Shimizo-No-Mai Pure Dusk has a clear appearance. Aromas of bright pear and hints of green apple, with an underlying minerality. Delicate structure, with hints of fresh orange peel and cantaloupe. Medium length, dry finish.

This vintage Armagnac is produced in France from grapes grown on the estate, distilled in an alembic still and extensively aged in barrels made from wood staves from the property’s trees. Its hints of roasted almonds and citrus make it an Armagnac for true connoisseurs.

100% Pommard clone made from a combination of own-rooted Pinot Noir vines that are 25 to 47 years old, and newer plantings
that include Merrilee’s favorite barrels of the vintage. It typically benefits from cellaring. The wines of this heritage and quality are rarely so affordable.

Tyee Estate Pinot Noir featuring grapes grown exclusively in the family vineyard right next to the winery. Made from a combination of all of the Pinot noir in Tyee's Estate Vineyard from vines 45 years old and younger. Reminiscent of raspberries, cherries, green tea, graham cracker and pie spice.

2022 Cuvée Ruth is a barrel selection combining some of the best vineyards including Justice, Koosah, Sojeau, Temperance Hill & X Novo. Elegance is the forefront, showing generous red fruit notes and layered with floral and mineral depth balanced by the power of the individual sites, giving this wine an overall polish evoked by the blending of the sites.

Another stunner from Sam at POE Wine Company. 100% Grenache Rosé from Markus Bokish’s Linden Ridge Vineyard in Lodi. It’s all direct to press - we picked at 20 brix to retain natural acidity and fermented cold at 50 degrees to keep aromatics. It has rose petal aromatics and really pretty raspberry.

A revelation, this stunning wine has turned out to be even better than I thought. Opaque purple-colored, with gorgeous ripeness and richness, a big, sweet mid-palate, and a seamless finish revealing loads of fruit, chocolate, glycerin, and ripe tannin, this opulently-styled 2000 will have few detractors. It is hard not to be totally seduced by this effort. Bravo!

The wine offers charming aromas of white peaches, strawberries and rhubarb, satsuma oranges and freesia blossoms with hints of honey. It is snappy with a sweet kiss and some cedary/spice flavours on the finish. Good structure and concentration.

This is an aromatic, ripe and complex wine. It has a sense of structure, with tannins as well as zesty orange and layers of spice. The aftertaste is more floral and fresh, although there is a touch of pepper right at the end.

Holy sh*t. Beautifully fragrant. Delightfully fresh. Approachable and soft, yet vibrant like all volcanic soil frappato should be. Are you sick of hearing about TAMI and Occhipinit like me? Try this natural wine. Hand picked in the middle of the night, extended skin maceration and natural yeast. No filtering.

Lirac is just as good as Châteauneuf but costs about half the price. The terroir is very similar with vineyards planted on giant riverbed stones (galets roulés) that absorb sun and warm the grapes. Amazing wine with herb-rubbed grilled meats or Provençal specialties like soupe au pistou.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Annum has a nose of crushed red and black currants, black berry preserves and bay leaves with a hint of cigar box. Medium-bodied, taut and with a good core of muscular fruit, it has a firm frame of chewy tannins and a long, cedar-laced finish.