2007 Sumac Ridge Sauvignon Blanc

I don't often buy sauvignon blanc from BC—pinot gris is my local white of choice. But I was in the mood the other day, and in a Canadian wine frame of mind, so I went for this choice from Sumac Ridge.

It has a different flavour than most sauvignon blanc I'm used to. It reminds me of an un-oaked chardonay, because it has a fuller body, creamier demeanor, and less outright citrus than the typical. But it's nice. It has a light greenish straw colour, smoky aroma, and light citrus, herbacious, smoky flavours.

I drank it with a homemade harvest soup, with turnip carrots and potato, on my wife's birthday. A perfect reason to celebrate.

$14.99 at the BC Liquor Store
13.5%

2006 Joseph Drouhin "Laforet" Bourgogne

I bought this red Burgundy for Thanksgiving, but didn't even get to it at dinner. Which was fine, as the sauvignon blanc I served hit the spot.

Overall I wasn't impressed. The flavour was pale, without much complexity, and not very bright. And it didn't grow on me, or evolve. It had aromas of cherry, cedar and black pepper, and flavours of cranberry, citrus and a little bit of milk chocolate if I'm feeling generous. I like sensitive, temperamental pinots, but there just wasn't much hiding in this one. Nice ruby colour though.

My leftover turkey lasted longer than the cherry finish.
Mostly paired with turkey sandwiches.

$22 at the BC Liquor Store
12.5%

120 Santa Rita Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Colour: Pale straw

Aroma: Pineapple, citrus, mineral

Flavour: Pineapple, granny smith apple, citrus, pear, light petrol

Mouthfeel: High acidity, light body

Finish: Medium crisp finish

I bought this wine, Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, at Milestones restaurant the other day for $28. It's sort of shocking how much restaurants mark-up wine. I guess there is some overhead involved, storage and refrigeration. That's how they make money. When I saw the bottle again on Saturday, before making Thanksgiving dinner, I picked one up. It's an incredible value, crisp and refreshing, and was a great complement to our fresh herb-rubbed turkey, spaghetti squash, balsamic-glazed carrots and BC red potatoes. My wife made a killer sweet potato pie for dessert, with a meringue loaded with cinnamon. A great finish.

$11.99 at BC Liquor Stores
13.5%

La Mano Mencia Roble 2006

This spicy red is from the Bierzo region in the northwest of Spain, which I walked through last year as part of an 800 km route from southern France to the city of Santiago, near the Atlantic Ocean. The area has a lot of hills, and the clouds rolled in and out over the green fields.

Colour: Deep cherry red

Aromas: Black cherry, licorice, cinnamon

Flavours: Black cherry, earth, licorice, allspice,

Body: Medium to full bodied

Balance: Moderate acidity, moderate tannins, dry

Finish: Medium length black cherry finish

The grape used for this wine is Mencia, according to the NY Times, the "signature grape of Bierzo". It's not very common. I just watched In the Shadow of the Moon with my wife. Pretty good movie. Provides a lot of insight into what the astronauts who went to the moon were thinking. Incredible stuff.

$14 at BC Liquor Stores
12%