UPDATED FOR SATURDAY NIGHT TASTING!
Amazing number of fantastic wines available for tastings Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Saturday night at the Vancouver International Wine Festival's Acura tasting room.
Okay - being an independent wine blogger with a day job makes tasting wines and making recommendation in a hurry a lot harder!
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| Bill Tieleman - The Wine Barbarian on site |
But I have done my best to personally taste a lot of wines Thursday afternoon and evening to give you some guaranteed picks to try if you are attending sessions Friday and Saturday!
None of which is to say I haven't missed other fabulous wines - I know I have, dammit! And I'm trying to get to them today and tomorrow - so feel free to let me know your winners and I'll attempt to add to the list.
And follow me on Twitter for ongoing tips @BillTieleman today and Saturday! And check #VIWF for other Tweets from wine experts and consumers on what to try and buy.
However these wines were all wonderful and you will not be disappointed with them.
These wines are in no particular order and I only took a few photos on the iPhone 5 but picture or not, try them!
One cautionary note however - to my continual chagrin, the BC Liquor Stores on site store allows customers to clean out the limited supply of some rare and never to be seen again in BC wines brought in by participating wineries.
That includes letting Trade Show visitors from the food and beverage industry and media buy them up before regular consumers even taste the wines. And that leaves a bad taste in consumers' mouths after they've just tried a fantastic wine and want to bring home a bottle! So then you see this sign - which I photographed Thursday at 5 p.m. after the Trade Show ended:
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| BC Liquor Store at Wine Festival - sold out bottles before consumers even arrive! |
Here's the picks I recommend but try others at their tables and from other wineries too:
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| Boisset Puligny-Montrachet Le Trezin 2011 |
TRÉZIN 2011
Next door is another fantastic white to compare it with, from: ROUX PÈRE & FILS | BOURGOGNE, FRANCE
MEURSAULT 1er CRU “CLOS DES PORUZOTS”
CRU “LES CORTONS” WHITE 2012 MONOPOLE 2012 - This is a beautiful Meursault at $113 so don't miss it!
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| Roux Pere Chambolle-Musigny 2010 |
Also great are their other Burgundies but especially: CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY 1 CRU “LES BORNIQUES” 2010 - what an awesome expression of a great wine region!
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| Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle Champagne |
And there is an amazing selection of other fabulous Champagnes, cremants and more!
Moving over to the Rhone Valley of France, don't miss DOMAINE DE LA SOLITUDE and their stellar selection, including a killer white CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE CUVÉE BARBERINI BLANC that will stun you if you haven't tried whites from CNP before and make you fall in love again if you have! At $90.
But also try all to their other fantastic CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE reds - simply outstanding wines!
Also in Rhone - don't miss the wines of Romain Duvernay, especially their CÔTE RÔTIE ROMAIN DUVERNAY 2009 at $64 and their VACQUEYRAS ROMAIN DUVERNAY 2011 at $29 - the latter one of the bargains of the Festival.
Please don't miss one of my constant favourites - FAMILLE PERRIN | RHÔNE, FRANCE
and their killer CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE Chateau Beaucastel red and white. I was fortunate enough to attend the Beaucastel dinner at Bistro Pastis but you can taste both the wonderful CHÂTEAU DE BEAUCASTEL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE ROUGE 2011 and the amazing CHÂTEAU DE BEAUCASTEL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC 2012 at their table - both at $92.
Lastly from the Loire Valley in France, fabulous Sauvignon Blancs from DOMAINE JOSEPH MELLOT - including outstanding Sancerre bottles at two different ascending levels of complexity and cost: SANCERRE JOSEPH MELLOT LA CHATELLENIE 2012 at $30 and SANCERRE JOSEPH MELLOT LA GRANDE CHATELAINE
2010 at $45. I also tasted a 2009 Cuvee Pierre Etienne Sancerre at the Trade Tasting that was unbelievable!
Outside of France - which has the most wineries of the Festival - there are other fantastic wines. Space and time limit me to a quick list not to miss:
Outside of France - which has the most wineries of the Festival - there are other fantastic wines. Space and time limit me to a quick list not to miss:
VIÑA COBOS | MENDOZA, ARGENTINA - two stunning Malbecs - BRAMARE LUJAN DE CUYO MALBEC 2010 at $45 and the VALLE DE UCO MALBEC 2011 at $48.
From Australia INLAND TRADING CO. | BAROSSA VALLEY, AUSTRALIA - don't miss the GREENOCK CREEK ALICES BLOCK SHIRAZ 2010 - big, bold and fruity at $63. And try the CHARLES CIMICKY “ST. C” SHIRAZ / CABERNET 2010 at only $30 - a bargain.
From Australia INLAND TRADING CO. | BAROSSA VALLEY, AUSTRALIA - don't miss the GREENOCK CREEK ALICES BLOCK SHIRAZ 2010 - big, bold and fruity at $63. And try the CHARLES CIMICKY “ST. C” SHIRAZ / CABERNET 2010 at only $30 - a bargain.
From Chile LAPOSTOLLE | COLCHAGUA VALLEY, CHILE - the Clos Apalta is one of the world's great wines at $125 for the 2010 vintage. Also great value CUVÉE ALEXANDRE MERLOT 2012 at $30.
And next door is SANTA RITA | MAIPO VALLEY, CHILE - where I loved both the TRIPLE C 2008 at $39 and the very opulent PEHUEN CARMENERE 2007 at $70 - simply delicious and I adore Carmenere!
Lastly and only due to time constraints, don't miss the always outstanding CHARLES SMITH WINES / K VINTNERS | COLUMBIA VALLEY, UNITED STATES - where I have been fortunate to visit. Charles is a rock star in wine and you can see why with his K VINTNERS MOTOR CITY KITTY SYRAH 2011 at $50 - shows what Washington State can do with Syrah - and Charles makes even bigger and bolder Syrahs and blends as well.
UPDATE - NEW WINES TO TRY:
On Friday I worked hard to try yet more wines and here are some recommendations for Saturday night - to buy if you can afterwards:
New Zealand is always a big favourite of mine and nice to see the genial Jim Robertson - Global Brand Ambassador - at the Festival again.
There are so many other great wines at the Festival and so little time - hope to see you there and if possible I will update this list as I taste more today! Also follow me on Twitter for tips @BillTieleman - and cheers!
And next door is SANTA RITA | MAIPO VALLEY, CHILE - where I loved both the TRIPLE C 2008 at $39 and the very opulent PEHUEN CARMENERE 2007 at $70 - simply delicious and I adore Carmenere!
Lastly and only due to time constraints, don't miss the always outstanding CHARLES SMITH WINES / K VINTNERS | COLUMBIA VALLEY, UNITED STATES - where I have been fortunate to visit. Charles is a rock star in wine and you can see why with his K VINTNERS MOTOR CITY KITTY SYRAH 2011 at $50 - shows what Washington State can do with Syrah - and Charles makes even bigger and bolder Syrahs and blends as well.
UPDATE - NEW WINES TO TRY:
On Friday I worked hard to try yet more wines and here are some recommendations for Saturday night - to buy if you can afterwards:
New Zealand is always a big favourite of mine and nice to see the genial Jim Robertson - Global Brand Ambassador - at the Festival again.
STONELEIGH | MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND - all good value but really loving the $24 LATITUDE PINOT NOIR 2012
Next door don't miss NAUTILUS ESTATE | MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND and their great PINOT NOIR 2011 at $40 - it has been selling out every day a the onsite store.
I have neglected Italy a bit - which is tragic - because there are some beautiful wines here this year. Will try to make up for that but did love the CASTIGLION DEL BOSCO | TUSCANY, ITALY and their killer CAMPO DEL DRAGO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2008 at $90 as well as their BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2009 at $60.
Next door don't miss NAUTILUS ESTATE | MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND and their great PINOT NOIR 2011 at $40 - it has been selling out every day a the onsite store.
I have neglected Italy a bit - which is tragic - because there are some beautiful wines here this year. Will try to make up for that but did love the CASTIGLION DEL BOSCO | TUSCANY, ITALY and their killer CAMPO DEL DRAGO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2008 at $90 as well as their BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2009 at $60.
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| Campo Del Drago |
Next door at DAMILANO | PIEDMONT, ITALY you can find a wonderful pair of Barolos - BAROLO “LECINQUEVIGNE” DOCG 2008
at $50 and the superb, huge BAROLO LISTE DOCG 2007 at $100.
One last trip back to France - go to CHÂTEAU DE LA GARDINE | RHÔNE, FRANCE
where you will meeting the charming Marion Barral and be sure to try the wonderful CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE CUVÉE DES GENERATIONS
MARIE LEONCIE 2011
- a white full of fragrant tropical fruit at $85. And of course their great CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE CUVÉE TRADITION RED 2011 at $58.
There are so many other great wines at the Festival and so little time - hope to see you there and if possible I will update this list as I taste more today! Also follow me on Twitter for tips @BillTieleman - and cheers!
