Birthday Wine Bucket List!

So I have a birthday coming up this week.  On July 22 – and we’ll just leave out the year.  Some other people celebrating a birthday on the same day as me are

   Danny Glover

   David Spade

    Oscar De La Renta

And probably the most famous birthday of all, the son of Prince William and Kate Middleton, this little cutie….

   Prince George.

So while the cute little Prince celebrates his first birthday on Tuesday, he’s probably going to be receiving some elaborate gifts fit for a royal.  Me…… I’ll be wishing for … wait for it…

Wine!

On the one hand, I’m very easy to shop for.  And you don’t have to go far, as there is a Liquor store on every corner.  Easy right?  I’m going to make it easier for you, by giving you my wine bucket list.

Still one of my favorites after all these years.  Francis Ford Coppola Black Diamond Claret is a Cabernet Sauvignon wine based on a Bordeaux style blend, with some Merlot, Malbec, and Petite Verdot.  Gorgeous flavors of blackberry, cassis, and roasted expresso make this the perfect treat wine.   Sadly it’s not available at the NSLC, but we can get it locally at Bishop’s Cellar, and I may just have to treat myself to a bottle as I turn another wiser.

There’s no bucket list of mine that doesn’t include an Old Vine Zinfandel, and this is one of my all time favorites.   As a matter of fact, I was at my favorite NSLC store last night and was telling the manager, my good friend Rick, and Rayell that I have tried every Zinfandel in the store, and this is still my favorite.  The Lodi Appellation in California’s Central Valley is known for Zinfandel wines and this one does not disappoint.   Smoked bacon, chocolate, mocha and cherry flavors combine to make one yummy wine.  Probably my all time favorite BBQ wine still.  But easy to drink all by itself.

  

The wine on the right is a very expensive, very tasty Bordeaux wine.  It’s a smooth, richly delicious Merlot dominant Bordeaux wine from Pomerol St. Emilion in France.  It sells for around $78 a bottle, and I’m thrilled to say I have had the opportunity to enjoy it.  Fabulous wine.    The wine on the left is a $22 bottle of Merlot from Bogle Vineyards, and it is rich delicious as well without the rich price tag.  I was telling my friends Rick and Rayell yesterday how it was one of the best Merlot wines I have ever tasted.   Rich, smooth, juicy with soft round tannins and lots of flavor.

 

I do love a Pinot Noir, and the Calera Pinot Noir from California is one of my favorites.  Josh Jenson is the winemaker and owner of the vineyard who set out to make a spectacular Pinot Noir in California.  He search for the perfect place and found it.  And created Calera while creating beautiful Pinot Noir wines.   Smooth and spicy this is probably my favorite Pinot Noir.  I also love the one on the right, and this one comes in under $20.  A beautiful Pinot Noir from Chile, who are putting out fantastic wines at very reasonable prices.  What I love about Pinot Noir?  It is, in my opinion, the food friendliest on the plant.  Goes with everything!

 

    

As most of you know, I drink mostly red wines.  But since I started my quest to become a Sommelier, I have experienced some fantastic white whites, and now find myself drinking about 30% whites.   Bucket list white… this gorgeous Chardonnay from Clos Jordanne right here in Canada.  It’s the Grand Clos, which comes in at about $84 a bottle, but hands down the best white wine I have ever had.  This was my birthday gift to myself last year.  This is heaven in a glass with rich smooth creamy flavors of apple and pear and deliciousness.  (Is that a word… let’s make it a word!)  The wine on the right is another example of Chile stepping up to the plate and hitting it out of the ballpark.  A delicious Chardonnay from Chile with yummy flavors apples and pears and a great wine to go with chicken.

     

The above wines are all under $20 and all delicious.   I know.. I’m making it very easy to shop for me for my birthday.  However, if you’re still a little confused, head to the NLSC store on Larry Uteck Boulevard, and look for these two people, Rick or Rayell.  Just give them my name, and they’ll point you in the right direction.  I know, I’m even chuckling as I’m typing.   Yep, I’m that good of a customer.    FYI, Rayell is blond now.  (This was taken a couple of months ago.)   You can also ask for Heather or Brenda or Kim, fabulous staff at that store.

Rick                                             Rayell

So that’s it for me for this week.  I hope you have a fantastic week, enjoy some fine wine, and fine friends.

Till next week, Cheers

Darlene