Here is a list of my picks for TOP BC Red Wines as of this date. This in an overall list and each wine was not only put into perspective of their overall quality but also in terms of the value they offer in respect of other BC and international wines.

#1 8th Generation 2008 Merlot - Tom in our Duncan store brought this to my attention and I am forever grateful. We tasted shortly after I arrived back from Argentina where I had tasted through a lot WOW factor wines that would land on our shelves between $17-$30. In other words I lifted the glass with the thought that there was no way this wine was going to wow me.

The nose features ripe and red plums, blueberries and hints of black pepper spice. As the aromas tail off there is a delicious and enticing hint of fresh ground coffee and dark chocolate. The nose immediately compared to a number of California, Washington State, Western Australia and Patagonian (Argentina) wines that I had recently tasted.

The palate was rich and full and it carried through the mid-palate right through the finish. This was not a donut wine as I have experienced with a few premium BC Merlots recently. The berry and plum flavours came through nicely. The spice and coffee tones also showed themselves gracefully but on the finish mostly. What really told the story of this wine to me was how the complexity unfurled itself slowly at first and then in waves with each successive taste.

After being suitably impressed and having a number of wines in my head that I thought it would compete with on a quality level, came the question that often depresses a wines score- what’s the price man? With Tom’s answer the wines score actually rose in my mind. I truly felt that this wine actually over delivered for the price and will be on my shopping list this Canada Day weekend

Price: $23.99 +deposit

Availability: good; but once this order is sold there will be no more.

Score: 7.8/$1

Competitors: This is a list of other wines from other places in the world that I felt this wine compares with or performs better than. Benziger Merlot (Ca. $29.99) Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexnadre Merlot (Chile $29.99) J Lohr Merlot (Ca. $22.99) Mollydooker Merlot (Aus. $35.99) St. Francis Merlot (Ca. $34.99) Sterling Estate Merlot (Ca. $27.99)

#2Starling Lane 2008 Marechal Foch – I have to say that this was the dark horse that I didn’t see coming up. If it was just a couple of bucks less it would have been my number 1 for sure. What really made this such a surprise is that it is made right here on Vancouver Island and that it is Marechal Foch. After first release of the Quail’s Gate Foch in the early 90’s there have been a lot of players but not many that could combine depth, complexity, acidity and avoid some of the ‘awkward’ flavours that can come through with this variety.

The nose is heaping with black plum and ripe red raspberry with highlights of violets and lavender floating over top. In fact it immediately made me think of top end Carmenere out of the Chile, Uco Valley Malbec from Argentina, and even some Barbera D’Asti from Piedmonte, Italy.

The power and the grace of this wine came on the palate. It is a big full bodied mouthful of juicy goodness. I had the bottle with friends over about a 3 hour period and it continued to wow the whole time through.

Price: $26.99

Availability: Very limited – total of maybe 10 12 bottle cases in stores for this vintage

Score: 7.5/$1

Compare to: Sebastiani Barbera (Ca. $36.98) La Spinetta Barbera D’Asti Di Piane (Italy $39.99) La Joya Carmenere Reserve (Chile $25.02) Alfiero Boffa Barbera (Italy $34.99)

#3 Mission Hill Reserve 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon – Now here is a BC wine that if placed in a blind tasting with a number of California or Coonawara Cabernet Sauvignons and not only would it show well, it would surprise a number of people that it came from BC.

The grapes sourced for this wine are from select blocks of select old vine vineyards  in the Okanagan Valley and this care in the vineyard shows through in spades.

The nose greets you with red currants and red berry fruits, a touch of dark cocao and just a hint of mint reminiscent of some Cabernet driven Bordeaux’s that are priced in the $40 range.

The palate is big and juicy and, again, if you didn’t know any better you would swear it was from California. The finish is long and juicy with some dried herbs.

Price: $21.99 +deposit

Availability: Good; we should be in stock 90% of the year.

Score: 7.3/%1

Compares with: J Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon (Cal. $22.99), Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon (Cal. $23.99  ) Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon (Cal. $22.99 ) Catena Cabernet Sauvignon (Argentina $22.99), Edge Cabernet Sauvignon (Cal. $33.99).

#4 Young & Wyse Merlot-  The former winemaker at Burrowing Owl, Stephen Wyse, set up his own project with his partner Michelle Young to produce some bold BC reds.

The nose is full of sweet raspberry & cherry fruits with a touch of mint, vanilla and dark cocoa. The palate carries the crushed berry essence of this wine right through the finish which offers some delicate vanilla and cocoa flavours. A great buy and one of the best in this price range from BC.

Price: $24.99 +deposit

Availability: Total of 1000 cases made and only a few left with the next vintage not due to hit the shelves until later 2010 or early 2011.

Score: 7.3/$1

Compares with: Burrowing Owl Merlot (BC $34.99) Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexnadre Merlot (Chile $29.99)  Road 13 Rockpile (BC $24.99) Sterling Estate Merlot (Ca. $27.99)

#5 Tinhorn Creek 2007 Cabernet Franc- Cabernet Franc is, in my opinion, our, BC’s, best red grape. We grow a lot of Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvigon and Shiraz, but the quality offerings are in very short supply. On the other hand Cabernet Franc seems to be available in decent quantity and in pretty damn good quality. It is just that people are not as familiar with it. Let’s make that change.

Cabernet Franc is by nature, an aromatic grape that features cherry, sour cherry, red currants and some floral characters. This wine has these aromas in spades with the bonus of a touch of vanilla on the finish.

The palate is soft and sultry and at first impression you would think that you are tasting a Chianti Classico or even a Nebbiolo. The Tinhorn Creek is a juicy, rich and well balanced offering that goes down very, very smoothly.

Price: $18.99 +deposit

Availability: New vintage just released so there should be no problems unless… unless people really understand how good this wine is.

Score: 7.4/$1

Compares to: Peppoli Chianti Classico (Italy $28.99) Carpinento Chianti Classico (Italy $21.99) Peller Estate Private Reserve Cabernet Franc (BC $19.99) Sandhill Cabernet Franc (BC $19.99), Sumac Ridge Black Sage Cabernet Franc (BC $19.99

Heartland Dolcetto Lagrein $29.99 Australia

The temperature has dropped, the clouds are rolling, and the rain periodically makes its presence felt. These are the kind of evenings that we can expect from now through the end of April of next year. One of the most common ‘winter’ food is pasta with a meat sauce. This usually involves tomato sauce, tomato paste, lots of herbs like oregano, and perhaps some garlic. Here are my top 5 wines for settling down to a heaping plate of pasta and meat sauce.

#1 Heartland Dolcetto Lagrein (Australia $29.99).I once had lunch with Ben Glaetzer, the winemaker for Heartland, Glaetzer & Mitolo wineries, and I asked him what was on his kitchen counter in terms of wines. He confessed a love for classic Italian wines like Nebbiolo, Chianti, and Dolcetto. He loved the ripe fruit and bright acidity that make these wines so good with food. In Australia it is pretty hard to bring out the delicacy of grapes like the Dolcetto or Lagrein. However Ben has a little pocket in a vineyard that nestles up to the hills in the Barossa Valley that is protected from the sun and has average temperatures far lower that the rest of the valley. Thus he is able to craft immensely delicate wines such as this. The wine is medium bodied and sports refreshing red fruit flavours like raspberry, currants and cranberry. The acidity if wonderful which makes it a good pairing for past with meat sauce. Enjoy!

#2 Villata Valpolicella Ripasso 2006(Italy $22.99). I just love this wine… it is likely to be in many TOP 5’s as it would be delightful when paired with hockey games, fireplaces, nuptials, Sunday dinner, and of course pasta with meat sauce. I understand that there is not a lot of stock around so get it while you can.

#3 Masi 2007 Bardolino(Italy $18.99). Another Italian… I am seeing a trend here. Bardolino is a classic pairing with all things Italian, especially the foods of northern Italy where more meats and cured hams are present in everyday fare. If you add a little pancetta, bacon or prosciutto to your pasta with meat sauce, the get the Masi Bardolino.

#4 Montellori 2006 Chianti(Italy $16.99). What another Italian? Yup… classic Chianti. Classic Chianti means everyday enjoyment, where it is less about the food and the wine, and more about the people around you. This wine will certainly delight on its own, but when you are surrounded by your family for ‘pasta night’, it somehow makes hearing about the latest drama from grade 3 that much more enjoyable.

#5 White Bear Riesling(BC $12.99). It is funny how we all believe that Riesling is sweet, light bodied wine, whereas most of it is dry, minerally, and fruit driven. One of the best white wines to pair with heavier, meatier foods is Riesling, and this wine is better than most at the same price.

… on a cold, wet Victoria night.

#1 Cream Liqueur. Your interior should be kept as snuggly as your exterior so pour a glass of Cream Liqueur, add an ice cube if you like, and

feeney's Irish Cream 750ml $22.99

 snuggle up. My specific recommendation Feeney’s Irish Cream $22.99. Feeney’s recently won Double Gold at the San Francisco

 International Spirits Competition beating the likes of Bailey’s and Carolans, and it is about $5.00 less a bottle. Who knew?

#2 Coffee or Tea Based Drinks. I love the warmth and flavour of a classic Blueberry tea on such evenings. On the other hand I am pretty drawn to the creamy warmth of a coffee drink with Cream Liqueur in it. Oh heck… have both. My specific recommendations are Blueberry Tea which is made with Grand Marnier, Amarettoand Earl Grey Tea. For coffee drinks I like the Monte Cristo which made with Grand Marnier, Cream Liqueur and drip coffee.

#3 Big, Peatty, Scotch Whisky. The smokiness of a big peatty scotch is warming to just think of it. My specific recommendation is the Laphroaig Quarter Cask $79.99.

#4 Porter Beer. Porter is named after the original brewers of this style. Back in the 1700’s the Porters at Covent Gardens in London brewed a dark, rich, malty beer that became the evny of a fellow by the name of Arthur Guinness. He also has a famous beer… if only I could remember the name of it…hmmm. My specific recommendations are Driftwood Brewing Blackstone Porter $5.99. This is the classic London style of Porter. The other one I love is the Phillips Longboat Chocolate Porter $5.29. It has all the rich malty creaminess but with the added touch of chocolate on the finish.

#5 Big Ass Shiraz. A big ass shiraz from either the Barossa Valley or McLaren Vale are warming, flavourful and always make me smile. My specific recommendation is the Finders & Seekers Old Vines 2006 Barossa Shiraz $18.99

Tinhon Creek Gewurztraminer - Canada's only Carbon Neutral Winery

Although the day is starting out to be a brilliant fall day, here are my TOP 5 for Blue Mondays.

#1 Simple Pleasures. These seem to be the best cure for Blue Mondays and in my world this means a decent glass of wine with a simple meal, like pasta or chicken wings, or leftovers from Sunday night dinner. Whatever it is make it a simple pleasure. My specific recommendation is Bodegas Cortes Tinto ($8.99, Spain).

#2 Build Karma. Mondays are great days to build a little Karma, as it may be that little bit of Karma is what gets you a better parking spot, or stops the rain for 5 minutes when you are taking out the garbage. My specific recommendation is Tinhorn Creek Gewurztraminer($17.99 B.C.) Tinhorn Creek is B.C.’s only carbon neutral winery.

#3 Something New. Getting something new always seems to brighten the day just a little. My specific recommendation is the Masi 2007 Bardolino($18.99, Italy). Not only is it new to our stores, but new to B.C. as well.

#4 Build Character. Blues Mondays seem to be the perfect day to build character. My Dad always said, the measure of a person is not what happens to us, the measure of a person is how we deal with it. My specific recommendation is Tree Brewing Character 8 Pack($15.99 Kelowna). Not only are you buying Character, but you also get the new Tree Brewing Hophead 45 which only comes in the Character Pack.

#5 Do something for others. My spirits are always lifted when I can do something for someone else. We are doing a fundraiser for the Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society, where $1.00 gets donated, and you save $1 when you buy specific products. Given that we are trying raise spirits my specific recommendation is Alberta Pure Vodka 750ml ($23.99 Alberta).

Here are the TOP 5 Items for a ghoulish Halloween.

#1 Crystal Head Vodka. This has to be number 1, well, because it is Vodka in a skull. I am not sure you can get more Halloween-ish than that. Crystal Head Vodka $59.99 + deposit.

#2 Dead Guy Ale. Considered by many as the best beer in the world, this is made by the Rogue Brewery from Bend, Oregon. Available in 650ml bomber $7.99 or 6 pack bottles $18.99 +deposit.

#3 Devil Wines. These are also known as Casillero del Diablo. These are the icon wines of the Concha Y Toro winery or Chile. There is a Merlot &  Shiraz. The name translates into Cellar of the Devil. How appropriate for today. Price ranges from $13.99 to $14.99.

#4 The Bloody Mary Cocktail. An American favourite that is made just like a Ceasar but with Tomato juice instead of Clamato. Given that you are mixing all sorts of flavours and weights, the best Vodka to use is the least expensive. My specific recommendation is Banff Ice 750ml $21.99 (Liquor Plus Best Everyday Price- BC Government Liquor Store price $23.00)

#5 Phillips Amnesiac Double IPA. Why? Because Halloween is one of those nights that we dress up and become someone else for a while- we forget ourselves. Secondly depending on what you do to night you might want to forget tomorrow. Phillips Brewing Amnesiac Double IPA $5.29 +deposit.

I define these wines simply as those that are truly a delight to revel in their flavours without needing to have food. These kind of wines need to have soft, sweet tannins (little to no pucker) that carry the flavours right through the finish.

#1 Champagne. There is just something so sinfully luxurious about true Champagne. Many will feature more fruity flavours, some more toasty flavours, but all can be enjoyed with simply a smile on the face and air to breath. My specific recommendation Charles Heidsieck Champagne $59.99 + deposit

#2 Cremant D’Alsace. This is also a sparkling that is made in the Alsace region of France. A lot of similarities to Champagne, but 1/2 the price.

Zinck Cremant D'Alsace $28.99

My specific recommendation is Zinck Cremant D’Alsace $28.99 + deposit

#3 Australian Shiraz from the Barossa or McLaren Vale. Big rip Aussie Shiraz is one of the most purely hedonistic wines around. Opulent, round gobs of black and dark fruits, hints of baking spices… did I say GOBs of fruit flavours. My specific recommendation is Finders & Seekers 2006 Barossa Shiraz $18.99 + deposit

#4 Argentine Malbec. It is not a big step to go from Aussie Shiraz to Argentine Malbec. Both have a lot of similarities including lush dark fruit flavours. Malbec generally has more savoury spices and even leathery notes than does Shiraz but they are equally enjoyable. My specific recommendation is Yauquen Malbec $19.99 + deposit.

#5 Balanced Chardonnay. For years Chardonnay has been attacked for being too oaky. Get over it! The wineries have heard you. Most are now so nicely balanced between fruit, acidity, and oak ageing that you can not tell that oak has touched them. Fruit flavours can range from fresh Delicious or Gala Apples to mouth watering pineapple and tropical fruits. These are balanced with hints of vanilla or clove spice. Yum! My specific recommendation is Billyrock Station Chardonnay $12.99 +deposit.

TOP 5 will be a segment on our new website when we are up and running as well as the content for a periodic e-mail to our members club members (to join send click on this link http://www.liquorplus.ca/memberreg.php?frompage=ecentre.php or send me an e-mail to askrod@liquorplus.ca and I will add your e-mail to the list).

The TOP 5 is intended to be fun and informative, so please send me your suggestions for the TOP 5 and I will put them together.

TOP 5 WINES FOR COMFORT FOOD: Pizza

Tough category as there seems to be as many types of Pizza as there are wines. Here are the TOP 5 Wines for the most popular of Pizzas including Peperoni, Hawaiian, ‘House’ Special & Meat Lovers.

# 1 2006 Chianti. Almost anything from the Chianti Region of   2006  is fantastic. Probably the best vintage in a generation. The wines are deep, full of flavour while maintaining acidity levels necessary to go well with food. My specific recommendation is the Montellori 2006 Chianti D.O.C.G. $16.99 + deposit.

# 2 Wines made with Barbera. Barbera is a grape grown in many places in the world but it’s home is in the Piedmonte Region of Italy. Ripe black and red cherry flavours, hints of almonds, lively acidity, well made Barbera leaves your mouth watering. My specific recommendation if the Arduini Barbera D.O.C. $14.99 + deposit.

#3 Wines made with Grenache. Grenache hails from Spain and the South of France (Rhone & Languedoc), but also grows really well in Australia. Ripe fruit flavours of raspberry, blueberry and cranberry with savoury tones of sage and lavender. My specific recommendations are either Costa de Oro Red (Spain) $12.99 +deposit or Rosemount Road Red (Australia) $11.99 +deposit.

#4 Wines from Southern Portugal.Most of these wines are blends of native Portuguese grapes like Castelao and Touriga Nacional, and they are very soft and supple. They are perfect with Pizza, but are also made to work with fish like halibut or cod. My specific recommendation is Portuga Tinto (Red) $12.99 + deposit.

#5 Un-Oaked California Merlot. California Merlot is often loaded with juicy plummy flavours and a touch of black pepper. When they are un-oaked (generally lower in price) the fruit comes through and makes this a great sipper for Pizza. My specific recommendation is Redwood Creek Merlot $13.99 + deposit.

I look forward to your thoughts and suggestions for future TOP 5’s

Cheers

Rod Phillips – Buyer