Author Archives: darmyers

Well that year seemed to go very fast. It was an interesting year for me. Getting diagnosed with rectal cancer late in 2022, 2023 was a year of radiation, IV chemo and chemo pills. Still, I had many good times this past year and even managed a glass of wine now and then. Here are some of my favorite finds from 2023.

My Favorite New White Wine

My friend Joan bought the winner of the best white wine of 2023 to my place. This is the Casasole Orvieto from Umbria Italy. If you look it up at your local liquor store, the first pairing is Asian cuisine. I love making spicy noodle dishes with chicken and vegetables, and this wine is perfect.

This wine is fantastic and priced at $18.84 a bottle, a spectacular deal. The wine is medium bodied on the palate with gorgeous notes of tropical fruit and pears. There is a little hint of sweetness on the tongue that makes it perfect for any Asian cuisine, cheese, and pasta dishes. I loved it.

PS. My homemade sauce for this dish is so easy. Chicken broth, corn starch, hoisen sauce and soy sauce. And then I add hot sauce, and usually from red chili flakes, because I like a bit of spice.

One of the highlights for our family this year was the addition of Maggie’s sister Lexi. She turned 6 months old on January 1st.

And she is just a big floof ball. This picture was taken when I was just home for Christmas. She thinks she’s a lap dog. Weighing in at over 50 lbs now, she has grown a lot since Jackie got her the end of August

My Favorite Red Wine

I understand this is a treat wine, and not one for everyday consumption, but this is probably the best wine I have ever had.

The Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley is spectacular, but it will set you back $70 for the bottle. Full-bodied, yet fresh and bright, this wonderful wine has tasting notes of caramel and baking spices. Just absolutely delicious, and a great treat wine.

Another highlight for me, was ringing that cancer bell.

After completing 15 weeks of IV along with 10 chemo pills per day, I was happy for my final one and to ring that bell before I left the long term Chemotherapy unit. 

My Favorite Best Value Find

Since Canyon Road has been discontinued here, the wine on the left has become the new staple in my wine rack. Vivo Robusto Red from Chile is $12.75 a bottle and it’s a really good wine at a really great price. Made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% other grapes, this Chilean red blend is a spectacular value. 

Not only was 2023 the hottest Summer on record for most of the world, we had some wild wacky weather here in Eastern Canada. Halifax, after experiencing wild fires in June that caused so many people to lose their homes, saw severe flooding in July. 

Favorite Find priced at $20

With the continual increases in the price of wine, it’s getting harder and harder to find a really good wine under $20. I did find one though and it’s a 90-Pointer.

Hailing from Argentina, the Lui Blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. A full-bodied blend that is luscious and juicy and has a really nice finish. It’s $18 a bottle and one of my favorite finds of 2023.

I hope everyone has a great January and a fabulous 2024

Till next week, Cheers

Darlene

Where has the time gone. Christmas Eve is next Sunday. I’m heading home so there won’t be a wine blog next weekend. It’s a busy time of the year for most of us, and I love relaxing with a great wine and a good Hallmark movie. There were a few filmed here in Nova Scotia, including this one called Christmas Island.

Although the weather outside can be frightful, here’s some delightful wines for you to try this holiday season.

I tried a new white wine last weekend. My friend Joan bought this wine to my place and I really liked it. 

This Italian wine made by Ruffino from the DOC Orvieto. Known for their white wines, they tend to be blends from a blend of Grechetto and Trebbiano. The Grechetto grape is tastes like a Pinot Grigio and an unoaked Chardonnay got together. Not as acidic as a Pinot Grigio, but it does have some, which make it bright and tasty. Citrus notes with hints of spice, this sgreat white wine is priced at $16, which makes it a win-win.

What is your elf name?

A little bit of fun finding your elf name. My name is Happy Superplum. My sister would be Puddin’ Pickle-Pants. I may have her to call her that when I see her at Christmas. Let me know your name in the comments!

So I have started my Christmas wrapping. OMG, I have mine and my mother’s gifts to wrap. I took this picture to show the wrapping essentials, not the bows, the Bailey’s! It’s nice to enjoy a beverage while wrapping. You can even have a glass of wine.

Here’s one to consider. I wanted to try a new wine the other night, which produced a bit of a funny story at the liquor store.

I’m what you call a bit of a regular, so when I ran into one of the regular staff, she said, “Are you having trouble finding something?” I said, ‘I’m wanting to try something new’. She went on to select several bottles that she found really popular, and I had tried them all. She laughed!

The Avenue Syrah Grenache hails from the South of France, and the grapes are harvested from the high-altitude clay and limestone slopes, which results in a complex wine. Inspired by the popular wines served on cobblestone patios of the French brasseries, it was so easy to drink with notes of cherry and spice. Priced at just $17.99, finding great wines under $20 are getting more difficult to find, I really enjoyed this one.

There won’t be a wine blog next weekend, as I will be travelling home for Christmas. The next wine blog will be my yearly round-up of my favorite finds from 2023. I want to take a moment to thank all my readers who open this page each week to read my ramblings. It’s humbling that I get to share some of your weekend. But most of all I want to say thank you for all the kind words you sent along as I spent 2023 battling colon cancer. I can’t tell you how much they meant to me. I want to wish all of the best of the holiday season, and to a wonderful and healthy 2024. 

Merry Christmas

Love Darlene

Yes, it surely is. I do love the month of December. It’s been VERY cold here in Halifax, however, nothing warms the cockles of my heart like a nice glass of wine. There was no wine blog last weekend because I was in Antigonish.

Regular readers know my nephew Riley, it’s so hard to believe he is in his 4th year at St. FX University, and last weekend, he received his X ring. So proud.

Had the entire family here….. for 12 days! That’s a long time to have family staying with you. No, I wasn’t speeding out to the airport they day they went back. LOL

Love to see them come, and after 12 days, love to take them out to the airport.

I’m very grateful to have a kitty that doesn’t go near my Christmas tree. Ok, quick update on my Cancer. I saw the cancer surgeon Thursday and the Cancer is still remaining so in the new year I am having the Surgery. Even though I will have a colostomy bag for the rest of my life, I’m still one of the lucky ones. The cancer will be gone. I’ll keep you up to date when I know a date. Although the Doctor told me it’s quite a recovery time, I am looking forward to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the cancer will be gone. I’m ready.

Let’s talk some wine.

This beauty is on sale at our liquor stores right now. Sea Sun Pinot Noir from the Wagner family of wines. The same people who make Caymus and many other delicious brands, have hit it out of the ballpark with this lovely Pinot Noir. You’ll need to let it breathe. Pinot Noir can have a higher alcohol content, and my first sip was a little boozy. You can feel that in the back of your throat, a little burning sensation. After letting it stand for 20 minutes, it was perfect and delicious. Sourced from the coastal areas of California, the long growing season makes for a beautifully captivating wine with hints of brown spice and vanilla. Sea Sun also makes a Chardonnay for my white wine loving readers.

A little bit of cuteness before I talk about the next wine. I got to spend some time with 5-month old Lexi last weekend. She’s the cutie on the left, and on the right is my Maggie. My sister had them both groomed yesterday and they are as adorable as they look. Bernadoodles have the sweetest personalities.

Ok, My friends Fred & Arla took a drive outside of Halifax and found this gem of a store.

There are so many great small towns in Nova Scotia, that all have something unique to offer. I love exploring this province. Well, they found a BBQ store in Upper Onslow, Nova Scotia and this store was unbelievable. Arla took a picture because the variety was fantastic. I will definitely be making a trip. The store is called BBQ Heaven, and you know me, I love a good piece of BBQ Heaven.

Ok, here’s another great wine to give as a Christmas gift that won’t break the bank.

It’s hard to believe this fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon from California is $20. It is so hard to get spectacular wines at that price point anymore. This is actually a blend of 77% Cabernet, 20% Merlot and 3% Tannat. Tannat is a grape varietal from France that are used in blends, that you don’t normally see in California blends. This wine is so good. Here in Halifax, I have to go downtown to get this wine, but if you see it, pick it up, it is so good.

Holy cow, it’s hard to believe Christmas Eve is 2 weeks from tomorrow. Have fun, don’t stress too much and give yourself a breather every once in a while.

Till next week, Cheers

Darlene