Canada – Page 2 – @sommeligay

Josh tastes 173 BC wines

January 24, 2015February 22, 2025 by Josh

I tasted 173 BC wines in a row which was both fun and exciting but kind of slightly vexing, like if you took Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” and replaced that phrase with “Meritage” for the entire duration of the song, and then played the song 50 times in a row.

But yes – the whole ordeal was partial torture because there was a huge dominance in obvious homogeneity for heavier reds, and it becomes tough to evaluate wines when the only ones that stick out are the ones that are “different”. It’s easy to write something off as boring when it’s actually rather decent quality, so perhaps it’s safer to treat my tasting notes as a progressive story of me gently losing my mind rather than an actual set of viable records.… read more

Quaffing

Loras Tyrell, the Knight of Flowers: 2010 Kettle Valley Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

June 22, 2014November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, herbal, grassy, floral, ripe grapefruit, citrus rind, hint honey, hint butterscotch, nectarine, lemon
Mouth: dry, full body, med+ acid, med+ alcohol, long length, med+ to pronounced intensity, ripe grapefruit, nectarine, mineral, citrus, lemon, citrus rind, honey, savoury
All in all: Good (to very good) quality: the wine gains points for intensity in flavour and texture, while length is also a plus. The wine lacks a bit of alcoholic balance. Drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.

An interesting day deserves interesting wine. Or does it, because it’s 10PM on a Saturday and all I want to do is be boring and sleep. I’m an exciting 22-year-old.

I had tried this exact wine for the first time just two days beforehand, and I remember it being fantastic.… read more

Quaffing

“White Nights” – Oh Land: 2013 8th Generation Pinot Meunier Rosé

April 24, 2014November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med pink, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, red fruit, rhubarb, citrus, strawberry, floral, hint roses, hint herbaceous
Mouth: off-dry to medium-dry, med body, med- acid, med- alcohol, med length, pronounced flavour intensity, red fruit, candied strawberry, rhubarb, floral, roses, hint spritz, little to no noticeable tannin, slightly woody finish
All in all: Good quality: the wine is deliciously gulpable with pronounced melodies of strawberry, rhubarb, and some floral notes. A bit more structure, finesse, and length would make this wine sparkle.

This wine serves to be a bit of a delicious double-edged sword for me at the moment. I’ve been craving an off-dry no-nonsense drink-all-of-me wine since the rainy morning. And I was doing so well for not having had a drink for two days in a row, but here I am.… read more

WSET Diploma

#no: Brights “74” Apera

April 16, 2014November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med- blood orange?, legs
Nose: clean?, low intensity, youthful?, nothing – faint scents of nuts gently macerated in rubbing alcohol if you really tried
Mouth: medium-sweet, alcohol, slightly nutty, cough syrup, med body, Halls, low acid, med length, med+ flavour intensity
All in all: No.

This was repulsive and we tasted it for educational purposes. The classmate to my left thought it was hilarious that I was writing a tasting note because it was that horrid, and I really thought it wouldn’t be.

The wine was a strange colour between pink and pale brown. The nose seemed to have faint ghostly aromas of the slightly nutty and alcoholic aftermath that were probably low-quality grapes destined for high-yielding “sherry” production.… read more

Life · Tasting

I suck at wine: 2014 VIWF Blind Tasting Challenge

March 1, 2014June 24, 2016 by Josh

My 2014 Vancouver International Wine Festival activities begun on Wednesday! Insert majestic trumpet sounds here.

I was really scared for the Blind Tasting Challenge (at the Pacific Culinary Institute of Arts) on said morning . This mostly meant barely being able to keep my breakfast in my stomach, listening to Glee’s rendition of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” on repeat for high energy (do you hate me yet?), and then thinking that coffee was a bad idea. A classmate saw me looking at the water as I was listening to music and taking refreshing winter breaths of Granville Island air – she was just as nervous as I, but another classmate told us we were more jittery and nervous than we needed to be.… read more

Quaffing

Oh Land – “White Nights” (Big Ugly Yellow Couch): 2009 Blue Mountain Brut Rosé]

December 21, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale orange, bubbles
Nose: clean, developing, med- intensity, biscuity, bread, yeast, delicate red fruit, hint of apple, strawberry
Mouth: dry, med bodied, med+ acid, med alcohol, med finish, med+ flavour intensity, mineral, savoury red fruit, some toast, biscuit, tart strawberry, cranberry, citrus, fine and mouth-filling mousse
All in all: Good (to very good) quality: the wine rules with finesse, elegance, and balance, though some intensity and complexity are further in the background. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.

I did it. I promised myself I wouldn’t spend more money on alcohol, let alone on a bottle that’s more than 30 dollars on the shelf for a lonely Friday night, but I really couldn’t help buying the new and hip bottle that recently made store status.… read more

Quaffing

2012 Clos du Soleil “Grower’s Series – Chegwin & Baessler” Pinot Blanc

May 22, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, apple, pear, floral, lemon, stone fruit, slight vegetal note, mineral
Mouth: dry (but I’d say between dry and off-dry), med body, med+ acid, med alcohol, med finish, med+ flavour intensity, pear, apple, almost-ripe peach, peach pith, creamy texture, slight savouriness
All in all: Good quality: this wine has both great balance and intensity with a big fruitiness that isn’t jammy and aimless. The main negatives include a length that could be longer and a nose that doesn’t go farther than fruits. Drink now; not suitable for long term ageing.

Ah, Pinot Blanc. The variety that seems to be compared to the godlier Chardonnay, and the same variety that seems to be in the shadow of its other Pinot brothers and sisters.… read more

Quaffing

2011 Intrigue Riesling

May 6, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon
Nose: med+ intensity, developing, citrus, pineapple, petrol, yeast (crackers)
Mouth: off-dry, med- body, med acid, med- alcohol, med intensity, med- length, citrus
All in all: Good quality, drink now.

This has quite an intriguing nose (ZING!). I finally see some stronger aromatic character compared to the various Rieslings I’ve tried lately, and a bit of fruity petrol character is what I notice right off the bat. There is a significant amount of an off-beat cracker-like aroma, which I can only assume stems from yeast character. Unlike some wines I think this weird aroma adds complexity.

The palate is juicy, light and has a bit of tartness. I prefer more zip to my off-dry Riesling, but the slightly more tropical expression coupled with the low acid gives this wine a bit more of a relaxed edge, almost like a Riesling-Torrontes lovechild.… read more

WSET Diploma

2011 Blue Mountain Pinot Gris

April 27, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med- lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med- intensity, youthful, butter, vanilla, green apple, pear, citrus, melon
Mouth: dry, med+ acidity, med alcohol, med+ body, med flavour intensity, butter, green apple, med length
All in all: Good quality: noticeable varietal and secondary characteristics are well-supported by balanced acid. However, the alcohol is slightly out of balance, and the wine seems a little simple (although now knowing the price, this is a great QPR.). Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity guess: Mid-priced Chardonnay from Chile; 2 years old.
Is really: Mid-priced Pinot Gris from British Columbia; 2 years old.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 3]

Ah, Blue Mountain. Of course this was chosen for the marketing class, because anyone who regularly drinks BC wines will know Blue Mountain.… read more

WSET Diploma

Jackson Triggs “Proprietor’s Selection” Merlot

April 12, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med ruby, pale rim
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, baked blackberries, blueberries, confectionary
Mouth: dry, med- bodied, med- acid, low tannin, med alcohol, med flavour intensity, short length, juicy fruit from a bit of residual sugar.
All in all: Acceptable quality. The good amount of juicy fruit gives a quaffable nature, but lacks in concentration, complexity, and varietal character. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 1]

I wouldn’t have been able to say this years ago, but now I’m used to it: a wine like this was dominated by a confected and baked fruity nose, mostly cancelling out any varietal character. A second opinion by the palate confirmed that it was thin and out of balance, with a bit of residual sugar that added a juiciness and newbie-attracting character.… read more