Very pale in colour with a grassy green plum and green apple nose, it’s medium-bodied, crisply dry with grapefruit and green plum flavours and fresh citrus acidity. It’s got an intriguing touch of bitterness on the end taste to give added interest.
This rare fino-style sherry is aged in American oak barrels for 12 years. It’s a light amber colour with a nose of toasted almonds and salty sea breeze with subtle exotic fruits. It’s as dry as can be achieved with a reductive note to go with crushed pistachio nuts, sea salt and underlying apricot and tropical fruits. It unfolds in layers and challenges the senses.
Pouring a deep gold with brilliant clarity and large bubbles, this sparkling UK cider is a new arrival in Canada. Made from a blend of oak and stainless-aged apple juices, aged up to 18 months, this entry-level cider has enough complexity to satisfy more educated sippers. A bright pome fruit aroma on the nose is followed by a sip that balances sweetness with bright acidity and backing notes of light oak, vanilla, apple pie crust and leather.
Citrus, mineral, white peach, toast, anise and lime are all in play in this medium-bodied white. Refreshingly crisp with a long mineral aftertaste. Drink over the next 3 to 4 years.
An innovation from Budweiser, this beer features the presence of Jim Beam barrel staves. Perhaps it is the connotation of the name, but there is a small metallic presence on the nose along with overripe banana and a touch of coconut from the oak. The caramel sweetness of the body suffers a little distraction from oak tannin. Better in concept than execution.
A great winery in the northern Okanagan in Lake Country north of Kelowna. This is their regular great quality Pinot Gris – just in a can. Fresh and round – nice pear fruit and citrus – and gulpable. Good wine in a can rocks.
Opaquely dark garnet. Mature, medium-strength nose of raisins, treacle toffee and a nice bit of barnyard. Medium-bodied, tasting of blackcurrant and other dark berries, an elegant, clearly Old-World wine. Tannins are still prominent but the fruit may be thinning. Drink soon.