Wednesday Wine Reviews with @Sam_WineTeacher

2023 Clarendelle Domaine Clarence Dillon Graves, France $36.99 A blend of 49% Sauvignon Blanc, 37% Semillon, and 14% Muscadet.  Lemon yellow with medium-minus intensity.  On the nose, lemon cream, banana, green apple, melon, peach, honey, toast, biscuit, and flint.  Good balance.  The palate follows the nose along with pineapple, lime, pear, and grapefruit. A medium-plus … Read more

Wednesday Wine Reviews with @Sam_WineTeacher

2022 Chardonnay (McLean Creek) Meyer Family Vineyards Okanagan Falls, BC $32.26 Lemon yellow with medium-minus intensity.  A pronounced chardonnay nose.  There is no mistaking what this wine is.  Intertwined aromas of citrus, toasty oak, honey, melon, spice, and a touch of almond.  Well balanced.  Big on the palate with aromas carrying over seamlessly on to … Read more

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Wednesday Wine reviews by @Sam_WineTeacher

2023 Clarendelle Domaine Clarence Dillon Graves, France $36.99 A blend of 49% Sauvignon Blanc, 37% Semillon, and 14% Muscadet.  Lemon yellow with medium-minus intensity.  On the nose, lemon cream, banana, green apple, melon, peach, honey, toast, biscuit, and flint.  Good balance.  The palate follows the nose, with notes of pineapple, lime, pear, and grapefruit, and … Read more

Old Vintages with Winemaker Matt Dumayne

As I was about to leave the Rosé Rodeo at Haywire’s Garnet Valley Ranch Winery recently, I had the chance to catch up with winemaker Matt Dumayne, who was eager for me to try some odds and sods he found lurking around at the back of the winery. First up was the 2015 XC Method … Read more

Summerland’s Secret – Garnet Valley Ranch

The Garnet Valley Ranch truly is a magical place. Located just over 15 kilometres from downtown Summerland along the bucolic, gently winding Garnet Valley Road, this property is home to vineyards, organic vegetables, and a lavender farm. It is a place where the land speaks-and the growers listen.  Here, nature leads.  The crops, the vines, … Read more

From the Cellar with @Sam_WineTeacher

In addition to the weekly wine review and the various other, usually wine-related, articles I write for My Van City, I am going to include a new one that will appear from time to time.  I’m calling it, ‘From the Cellar’. It will be similar to the wine reviews, except that it will feature wines … Read more

Wednesday Wine Reviews with @Sam_WineTeacher

Wednesday Wine Reviews with @Sam_WineTeacher 2022 Viognier (The Y Series) Yalumba South Australia, Australia $17.99 Yalumba is a family run winery that has been in operation since 1849.  This vegan wine was made with minimal intervention and wild yeast fermentation. Lemon yellow with medium-minus intensity.  The nose is fresh and fruity with aromas of lime, … Read more

Wednesday Wine Reviews with @Sam_WineTeacher

2021 Chardonnay Garnet Valley Ranch Summerland, BC $36.99 Golden yellow with medium-minus intensity.  An impressive nose rich with aromas of minerality, lemon, grapefruit, apple, along with delicate undertones of smoky caramel, and toast.  Well balanced.  Vibrant, integrated, and layered flavours on the palate followed by a long finish.  This is an elegant and sophisticated wine … Read more