It’s Time for a Summer Wine Fling
Hello and welcome back.
Well it’s mid-Summer. A warm sun has taken up residence in B.C. for a while anyway. Hopefully, you have a chance to be at the lake, on your patio or down at the beach and enjoy yourself with people you know and care about.
A Summer fling is a short term romantic involvement that takes place some time between the May long weekend and Labour Day. It’s casual but involves real feelings. It could be with someone you already know, wanted to know or someone you just met.
But how about a Summer wine fling? As a subscriber you’ve passed a lot of wines in the hallways of this newsletter over the Winter months. Perhaps, you’ve had your eye on one of them? They looked attractive, seemed interesting but you were too shy to engage or thought they were out of your league or just didn’t have time for that kind of thing right now.
But Summer is about unwinding, being good to yourself, pleasure and trying new things. It’s the time to step out of your comfort zone. Summer is about NOW. About “what the heck” and about "what have I got to lose?”.
This month, there are lots of very eligible candidates for a Summer wine affair and who knows? It could end up being an ongoing relationship.
July’s 5 Top Picks For a Wine Fling:
Bearded and a little mysterious looking but actually a very interesting character. Introduce yourself.
CHATEAU BARBEBELLE FLEURI ROSÉ 2022 - AIX EN PROVENCE, FRANCE
$22.99 reduced to 20.99 until July 27 - 750 ml.
This is a rosé I remembered enjoying previously and especially liked. I was pleased to taste and find that it impressed once again.
Very pale in the glass, it begins with a very light whiff of grapefruit, rose hip, fresh ginger skin and citrus pith. The flavours are very similar with the citrus being more prominent some additional floral notes, suppleness and a crisp balanced acidity. The grapes here are 50% grenache, 35% cinsault and 15% syrah with a restrained 12.5% alcohol.
A step up Provence rosé, light, supple, balanced and delightful. 93 Points, Decanter Magazine's Rosé Wines of the Year 2020. Summer elegance at a true bargain price. Tasted ✓ 90 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 150519
Everybody loves Kris. Lean, distinguished, a little shy but very well balanced.
KRIS PINOT GRIGIO DELLE VENEZIE 2021 - ITALY
$19.99 reduced to 15.99 until July 27 - 750 ml.
Pinot grigio is the same grape as pinot gris but the pinot grigio style is more Italian i.e. generally leaner and more savoury than wines called pinot gris from the New World (North/South America, Australia / NZ/ South Africa). So if it says Pinot Grigio on the label it indicates the wine will lean toward the Old World style. Most Italian Pinot Grigios available coming in at under $20.00 are good enough but often taste quite similar.
This one has something a little different to say. Shy on the nose, with lean but good fruity flavours of lemon, cantaloupe, melon rind with some silkiness in the mouth feel. Clean, crisp and well balanced. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 151860
Here’s that classy one you would like to get to know better, maybe for that Summer fling? It’s time to make your move…
CRAGGY RANGE TE MUNA SAUVIGNON BLANC - MARTINBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND 2022
$31.99 Reduced to $29.99 until July 27 - 750 ml.
On the nose a very elegant version of classic sauvignon blanc showing aromas of gooseberry and struck flint with notes of cucumber and light lemon. The palate follows the nose here, adding some floralness and minerality that is all very finely textured and beautifully balanced. This is far above standard New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The sale price puts this special wine within reach. Find out what sauvignon blanc can be from the right place and in the right hands. Tasted ✓ 92 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 614420
Summer isn’t only about rosés and spritzes. This one is a real hunk, biggish but well mannered and likes BBQ’d steaks, burgers and similar fare. Make plans for a date night.
FALERNIA RESERVA SYRAH 2017 - ELQUI VALLEY, CHILE
$19.99 reduced to 16.99 until until July 27 - 750 ml.
Starts with an exuberant nose of sweet juicy syrah fruit, burnt matchstick, cigar, white pepper, licorice and chocolate, all gusted by biggish alcohol. The well managed flavours show modulated tannins and good acidity with notes of licorice, tobacco, black mission figs, and black plums, all well integrated, in part because of the bottle age here. The finish echoes black figs and persists a long while. Excellent value at this sale price. Tasted ✓ 91 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 147819
Not a fancy type but sensible, very pleasant and warm hearted, pairs well with sunsets, chicken skewers and Asian fare too.
SPIER SIGNATURE CHENIN BLANC 2022 - SOUTH AFRICA
$14.99 reduced to 11.99 until July 27 - 750 ml.
Rounded, sappy scents of quince (a pearlike fruit whose skin has an enchanting aroma) pear and a touch of honey. On the flavour, again quince and pear with light ginger, nectarine, honey and more that keeps dancing long into the finish.
Very consistent year to year, this wine is one of the very best white wine values in B.C. Liquor Stores as it would be fair value at twice the sale price here. If you don’t like oak in your white wine, forget unwooded chardonnay and go for this. Food matching for this wine would include lighter Asian fare, chicken with stone fruit, apricot, pear, nectarine as well as lighter yellow fruit desserts. Tasted ✓ 89 Points
Find Store Nearest You SKU: 659037
Wine Bargains - Let's Get Started
This month’s sale lasts until the end of day, Saturday July 27. There are forty-seven great value wines available this month, including seven different rosés and eight 90+ point wines.
The wine bargains below are independently reviewed by me and most are widely available from B.C. government stores.