- A great way to welcome guests to your home over the holidays is with a glass of bubbly. The SYL Brut is a produced in the traditional style of sparkling wine, fermented in the bottle much like the wines of the Champagne district of France. Made from 100% Chardonnay fruit with a splash of Riesling, the wine is aged in the bottle for three years thereby offering complex, multi-layered aromas of toasted bread, apple, grapefruit, pineapple and honeydew melon, pear and peach. Fresh, lively, crisp and clean on the palate with toasted oak leading to creamy tropical and citrus fruit flavours with a citrus zestiness that leads to the racy finish. Lots of depth and complexity in this wine, this is excellent with fresh oysters, smoked salmon, shellfish or simply enjoy on its own.
- The 2010 Gehringer Brothers Optimum Pinot Noir is a velvety, silky-smooth wine displaying ripe raspberry, cherry, strawberry and cassis fruit aromas with hints of sweet licorice, menthol, vanilla and new leather. Delicate notes of red and black fruit, roses, violets, hints of vanilla and smoke balance a lush and rich texture. Velvety soft acidity balanced by the medium tannins on the finish, this is a “drink-me-up” wine, not intended for aging. Just invited some friends over and enjoy. This is generous wine can stand up to a number of rich foods. Try pairing it with salmon steaks or duck Confit with garlic-mashed potatoes.
- A spectacular wine, the 2006 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Auslese Riesling is full of juicy peach, red apple and grapefruit with hints of mineral, honey and petrol. A classic Riesling in every sense of the word, this is one of the finest Rieslings on the market. Try pairing with spicy Thai or Indian fare. This wine has the potential age for 20 or 30 years. This is a great opportunity to give a rare, very special bottle of wine for Christmas to the wine aficionado in your family.
- The first time I had this wine was at proprietor Harry McWatters house in 1993 and I think it was the ’92 vintage. We had spicy chicken wings, washed down with the Gewürzt and it was a magical paring. The 2010 Sumac Ridge Private Reserve Gewürztraminer shows once again why it is one of the top selling Gewürztraminer’s in North America. Loaded with aromas of intense orange rind, ripe grapefruit, nectarine, lychee and rose petal with green apple and candied ginger, the palate is soft and lush with nectarine, peach, honey and ginger with a crisp citrusy finish. Perfect with turkey
- The 2010 Van Westen Vino Grigio is a 100% Pinot Gris displaying loads of green apple, pear, apricot, peach, nectarine, melon, fresh citrus and grapefruit characteristics. The palate is fresh and lively with crisp tropical and orchard fruit, spicy white pepper and crisp acidity.
- A classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape style blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan, the 2009 Domaine de L’Ameillaud Vin des Pays Vaucluse is, in one word, sensational. Sourced from 30-year-old vines from the Vaucluse region of Provence, the strong, cherry-jam aroma of Grenache dominates with southern French flavours of cherries and plums, highlighted by cassis, spice and white pepper. A round wine that starts with fresh fruit and finishes dry and smoky. Look for soft acidity and firm, not heavy, tannins on the finish. This wine is ready to drink now, it is a good match with a standing Rib Roast.
- The 2010 Poplar Grove Pinot Gris is a delicious, vibrant wine showcasing loads of lively tropical and orchard fruit aromas and flavours. Look for rich mango, pineapple, grapefruit, pear, and sweet apple with hints of white pepper, and creamy vanilla. Fermented all in stainless steel with no oak influence, it is dry with vibrant, crisp acidity, and a concentrated, rich, and smooth finish with great weight. Excellent wine to pair with creamy pasta sauces such as Alfredo or with grilled salmon.
- The 2010 Orofino Riesling is a great tasting Riesling, loaded with buckets of fresh green apple, lime, white peach, pear, nectarine with hints of honey, clover, orange and mango. The palate and texture is lush and juicy with intense orchard and tropical fruit and an almost creamy mouth feel due to some lees contact. The finish is tart and crisp making this a perfect wine to pair with spicy Asian dishes or Indian curries. A small production of 220 cases, this will surely be one of the finer wines from the spectacular 2006 vintage.
- The 2007 St. Urbans-Hof Riesling is a delicious wine bursting with vibrant aromas of green apple, peach, pear, apricot, nectarine, and lime with hints of tropical pineapple and grapefruit. The palate is brimming with honeyed apple, peach, pear, with a soft, luscious texture and crisp acidity on the creamy, lingering finish. Very hard not to guzzle this wine it is so decadent it has got to be the best QBA that I have had in years. One of the best value Rieslings on the planet? You decide!!
- We’ve never been big chardonnay fans, mainly because they are always over-oak, telling me that the winery is hiding a faulty wine. But the 2009 Poplar Grove Chardonnay is spectacular. I’ve recommended this before but it’s so good it needs to be repeated. Loaded with rich aromas of buttery Fuji apple, pear, pineapple, with spicy white pepper and a lush creamy palate. The texture is rich and creamy with lots of tropical and orchard fruit flavours with spicy white pepper, nutmeg, vanilla and honey. This is a rich style of Chardonnay, more in keeping with a premier cru Meursault without the $50 price tag.
Current Tweets
Tweets by FirstPressingsBrowse by month
-
Join 95 other subscribers
-
Recent Posts
firstpressings 