Made with Cascade, Columbus and Simcoe hops, this offering from one of Nova Scotia’s newest craft breweries shows light amber in the glass with a persistent creamy head. Subtle floral, malty and fresh hoppy aromas pave the way for smoothly rounded, lightly fruity malt flavours with a firm, nutty and bitter dryness on the finish.
Native to southern Marche/northern Abruzzo, this grape was near extinction before a handful of producers resurrected it. This Passerino is grown on north facing (cooler) sandy soils, approximately 100 m above sea level. Meadow grasses, quince and ripe white peach are slicked with a firm coat of lees and lifted with white pepper to a spiced, lightly bitter finish. This is a touch loose and watery on the mid palate. I would love to see this under screw cap rather than a short plastic cork.
Deep garnet in the glass, with pronounced strawberry aromas before a medium-bodied palate defined by juicy acidity, well-balanced oak and a lengthy finish.
The nose shows varietal Chardonnay lemon citrus with delicate floral scents and a subtle touch of toasty oak. Ripe citrus and secondary green apple flavours are supported by well-balanced, crisp acidity and a pleasantly rounded, buttery note on the finish. Shows Okanagan regional style. Better value than many generic California Chardonnays in a similar price range.
Panagapka’s Pinots are never ready to drink on release, but being a startup virtual winery, he has to get these wines to market to pay the bills. The wine shows best after several hours of decanting, or better yet, a couple years of cellaring. The first aromas are of earth, sweet oak, warm cherries and forest floor. But as it opens up, it shows more ripe red fruits and less organic notes. It has a silky feel on the palate, with red fruits folding into cedar and spice. Not an overdone Pinot, but rather one that straddles the line between masculine and feminine.
Attractive floral, clean citrus and tropical fruit on the nose with citrus, yellow pear and tropical fruits playing through on the palate. Finishes with a touch of gravelly mineral and crisp, refreshing acidity. Solid, ever-reliable value.
A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Merlot. Dense purple with a nose of cedar, blackcurrant and vanilla oak. Medium-bodied and dry, it’s very elegant, beautifully balanced and firm with good length. The perfect wine for lamb chops.