my ‘go to’ light white wine for some time now. It is fabulous all on it’s own and sell for only $12.50, and scores a respectable 87/100 from GOW.

Ellen’s favourite everyday Chardonnay…

Yellow tail from Australia is a ‘big kick ass’ chard, which is Ellen’s ‘go to’ chardonnay every time. It sells for $11.99.

And the selection from the Vancouver International Playhouse Wine Festival

Beso de Vino Seleccion Syrah/Grenacha 2009, Spain
Price: $13
UPC: 00814095009974
Score: 89/100 (AG); 90/100 Robert Parker
Remarks: This was recommended to me by a Forestry friend, and it took me a while to find it. As it turned out a new shipment arrived the other day in the Chemainus LCB. Thanks Wayne for having great taste and an eye for value. This wine is a lot of fun for $13, from its supple, warm juicy palate to its plum jam, orange, meaty, peppery, chocolate, black cherry, licorice, savoury flavours. Big, bold, warm and fruity. It went well with baked chicken and spaghetti on Ellen's birthday.

Do you have a great everyday favourite…send a photo of the label and I will test it out.

Also, I will be bogging from Spain so check out my blog at: http://winerush.blogspot.com/
Best Regards

Keith

2011-02-27T08:03:00.000-08:00

Wine Newsletter with a Guest Beer Lover

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February 2011 Wine Newsletter
Greetings Folks:

I hope this note finds you well and enjoying life.

Ellen and I have some news...and that is that we sold our apartment in West Vancouver. It took us a while to finally decide to list our place as we love it and the location. We listed with family friend Jason Jennings of Sussex Realty. It all went smoothy and sold very quickly, thank you Jason. We are really excited to be truly living full time on Thetis Island. Once the move is over we will be going to Spain and Portugal for a few weeks to catch up with daughter Kelsey, who is doing a semester at the University in the Spanish city of Huelva.

Guest Beer Lover:

We have another guest writer this month and he also will NOT be talking about wine. Scott Bax is a friend of mine who I met through his wife Krista. Krista and I worked together in Vancouver at the BC Forest Safety Council. Ellen and I and Scott and Krista have become very good friends over the years, and we look forward to their annual summer visit with us on Thetis Island. Enjoy Scott's reccomendation which follows:

"When I was first asked by Keith to write a guest beer column, I must admit that I was more than excited. Finally, all those trips to the infamous Thetis Island retreat, the Rush Inn, weighed down by 6 pack after 6 pack of delicious micro beers, has paid off. Not to mention the free pass entitled “research” I handed to Krista on the way in to the local beer store for research of course…

I am beer aficionado who has enjoyed beers from over 55 countries, regularly targeting seasonal offerings, seeking out award winners and always trying to make the most out my beer drinking experiences. So from my experiences to yours, cheers to your next beer.

In my opinion, beer deserves a better reputation. Specifically, it deserves to be treated less as an afterthought and more as aforethought. It deserves to be sought out and meticulously matched to a memorable meal much the same way wine is. Like wine, when treated properly, a good beer will reward you handsomely. To get the most out of my beer, I follow three basic steps 1) serve it at the right temperature, 2) serve it in a beer glass and 3) enjoy its appearance, smell, taste and finish.

This month, I would like to introduce you to an every day local lager that is always high on my shopping list.
Whistler Premium Export Lager
Brewed exclusively with silky soft Whistler Glacier Water, this multi-award winner is well worth a spot in your beer rotation.

Notables
A bright deep golden colour is the first thing to greet your eyes through the clear bottle and it only gets better looking when poured in your glass (accompanied by a nice head of course). Fortunately, the best is yet to come…
A bit more malt then you might expect from a lager, this beer is nicely balanced by hints of citrus and wheat as it rolls across your palate. Finally, it finishes as strong as it starts bright and crisp.

Food pairings: An excellent complement to salmon and Asian dishes, this beer can handle both spice and fat well.

Awards
Gold Medal: Best Beer, 2006 Festival of Ales
Silver Medal: Best Pilsner, 2006 Canadian National Brewing Awards
Price: $11.75 per 1/2 dozen bottles"

Wines:

Cottesbrook Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 New Zealand
Price: $15-17
UPC:009419453000887Score: 87/100 (AG)
Remarks: The Cottesbrook Sauvignon Blanc is from the Marlborough region of NewZealand. 'This is a fun to drink white that smells of lemon grass, lightly smoked jalapeno, grapefruit and gooseberry. The palate is soft round and fresh'. A delicious wine all on its own or with any fish or light meat dish. I found this at Everything Wine in North Vancouver.

Crios de Susanna Balbo Torrontes 2009, Salta, North Argentina
Price: $15
UPC: 07798068480300
Score: 89/100 (AG)
Remarks: 'A quintessential screw cap offering from Salta Argentina. Owner winemaker Susannah Balbo is the queen of torrontes and her 'hand-picked' hand made expression of this spicy, floral, high-altitude white wine is one of the best. Look for a dry, elegant, fresh palate with some weight and plenty of fresh lychees, nectarine skin flavours flecked with ginger'. I have been looking for a torrontes to recommend for some time now and believe we have a winner here. Wonderul as an aperitif and delicious with sushi, chicken and any fish dishes. It is reasonably available in BC.

Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay 2009, Valle de Casablanca, Chile
Price: $13
UPC: 07804320256900
Score: 87/100
Remarks: This is one of our 'go-to' Chardonnays. It is well made and eminently affordable, and enjoyed by my resident Chardonnay critic. 'It is so clean and fresh with a correct twist of lees adding complexity and body to its bright acidity and lemon apple fruit. Thirty percent of the wine is fermented in French oak but as usual it dissapears into the background'. This wine is readily available throughout BC and the States, buy it by the case.

VISTALBA CORTE C, Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Argentina
Price: $19.99
Skew: 12070
Score: 89/100 (AG)
Remarks: 'This stunning wine offers the richness of Malbec with the noble charm of Cabernet. It has mouth coating flavours of macerated black forest fruits with a good crank of black pepper, cinnamon, expresso, dark chocolate, smoke, cassis and a long black cherry finish. This is a full bodied and thrilling $20 bottle that drinks like a $40 one - at least'. A wine that offers up its terrior and will improve for many years to come. We had this wine at brother Graham's and sisiter in law Suzanne's with roast venison sausages...superb. Fairly available in BC...

San Pedro 35 South Shiraz Reserva 2009,Chile
Price: $14
UPC: 007804300123321
Score: 87/100 (AG)
Remarks: 'Delicious meaty, spicy, blueberry, black cherry, peppery, licorice root aromas. The palate is soft, fresh and dry with black cherry, licorice, peperry, smoky, savoury flavours'. Solid value here and a real winner around the BBQ. Ellen and I thoroughly enjoyed this with a grilled steak, mushrooms and home grown potatoes (which we are almost out of).

I hope you enjoy this note and happy hunting...

Keith Rush

http://winerush.blogspot.com/

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2011-01-26T08:11:00.000-08:00

Wine Newsletter with a Guest Scotch Writer

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January 2011 Wine Newsletter

Happy New Year to all of you. I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas season. I would like to share a couple of highlights from the season for Ellen and I. First, we hosted a 'Solstice Party' at our place on Thetis Island. December 21st is a big day as the sun starts its journey back to the northern hemisphere. We had a house full of good friends, an outside bonfire, shagged a few golf balls out of the ocean in the dark, had an impostor take over 'Ruby's' (our mannequin) place in the yellow room and had lots of good food and drink. Coincidentally, Kelsey and Monica also had a Solstice Party at their place in Nanaimo, complete with a visit from the local police after a complaint about the music volume level...no such complaints at our place. The second, was the 'polar bear' swim New Years day. Thanks to Dave and Bev Greene for hosting that, and having a sauna to recuperate in. The water is shockingly cold at that time of year, but even so the eight hardy souls managed at least two 'swims' each. During the post swim gathering we thought it would be fun to have summer solstice swim. At least on June 21st the water will be a little warmer.

Speaking of the girls, Kelsey is now in Spain in the city of Huelva, taking a two week Spanish course prior to her Global Studies semester starting in early February. Monica is hard at work in the third year of her degree in Graphic Design and is starting to look for a summer job in that field, http://monicarushdesign.com/ Ellen and I manage to keep busy between all there is to do on 3 acres of land, winter golf, firewood, running (Ellen is back running almost to pre-knee injury level) and the occasional trip to Vancouver. For those of you who know our little rescue dog Eddie, he is doing just great. He loves the snow and runs with us whenever we go, and is keeping the deer somewhat at bay at our place on Thetis.

Guest Scotch Writer:

We have a guest writer this month, and he won't be writing about wine. His name is Sandy Manson. My wife Ellen and Sandy went to high school together along with Sandy's wife Pamela. We were at a function in December, and Sandy and I were talking about wine, and he quickly confessed that he would much rather talk about scotch than wine. So after a bit of back and forth and some plotting, first on the agenda is Sandy's scotch story:

It was in May 1797, that the Manson brothers, John & Alexander established Glen Garioch, Scotland’s most Easterly distillery and now one of the oldest operating distilleries in Scotland.
I had the pleasure of visiting the distillery in June of 2010 with my cousin Sandy Manson of the John Manson side of the family and me of the Alexander Manson side of the family. It was quite a shock to the current owners of Glen Garioch to not only have two Sandy Manson’s show up but both being related to the founders. Needless to say numerous tastings were the order of the day. The distillery is situated in the Valley of the Garioch, traditionally the finest barley growing area in all of Scotland. The Garioch a tract of richly fertile land, some 150 square miles in extent is located near the small town of Oldmeldrum, approximately eighteen miles north-west of Aberdeen. The district was known as ‘The Granary of Aberdeenshire’ as cereal crops have been abundant here for over a thousand years, and these combined with the crystal springs which supply Oldmeldrum made this an ideal location.

Glen Garioch 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whiskey (pronounced “Geery”)
Price: $69
UPC: 5010496002193
Remarks from Sandy: The Glen Garioch 12 year old is matured in two wood groups: American Bourbon, and Spanish Sherry casks. Each stage of the maturation adds distinct characteristics to the final single malt; Bourbon to soften the spirit and Sherry to add depth of flavor - the result, distinct honey sweetness with hints of heather and spice. If you like single malt scotch whiskey, try the 12 year old Glen Garioch, I believe you will enjoy it, perhaps in front of the fire on a cold winter night.

Wines and a Recipe:

Over the Christmas season, I/we had a number of occasions to taste some new wines, which I have described below. I make an attempt to get an idea how available the wines are, and have used a handy link to the BCLCB website that helps you track availability of wines in BC: http://www.bcliquorstores.com/product/168294#WhereToBuyIt You can see the availability of the Amalaya from Argentina in this link.

Giesen Sauvignon Blanc 2008, New Zealand
Price: $17
UPC: 009416040100012
Score: 87/100 (AG)
Distributed by: International Cellars
Remarks: A delicious New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, that was terrific as an aperitif with Brie cheese and stoned wheat thins. Long intense spicy, passion fruit/bell pepper flavours highlight this wine. I have seen it a number of government LCB stores around the region.

Amalaya Tinto de Altura 2008/9, Calchaqui Valley, Salta Argentina
Price: $20
UPC: 007798104763039
Score: 89/100 (AG)
Distributed by: International Cellars.
Remarks: 'Amalaya means waiting for a miracle, which apply describes finding a wine like this in BC. From the highest vineyards in the world, this malbec, cabernet sauvignon, syrah and tannat offers a rich palate of sweet dark cherry fruit and white pepper with flecks of mineral and spice. The finish is long and fresh and spicy with silky textures that do not quit. Farmed bio-dynamically and certified in what is essentially the highest vineyard in the world'. We took this to a friends birthday gathering a few weeks ago. It received solid reviews and paired wonderfully with grilled beef and baked potatoes. I have noticed that this wine is readily available in the lower mainland...even at the Chemainus, Duncan, Nanaimo and Park Royal LCB stores.

Valle Las Acequias Malbec Oak 2006, Medrano, Mendoza Argentina
Price: $22
UPC: 007798067083731
Score: 90/100 (AG)
Remarks: 'This wine is made from 85 plus year old vines and you can expect a big sweet New World nose with floral mineral undertones and fresh notes of cranberry and black fruits. The palate is awash in rich sweet, spicy, savoury fruit flavours with a warm vanilla brushed finish. Big, red and glossy, this will handle any grilled meat dish or old hard cheese'. Speaking of grilled meat, Ellen and I tested this with BBQ steaks, home grown potato oven fries, fresh kale and a salad. It was fantastic, the black berry fruits really stood out along with a very smooth and soft finish. This is a very good value wine...high score, an '06 vintage and it is remarkably available...even in the Chemainus LCB. For you Malbec lovers this wine is a no-brainer.

Barbera da Vine 2007, Piedmont Italy
Price: $15
UPC: 8010471003198
Score: 87/100 (AG)
Remarks: 'Expect a smokey, peppery, black cherry, almond, meaty red flecked with tobacco, resin and dried herb aromas. The entry is fresh and supple with a slight tannic palate and a whack of cherry jam, orange peel, coffee, tobacco and floral licorice root flavours. It should age well for another two to three years in the bottle'. We had this with friends last week with spaghetti pasta covered with puttanesca sauce, topped with fresh Thetis Island tequila prawns. A fun label that tied in nicely with the background to 'puttanesca sauce'. Apparently Italian ladies of the night like this recipe because it was so quick and easy...it comes from the Whitewater Cookbook...and in case you don't have it...here it is:

1/2 C olive oil
1 2oz can of drained anchovy fillets
1/2 tsp dried chili flakes
4 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 jar (2.5 oz) drained capers
1/2 C pitted black olives (kalamata) chopped
2 tbsp parsley
fresh black pepper
fresh grated parmesan cheese

Saute and mash anchovies, garlic, chili flakes and olive oil to form a paste. Add tomatoes, capers and olives. Stir while sauce comes to a bubbling simmer. Simmer uncovered for about an hour. Season with pepper, and just before serving add parsley. Garnish with cheese and serve with spaghetti.

I hope you enjoy the wines, the guest scotch write up and of course the recipe. Now, I know there are some budding guest writers out there. Do you have a favorite wine, food pairing with a recipe you would like to share? Are you a connoisseur of beer maybe, or gin or possibly mixed cocktails that you think others may like. Send me a note and we can try something different.

Best Regards, and Cheers

Keith Rush
keithrush17@gmail.com

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Christmas 2010 Wine Newsletter

2010-12-12T07:06:00.000-08:00

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December 2010 Wine Newsletter
A Very Merry Christmas to you and your families...
As you can see from the header, winter arrived early on the west coast of Canada. This year it was in November for goodness sakes. However, there are advantages to winters early arrival. For instance, we can start thinking about what wine we will serve with Christmas dinner, what wine would make the perfect hostess gift, what wine we will take to the next gathering and what port would be the tastiest beside the fire at the end of the day. After being away last year, Ellen, Eddie and I are looking forward to Christmas at home on Thetis Island...I have the perfect Charlie Brown fir tree picked out, we have lights in the trees outside, the ferry has a great set of lights on her and we have an Don and Gwen Hunter XL Chicken ordered for the big day. Kelsey and Monica will be joining us for Christmas dinner and part of the Christmas holidays.

After Christmas we will be going to Vancouver as Kelsey will be leaving on the 28th for Spain. She will be spending the next semester there (January to July) in the city of Huelva on the southwestern coast of Spain, close to the southern border of Portugal...Vancouver Island University has an exchange agreement with the University of Huelva. Kels is in her 4th year of a degree in Global Studies...On the way she will spend some time in London visiting her cousin Carolyn, and we are looking forward to visiting her next spring...and sampling first hand some of the fantastic Spanish wines. If anyone has any Spanish travel tips they would like to share, please send them along.

Monica is in her third year of a degree in Graphic Design at Vancouver Island University...and has only 3 semesters left. You can check out her website at: http://www.mediastudies.viu.ca/monicarush/site/home.html
Wines:
I have a really good line up of wines for you try this month, all of which would be welcome around the Christmas dinner table or take one, or better yet two bottles to your next Christmas gathering.

You will notice that there are a couple of wines from Chile in this edition. I read an interesting article in Gismondi on Wine recently (around the time of the rescue of the Chilean miners) where he was bemoaning the fact that so few Chilean labels get listed in government liquor stores. He goes on to say; 'A quick tally of listings on the LCB website shows 1,130 wines of French origin, including a staggering 400 listing that sell for $100 or more per bottle (out of my range). A similar search for Chilean listings produces only 158 wines, of which four sell for more than $100 - and two of those are 16 - litre boxes of Chilean juice bottled in Cananda. In fact by volume Chilean wine (391,906 9L cases) is much larger than France (254,919 9L cases) in the province. The ratio is roughly 8:5 in favour of Chile although by value they are essentially equal: French table wine retail sales total $50.5 million; Chilean $50.1 million.' Having said all that, I hope you enjoy the Chilean listings below...

Carmen Grand Reserva Carmenere 2008, Apalta Valley, Valle del Colchagua, Chile
Price: $22
UPC: 00677758901240
Score: 89/100 AG; 89/100 Wine Access Magazine
Remarks: This wine was a category champion at the International Value Wine Awards. From AG: 'This spicy black plum, cassis and floral scented carmenere is not only better, its cheaper than past years. Enjoy its supple, rich, smooth palate with bits of chocolate, pepper, tobacco, savory plum jam, cassis and tea flavours. There is both fruit and balance and intensity which is a rarity from most carmenere labels. Excellent value for the price. We shared this with a number of folks at a dinner gathering on Thetis last month. All 10 of us had a good sampling...and all gave a thumbs up to the wine. It paired wonderfully with chicken marbella. A good and somewhat eclectic choice for your Christmas turkey.

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008, Southeastern Australia
Price: $17
UPC: 012354071445
Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'A solid red blend that will perform with a myriad of food possibilities.' This wine paired fabulously with BBQ steak, mushrooms, oven fries (our own potatoes) fresh from the garden beet tops and beets...and homemade focaccia bread. This is a solid 'go to' red in my books, and is readily available in BC and the States. Will work well at Christmas.

Telmo Rodriguez Basa Rueda Blanco 2009, Castilla-Leon, Spain
Price: $19
UPC: 08420759900017
Score: 90/100
Remarks: 'The new Telmo Rodriguez Basa Rueda Blanco 2009 is a delicious bottle of white wine. Floral, passion fruit, grapefruit, melon, lime and jalapeno aromas attract you to its fresh palate and creamy textures.' Ready to drink now and under a screw cap to ensure its freshness. We had this as an aperitif with Kelsey, Monica and one of their friends. Outstanding, and will go well with your Christmas bird...

Grooner Gruner Veltliner 2009, Nierderosterreich, Weinland Osterreich, Austria
Price: $17
UPC: 00089744754547
Score: 88/100
Remarks: We first sampled this at a tasting event for a home wine-making company. Friends at Thetis hosted the event (thanks Pat and Lucy) and Great Fermentations of Duncan brought 5 wines to sample and paired them up with appropriate appy`s. This very versatile food wine was the first on the list. Gruner Veltliner may not be for everyone, but if you are curious check this one from Austria out. You will love the mineral, grassy, green apple flavours that line the palate and then finish crisp. A very delicious food-style white that you can serve with a variety of seafood pasta dishes, shellfish and chicken...or have it on its own as an aperitif. It appears to readily available at government LCB stores, and would be fun to have on the Christmas dinner table.

Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2010, Valle de Leyda, Valle de San Antonio, Chile
Price: $12
UPC: 7804350596366
Score: 88/100
Remarks: `The palate is juicy and round with ripe guava, melon and jalapeno flavours`. Very good quality for the price. Sips well on its own as an aperitif, or with snacks before dinner. A great wine for crowds and casual settings. A couple of other Sauv Blancs from Chile to look for include: Santa Rita 120 Sauv Blanc, $10; Quintay Clava SB $15 and from South Africa, Robertson Winery SB, $10. Locally the Mission Hill Five Vineyards, $14 is a good choice, as is the Bastianich Sauvignon 'B' from Italy, $20.

Segura Viudas Cava Brut Rosado N/V, Pendes, Catalunya, Spain
Price: $16
UPC: 000332933640004
Score: 88/100
Remarks: This Cava consistently over delivers for the price (you may remember this one from last Christmas). `Dry and fresh with nutty, cherry, baked pear and citrus flavours. It is the perfect tapas style bubble. The blend is a mix of trepat, garnacha and monastrall`. This vintner also makes a white Cava, that is equally delicious, and is also a very food friendly bubble. Makes a great hostess gift.

Quinta do Crasto Late Bottled Vintage Port 2005, Douro Valley, Portugal
Price: $27
UPC: 5604123002009
Score: 90/100
Remarks: As the last pick...crack open a bottle of this Late Bottled Vintage Port, and cosy up to the fire. LBV port will keep for days if not weeks in the bottle, allowing you to savour its attractive spicy, savoury floral nose flecked with dried cherries, plum jam amd licorice notes. Complex, ripe, rich, elegant, and slightly tannic palate, it is awash in chocolate, dried figs, cherry, mint and licorice root flavours. We had this the other night with a group of friends sitting around the fire with Ellen's famous chocolate cake in a canning jar...fantastic. It was the perfect end of the day sipper, it had both finesse and length...and it also would make an excellent hostess gift.

Again, Best Wishes, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Cheers

Keith Rush

http://winerush.blogspot.com/

http://rushwinesandblog.blogspot.com/

Our mailing address is:
Box 17-9
Thetis Island, BC
V0R 2Y0
250-416-0013

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November 2010 Wine Newsletter

2010-11-03T16:46:00.001-07:00

International Value Wine Awards...and a visit to the BC Okanagan Valley...

Canada's Wine Access Magazine has just published the results of their 5th annual International Value Wine Awards (IVWA). I will review some of their top choices in this issue and in subsequent notes. As a reminder the competition is an annual look at the best wines selling somewhere in Canada for under $25. If you haven't already, pick up a copy at your local news stand. The issue features more than 300 winning wines from 18 counties and is broken down by varietal, blend and by country. They also have a section on the top 25 killer values (under $15, with a raw score of 87 or more) and the top 15 wines under a screw cap.
The header on this note is from a vineyard of black grapes on the Naramata Bench in the BC Okanagan Valley. Naramata is just north of Penticton on Okanagan Lake. The bench is home to about 30 small wineries, including Lake Breeze, Red Rooster, La Frenz, Hillside and Ruby Tuesday. It is also home to Ron and Janis who were such great hosts on our visit...Thank You. The Okanagan really is stunning in the fall...especially when the weather is fine, and the grapes are being harvested and crushed.

Wines...
This is a really fine collection of labels to go looking for. The availability in BC is fairly good and our American friends may be able to find the French, Italian and Australian wines as well as the Riesling from the Columbia Valley.
As always, I love hearing back from folks on how things are going and whether you have been able to try any of the selections...
So...now on to the wines...

Yalumba Y Series Shiraz Viognier, South Australia
Price: $15 - $18
Score: 87/100 AG; 89/100 Wine Access Magazine
Remarks: This wine is definitely worth the hunt, as it was a judges choice at the IVWA. I found it in Park Royal in West Van. We had this with our friends Ron and Janis in Naramata with roast beef. A superb pairing, soft round and supple with peperry, plummy earthy flavours with hints of spice.

Frescobaldi 2008 Remole, Tuscany Italy
Price: $12 - $16
Score: Wine Access Magazine 90/100
Remarks: This wine is a Category Champion at the IVWA for red single varieties. From Wine Access Magazine: "The Remole is a sangiovese that uses a touch of cabernet sauvignon (15 percent) to round out its profile. This is a modern chianti, with the cab bringing lots of cassis, despite occasionally obscuring the subtle notes of the sangiovese. The balance is good overall and the tannins give it some nice bight." This paired nicely with BBQ'd chicken, fresh beet tops caesar salad and rice.

Three Winds Syrah 2008, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Languedoc, France
Price: $14
UPC: 3760143270353
Score: 89/100 AG; 90/100 Wine Access Magazine
Remarks: This wine is another Category Champion from IVWA in the Syrah/Shiraz Category. From Wine Access Magazine: "Three Winds charmed the judges in the preliminary and final rounds with its spicy, smoked meat and savoury nose and fresh, tarry black cherry jam notes. The palate is soft and generous, with bits of mocha, black cherry, plum and liquorice root flavours. A delicious style for BBQ foods." I must admit that I am not very good with French wines...I find the labeling confusing (maybe because I haven't been to France since our honeymoon in 74/75)...but this wine says it on the label...it is a Syrah. I have had it number of times and have really enjoyed it. At $14 it is hard to go wrong. Availability at Government LCB stores seems to be good...

Familglia Bianchi Malbec 2007, San Rafael, Mendoza Argentina
Price: $18
UPC: 7790703167645
Score: 89/100 AG; 90/100 Wine Access Magazine
Remarks: Another Category Winner from the IVMA for the Malbec Category which was a real dog race apparently. From Wine Access Magazine: "This wine delivers both finesse and complexity that is generally associated with a higher price tag. San Rafael is south of Mendoza proper, but at more than 700 metres above sea level the grapes develop just fine. Perfumed and pretty, with raspberries, currants and a host of warm baking spices, this one isn't going to stain your teeth in the first few sips which should be reason enough to revisit this often-dismissed and overlooked varietal." We had this with friends the other week, with a delicious hot mustard rubbed pulled pork...well received.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling 2008,
Columbia Valley, Washington
Price: $15
UPC: 088586621840
Score: 88/100 AG; 89/100 Wine Access Magazine
Remarks: Another Category Champion. Wine Access Magazine: "The elegant vibrancy of this wine allowed it to stand out in a category of excellent values. Bright and effusive floral and peach aromas are followed by lovely flavours of ripe pear, peach, apple and citrus fruits with a lively, refreshing acidity to balance the pleasant off-dry, mineral tinged finish. A versatile food wine with the ability to compliment everything from light salads and shellfish, to spicy Thai and Indian cuisine. Delicious, mouth-watering and eminently drinkable, this graceful wine shows harmony and balance beyond its modest price." Ellen and I tried this recently as an aperitif. It was delicious.

Red Rooster Pinot Blanc 2009,
Okanagan Valley
Price: $17
UPC: 6811246800069
Score: 88/100 AG; 89/100 Wine Access Magazine
Remarks: This was a Category Champion in the White Single Varieties. Wine Access Magazine: "The much-maligned Pinot Blanc has again defied itss critics, producing a category champion. This grape continually produces great wines at great value prices. The Red Rooster is classic BC Pinot Blanc, with its good intensity on the nose, showing lemon, peach and pear aroma. The palate is balanced, with refreshing acidity, flavours of melon and pear and a medium long finish. Reliable, refreshing and affordable." We ahd this at Thanksgiving with our 'Hunter Chicken'...fabulous and worth the hunt. I found a bottle at the Beverley Corners Liquor Store in Duncan...and of course we picked up a couple of bottles while in the Okanagan.
Enjoy...
Best Regards
Keith Rush
http://winerush.blogspot.com/

October 2010 Wine Newsletter…

2010-10-08T08:54:00.000-07:00

Canadian Thanksgiving Greetings to you all.

I hope that this note finds you well and looking forward to your family Thanksgiving gathering. We will have Kelsey and Monica for dinner along with Ellen’s brother and sister in law (Tim and Pat), plus a couple of Thetis Island guests. A Gwen and Don Hunter chicken will be the center of attention on Sunday for us. Their chickens and turkeys are amazing…raised on Thetis Island…they taste so much better, in my view, than the regular store bought ones. YUM.

I have reverted back to my old format while I work out some issues with the general email program…and in the process I may have missed a few folks and sent some that have opted out over the last year or so. My apologies to those folks.

Now, lets get on to the wines. Most of these would work well with your Thanksgiving turkey.

Little Year Pinot Noir 2008, Australia

Price: $15.

UPC: 09316562001739

Score: 87/100

Remarks: ‘Strawberry, liquorice, smoky, black pepper, tobacco, celery root nose with a touch of barnyard. Soft, round, easy palate with juicy strawberry, spicy, licorice, orange, dried herb flavours. Solid, forward style with fruit for immediate appeal. A value proposition here’. We had this with friends a couple of weeks ago with Chicken Marbella. It was thoroughly enjoyed bay all who had it. I must admit though I have had a hard time tracking this one down. I finally found at the LCB in Park Royal. I am always on the hunt for well priced pinot’s.

Blue Mountain Pinot Blanc 2009, Okanagan Falls, BC

Price: $18

UPC: 00626990024958

Score: 89/100

Remarks: ‘Positively swimming in bright fruit, showing bits of peach and apricot’. You will need to go to a specialty shop for this

pinot blanc that is made from two French clones, that is fermented half in old wood barrels and half in stainless steel tanks, thereby

preserving its delicate fruit. Excellent for halibut, salmon, clams or as an aperitif. ‘Easily one of the best Pinot Blancs in the valley’.

Escudo Rojo 2008, Chile

Price: $18

UPC: 00812485000013

Score: 89/100

Remarks: ‘A great pairing for roast lamb or with a favourite old cheese’. This is a blended red from the Valle del Maipo in Chile.

Is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Carmenere (37%), Syrah (18%), and Cabernet Franc (5%). Expect an intense nose

of black raspberry flecked with bits of spice and tobacco. We had this with friends when we were in the Caribou…it received solid

reviews. This wine is well worth the hunt.

1884 Reservado Malbec 2009, Mendoza, Argentina
Price: $17
UPC: 00722358070008
Score: 88/100
Remarks: Killer value at $17. This is a wonderful classic Malbec with intense colour, peppery savoury fruit and rich character. It works well with anything on the BBQ. We have had it a number of times over the summer always to very good reviews. This wine is readily available in BC, even at the Chemainus LCB.

Trivento Cabernet Malbec Reserve 2008, Mendoza Argentina

Price: $13

UPC: 7798039590137

Score: 88/100

Remarks: ‘Soft fat savoury fruit with bits of mocha, licorice and black cherry jam’. A terrific value wine that is readily available at most BC LCB outlets.

Enjoy the hunt for these wines…

Best Regards…

Keith

Keith W. Rush RPF

keithrush17@gmail.com

Cell: 604-889-5357

Tuesday May 18th, 2010

2010-05-23T09:34:00.000-07:00

Wine Suggestions...in time for the May long weekend...

Greetings everyone,

I really hope this note finds you well and looking forward to the long weekend. As usual, I have a number of great selections for you to try...a few of them are from the co-hosts of the Vancouver International Playhouse Wine Festival, Argentina and New Zealand. At the bottom, I have explained my rationale for the wines I select for you to try. A reminder to my BC readers, that most of my suggestions are available in Government Liquor Stores. If a selection is only available at a private wine shop, I include the name and location.

Trivento Amado Sur Malbec Bonarda Syrah2007, Argentina
Price: $16
UPC: 7798039593503
Score: 87/100
Remarks: 'A 72/16/12 blend of malbec/bonarda/syrah' from one of the International Playhouse Wine Festivals, co-host country. The entry is smooth with plum, black cherry, coffee tobacco flavours. A classic hamburger red that really over delivers for the price, good value, and it is readily available in BC Liquor Stores, even the smaller outlets.

Dona Paula Estate Malbec 2008, Mendoza, ArgentinaPrice: $22
UPC: 00836950000056
Score: 90/100
Remarks: 'The palate is round and fresh with a mix of chocolate, vanilla, dried herbs, black cherry, plum and flecks of orange flavours with a pinch of poultry spice'. We had this on my birthday dinner with Tim and Pat, along with BBQ steak, roast vegetables, rice, and a salad...delicious. Readily available.

Mount Riley Pinot Noir 2008, New Zealand
Price: $25
UPC:9419663017996
Score: 89/100
Remarks: 'The palate is dry round and elegant with supple tannins. The flavours are a mix of tobacco leaf, caraway, cherry, orange peel and strawberry flavours, with a touch of tea leaf. Fine finesse in a Pinot Noir'. We had this the other night with Kelsey and Monica who made a delicious prawn pizza, with all sorts of trimmings for a combined birthday, Mothers Day dinner. Fantastic Pinot, even if it is over my threshold price...highly recommended, and appears to available in the larger LCB stores...

No. 8 Wire Sauvignon Blanc 2009, New Zealand
Price: $17
UPC: 00621926300014
Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'Ripe passion fruit, melon, gooseberry and kiwi aromas. The finish is juicy with smoky citrus highlights. As for the No. 8 wire...it is a reference to the gauge of the wire used to tie the vines to the trellis in the vineyard'. Delicious with sushi, chicken or all on its own as an aperitif.

Lulu B Chardonnay 2007, France
Price: $13
UPC:604174001704
Score: 86/100
Remarks: 'Good value and sealed under a screw cap'. Just passed the test of my local Chardonnay critic. It is a fresh, clean Chardonnay, that is stainless steel fermented resulting in peachy scents with honey and citrus butter streak its creamy finish.

Odds' n' Ends

Wine Recommendation Rationale:

Below is my rationale for selecting the wines that I pass on for you to try...

I need to have tasted the wine personally, and even better if I have been able to share it with family or friends at dinner or a gathering, to get further input to the taste and value.
I rely heavily on Anthony Gismondi's tasting notes and his picks of the week in the Vancouver Sun each Saturday.
For the most part the wine needs to have scored 87 points out of a hundred or more (by AG). If it is the Wine Guys (from the Vancouver Province)doing the review, I aim for a B+ or an A- as a minimum. When I say the most part...I have suggested wines that scores 85 points if it is in the $10 to $13 range.
Price is also a factor...I am looking for a good score and interesting flavours at a reasonable price...a $10 wine that scores 85 may be a better buy than one that scores 86 and is $17. I usually recommend wines that are under under $20...Having said that, if there is one that is 90+ points that is over the $20 range, I may give it a try and pass it on...but don't tell the better half.
I often look for recommended wines in LCB locations other than Vancouver to get a sense of its availability...this of course is not fool-proof.
I like to send a picture of the label with the UPC code to help facilitate easy finding.

And of course, I do have some favourite grapes and blends...Zin, Malbec, Syrah, Chardonnay for Ellen, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer etc...

Cheers and enjoy the wine

Keith Rush

http://winerush.blogspot.com/

2010-04-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

Wine Suggestions...

Greetings everyone,

I have a number of really great selections for you to try this month. I have been looking for the Carmenere's since Anthony Gismondi reviewed a number of them in late January. Also included are two selections from the LCB's Spring promotion. I have included a Pinot Noir to follow up on the heals of a significant wine fraud that was uncovered in the south of France involving a dozen executives from the Langue-doc wine industry and fake Pinot Noir they sold to the California based E&J Gallo. Apparently they were passing off a blend of Merlot and Shiraz as Pinot Noir. Some 18 million bottles of bogus Pinot were sold to Gallo who unknowingly sold the wine under its successful Red Bicyclette label. Also included is a selection from the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival (April 19 to 25), and the last selection a cheap and cheerful red wine from Spain for all my budget conscious readers.

Viu Manent Reserva Carmenere, 2008, Chile
Price: $20
UPC: 07804314935064
Score: 88/100
Distributed by International Cellars
Remarks: 'Aged in mostly French oak the flavours are soft and supple, with an expresso, chocolate nose, and dark chocolate, dried herbs, plummy fruit flavours'. This carmenere comes from near the town of Perallilo in the warm Colchagua Valley. We had this with BBQ steak, which was fantastic and it will go famously with lamb as well. I really enjoyed this wine...it is just that little bit different. Undurraga Sibaris (see the Pinot below for a picture of the label) also makes a Carmenere, which was delicious as well.

Mount Fishtail Sauvignon Blanc 2009,New Zealand
Price: $15
UPC: 009421004799041
Score: 88/100
Remarks: This selection and the next is part of LCB's Spring Promotion. You can find it in many outlets in special displays. It has a slightly sweet plalate of green apple. A bright, fresh elegant sauvignon. Delicious as an aperitif. Good value. New Zealand is co-host along with Argentina at the Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival.

James Oatley Tic Tok Pinot Grigio 2009, Austrailia
Price: $17
UPC:9338053000908
Score: 88/100
Remarks: The second of the LCB Spring display promotion and comes with a hint of colour that re-assures its gris roots. Pinot Gris is made from black grapes that are crushed and immediately the juice is taken off the skins to ferment. A delicious wine that is very food friendly or on its own as an aperitif. This is one for Jane to try...

Undurraga Sibaris Pinot Noir Reserva Especial 2008, Chile
Price: $16
UPC:78043150020024
Score: 87/100
Distributed by International Cellars
Remarks: 'Well balanced with light tannins'. Good value in Pinot Noir'. We had this wine with roast chicken a couple of weeks ago with our 'third' daughter Nicole and her husband Jason who joined us for dinner. Congratulations to Jason for graduating from broadcast school and landing a job with Sun FM in Powell River. We will miss you both. Another well priced Pinot that we tried was The Winery of Good Hope Pinot Noir 2008 from Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa.

Mission Hill Pinot Gris Reserve 2007, BC Okanagan Valley
Price: $19
UPC: 776545991171
Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'Round, dry, fresh palate with juicy gooseberry, grapefruit tropical flavours'. Mission Hill will be at the countries biggest wine bash in Vancouver along with many other Canadian and International wineries. It is fitting (following Pinotgate mentioned above, and the BC cellared in Canada debacle) that the three hour symposium at this years festival is entitled 'What's in Your Wine? A Symposium on Truth in Labelling'. It will be held at the SFU's Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue during festival week.

Castano La Casona Monastrell 2008, Spain
Price: $9.49
UPC: 008422443002519
Score: 86/100
Remarks: 'Soft, easy sipping and reasonably dry'. A wine for wine drinkers who can buy by the case and pull it out when the crowds swell, or your grown wine drinking children arrive with their friends in tow. It went well with chicken, steak and even spicy enchiladas. Apparently the vineyards are dry-farmed (no irrigation, and that keeps the yields naturally low) and the vines are 40 to 60 years old. All this under a screw-cap to ensure consistent quality.

Odds' n' Sodds

For those of you who have met our new little dog Eddie, he became quite sick about a month ago. It turns out he brought with him from Mexico a tick born desease called Ehrlichia. It is not common in BC at all, and is not contagious, but is very difficult to treat. So Eddie has been on antibiotics for a month and is on the mend. He even had enough stamina to endure an Easter dinner with three of his dog cousins and one cat cousin, who managed to get treed twice by one of the bigger dogs. A very long ladder was needed both times.

Cheers and enjoy the selections...

Keith Rush
winerush.blogspot.com/

Our mailing address is:
202-1871
Marine Drive
West Vancouver, BC
V7V 1J7
Copyright (C) 2010 Keith Rush All rights reserved.

Wine Suggestions...for the 2010 Winter Olympics- Feb 19th, 2010

2010-03-03T10:36:00.000-08:00

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Wine Suggestions...for the 2010 Winter Olympics

Greetings everyone, and particularly all my new friends on my list who I met in Mexico over Christmas...

In this edition...Christmas report including new Mexican addition to the family, two whites and two reds to search out and enjoy during the Olympics, and some guidelines for food and wine paring.

We had a fabulous and different Christmas this year in Sayulita there was no fussing about last minute gifts or driving to the shopping mall...what is important is spending time together as a family which was what we were able to do. On Christmas Eve we had a fabulous poolside dinner party with the Carels, Mattsons and Rush family. Preparation for the party saw all family members in action shopping, chopping and cooking, it was great fun!
Christmas Day was spent swimming, picnicking and boogie boarding. It really was special being able to spend time with friends and family in sunny welcoming Sayulita.

The next best thing was that Ellen and I were able to bring back a little white poodle-cross rescue dog with us. His name is Eddie and he is between one and two years old and is just the sweetest little guy, see below.
We have been looking for a dog to 'fall into our laps' for some time now. So we hooked up with folks from Sayulia Animals, a rescue organization in Sayulita. www.sayulitanimals.org.

Now...on to the wines. I have a number of selections for you to try this month. A couple of them are distributed by International Cellars in Vancouver. I mention this because Ellen and I spent a very enjoyable afternoon with the folks at IC two weeks ago. Tara Hallgren who is their controller is a friend of Ellen's from high school and her husband Michael Shuster who is a Principal and Director of the firm, toured us around their offices, tasting room and storage cellar. One of the largest independent wine distribution companies in Western Canada, International Cellars has earned the respect of suppliers, liquor boards, customers, and competitors alike. The company provides market access to a full complement of quality, well-priced products to customers in the four Western Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. www.internationalcellars.ca

Glen Carlou Grand Classic, 2005
Price: $20
UPC: 0600427000047
Score: 87/100
Distributed by International Cellars Inc.
Remarks: 'Grand Classique is a Bordeaux blend of mostly cabernet sauvignon (41) and merlot (40) with smaller amounts petit verdot, malbec and cabernet franc. Look for deep coloured red with a fine mineral nose dusted with vanilla and some meaty Brettanomyces notes. The entry is round the body dense with cedar and black fruit and liquorice flavours throughout. The finish is slightly dry with elevated acidity poking through. Best with roasted meats. Drink now'. We thoroughly enjoyed a bottle of this with friends on Thetis. It was fantastic with the braised rack of lamb. Thanks David and Marsha.

Leaping Horse Vineyards Chardonnay
Price: $12
UPC: N/A
Score: 88/100, 2008 Wine Access IVWA, 86/100 AG.
Distributed by International Cellars Inc.
Remarks: 'This is easy to drink, with fresh, lovely, intense pineapple tropical fruit aromas and round, creamy buttery chardonnay flavours'. I have been looking for this for the last year, and finally found it in Tara's cellar at International Cellars. You may have to ask your local LCB retailer on the availability of this wine. Great value.

Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2007, Okanagan Valley
Price: $19
UPC:77885607012
Score: 89/100
Remarks: 'A modern style Chardonnay perfect for West Coast dishes'. This Chardonnay gets two thumbs up from my resident Chard critic. It was delicious as an aperitif and was fantastic with Beef Bourguignon. So it is a versatile wine that fits the full spectrum of food. Good value local BC wine. Readily available in BC.

Sabor Real Tempranillo 2005,Toro, Castill-Leon, Spain
Price: $17
UPC: 08437009707500
Score: 86/100
Remarks: 'Warm and fresh with lots of ripe fruit to go with most meats'. Tempranillo, (pronounced tempera-NEE-oh) is Spains best red native grape and tastes like a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. Tempranillo is good with game, smoked ham and sausages, especially spicy chorizo, casseroles and meat grilled with herbs, and is particularly good with roast lamb. It can partner some Indian dishes and goes well with soft cheeses such as ripe Brie. We thoroughly enjoyed this with mild Italian sausages done on the BBQ. It appears to be fairly available in BC.

Odds' n' Sodds

While we were away I picked up a copy of Food & Wine Magazine which had the following 'rules' for wine and food pairings. There is some very good advice in the suggestions that follow...

7 Rules for Perfect Pairing:

Pairing Rule 1...Serve a Dry Rose with hors d’oeuvres
Good rose combines the fresh acidity and light body of white wines with the fruity character of reds. This makes it the go-to wine when serving a wide range of hors d’oeuvres, from crudités to gougers.

Pairing Rule 2...Serve an Unoaked White with anything you can squeeze a lemon or lime on.
White wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino and Vermentino (typically made in stainless steel tanks rather than oak barrels) have a bright, citrusy acidity that acts like a zap of lemon or lime juice to heighten flavours in everything from smoked sablefish to grilled salmon.

Pairing Rule 3...Try low alcohol wines with spicy foods.
Alcohol accentuates the oils that make spicy food hot. So when confronted with dishes like a fiery curried chicken or Thai stir fry, look for wines that are low in alcohol, such as off dry German Rieslings (especially since a touch of sweetness helps counter spiciness too)

Pairing Rule 4... Match rich red meats with tannic reds
Tannins, the astringent compounds in red wines that help give the wine structure, are an ideal complement to luxurious meat – making brawny reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah great matches for braised duck legs or pan seared sausages.

Pairing rule 5...With lighter meats, pair the wine with the sauce
Often the chief protein in a dish – chicken or pork say, say isn’t the primary flavour. Think of pork chops in a delicate white wine sauce versus pork chops in a zesty red wine sauce: in each case, the sauce dictates the pairing choice.

Pairing rule 6…Choose earthy wines with earthy foods.
Many great pairing combinations happen when wines and foods echo one nother. Earthiness is often found in reds such as Pinot Noir (particularly from Burgundy) and Nebbiolo, making them great partners or for equally earthy ingredients, like bison steaks and wild mushrooms.

Pairing rule 7...For desserts, go with a lighter wine
When pairing desserts and dessert wines, it’s easy to overwhelm the taste buds with sweetness. Instead, choose a wine that’s a touch lighter and less sweet than the dessert-for instance, an effervescent Moscato d’Asti with toasted pears.

A reminder that if you would like to be taken off my list, just send me a note back or unsubscribe at the bottom of the page, and if you have any friends who you think would like to on my wine list, just send me their email address, and I will gladly add them.

It has been quite a while since I have heard from many of you, so let me know how you are doing...

Cheers...

Keith Rush

winerush.blogspot.com/

Our mailing address is:
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Copyright (C) 2009 *|USER:COMPANY|* All rights reserved.

December Wines and Suggestions for Christmas...Dec 14th, 2009

2010-01-30T08:57:00.000-08:00

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December Wines and Suggestions for Christmas

Christmas Greetings...

I hope this note finds you all well and beginning to get in the mood for Christmas. The Rushes (including Kelsey and Monica) will be spending Christmas in Mexico with the 'Dean Mattson' family (Ellen's brother, wife Sandy, daughter Carly and son Blake). We are going to the little 'surfing' town of Sayulita, which is just north of Puerto Vallarta. This is a first for us, spending Christmas away from the rest of our family and the West Coast of BC. Needles to say, we are really looking forward to it. It will be so great to have our New Years swim in the warm Pacific ocean. We are so sorry to be missing the freezing polar bear swim in front of the Wilson's on Thetis Island...It was a lot of fun last year and I am sure the turn out and the experience will be even bigger and better, so have fun everyone...

I have a number of 'interesting and somewhat eclectic' wines for you to consider this holiday season, along with a few 'count on-able' selections for your Christmas dinner. Enjoy the hunt as it will be quite a while before I send out my first note of 2010. It will be an interesting challenging finding wines in Mexico...

A reminder that if you would like to be taken off my list, just send me a note back or unsubscribe at the bottom of the page, and if you have any friends who you think would like to on my wine list, just send me their email address, and I will gladly add them.

It has been quite a while since I have heard from many of you, and you know who you are, so let me know how you are doing...

Boutari Moschofilero 2008, Mantinía, Peloponnese, Greece
Price: $19
UPC:5201022574233
Score: 89/100 and a Category Champion at the Wine Access Awards.
Remarks: 'No oak and modest alcohol'. This wine and the next are for all of the folks who we went to Greece with in 2008. The grape of this award winning wine are barely pronounceable and mostly unknown - moschofilero - but it deliver a great combination. The entry is light and refreshing, with hints of lime and minreal notes that resound on the palate. This wine pairs nicely with sushi and any lightly spiced seafood dishes. Availability of the Greek wines will be a little spotty. I have seen them in West Van, North Van and in Nanaimo, but none in Chemainus...sorry, Thetis Islanders...

Boutari Naoussa 2006, Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece
Price: $16
UPC: 05201022540504
Score: 87/100
Remarks: 'An ancient indigenous grape with elegance and style'. The second of the Greek wines, which I guarantee will be the topic of conversation if you take these to a dinner party. Naoussa is one of the towns that Ellen and I stayed in during our visit to Paros (one of the Greek islands). Thanks to our dear friend Judy Bendick, who lived in Naoussa for a while, for recommending we visit there. This wine is made from an ancient indigenous grape xynomavro (pronounced SEE NO ma vro) that has earthy, peppery taste and...well it just smells and tastes like Greece. We thoroughly enjoyed this with BBQ'd pork, and would go nicely with your Christmas turkey.

Peter Lehmann Layers Red 2008, Barossa Valley, South Australia
Price: $18
UPC: 9311910103103
Score: 87/100
Remarks: 'Round tasty peppery, black cherry, black raspberry, tobacco flavours'. A new listing from Peter Lehman is a blended red (grenache, syrah, mouvedre, carigan and tempranillo) from the Barossa Valley. I looked for this blend at the urging of Rick Howie, who enjoys the Auzzie version of these grapes to the French blends. It is still young, but has great flavour, and will improve in the bottle with age. If you are going to drink it right away, this is a great wine to open 45 minutes before your guests arrive, and then decant prior to serving...which is the secret to turning an $18 bottle of wine into a $40 bottle. Also a good choice for your turkey dinner. Availability is a little spotty, with North Van the only outlet that I was able to find it at, so far.

Cono Sur 2008 Viognier, Chile

Price: $11

UPC: 7804320405407

Score: 88/100 and a Category Champion at the Wine Access Awards

Remarks: 'Spicy, floral, ginger, orange, juicy melon flavours'. Terrific value here. For all my young followers take note...bring this to your parents for Christmas dinner and it will be a hit. Elegant and fun with lots of fruit. You may recall that Viognier is one of my favorite wines to have with turkey. Some other delicious Viognier's to consider are: Paul Mas ($13) from France, Clay Station ($20), from California, Anakena ($16) from Chile, Yalumba Y Series ($18) from Australia.

Painter Bridge Zinfandel
Price: $14
UPC: N/A
Score: 87/100
Remarks: 'The entry is soft and round with mostly supple tannins'. This is a better than average, easy-sipping Zinfandel at a fair price, and it is readily available throughout BC. Zinfandel is one of my favorite red wines to serve with turkey dinner. So if you are in the mood, here are some other great Zins to look for, all from California: Wingnut ($19), Shenandoah (an organic wine) ($20), 7 Deadly Zins ($25), Terra D'Oro ($22), Cline ($19).

Segura Viudas CAVA Brut Rose Spain
Price: $15

UPC: 00033293640004

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'Fresh with nutty, cherry, baked pear and citrus flavours'. I took this along as a 'hostess' gift recently to friends. We wound up putting this delicious Cava to the test. It was delicious with the prawn and avacado appetizer's. A blend of trepat, grenacha, and monastrell grapes, it has a lovely raspberry colour, with pear and citrus flavours. It is the perfect tapas wine that you can pour freely before dinner, and it makes a great 'hostess' gift. Readily available in BC.

Odds' n' Sodds

I often mention the names of grapes in my notes, many of which are not the usual, cabernet's or chardonnay's. The grape called Mourvedre (mentioned a number of times in this and other notes) is an interesting one that I want to say a little about. The French call it Mourvedre, the Australians and Californians call it Mataro, but the Spanish call it Monastrall, which is odd according to Oz Clark, because the grape originated in Spain either near Murviedro in Valencia or near Mataro in Cataluna. Perhaps says Clarke local pride meant that both areas claimed the grape so fiercely that Monastrall was chosen so as not to offend anyone.

The Taste of Mouvedre
Young Mourvedre, picked at low yields, has a fairly wild mix of rasping hillside herbs, more than a hint of farmyard, and, if you're lucky, flavours of blackberries and bilberries. It is solid in style, with high alcohol and tannin. Most is blended with other grapes such as Grenache and Syrah. Blended or not, Mourdevre will always add a farmyard herby roughness for a few years before developing flavours of leather, gingerbread and game. (from Oz Clarke's Grapes and Wines; published by Websters International Publishers)...a fantastic soft-cover book...a possible Christmas present for someone?

Does anyone have a favorite bottle of Mourdevre, or a blend they can recommend, or any experience making wine from these grapes...or traveled to that region in Spain?

Anyhow...best wishes to you all and your families for a wonderful Christmas and all the very best in 2010...

Cheers...

Keith Rush

winerush.blogspot.com/

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Wine Access Awards and Odds 'n' Sod's, November 16th, 2009

2009-11-18T20:31:00.000-08:00

This Month's Pic's:

Greetings everyone. I am trying a different format and email delivery system for my wine notes and recommendations. At over 350 names, I was getting too many bounce backs from Outlook. During the transfer of names from one system to another it is possible I may have missed someone or duplicated some names. Please let me know if I have missed anyone you know (like your spouse) or if you have received two copies. I would also like to know what you think of the new format, and if you have any suggestions for improvement.

The results of the 4th annual Wine Access 2009 International Value Wine Awards (IVWA) are now in. The competition, held in Calgary last June is searching for the best value wines that are sold somewhere in Canada for under $25. Five days of intensive blind-tasting, that included a preliminary round, a final round and, in some cases, a final taste-off produced an impressive list of award-winning wines. The 1,200 wines came from 17 different countries and were judged by a panel of 26 judges. The full slate of results are in the Wine Access Magazine, or online at www.wineaccess.ca.

Montalto 2008 Pinot Grigio Sicily, Italy

Price: $12

UPC: N/A

Score: 89/100 Wine Access International Value Wine Awards (IVWA), Pinot Grigio Category Champion...

Remarks: 'A warm, exotic style that is more than impressive for the price'. A delicious mix of peach, honey, apple, and orange, that is great as an aperitif, with or with out food. We served this wine at the Thetis Island Community Fund wine and cheese social. It was the favourite white of the night. It appears to be readily available in BC. Montalto has a red blend that also scored well at the IVWA. We will try it and report back in a future note...

Lujuria 2006, Monastrell Merlot Valencia and Murcia, Spain

Price: $10

UPC: 05604123000814

Score: 89/100 Wine Access International Value Wine Awards (IVWA), Red Blends Category Co-Champion...

Remarks: 'A well made easy sipping red that over delivers for the price'. This wine was also served at the Thetis Island Community Fund wine and cheese social...'look for a soft, round, dry pleasant entry from this 70/30 blend of monastrell (mourvedre) and merlot. The flavours mix coffee, dark chocolate, plummy/blueberry fruits with spice and smoke throughout'...well received, great price.

Boekenhoutskloof, The Wolftrap; Syrah-Mourvedre-Viognier 2008, South Africa

Price: $15

UPC: 746925000564

Score: 89/100 Wine Access International Value Wine Awards (IVWA), Red Blends Category Co-Champion...

Remarks: 'Outstanding value red wine, perfect for robust fall and winter menu items'. Great value under a screw cap. Readily available...

Zin.fat.u.a.tion Zinfandel 2006, Amador County, Sierra Foothills, California, United States

Price: $16

UPC: 0085200027002

Score: 86/100

Remarks: 'Raspberries white pepper and coffee all in one'. Our first bottle of this Zin was a gift from Kelsey's boyfriend Raphael. We had friends over for dinner and served this with BBQ'd hamburgers...its never too late in the season to have hamburgers, especially when they are home made, with a ton of extras, like hot mustard, onions, mushrooms, fresh tomatoes...well you get my drift. It paired fabulously, even Ellen got into the tasting. It really was too bad we only had one bottle. I also chose this as one of the wines for the Thetis Island Community Fund wine and cheese social. It was thoroughly enjoy by all who tried it. The mix includes 10 % barberra and 7% syrah, aged 18 months in French and American oak. Thanks again Raph! It is quite available as I have seen it in North Van, Nanaimo, and Chemaimus.

Quinta do Crasto Douro Vinho Tinto 2007, Douro Valley, Portugal

Price: $20

UPC: 05604123000814

Score: 91/100

Remarks: 'One of the best years in a century makes this a very collectable wine. Cellar a decade or more'. Big rich peppery, black plum fruit went extremely well with grilled sausages. Ellen really enjoyed this as well. Do I detect a trend here? I had spoken a little on cellaring in my last note. This very reasonably priced wine is worth putting a few bottles down for a few years, and see what happens.

My Wine Blog is still at: http://www.winerush.blogspot.com/

Odds 'n' Sod's
Vega-Sicilia: A Tasting with Anthony Gismondi
I attended a tasting event last week at the Everything Wine store in North Vancouver. It featured wines from the Spanish winery Vega Sicilia, and was led by Vancouver Sun Wine Columnist Anthony Gismondi. We tasted a white, four reds and two dessert wines. All the wines were superb, but the $400 a bottle red wine 'Unico 1998' was my favorite. It is a blend of Tempranillo and a little Cabernet. Interestingly, they transfer the wine between French and American Oak, large and small barrels several times prior to bottling. Anthony's knowledge of the wines, the winery, the global wine business and the wines we sampled was very impressive.

Thetis Island Community Fund Wine and Cheese Social
The Thetis Island Community Fund (Ellen is on the Board of Directors) held a Wine and Cheese Social to wrap up its month long fund raising campaign. About 50 folks were in attendance at one time or another during the two hour Sunday afternoon event. I was asked to choose the wines, three of which are reviewed in this issue. Thank you to all who made donations to the Fund.

Thank you Dennis Jones...
A great big thank you to Dennis Jones of the Drunk Monk Winery (which is close to Seattle) for the two bottles of Syrah that he so generously mailed to me a few months ago. We had the 2004 Syrah last weekend. A superb wine, that was thoroughly enjoyed by all of our guests.
2004 Syrah,
Drunk Monk Winery, Washington, USA.
www.drunkmonk.biz
Remarks: Big bold blackberry fruit with a smooth entry.

Wine Recommendation Rationale:

Below is my rationale for selecting the wines that I pass on for you to try...

I need to have tasted the wine personally, and even better if I have been able to share it with family or friends at dinner or a gathering, to get further input to the taste and value.
I rely heavily on Anthony Gismondi's tasting notes and his picks of the week in the Vancouver Sun each Saturday.
For the most part the wine needs to have scored 87 points out of a hundred or more (by AG). If it is the Wine Guys (from the Vancouver Province)doing the review, I aim for a B+ or an A- as a minimum. When I say the most part...I have suggested wines that scores 85 points if it is in the $10 to $13 range.
Price is also a factor...I am looking for a good score and interesting flavours at a reasonable price...a $10 wine that scores 85 may be a better buy than one that scores 86 and is $17. I usually recommend wines that are under under $20...Having said that, if there is one that is 90+ points that is over the $20 range, I may give it a try and pass it on...but don't tell the better half.
I often look for recommended wines in LCB locations other than Vancouver to get a sense of its availability...this of course is not fool-proof.
I like to send a picture of the label with the UPC code to help facilitate easy finding.
And of course, I do have some favourite grapes and blends...Zin, Malbec, Syrah, Chardonnay for Ellen, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer etc...

Coming Up Next Month:

More excellent buys from the International Value Wine Awards.

Remember my blog is at: http://www.winerush.blogspot.com/

Keith

Keith W. Rush, RPF

keithrush17@gmail.com

Cell: 604-889-5357

Thanksgiving wine, some thoughts on cellaring and family update...

2009-10-21T12:20:00.001-07:00

Good evening folks;

I hope this note finds you well and looking forward to some family time this coming weekend. Both girls with their B/F's will be with us for dinner as will our 'third' daughter Nicole and her husband Jason. So...I wanted to get these selections out to you prior to the Thanksgiving weekend. The Viognier and Zinfandel featured below will pair particularly well with your turkey or chicken.

BELLINGHAM SAUVIGNON BLANC CHARDONNAY 2008, COASTAL REGION, SOUTH AFRICA

Price: $16

UPC: 06001506001984

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'The perfect summer sipper on the patio or at the table'. I have been on the hunt for this since early May. It has shown up recently at many LCB locations. It was well worth the wait. First off, it is a wine that both Ellen and I enjoy, and its fresh lively citrus and tropical fruit flavours with a dollop of pineapple offer a great weight and length in bright fresh style. With a screw cap...even better.

BODEGA LURTON PINOT GRIS 2008, VALLE DE UCO, TUNUYAN, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

Price: $12.50

UPC: 00635335320211

Score: 87/100

Remarks: 'Year after year, this presents continued good value'. A fabulous Pinot Gris. This is one of my new favourite 'go to' Grigio/Gris wines. Good availability in the lower mainland.

STORK'S TOWER SAUVIGNON BLANC-VERDEJO 2008, SPAIN

Price: $15

UPC: 0084159002115

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'A fresh, aromatic white wine with a sense of harmony and balance'. An flavourful blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo. We had this with cold BBQ'd chicken and a great big garden salad. Delicious, and very good value.

PAUL MAS VIOGNIER 2008, L'HERAULT, LANGUEDOC, FRANCE

Price: $13

UPC: 3760040420127

Score: 89/100

Remarks: 'This is a blend of viognier fruit from cool and warm sites using young and old vines with relatively low yields with fewer bunches per vine to better concentrate the flavour of the grapes. On the palate, peach and honey mix effortlessly with a creamy lees character. Very serious value'. I brought this to a recent birthday gathering that featured roast beef. It was a great match and will go really well with your Thanksgiving turkey. Availability appears to be good. Killer value. Other Viognier's to consider: Anakena from Chile ($16) Yalumba Y Series from Australia ($18), Clay Station from California ($20), Cono Sur Limited Reserve from Chile ($11).

TERRA D'ORO ZINFANDEL SHR FIELD BLEND 2006, AMADOR COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Price: $22 (above my limit, but I love Zin)

UPC: 009460000124

Score: 89/100

Remarks: 'Field blend is a mix of different grapes in the same vineyard. Look for fresh liquorice, tobacco, cedar, vanilla, earthy, peppery aromas in a supple forward style'. We tested this at a small family gathering and got a huge thumbs up. It will go well with your Thanksgiving turkey, or any grilled meats...or cellar for a couple of years. Availability is a question mark. I have only seen it at the Park Royal LCB...but check other signature stores. Other Zins to consider: Wingnut(about $20); Painter Bridge (about $14); Shenandoah an organic wine (about $20); Cline (about $20); 7 Deadly Zins (about $27), all from California, and all readily available in BC.

From time to time I get asked about cellaring or aging wine. Here are a few things to consider. Generally speaking almost every bottle of wine will get better in the bottle. So it doesn't hurt to rest a bottle for a few weeks or months in a cool quiet place to allow the wine to recover from the shock of being bottled, shipped and bounced around in its early life. Again, generally speaking, red wines keep longer than whites, and most whites keep longer than rosé. Having said all this, many wines are not made to be aged, and will not improve no matter how long you leave them. For example, the rosés that we looked at earlier in the summer are meant to be consumed now, while it remains fresh and its primary fruit flavours are distinct. Similar rules would apply to most dry aromatic whites like chenin blanc, gewürztraminer, sauvignon blanc and unoaked chardonnay. According to gismondionwine, price can also be a guide; few wines under $15 are designed for aging. Those that may improve with age would be red and contain large amounts of cabernet, syrah, mourvedre, possibly malbec and/or zinfandel, along with rich tannic varieties from France and southern Italy. As red wine is fermented on its skins and often aged in wood, red wine contains tannin and when combined with the right amount of acidity and alcohol, all in balance, it can live a long life...a decade or more for the top vintages. If you enjoy drinking red wine young, you will see significant improvement in mouth feel and texture if you age everything three to five years. The better the producer, the wine and the vintage the longer you can wait. Remember that all wine was made to drink sometime. I for one need to heed that advice...

The newest Mr. & Mrs. Mattson. Brother in law Darcy and new sister in law Debbie (along with ring bearer Toby) tie the knot on Mt Washington, September 29th, 2009. Fabulous wedding. Congratulations Darc and Deb, it went without a hitch, you did a fantastic job.

I thought I would include a brief family update. Kelsey and Monica (who just turned 23) are back at school at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. Kelsey is pursuing a degree in Global Studies where she is in her third year. Monica completed a diploma in Tourism and now is working on a degree in Graphic Design where she is in her second year. Ellen and I are spending a lot of time on Thetis these days. Ellen has just started a course on 'Color' at Vancouver Community College which is part of the Interior Design curriculum, which she is thoroughly enjoying.

I have started to look for contract work or a project to work on where I can make a contribution. My 'default' place to look is the forest sector and the safety file. I would welcome any feedback, suggestions or ideas from any or all of you.

As always, I really enjoy your comments and updates...and you can find any back issues on my blog site: www.winerush.blogspot.com

Best Regards...and Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving...

Keith

Keith W. Rush, RPF

keithrush17@gmail.com

Cell: 604-889-5357

Four wines...Summer and Bike Trip Update...Aug 29th, 2009

2009-08-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone,

I hope you are enjoying the summer. It certainly has been one for the record books on Thetis Island. The ocean in front of our place got up to 78 degrees F during the last hot spell in July...barely enough to cool you off. Needless to say we have had a bumper crop of tomatoes, and we are already canning sauce for the winter.

We have been fortunate enough to have a lot of visitors this summer...which has been great, so I will be posting an album later this month on my facebook page.

Bike Trip Update:

The week of July 12th we did a family and friends 'Get Outside' bike trip. Although we had no 'paying' customers, we really wanted to experience the route. Thanks to Dean and Sandy, Monica and Marley, Carris and John and Pat Davis for participating with us on parts of the journey. The weather was fabulous and the route turned out to be better than we expected. The back roads of the Cedar, Ladysmith, Cowichan Bay and Mill Bay were fantastic, with lots of great vistas and interesting places to stop. Thanks again to our hosts at Kiwi Cove Lodge in Ladysmith, Affinity Guest House in Cowichan Bay and Rose Bank Cottages in Mill Bay.

Having said that, the activity has not curtailed my enthusiasm to search out and try new wines. I think you will really enjoy sampling the wines below.

Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2007
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
Price: $13
UPC: 604174000974

Score: 87/100
Remarks: 'Floral, spicy, pear, apple skin, slate and citrus aromas. Ripe, round, fresh palate with good acidity and richness. Pear, citrus, butter, slate, quince, floral apple flavours. Good finesse, attractive style for food. Very good value. Exciting value/real wine'. We had this and the red version (below) a few weeks ago with a group of friends. We all thought it was superb. We served it with 'eggplant spaghetti', which is a recent favourite recipe of ours.

Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2007
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
Price: $15

UPC: 00604174000639
Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'Peppery, smoky, dried herb, garrigue, licorice, black cherry, plum jam aromas. Ripe, round, supple and smooth palate with good richness and acidity. Big black cherry, plum spicy, floral, licorice, peppery, mineral, rooty flavours. Warm finish with great fruit and flavours concentration. An outstanding vintage and great value here, buy by the case'. Again well received by a number of folks with 'eggplant spaghetti'. An easy sipping red which appears to be readily available in BC.

MISSION HILL PINOT GRIGIO FIVE VINEYARDS 2008

Price: $16

UPC: 776545995322

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'Flinty honeyed citrus/pear fruit that grabs your attention'. Another great Grigio/Gris from BC. We served this to a gang a an aperitif...they all loved it. Readily available throughout BC. A few other superb BC Pinot Gris/Grigio to keep in mind. Herder Pinot Gris, Sandhill Pinot Gris King Valley Family Vineyard. Kelsey and her boyfriend Raphael, brought a bottle of Skimmerhorn Pinot Pinot Gris and Skimmerhorn Marachal Foch down from Creston (they had been picking cherries) on a recent visit. Both were delicious wines and very much appreciated...sorry no label photo's.

DON MIGUEL GASCON MALBEC 2007, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

Price: $17

UPC: 00722358070008

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'Rich and balanced, it totally over-delivers for the price'. We love Malbec in our family, so this was a big hit with BBQ'd rib eye steaks. The tasting note on the label makes it kind of fun and a good conversation piece at a dinner party.

Bike Trip Update:

As always...I love to hear from you folks out there, how you are, how do you like the wine, and what is happening in your life...and if you have any friends who you think would like to receive these notes...to forward their name and email address to me...

Remember, that if you want to peruse any of my back issues, go to http://winerush.blogspot.com/ I have notes back to last summer.

Cheers...

Keith

ps: if you want to be taken off my list, just send me a note back...

More Summer Sippers...July 13th, 2009

2009-07-22T06:25:00.000-07:00

Good day folks,

I hope this note finds you all well and enjoying the summer or looking forward to your family holiday in the near future...

Ellen and I are off on our first bike trip today...it will be fun. It was fun. I have posted some photo's from the trip on my Facebook page. keithrush@shaw.ca

The wines for you to look at are the full spectrum from light white to heavy red...all are worth a try...

GUNDERLOCH FRITZ'S RIESLING 2007, RHEINHESSEN, GERMANY

Price: $17

UPC: 04022642000749

Score: 89/100

Remarks: 'Tailor-made for barbecued or pull-pork dishes'. Riesling is one of the best west coast summer wines...its fresh, floral, crunchy fruit and juicy citrus flavours can brighten any picnic lunch or patio dinner party. It pairs really well with cheese, which we had with friends a few weeks ago as an aperitif. Delicious.

MIGUEL TORRES SANTA DIGNA CABERNET SAUVIGNON ROSE 2008, VALLE DEL CURICO, CHILE

Price: $14

UPC: 08410113005366

Score: 87/100

Remarks: 'A patio sipper, or serve it with a variety of charcuterie and cheeses'. We have had this a number of times...excellent. For a more detailed description of this wine...I am going to quote a new friend of mine Rick Howie (who I met a couple of weeks ago at the BC Field Ornithologists AGM and Convention, in Clearwater...who obviously is quite a wine lover and connoisseur, [he also is a very accomplished birder]) on this review..."It’s been a warm June so it is time to join the rush for rosé. It is 28 degrees at the time we are enjoying a Miguel Torres Santa Digna 2008 Reserve rose. It is made from Cabernet Sauvignon and is just about the prettiest wine you could have in your glass on a warm day. It gleams a nice raspberry pink or pomegranate hue with fleeting purplish tones although I suppose I could go along with the label notes indicating a cherry colour when in the bottle where the volume is greater and the glass may add some colour. It is surprisingly refreshing despite the 14% alcohol. The acidity perks it right up and it is not heavy at all. The tannins are minimal , which is a good thing. Plums, strawberries and hints of grapefruit on the nose says the label, but none of them are so forward that they dominate. The fresh fruit aromas are apparent with a good deep inhaling with perhaps a nod to the strawberries being a bit more dominant but not overpowering. We enjoyed this wine quite chilled with the balance on the palate just excellent. The flavours are fruity without being “in your face” and so evidently one thing or another that you have to deal with them. Neither are they so bland or neutral that you don’t care. They may even be more black currant in nature but hey are just extremely enjoyable with great acidity to take the edge off of a hot day. This is a dry wine but may taste a bit off dry, but certainly not sweet. The finish is crisp and clean with no bitterness or unpleasant aftertastes. I did not challenge this wine with our rib dinner and in reality, the bottle barely made it to dinner. Torres suggests that it is “sublime” with Chinese food and can be enjoyed with meat, pasta and tomato sauce. I think that the bracing acidity would do fine with all of those items, but if you are the least bit thirsty and start off with this wine as an aperitif, good luck in having enough left for dinner, even if there are only two of you. Those 750 ml bottles just seem to be getting smaller over the years. I don’t know if this wine was fermented in the classic French rose style with a little skin contact and then pressing, or whether it is one of the “modern” rose blends of red and white wines that the French seem to abhor. If it was a blend, I would have thought that the wines would have all been listed. Only the Cabernet is noted so it may be a classic rose in the sense that it is achieved through minimal skin contact with a red wine grape and then a quick pressing. Whatever the technique, it is a good one and I will be picking up a few bottles to have on hand for friends who drop in or just for Carol and I who won’t have any problem enjoying this again. In fact, there are so many rose wines in stock right now, it may be a good idea to buy one of each and do a comparison tasting. Now there in fact, is a good idea. In the mean time, twist the top off of this one and head for the sundeck with a good book or chatty company. You will not be disappointed in the least for $13.99. I am looking at an empty bottle and an empty glass and feel quite disappointed because I did not buy two. I hope that this does not indicate a problem, but I am looking forward to another hot day. Apparently, rosés are hot items at the moment and I can see why". As you can see, Rick really knows how to report on his wine enjoyment...

CLAY STATION VIOGNIER 2007, Lodi,

California

Price: $19

UPC: 5011932008632

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'Lovely fresh white wine with hints of musk melon and orange blossoms. A more delicate version of this variety without the oily notes. Clean fresh tasty delicate wine with honeysuckle and melon notes. Quite an interesting outcome from the Central Coast. Hard to believe it’s 3.99 at Trader Joe and only 19.00 in British Columbia'. A fabulous wine to go with your BBQ'd chicken this summer...speaking of which, I had better get ours on...

Road 13 Merlot 2006, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price: Plus or minus $20 depending where you get it...

Score: 88/100
UPC: 626990081265
Remarks: 'Smoky, vanilla, cherry, coffee, tobacco, chocolate, menthol, cedar aromas with a spicy, peppery edge. Dry, round, supple palate with light, grainy tannins. Full coffee, cedar, tobacco, peppery, cherry, vanilla, smoky, menthol, mineral, stony flavours. Good solid effort that has the ability to age 2-4 years'. We took a bottle of this to a party a few weeks ago. It was extremely well received by the folks hanging around the wine bar. A delightful change from all the Shiraz and Malbec's. It was delicious with the roast beef dinner (and was OK with the salmon as well)...Thanks Pam and Sandy.

Concannon Petite Sirah Limited Release 2005, Central Coast, California, United States

Price: $19

UPC: 081908635471

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'Orange peel, black cherry, coffee, spicy, mineral, plum flavours'. My brother Graham and I have been looking for a PS for a while and we had this with Roast Turkey a couple of weeks ago. It was good, but a little tart on the finish. Not my favourite grape, but it was worth the test. It may pair better with stew or something like that.

I haven't heard from many of you for long time...send me a note and let me know how things are going.

Cheers...

Keith

Summer Sippers...June 4th, 2009

2009-06-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone...

I wanted to get this out to you during this spell of unbelievably great weather. I hope that you are able to find a way to cool off. Fortunately, Ellen and I are at Thetis, and have the ocean right out front. So...if ever there was a time and a need for a refreshing wine to sip on the patio or deck, it is now. All the wines have been taste tested and represent some really good value. Enjoy.

THE WINERY OF GOOD HOPE CHENIN BLANC 2008, STELLENBOSCH, COASTAL REGION, SOUTH AFRICA
Price: $14
UPC: 00854954000216
Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'The Winery of Good Hope Chenin Blanc 2008 made in Stellenbosch. It is old bush vines in the Helderberg area that are behind this delightfully fresh and juicy chenin grown on mineral based, decomposed-granite soils. There is no wood used here, but lees stirring keeps it all interesting. If pears, limes and bright acidity appeal to you for summer this is the wine to drink'. Fantastic wine, and the first Chenin Blanc that I have recommended, goes great as an aperitif and was delicious with BBQ'd chicken...

Chat-en-Oeuf Dry Rosé 2008, Cotes-du-Ventoux, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
Price: $14
UPC: 03430560001693
Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'Chat-en-Oeuf Dry Rosé 2008 is a blend of cinsault, grenache and syrah. From its appealing, super pale, eye-of-the-partridge colouring to its fabulously floral, fruity nose, this is as impressive as rosé gets for $14. Bracing citrus strawberry, red currant fruit flavours meld with a just a twist of lemon in the finish. Cool clean and food-friendly, this should work well with lobster but would really excel with local, fresh Dungeness crab. Drink all summer'. We had this with sushi, and it was perfect...

QUAILS' GATE ROSE 2008, OKANAGAN VALLEY
Price: $13
UPC: 778856108248
Score: 87/100
Remarks: 'A terrific pale pink colour with a bright fresh strawberry-rhubarb nose is the story of the Quails' Gate Rosé 2008, Okanagan Valley. The grape is gamay with a dash of pinot gris for extra fruit and lift. The palate is super-fresh and bone-dry. Crab, anyone? Well done'. We had this rosé one afternoon with friends, hanging out around the pool deck...It was surprisingly well received by all who tried it...unexpectedly dry, and went very well on its own.

If you have anyone that you think would like to receive these wine notes, just let me know their name and email address, and I can include them. Conversely, if you do not wish to receive these anymore...just send a note back to that effect. Or, visit my blog: http://winerush.blogspot.com/

I also wanted to take the opportunity to give you all an update on our summer bikes trips...First off, thank you to all of you for your enthusiasm for this venture...it has been nothing short of humbling...

Although we have received a lot of interest in the trips, we have had very few bookings. In light of that, we have decided to consolidate our summer month trips to the one starting July 12th, and we will keep the September date open for the time being. The July trip will be a little different than originally planned...We will be doing the whole route, but with family and friends on a cost basis...If you would like to join us...give us a call.

Best Regards...

Keith

Wine Recommendations: May 3rd, 2009

2009-05-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

Good day everyone,

First off, a big welcome to more than 1/2 a dozen members of the Kamloops Winemakers Association. I really appreciated receiving your requests to be included in my wine updates. It looks like you are all having a great time making wine and sharing your knowledge. Thanks Bob for your initiative on this...Anyone interested in what these folks are up to can visit their website at: www3.telus.net/kwa.

I have a bit of a mixed bag for you today. Some recent tastings and a few of the wines I tried quite some time ago, and put them on hold for the report on the Thetis Island wine tasting event.

Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Western Cape, South Africa
Price: $10
UPC 06001108004031
Score: 86/100
Remarks: 'Bright grassy pink grapefruit notes with a touch of minerality'. A delicious Sauvignon Blanc. I goes nicely on it own, and is very food friendly...great price also. Readily available in BC...

Michel Torino Cuma Organic Malbec 2008, Cafayate, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, Argentina
Price $13
UPC 7790189040142
Score: 85/100
Remarks: 'Fresh, supple, round plum and cherry fruit'. We had this with friends a few weeks ago with spaghetti...fabulous. Again a great price. Another organic wine and readily available in the organic section of the LCB. The mate to the white version I sent around in November.

Bollini Pinot Grigio, 2007, Italy
Price: $18.99
UPC: 611723
Score: A pair of -A's from the wine guys, Kenji Hodgson and James Nevison. 87/100 Anthony Gismondi
Remarks: 'Fantastic intensity and a balanced finish bookend this floral citrus, and apple skin beauty'. Ellen and I tried this last month, as a before dinner wine. Really good. We picked up, grapefruit, lime and peach notes as well as the good balanced acidity.

FAMIGLIA BIANCHI MALBEC 2005, SAN RAFAEL, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
Price: $20
UPC: 7790703167645
Score: 89/100
Remarks: 'More of a new World Style versus Euro but should have plenty of fans'. We had this with spaghetti, with one of my brothers and sister-in-laws, which was great. However, it would go really nicely with a nice BBQ steak as well. Rich, soft on the entry, with spicey blackberry flavours, it got better and better as the meal progressed...

La Bastide (Rouge) Syrah-Grenache-Carignan 2007, France
Price: $10
UPC: 003368680002293
Score: 86/100
Remarks: 'A blend of Syrah, grenache and carignan from the Languedoc, the palate is but elegant, with spicy blackcherry, licorice, mineral and dried herb flavours'. We had this with friends on Thetis the other night, and it paired well with the lasagna, and was a big hit with everyone at the dinner table. This wine is solid value, and a good wine to have on hand when your grown up children arrive for dinner, and it appears to be readily available.

Domaine du Tariquet Sauvignon 2007, France
Price: $15
UPC: 3359880123314
Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'The nose is a mix of bright 'sauvignon' fruits - kiwi, passion fruit, lemon and limes with floral mineral notes and crisp acidity'. We enjoyed this wine with the girls and some of their friends the other night with fresh steamed manila clams...a fabulous white wine...

A quick reminder that I post all of these on my blog. www.winerush.blogspot.com and welcome all followers. Also, if you do not want to receive these notes anymore, just send me a note back...

Best Regards and Enjoy.

Keith

Keith Rush

Get Outside Trips
Cell: 604.889.5357
Off: 604.913.3192
keith@getoutsidetrips.com
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Wine Course at Thetis Island and Easter wines...Apr 4th, 2009

2009-04-13T17:36:00.000-07:00

Easter Greetings;

I had the privilege last Saturday of putting on a two hour wine presentation at the Thetis Island Community Hall. It was part of what we call on the Island a 'Neighbour to Neighbour' series. Thanks again to Bev Greene, of Thetis Island, for suggesting the presentation and for all her work to set it up. We had a great turn out of about 25 folks...including Kelsey, and her boyfriend Rafael, and Monica, with her boyfriend Eric. Ellen was a great assistant, running the PowerPoint presentation.

It was a very enjoyable and fun afternoon, please see attached PowerPoint presentation.

One of the highlights was pealing a grape and eating the flesh first and then the skin...and noticing the acidity (in the flesh) and tannins (in the skin). Then, by comparison, we tasted a whole grape and got a sense of the 'balance' of grapes.

But that wasn't near as much fun as the wine tasting part. The group was just clamouring to get on with the tasting, and were mortified when I told they could not swallow any wine until all of them had been tasted. Yes, we all had little spittoons to spit into.

We tasted a New Zealand Riesling, a Spanish Rosé and a California Zinfandel. Please see the notes below...but before you read that...

Here are some Easter dinner wine ideas...Red: Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Merlot; White: Viognier, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer...

Villa Maria Riesling Private Bin 2006

Price: BC $17.95

UPC: 9414416216077

Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'The fruit comes from two distinct regions in Marlborough: the higher plains of the Awatere Valley and the old river bed of the Wairau Valley. Lime, floral, smoky slate, green apple, peach pit aromas. Round, fresh, crisp, moderately dry and elegant palate. Slate, lime, green apple skin, guava, light diesel and nectarine flavours. Good intensity, aftertaste, balance and very good value'. This was a great start to the tasting...the apple and peach flavours jumped out of the glass. This would go very well with your Easter dinner.

Torres De Casta Rosé 2006
Prices: $12.99 (I managed to get it on sale at $9.99)

UPC: 08410113002020
87/100
Remarks: 'The Torres pink is masterful blend of garnacha tinta and cariñena begun in 1941. The nose is clean and fresh, bursting with black raspberry and cherry scents. On the palate it is agreeably round and crisp with the perfect touch of sweetness. Floral raspberry fruit flavours hold your interest throughout. Perfect with a salade niçoise or corn on the cob'. Once I showed everyone how to cleanse their 'nose', by smelling their shirtsleeves, (no not under your arm, but the crook of your sleeve) we were off on the second tasting. A delicious 'pink' wine that is very affordable.

WINGNUT ZINFANDEL 2006, CALIFORNIA

Price: $19 Available at Everything Wine...

UPC: 894509005105

Score: 88/100 (for the '05 vintage)

Remarks: 'The ’06 version is much like the ’05 if not a touch fresher and maybe a bit glossier. The fruit is spicy and warm with mixing black cherry jam, cedar, sweet plums and vanilla with a dusting of tobacco in the end. A fun hedonistic style that offers fair value'. This was the third wine served and almost everyone really enjoyed it. I even heard some folks say it was the best of the day. A good bet for that Easter turkey.

Remember, if you do not want to receive these notes anymore, just send me a quick note back...

Have a great weekend...

Keith

Keith Rush

Get Outside Trips

Cell: 604.889.5357

Off: 604.913.3192

keith@getoutsidetrips.com

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The Three Types of Wine...Mar 2nd, 2009

2009-03-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

Greetings.

Today, I would like to share with you some information from my recent wine course.

In this complex world of wine, wine can be broken down into three types wine, light, sparkling or fortified. These three types are further broken down by the style of wine, such as red, white or rosé...then either dry, medium or sweet, and finally light, medium or full bodied.

I have selected a sample of each type for you to try.

The first type is LIGHT WINE: The majority of wines fall in to this category. These are what you normally think of when someone says 'wine'. They are still, that is not sparkling or fizzy, and are between 8 - 15% alcohol by volume. Many light wines are named after the region they are produced in; such as Bordeaux and Burgundy from France, Rioja from Spain and Chianti from Italy. New world wines from countries like Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and Canada are often labelled with the name of the grape, such as Chardonnay or Syrah.

Chono Reserva Syrah 2006, Elqui Valley, Chile

Price: $18

UPC: 07804606220229

Score: 89/100

Remarks: 'Good intensity and balance with a smooth finish. Attractive style'. To me, this is an outstanding Syrah, soft round and supple on the pallet, good acidity and the tannins were not overpowering. We had it with BBQ chicken, which was a fantastic pairing. I have seen it in Nanaimo and West Vancouver. An example of a dry, full bodied red wine.

The second type of wine is SPARKLING WINE: These are wines where bubbles of carbon dioxide gas have been trapped in the wine. Often seen as the wine of celebration, it's best known (and usually most expensive) example is Champagne from France. Other examples are Cava from Spain (see below) and Asti from Italy (which, by the way, is sweet), but sparkling wine is made all over the world. My first encounter with sparkling wine came when a group of us from Howe Sound Secondary School went to Expo 67 in Montreal...no one seemed to mind selling 'Champagne' to 15 year olds, which was fine by us...

Segura Viudas Lavit Rosado Brut Cava N/VPenedès, Catalunya, Spain

Prices: $17.99

UPC: 033293653004
Score: 87/100

Remarks: 'Consistent year after year with an attractive coppery salmon colour. Fresh cherry, red apple, toasty, mineral fruit notes with nutty streak. Serve at most any occasion with or without food'. We had this with Ellen's brother and sister in law on Valentines Day as an aperitif with brochette and cheese done in the oven. Fabulous. An example of a dry, medium bodied rosé.

The third type of wine is FORTIFIED WINE: These are also known as 'liqueur' wines, which means that the wines have had extra alcohol added to them and there for have higher alcohol levels of 15 - 22%. Examples of fortified wines include Port from Portugal (see below). With Port, the fermentation of the wine is halted with the introduction of alcohol part way through, so it remains sweet. Sherry from Spain on the other hand is fermented out to dry and then has the alcohol added. Hence, you can get either dry or sweet Sherry.

Warre's Warrior Special Reserve N/V, Douro Valley, Portugal

Price: $21.49

UPC: 5010867100336

Score: 91/100

Remarks: 'Warre's Warrior Special Reserve is the oldest mark of Port having been shipped continuously since the 1750s. It's still being made the same way - aged in seasoned oak casks for four to five years before being drawn off and bottled following a light filtration. Like all the wood ports in this category Warrior Special Reserve is ready to drink sans decanting. Look for dark, intense ripe prune fruit and a strong cocoa powder flavour. Not as sweet as the Graham's and not as dry as the Dow. A pleasing fireside sipper — break out the toasted walnuts'.

We had this with a delicious cheese cake and dark chocolate. The pairing of the Port and the dessert was exquisite...An example of a sweet, full bodied red wine.

I hope that you enjoy these wines...

Keith

Keith Rush

Get Outside Trips

Cell: 604.889.5357

Off: 604.913.3192

keith@getoutsidetrips.com

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Odds and Ends...My wine course, New Releases, and Sulphites...Feb 11th, 2009

2009-02-13T09:37:00.000-08:00

Good morning everyone,

A few odds and ends that I didn't have room for in my last note...

I have had a few inquiries about the wine course that I was taking. The course finished up last week and it was fantastic. I would highly recommend it. It was a five session introductory course held at the Art Institute in Vancouver. Here is the the website. http://www.winecollege.ca/

I did the level 1, Foundation in Wine and Spirit service. One of the things I learned was just how much I didn't know about wine. It was quite humbling...The instructor was super enthusiastic and the classes were fun. Every class we tried different wines, for example, at our first class we tried a white, red and rose, a learned how to write a tasting note. As we tried each wine, we were not permitted to swallow the wine, as it destroys your pallet for the next wine. We had to spit into the spittoons, which was totally OK...in fact I found I could detect more nuances through smelling the wine than putting it in my mouth. We spent a lot of time on food and wine pairing which was very intriguing. I have a whole new appreciation for that part of wine/food enjoyment...More on that with each edition.

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I wanted to get the next two picks out in a timely manner as they will be in select LCB locations at the end of the isles' for the next two months. A good bet is any location with a good selection of wine. Park Royal, Prince George, Nanaimo, and Victoria will likely have them. So far I have only tried a couple of them, and I think you will enjoy them...

Michel Torino Cuma Organic Torrontés 2008, Cafayate, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, Argentina

Price: $13

UPC 7790189040074

Score: 87/100

Remarks: 'Roses, jasmine and nectarine skins assault the senses'. A very interesting white wine at a good price. Floral notes on the nose, with plenty of fruit. Young bright and aromatic, CUMA means 'bright and pure', both viticulture and winemaking at Cuma meet certified organic guidelines. Good value even for all of my younger followers...

Graham Beck Shiraz - Viognier 2006, Coastal Region, South Africa

Price: $15

UPC 006004867000917

Score: 88/100 and also 88/100 Wine Access International Value Wine Awards

Remarks: 'Smoky, resin, peppery, sausage meat mixed with ripe fruit'. Blackberries on the nose as well as leather notes. This is a big full bodied wine with 15% ABV, so it goes well with 'big' meat dishes (this is pairing the weight of the wine to the weight of the dish), and will benefit from some aeration or splashing prior to drinking. This was even enjoyed by my Chardonnay only girl.

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On another note, I have been asked on occasion about sulphites in wine. I pulled all of the below from Lisa Shea's website,(http://www.wineintro.com/glossary/s/sulfites.html ) because all that I know about sulphites is that back in the early 80's when I made wine, I always used a sulphite solution to sterilize our carboys, wine jugs, and bottles prior to bottling...and still managed a first place prize at the world famous Cowichan Valley Fall Fair for my Zinfandel wine. An interesting read...especially the part on dried apricots, which we have around the house always...

What Are Sulphites?
Sulphites are a naturally occurring compound that nature uses to prevent microbial growth. They are found on grapes, onions, garlic, and on many other growing plants. No wine can ever be "sulphite free", since they come in with the grapes.

The easy way to see if sulphites are a problem are for you is to eat a food high in natural sulphites - say, dried apricots. On average, 2oz of dried apricots have 10 times the sulphites as a glass of wine does. If you eat those apricots and have a reaction, now you know it's time to talk with a doctor.

Why Add Sulphites to Wine?
Winemakers have been adding additional sulphites to wines for millennia. The Greeks and Romans used sulphur candles to sterilize their wine barrels and amphorae. Sulphur protects damage to the wine by oxygen, and again helps prevent organisms from growing in the wine. This allows the wine to "last longer" too, which lets it age and develop all of those complex flavors we all love and enjoy so much. If you didn't add sulphites, the wine would turn into vinegar in a matter of months.

What's the Problem with Sulphites?
Sulphite allergies are a problem for some wine drinkers, just like some people are very allergic to peanuts. Humans can be allergic to just about anything. For people who have a sulphite sensitivity, the sulphites can lead to serious headaches. White wines have more sulphites than red wines, so this can be a way to determine if sulphites might be the problem. Sulphites, used improperly, can also give a rotten-egg smell to a wine. There is no consensus on any other problems caused by sulphites.

What's Different about a Wine Without Added Sulphites?
A wine without added sulphites might be drinkable by those with only a mild allergy to sulphites. These people might be OK with the "natural sulphites" but have a reaction when they have a wine with "added in sulphites". Remember that a wine without added sulphites cannot last long, however. Usually 18 months is the longest a sulphite-free wine would survive. This includes the time the wine spent at the winery, at the wine shop as well as in your basement! So while no-sulphites-added is fine for "drink young" wines like Chardonnay, it would not be good for a "drink in a year" wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon.

How does a Winery Create Wine Without Adding Sulphites?
Again, this is only for wines that will be drunk very quickly. The winery has to make sure to warn people to drink it soon, so they do not get vinegar when they open the bottle. The second issue is that sulphites help to keep wild organisms in the winery from harming the wine. So if a winery isn't going to use sulphites, they have to make sure their winery is *super* clean and sterile.

So the trick is for the winery to prevent contamination from occurring, without using additional sulphites to do this. Some use a layer of carbon dioxide on the wine to kill off oxygen-dependant microbes. Nitrogen gas is used during bottling, for the same reason. Also, sterile filtration is an important step. All equipment involved - tanks, barrels, pipes, must be kept perfectly clean at all times. This is a lengthy and meticulous process for a winery to follow. The bottle of wine then needs to be stored chilled and on its side.

How Free is Sulphite Free?
The ATF, the governing body for wineries in the US, allows wineries to call a wine sulphite free when the levels of sulphites are under 10 parts per million (ppm). This is much lower than many sulphite-rich foods like dried apricots.

Enjoy and you can always look at back editions on my blog: http://winerush.blogspot.com/

Keith

An Eclectic Bunch of Wines to try...Feb 9th, 2009

2009-02-10T06:47:00.000-08:00

Good Evening Folks...

I hope you have all had a great weekend...

Some of today's picks are a little different. The Cab from Israel and the white from Portugal come to mind, so have fun.

On another note, I read with interest the Gismondi on Wine article in Saturday morning's paper. Research released by the French wine fair VinExpo, and its UK research partner the IWSR indicates the Canadian wine market is growing three times faster than the world market, in terms of retail sales. The report entitled Current Trends in the International Wine and Spirits Market and Outlook to 2012 was released last week by VinExpo officials. I am not going to let on that it is this wine email that has made the difference...At last count the over 265 subscribers are enjoying high quality wine at very reasonable prices...and it is showing in Canadian wine sales...

Please see additional comments in the Remarks section under each label...

Gail Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Upper Galilee, Galilee, Israel

Price: $18

UPC 00736040014270

Score: 87/100

Remarks: 'Round, supple, forward style with cassis, plums and olive flavours'. We had this at a friends dinner party just before Christmas. Roast chicken was the main course and it went well with that and was enjoyed by all who had a chance to taste it. This would be a real head turner at your next dinner invitation.

Quintay Cava Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile

Price: $15

UPC 07804613410019

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'Grapefruit rind, mineral, passion fruit aromas with a touch of lemon'. A delicious Sauvignon Blanc. Great for fish dishes, chicken, grilled vegetable salads, or just on its own. Under screw-cap it stays fresh all year long and offers terrific value.

Jean Bousquet Malbec (Organic Grapes) 2007, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina

Price: $17

UPC 0879716000013

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'Black cherry, savoury, liquorice, mineral, mocha flavours. Fine value.' An organically grown Malbec. We had friends over for dinner prior to Christmas, and they had this and another bottle hidden inside paper bags...I had to guess what the wines were. I got as far as a Malbec...but that was it. The other was homemade...Anyway I digress, the wine was fabulous...

Mission Hill Sauvignon Blanc Five Vineyards 2007, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Price: $14

UPC 00776545988935

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'Fresh and clean and zippy with bits of kiwi fruit, pear and gooseberry.' A fantastic local Sauvignon Blanc, with good acidity. Acidity is what makes your mouth water, and gives the wine the fresh, clean zesty taste. Excellent as a pre-dinner drink, but also think, white meats, white sauces and white fish. At $14 this is a steal...

Gatao Vinho Verde N/V, Northern Portugal

Price $11.00

UPC 05601129032115

Score 86/100

Remarks: 'Delicate, easy-sipping, apéritif white. Good value'. Ellen and I really enjoyed this light, slightly fizzy, low alcohol (9%) before dinner wine. We had it with crackers and cheese, but it is delicious on its own. It has super green apple and citrus flavours. We served at a party at the girls house in Nanaimo last week and it was a big hit with all who tried it...

Remember, if you have folks that you would like me to add to the list, just send me their name and email address.

Conversely, if you would like to be taken off the list just send me a note back.

Fond Regards, and Enjoy...

Keith

New Years Budget Wines...Jan 13th, 2009

2009-01-13T22:18:00.000-08:00

New Years Greetings...to all of you.

I hope that you had a wonderful Holiday Season.

Ellen and I spent the holidays on Thetis Island under a blanket of snow. Kelsey and Monica came over for about 5 days around Christmas. We had a fabulous time together, cooking, baking, exercising, tasting wine, polar bear swimming and...get this, watching the first season of 24. Kels had started watching the series when she was in Montreal earlier in December...Ellen and I haven't watched the series...and now we are all hopelessly hooked...

On another note I have started a wine course at the Art Institute in Vancouver. I have been to two evening classes and am finding it so interesting. In learning all the nuances of wine making, tasting, wine regions, and wine varieties one gets an appreciation of how little one knows of this huge world wide industry...It has been a truly fascinating experience...More to come as I learn more...

For those of you who missed it...I have posted my recommendations on a blogsite at www.winerush.blogspot.com go take a look...

Now on to the wines...All these wines are readily available in BC and the US and are all under $11 Canadian.

I have departed slightly from some of my requirements for the first two wines from BAREFOOT. There is no score or vintage...Having said that, I believe that currently there is good flavour and value, for those of you looking for an inexpensive sipper...

BAREFOOT PINOT GRIGIO, California

Price: $9.99

Score: N/A

Year: N/A

Remarks: Recommended by the Wine Guys (James & Kenji) in their recent book 'had a glass, top 100 wines for 2009, under $20', (please see photo below of the cover). '...a vibrant pear skin and apple swigger with an easygoing finish. This is fun, accessible wine at a very accessible price, a winning combo every time', and is perfect with poultry, seafood, fresh veggies, mild cheeses and Asian cuisine

BAREFOOT CHARDONNAY, California

Price: $9.99

Score: N/A

Year: N/A

Remarks: Ellen loves this inexpensive mid-week Chardonnay, and I tend to agree with her. 'Medium weight, creamy texture, tropical (pineapple) fruit complemented by fresh Fuji apple with sweet vanilla aromatics and is perfect with seafood, poultry, fresh fruits, white sauce pastas and mild cheeses.'

FINCA LOS PRIMOS. Malbec 2007, Argentina

Price: $10

UPC: 07790703167195

Score: 87/100; 89/100 Wine Access

Remarks: The tannins are soft, the textures supple. This is a category champion at Wine Access Magazine's International Value Wine Awards. 'Another good value from Los Primos. This is simple straight up Malbec with primary black cherry, savoury aromas and a warm soft slippery palate. More smoky black fruit with bits of liquorice and tobacco. An inexpensive party red that delivers vintage after vintage.'

CASTILLO de MONSERAN 2006 Garnacha, Spain

Price: $10.99

UPC: 3378630306227

Score: 87/100 for the '04 and '05 vintage. 89/100 for the '06 vintage from Wine Access.

Remarks: 'Much like the previous version this grapey garnacha with the aromatic nose makes the most of its 50 to 100 year-old fruit, from Cariñena, Spain. Soft fruity meaty spicy black fruit flavours come with a dash of acidity at the end. This is an easy sipping red made for hamburgers, beef ribs, and or chicken'. This wine also is a category champion (red single varieties) at the Wine Access Magazine's IVW Awards. 'The garnacha (grenache) grape here is ripe and sun drenched, but still stays remarkably fresh. A spring-like bouquet that blends black cherry and raspberry, dark flowers, all macerated in eau-de-vie, with a refreshing mineral quality. A river of kirsch flowing over a rocky bed. It's light and delicate texture contrast nicely with a long and persistent mix of wild berries and a hint of black liquorice, with just enough tannin to allow it to work with a number of possible plates. Serve it slightly chilled'. Great value...

This is a delightfully helpful wine guidebook...for $19.95. It has great sections on tasting, buying and enjoying wine as well as a recipe section and recommendations for over 100 wines.

Enjoy...

Keith

Recent tastings...just in time for Christmas (Dec 12th, 2008)

2008-12-12T17:17:00.000-08:00

Christmas Greetings Everyone...

A number of selections here for you to have a look at. All of them will serve you well over the Christmas season. I have added some additional wine suggestions in the remarks section under each wine. I have not tried all of those...but have them there on good authority.

Be sure to shop early as I find the selection gets a little thin as we get closer to Christmas week...

I have posted my most recent wine picks on my facebook page and have started a blog site, which you can find it at www.winerush.blogspot.com

Now on to the wines...

WINGNUT ZINFANDEL 2006, CALIFORNIA

Price: $19 Available at Everything Wine...

UPC: 894509005105

Score: 88/100 (for the '05 vintage)

Remarks: Good solid fruity earthy Zin for the money and well-balanced. We had this the other weekend with friends from the Difference Engine. As a pre-dinner aperitif with with crackers and strong cheese...it was delicious.

A couple of other zinfandel suggestions: Painter Bridge (about $14); Shenandoah an organic wine (about $20); Cline (about $20); 7 Deadly Zins (about $27), all from California, and all readily available in BC.

Some other red varietals that may interest you: Santa Rita Reserva Pinot Noir, from Chile ($15); perfect for your Christmas Turkey, Finca Los Primos Malbec from Argentina ($10); LoTengo Malbec from Argentina ($14); Jean Bousquet Malbec (organic grapes) from Argentina ($17); Espelt Saulo Garnacha from Spain ($15).

BLUE NUN RIESLING 2007, RHEINHESSEN, GERMANY

Price: $11

UPC: 4022025390030

Score: 87/100 and 89/100 from Wine Access

Remarks: Perfect for take-out Thai or Chinese. This is a category champion from the recent Wine Access Magazine's International Value Wine Awards. 'This wine has terrific varietal character and the Germanic hallmark of precisely balanced fruity ac

idity. Expressive lemon-lime and peach fruit punctuated by jazzy acid for a cleansing finish, this Riesling punches well above its weight'. A delicious pre-dinner wine.

Some other suggestions in this type of wine: Cono Sur Gewürztraminer from Chile ($11); Villa Maria Riesling from New Zealand($16); Cedar Creek Gewürztraminer from BC, ($18). Some other cool aromatic whites that may interest you; Castillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc (Castle of the Devil), from Chile ($13); Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva from Chile ($12); Mission Hill Sauvignon Blanc Five Vineyards from BC, ($16).

ANAKENA VIOGNIER 2007, CHILE
Price: $15.95

UPC: 07809539100006
Score: 88/100 (for the '06 vintage)
'This is quintessential cool-climate New World Viognier from Chile’s Rapel Valley. Love the ginger melon mineral nose, the dry palate with mineral honey pink grapefruit notes and the general vibrancy of this wine'. We had this the other night with friends...it paired deliciously with BBQ pork. We also had this last year with our Christmas turkey and it was fabulous. A couple of other Viognier's for you to look for: Yalumba Y Series from Australia ($18), Clay Station from California ($20), Cono Sur Limited Reserve from Chile ($11).

J. LOHR SEVEN OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2006

Price: $23.00 over my limit...but what the heck

UPC: 089121288122

Score: 88/100 (for the '05 vintage) 88/100 for the '06 vintage from wine access

Remarks: This one is for Randy...who has been known to ask why I never review cabs. This is also a category champion from the wine access awards. 'With beautifully designed fruity aromas on the nose, devoid of either over-maturity or herbaceous notes on the palette, this generous and fleshy wine offers plenty of red fruits wrapped with an elegant touch of oak. Harmonious yet well structured, you can drink it now or easily hold 3 to 4 years'. We had this the other night with one of my brothers and family with beef bourguignon...delicious.

Some other cabs you may want to check out this holiday season are: Galil Mountain from Israel ($18); Finca Los Primos from Argentina ($10); Columbia Crest from Washington State ($16) and Jean Bousquet from Argentina ($16).

WENTE MORNING FOG CHARDONNAY 2005, CALIFORNIA

Price: $18

UPC: 00089636190002

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'Morning Fog is a good example of the new California chardonnay. It has all the ripeness, honey and spicy tropical fruit notes but with much better acidity and verve. The flavours are fresh and clean with a nutty citrus green apple finish. An affordable fun white wine that will have broad appeal'. We have enjoyed this Chardonnay often, most recently at one of our nieces 21st birthday party.

A few others to complete your list: Castillero del Diablo (Castle of the Devil), which an in house favourite, from Chile ($13); Cono Sur also from Chile ($14.50); and east across the Andes is Alamos Chardonnay from Argentina ($15).

Merry Christmas to all of you and Best Wishes for the New Year...

Keith

Three wines to try (Dec 2nd, 2008)

2008-12-05T11:16:00.000-08:00

Good evening folks,

First of all, welcome to all the new folks on the list.

Below you will find another interesting variety of choices to try. There is even one from France.

DOURTHE NO 1 SAUVIGNON BLANC 20TH ANNIVERSARY 2007, BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Price: $18

UPC: 3258691241067

Score: 88/100

Remarks: The Dourthe No 1 Sauvignon Blanc 20th Anniversary 2007 is from Bordeaux France. This wine is cool, calm and sophisticated. We enjoyed this as a pre-dinner drink with snacks. Even my resident 'Chardonnay only girl' loved this wine. It goes well with grilled chicken or fish dishes. It was a bit of a challenge to find...eventually found it in Nanaimo...worth the effort...enjoy.

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CEDARCREEK CLASSIC SERIES MERLOT 2006, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Price: $20

UPC: 7789130365538

Score: 88/100

Remarks: This is a delicious, well-made merlot. Goes well with almost any meat dinner, and is good just by itself. A readily available BC wine.

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KAIKEN MALBEC 2007, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

Price: $18.99 at Everything Wine in North Vancouver

UPC: 715126550012

Score: 89/100 (for the '06 vintage)

Remarks: I looked for the '06 vintage for a long time...and had to settle for the '07. We had it the other night with relatives. Rich, savoury and elegant flavours went well with our chicken dinner.

Enjoy

Keith

Three red wines...for a change (Nov 8th, 2008)

2008-12-05T11:04:00.000-08:00

Good morning...

After the last few predominantly white wine choices, it is time for some red wine...All three have been taste tested and offer an interesting array of prices and grapes. Some of you may have seen these before in previous editions. For additional comments on each of the wines, please see the remarks under each label.

Canada's Wine Access Magazine has just released its Guide to the 'Best Wines under $25'...So over the next few months expect to see some suggestions from that remarkable exercise. The judges looked at 1050 different wines from around the world that are available in Canada. The winners are separated into various categories like 'the top 25 killer values, top reds and whites under $15, and then are categorized by varieties. All very interesting and more to come later...

Finca Flichman Malbec, Oak Aged 2007, Mendoza, Argentina

Price: $10

UPC: 7790470080222

Score: 86/100

Remarks: The best of recent vintages. A great tasting inexpensive red that you can serve liberally around the BBQ, and it goes well with pizza, chicken or spaghetti. Ellen, who unfortunately red wine does not agree with, likes this Malbec. If you are looking to give it an even more mature flavour try decanting or splashing (take a little out of the bottle, put the cork back in and shake vigorously) it prior to drinking.

Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2007, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile

Price: $11

UPC: 7804320753454

Score: 86/100

Remarks: A great value Pinot Noir at an affordable price. Look for a spicy earthy forest floor nose with bits of liquorice root and pepper. Expect a tart, black cherry fruit flavour mid-palate with more spice and mushroom in the finish. It is readily available in BC and I even saw a few bottles in the States. We tried this with BBQ chicken, and worked well.

Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2007, Coastal Region, South Africa

Price: $18

UPC: 746925000786

Score: 87/100

Remarks: Fresh, round, supple palate with smoked meat and cherry jam flavours. This is consistently a very good wine and is now under a screw cap, which will add to its reliability. A great wine to take to dinner invitation...

Nice buck outside of our carport at Thetis...

Thanks again to all of you who send me a note back...I really appreciate it.

Keith

Chardonnay...(Oct 30th, 2008)

2008-12-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

Good Evening...

My apologies for the lack of activity over the last little while. Ellen and I have just returned from three weeks in California. We drove down the Oregon and northern California coast to attend the Elevate Film Festival in Los Angeles, which was an incredible experience. On our way back we had a week of meetings in Ojai, and then drove up through the wine country of Santa Barbara, Paso Robles and Napa. Along the way we had a great visit with dear friends and enjoyed a fabulous bottle (or two) of Turley Zinfandel (Thanks Chris and Sharon). More on the Zin in a subsequent note...The whole trip was a thoroughly memorable experience...

So, on to the wines...It is a bit of an international trio, and a full range of prices...All of these have been approved by my resident chardonnay critic. Please see some additional remarks under each label.

CONO SUR CHARDONNAY 2007, CHILE

Price: $14.50

UPC: 7804320242699

Score: 88/100

Remarks: Excellent finesse, light, zesty and killer value...This is a vineyard in transition to organic agriculture, which will please many our organically minded recipients.

RODNEY STRONG CHARDONNAY CHALK HILL 2006, SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Price: $23 (over my limit, but well worth it)

UPC: 087512923256

Score: 91/100

Remarks: Consistent and good value, and delicious. It made it into the Wine Access magazines International Value Wine Awards (IVWA) for the best wines sold in Canada under $25. During our tour of California, I noticed that this was readily available...for all of our US friends.

MISSION HILL CHARDONNAY RESERVE 2006, OKANAGAN VALLEY

Price: $20

UPC: 00776545995780

Score: 88/100

Remarks: Buttery, tangerine, pineapple, vanilla, grapefruit rind flavours. A great BC Chardonnay that is readily available.

I really enjoy receiving comments and feedback from you folks...so keep them coming.

If you know of anyone who would like to be included, just let me know and I can add them. The more the merrier...

Enjoy...

Keith

Ellen in Calistoga

A visit with St. Hallett's Senior Winemaker Stuart Blackwell, and three wines to try (Sep 20th, 2008)

2008-12-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon folks,

On a recent trip to Vancouver, Ellen and I attended a wine tasting at Everything Wine in North Vancouver. The event featured wine of the Australian winery St. Hallett. The bonus of this evening was the presence of St. Hallett's Senior Winemaker, Stuart Blackwell. It was the end of a long day for him, and he was able to spend some real quality time with us on some of the nuances of the Poacher's Blend Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (which is a real favourite of mine). How well it goes with Thai food for example and how they are working towards lowering the alcohol content, as well as the fact that it contains a small proportion of Riesling...that gives it an unusual twist, with a crisp citrus finish. Thanks again Stuart for your kind attention...and for signing our bottle!!!

Now to the wines...both of the St Hallett wines were taste tested at the Everything Wine event.

As mentioned the Poacher's Blend Semillon Sauvignon is a real favourite of mine. It goes well with almost any kind of food, and is particularly good with appetizers and as mentioned Thai food. It is widely available, in BC. (86/100, $14.50)

St. Hallett Poacher’s Blend Semillon Sauvignon 2007
Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia
Produced By: St. Hallett Wines
Distributed By: Select Wine Merchants
Score: 86/100
Price: $14.50
Grassy, spicy, ginger, melon rind, fig, grapefruit, jalapeno aromas. Fresh, round, crisp, slightly sweet entry and lighter style. Grapefruit rind, grassy, butter, gooseberry, ginger flavours. Easy going food style.
UPC: 9316920000329
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Every Poacher needs a Gamekeeper. The Gamekeeper's Reserve is packed with Shiraz and Grenache, and includes a tiny portion of Touriga Nacional, which gives it its spicy finish. Goes well with tapas or chorizo. Also widely available in BC. (87/100, $14.50)

St. Hallett Gamekeeper's Reserve 2007
Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia
Produced By: St. Hallett Wines
Distributed By: Select Wine Merchants
Score: 87/100
Price: $14.50
Warm spicy earthy tea aromas with bits of black fruit and raspberry. The entry is warm and soft with pronounced acidity throughout. The flavours combine blueberries, liquorice root and smoky, lifted black raspberry notes. Simple straight ahead red wine.
UPC: 9316920000077

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We really enjoyed the Seaglass Sauvignon Blanc (once we found it at Everything Wine in North Vancouver).
Had it with appetizers on the beach, celebrating our girls 22nd birthday...September 17th...
Seaglass, which we call beachglass holds a special place of honour in our household!

SeaGlass 2007 Sauvignon Blanc
Santa Barbara, California
Score: B+ (from the wine guys)
Price: $17.99 available at Everything Wine
Grapefruit and tropical notes jump aromatically out of the glass.
Great texture and character, all bottled up with a classy label.
With a screw cap to ensure consistency.
Code: 783241

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Enjoy...

Best Regards

Keith

I am always interested to get your feedback...Thanks.

September 15th full moon set over Ladysmith, taken from Thetis Island...

BC Pinot Gris/Grigio...and a Gewurzt (Sep 5th, 2008)

2008-12-04T07:35:00.000-08:00

Greetings...

First of all, welcome to all of the new folks on the list, and thank you to all who gave me an update on your personal lives and your wine preferences. I am really excited to have you on board. Next, my apologies to all of my American and International friends who will have a little harder time finding these BC wines.

Now to the wines...As summer has returned to BC, I wanted to get this out in time for you to enjoy one of these over the weekend.

I must admit I had a hard time finding the Herder Pinot Gris 2007. I finally found it at the Beverley Corners Liquor Store in Duncan. It was worth the effort. A delicious before dinner wine that we enjoyed with snacks on the deck. The honey lemon citrus aromas and flavours really come through. (89/100, $19)

HERDER PINOT GRIS 2007, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

Price: $19

UPC: 814372000304

Score: 89/100

Remarks: Fresh lip-smacking style. Very well done.

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The Sandhill Pinot Gris King Valley Family Vineyard 2007, is, from I can see readily available in BC. This is a delicious fresh and lively wine. The green apple skins and citrus notes are evident front to back. Another great summer sipper. (88/100, $18)

SANDHILL PINOT GRIS KING FAMILY VINEYARD 2007, OKANAGAN VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

Price: $18

UPC: 00058976500048

Score: 88/100

Remarks: Grassy, nutty, lemon-lime palate that persists from front to back.

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I first tried the Gray Monk Gewürztraminer last year and was so impressed with it that I thought I would give the 2007 vintage a go this year. This vintage may not quite be up to the '06 version, but is still a delightful effort. It was fabulous with crackers and cheese, and fresh cherry (Sweet Million) tomatoes from the garden.

Gray Monk Gewürztraminer 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Score: 86/100

Prices: BC $16.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Spicy, floral, green apple, grapefruit, fruit salad nose.

Fresh, round, light bodied style with some sweetness but decent acidity.

Grapefruit, peach skin, floral, spicy, green apple flavours. Easy going, fresh patio sipper for the summer.
UPC: 778829117093

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Enjoy your weekend...and I really appreciate any feedback or comments you may have.

Fond Regards

Keith

If you want to be taken off my list, just send me a quick email...

Super Sauvignon's and a Rosé (Aug 29th, 2008)

2008-12-03T21:53:00.000-08:00

Greetings Folks,

I hope you are all having a great summer...

Well, I am trying a little different approach to the whole label thing...or 'thang' as Robb says. I have taken photo's of the tested labels and inserted them my email document. I am hoping that this will be easier for you all to take with you when you are shopping for that special bottle of wine. Also, the email size will be smaller...

Both sauvignon's were thoroughly tested over the summer with a bunch of friends and family at Thetis. Both are produced by Vina Santa Rita and are very good value.

The Espelt Corali Rosé was a big hit with a wide variety of folks. The girls loved it as did friends of ours that have recently purchased a place on Thetis and were the unsuspecting co-testers. Goes great with smoked salmon, hummus, or what ever you are eating at the time...readily available on Vancouver Island as well.

SANTA RITA SAUVIGNON BLANC 120 2007, VALLE DEL LONTUE, VALLE DEL MAULE, CHILE

Price: $11

UPC: 89419007091

Score: 86/100

Remarks: Well-made, affordable modern sauvignon and under a screw cap...

88/100 Santa Rita Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2007
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
Produced By: Viña Santa Rita
The Santa Rita Reserva is consistently well made now with its grapefruit and cassis aromas and flavours. A true Casablanca style that makes you think New Zealand thanks to the ripe fruit, the gooseberry undercurrent and the leafy finish. Grilled prawns and a very reasonable price make this a winner.
Last Tasted: 2008-07-01 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $12.80, BC $15.00; MB $11.92; ON $12.45
UPC: 089419007138

ESPELT CORALI ROSE 2007, EMPORDE, CATALUNYA, SPAIN

Price: $16

UPC: 00805109445017

Score: 88/100

Remarks: Wow! Once you taste it, you will want another glass and another and ....

I would appreciate any feedback that you may have on the format.

Enjoy...

Keith

Rush Wines

Late Summer 2011 Wine Note

My Favourite ‘Go To’ Wines

February 2011 Wine NewsletterGreetings Folks:

Wines:

January 2011 Wine Newsletter

Christmas 2010 Wine Newsletter

November 2010 Wine Newsletter

October 2010 Wine Newsletter…

Tuesday May 18th, 2010

Wine Suggestions...for the 2010 Winter Olympics- Feb 19th, 2010

December Wines and Suggestions for Christmas...Dec 14th, 2009

Wine Access Awards and Odds 'n' Sod's, November 16th, 2009

Thanksgiving wine, some thoughts on cellaring and family update...

Four wines...Summer and Bike Trip Update...Aug 29th, 2009

More Summer Sippers...July 13th, 2009

Summer Sippers...June 4th, 2009

Wine Recommendations: May 3rd, 2009

Wine Course at Thetis Island and Easter wines...Apr 4th, 2009

The Three Types of Wine...Mar 2nd, 2009

Odds and Ends...My wine course, New Releases, and Sulphites...Feb 11th, 2009

An Eclectic Bunch of Wines to try...Feb 9th, 2009

New Years Budget Wines...Jan 13th, 2009

Recent tastings...just in time for Christmas (Dec 12th, 2008)

Three wines to try (Dec 2nd, 2008)

Three red wines...for a change (Nov 8th, 2008)

Chardonnay...(Oct 30th, 2008)

A visit with St. Hallett's Senior Winemaker Stuart Blackwell, and three wines to try (Sep 20th, 2008)

BC Pinot Gris/Grigio...and a Gewurzt (Sep 5th, 2008)

Super Sauvignon's and a Rosé (Aug 29th, 2008)

February 2011 Wine Newsletter
Greetings Folks: