Left Field Cider Co.

Little Dry & Big Dry
about $8.50 per bottle at these retailers
At the Cider House:
Cider Bottle $7
Half Case (6) $40
Full Case (12) $78

I am going to go a bit more bloggy with this entry because I am really excited about it! This whole story started when I was reading up about a local Kamloops winery that recently opened and I came across an article about a Cider House near my home town of Logan Lake BC.

For me, this is exciting for a few reasons:
1. Its local!
2. Its CIDER...my other drink of choice. In case you are new to my blog, wine is my first :)
....and
3. I already feel attached to the product knowing it is produced in the backyard of my hometown! YEAH LOGAN LAKE!

OK...I know you probably want to know about the cider.

FREAKIN' AMAZING!

There are two kinds. Little Dry and Big Dry. I am a fan of dry cider and was curious, so I bought both. Here's what my distinguished panel of backyard tasters had to say...

Little Dry
500ml bottle
6.5% alc/vol
Very similar to unsweetened apple juice. Fruit forward with great apple aromatics and a bubbly finish that is somewhat dry.  Totally refreshing and easy to drink. If you prefer the standard Okanagan ciders that are abundant on the liquor store shelves, this would loosely follow their taste profile but with a bit more edge to it

Big Dry
500ml bottle
7.2% alc/vol
In our opinion, the best of the two! Packs a punch of dry and has that hint of apple with a little less carbonation than the Little Dry. This could stand up next to BBQ Brawts no problem! I found this easier to drink, as it didn't have too much fruity finish.

Two very different ciders from one great company! I can't wait to get out there and check out the cider house. I will definitely be back with an update when I do!

Cheers
Enjoy!

2010 Big House Cardinal Zin - California

$36.99 CDN
Craig and I absolutely LOVE Old Vine Zinfandel. We have tasted $8 bottles and $80 bottles. Obviously we can't afford the high end of the price scale on a regular basis, so we had to find a wine that suited our needs and price point!

This wine does the trick! Its actually extremely affordable (don't let the price scare you!) and brings taste and some depth to the table! This box works out to about 4 bottle of wine which is approx. $9.25 a bottle. I have had some great wines at the price and some awful "porch climber", so its really just a matter of trial and error when shopping in the $10 range.


I stumbled upon this wine in a magazine and Big House had recently won awards for their other wines so I thought I would go out and pick it up! I was BBQing that night and needed something to go with our steak.

If you are waiting for a huge Zin, you will be disappointed. It is a bit lighter in the glass and doesn't carry a heavy deep finish you might expect. However, that doesn't mean its not good! It has hints of tobacco and berry as well a peppery note. Nothing is profound, but it kept up with our steak and did a nice job pairing with some dark chocolate and berries! 


It has been purchased several times and I will have it again. when I want a glass of Zin without breaking the bank!

The 2010 Grinder Pinotage - South Africa

$14.99 CDN
This is probably one of Craig's favorite go-to wines. He really likes a red with lots of depth and flavor and The Grinder does not disappoint!

The fist thing you notice about this wine when you open it is the overwhelming aroma of mocha and coffee beans. On the palate is offers hints of berry with a slight finish of  dark chocolate. You have to really like red wine to appreciate this one!

Pair it with savory rich dishes like braised short ribs or blackened steak...mmmm!

This wine repeatedly falls into my cart at the liquor store! Great to have in the wine rack for those last minute invites out to dinner.  Although its a 2010, a half hour of decanting makes this more than enjoyable!

2008 La Casona de Castano Old Vines Monastrell - South East Spain

$11.99 CDN

We have had this wine in a 2007 - 2009 vintage and they all were amazing for the price point. The Castano family has been producing wine for several generations sourced from vineyards aging 40-60 years old!

This is 100 % Monastrell Old Vines. It is a definite full bodied wine with hints of berry, current and cherry and finishes with a slight hint of oak. It is great on its own or pairs well with cheese and fruit.

When I can find this wine, it always makes its way into the cart!

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!