2009 Red Bicyclette Syrah - France

$16.99 CDN
Craig and I were in the liquor store wanting to get adventurous with our wine and leave Australia and Chile and head over to France. However, never even browsing French wines, we didn't know where to start except that we wanted a Syrah! Lucky for us, we ran into another wine enthusiast and she was doing a tasting at the restaurant she worked at...Syrah vs Shiraz...how perfect is that! She suggested this wine and told us not expect the upfront boldness from an Australian Shiraz, but to enjoy the subtly it has to offer. She was right!


Sidenote...for those of you that don't know, Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape, just originally grown in different parts of the world...Shiraz in Australia and Syrah in France, creating two completely different wines. There is lots of information on the internet about it, but this article, I think, explains it the best.


OK...back to the wine. On its own, it was beautiful! Hints of blackberry and subtle spice, it is full bodied and has a velvety texture. However, pair it with food and we think you lose a lot of the complexity. The food pairing suggestion is savory tomato dishes and rich cuts of meat, but that hint of spice finish is lost. Our suggestion is to enjoy it on its own and appreciate it for its balance and flavour.

2006 Ars In Vitro Red Blend - Spain

$15.99 CDN
50% Merlot and 50% Tempranillo, this wine has a nice cherry red color, great legs and nice floral aromas with a hint of berry in the background! We took a chance with this wine, not really having tried Spanish wines before...and I'm glad we did! It has a nice long finish that brings out the hints of tobacco and plum.

It was suggested that this wine cellar for 4 years, so we got it at the sweet spot for drinking. It is smooth, the tannins are mellow and it accompanies a hearty meat dish or can go solo! This wine is worth the little bit of extra money to experience a unique taste of Spain!

2009 Open Sauvignon Blanc - British Columbia

$12.99 CDN
I used to be a white wine only girl and over the past two years have become a huge red wine drinker. Going back to white has been a bit of a challenge, as the few I recently enjoyed have been exclusive to the wineries and makes it impossible for you to purchase if you don't live nearby.

Open was recommended by a friend and it was a good choice. It is a nice dry white wine that makes for a casual "while I make dinner" drinking wine. It has nice citrus aromas with a crisp clean finish hinting at exotic fruits. It is best served cold and if you are looking to pair it with food, you will want to choose light, fresh, herby type foods like olives stuffed with feta, garlic prawns or pair it with a caprese salad.


I will definitely buy it again!

2009 Flip Flop Cabernet Sauvignon - California

$9.99 CDN

I am a HUGE fan of California Zinfandel and usually prefer Cab/Sav's from Chile or Australia. However, I was looking for a bottle of wine under $15 that I could really enjoy with or without food! FOUND IT! I have a new favorite!

The first thing that impressed me was the deep rich color as well as the fruity hints of black berry and cherry. This is a dry wine and for its age, it's full bodied and has nice legs. The winemaker suggests it could be cellared for another 3 years, but is definitely good drinking right now!

I suggested my inlaws look for it in Mesa, where they are for the winter. They purchased it on sale for $5.99 and thought they had nothing to lose trying it. They had it with steak and said this wine stood up to the richness of the beef and complimented the meal!

For me, this wine will be a regular in the house!

2008 Sledghammer Zinfandel - California

$17.99 CDN
Quoted from their website
"A new style of big Zin – bold and complex. Our winemaker took no prisoners with this Zin lovers weapon of choice. Dark, ripe fruit and surprising complexity make it wise beyond its years. When you take a sledgehammer to Zin grapes, you get intensely ripe and intense flavor that’s a hammer blow to your taste buds.
Sledgehammer + ripe, dark Zinfandel grapes = Rich, full bodied flavor that will leave you begging for more"


This wine is definitely one of those that you can open, share with friends and not have to worry about pairing anything with it. You don't need to ponder its flavor, as its an upfront, full flavored wine with lots of depth and undertones to it.