November Best Buys in BC
For many people this month’s wines choices correlate directly with the weather. With no major (Canadian) holidays to sway your wine selections, we’re left with the changing seasons, saving daylight hours and sweater recovery to guide our drinking and eating habits. For the west coast, we haven’t seen snow – yet – but the icy cold fogs and wet Pacific winds are starting to settle over the province. Personally, I’m starting to roast winter squash and chestnuts, braise pork and chicken thighs, and enjoy the latter part of an amazing mushroom harvest season on the coast. Naturally, the wines are selected to match: richer, textured whites, oft with comforting lees or moderate oak contact, and bolder, warming reds, perhaps a touch rustic and grippy, to wrap yourself in like a blanket.
Of course, in the month before the holidays, I’m also highly cognizant of watching my budget, as the celebratory (read Champagne and Port) season is right around the bend. With the recently released results of the World Wine Awards of Canada reverberating across the country, the BC team has picked a few seasonally-appropriate, value-driven favourites from the competition for this month’s Best Buys column.
Cheers,
Treve Ring
The following wines are widely available in BC, and reviewed by our BC team, Rhys Pender (RP), DJ Kearney (DJK), Treve Ring (TR) and Anthony Gismondi is currently tasting in Spain and will return for next month’s column.
Mapu Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Maipo Valley, Chile
BC $12.99, #45245 (TR, RP)
Cono Sur Bicicleta Viognier 2012
Colchagua Valley, Chile
BC $10.99, #566836 (TR)
Gray Monk Riesling 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $14.99, #321604 (TR, RP)
La Posta Cocina Tinto Blend 2011
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $17.99, #779520 (RP)
Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages Combes Aux Jacques 2011
Beaujolais, France
BC $19.99, #469924 (RP)
Caliterra Tributo Cabernet Sauvignon Single Vineyard 2011
Colchagua Valley, Chile
BC $13.99, #69112 (TR, RP)
Boutari Agiorgitiko Nemea 2008
Greece
BC $15.99, #177162 (RP)
The Beachhouse Red 2011
South Africa
BC $11.99, #123737 (DJK)
Thomas Goss McLaren Vale Shiraz 2011
McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia
BC $16.99, #847749 (DJK, RP)
Campo Viejo Reserva 2008
Rioja, Spain
BC $19.99, #823203 (TR)
For the complete results of the 2013 World Wine Awards of Canada, click here.
Editors Note: You can find complete reviews by clicking on any of the wine names, bottle images or links highlighted. Paid subscribers to WineAlign see all critics reviews immediately. Non-paid users wait 30 days to see new reviews. Membership has its privileges; like first access to great wines!