A juicy, fresh blend of the famed Rhone varietals; 43% Grenache, 51% Syrah and 6% Mourvedre. Rich garnet with purplish hints and upfront fruit aromas of mixed berries and prune plums, chocolate, dark flowers, Christmas cake spices and inky/iodine notes. Fresh berries, creamy cherry and allspice flavours with supple tannins.
Very good!
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 16th, 2008

Pacific Breeze Winery, located in New Westminister has deftly handled the "Cellared in Canada" debacle by naming the vineyard in which their grapes come from right on the label. Or, in the case of this new "Killer Cab" the label clearly states; "Produced and cellared in New Westminister BC from USA grapes". Simple, honest and effective.

The wine itself has gobs of briary berry aromas, chocolate nougat, sweet vanilla and hints of coconut. Its super easy drinking but still has some complexity - jammy fruit, liberal chocolate, espresso and spice. Nicely balanced with soft tannins and good acidity.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 17th, 2009

Another well made wine in Pacific Breeze Winery's (made in Canada from US grapes - as stated on the bottle) portfolio, the Vin de Garagiste is a nod to their own "garage winery" in New Westminister's light industrial area.
A blend of Bordeaux grape varieties it has affluent dried cherry and prune, plump berry, chocolate and espresso aromas with a hint of peppery spice. The palate is full and as rich as the nose - juicy cassis, a hint of blueberry and layers of tobacco, spiced cocoa and coffee. The finish is lengthy with firm, ripe tannins.Very enjoyable.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 2nd, 2010

Made with 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17.5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet franc and 1% Petit Verdot it has upfront cassis, cherry and cedar aromas with undertones of vanilla, chocolate and a hint of marzipan. Lush and full-bodied on the palate showing elegant layered flavours of smooth berries with spiced cocoa and oak on the finish.
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 1st, 2008

Cassis and briary fruit on the nose with undertones of cedar, vanilla and mint. On the palate it's full-bodied and smooth with luxuriant, dark berry/cherry fruit, vanilla spices and chocolate with fine, dusty tannins on the finish.
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 1st, 2008

The "Signature" Cabernet is made from 91% Cabernet, 8% Syrah and a half-percent each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Rich aromas - fresh dark berries, sweet chocolate, warm spices and vanilla. Smooth fruit on the palate, earth and minerals followed by peppery spices, tobacco and cocoa with firm tannins throughout.
This is a cellar keeper.
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 1st, 2008

The Pacific Breeze wines have impressed me from the very first time I tasted them.
The label clearly states "Made in New Westminster BC from USA grapes" and those are some very good grapes.
This wine embodies Cabernet - rich cassis, saddle leather, dark earth and graphite, tobacco and hints of mocha.The palate is concentrated, almost brooding with black current and leathery flavours. Great balance and structure with long powdery tannins.
Impressive!
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 4th, 2009

Golden-hued with rich toasty aromas, ripe pear, roasted pineapple, caramel and oak spice. On the palate it’s rounded and smooth with creamy fruit, spiced rum and caramel flavours.
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 1st, 2008

Brilliant with golden glints and sweet caramel aromas, golden pineapple, minerals and lemon vanilla. On the palate it is fresh showing tropical fruit, citrus, butterscotch, minerals with vanillin and toasted oak spices on the finish.
When I tasted this new vintage of the Pacific Breeze Chard it was a bit awkward - perhaps because it had been recently bottled. But the longer it stayed open the more cohesive it became. A few months in the bottle should help smooth it out.
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 21st, 2008

This made in BC from California grapes (as stated clearly on the label) Chardonnay is not a shrinking violet and I recommended it only to those who like their Chardonnay oaky.
A rich golden colour, it has overt aromas of butterscotch brulee, ripe pineapple, wild honey and warm spice with a hint of orange creamsicle and a leesy core. It is big and bold on the palate with plenty of tropical pineapple, exotic spice, vanilla and caramel flavours. Toasty oak and oak spice dominate and don' let go across the finish line. it burms pretty hot on the finish too with 14.3% alcohol.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 2nd, 2010

The Pacific Breeze "Produced and Cellared in New Westminister BC from USA grapes" wines (clearly stated on the front label) are across the board - well-made and substantial.
This Killer Cab will seduce dessert lovers with its plum and rich cassis aromas, espresso, hazelnut, molten chocolate and warm toffee notes with a with a hint of Bananas Foster. It is concentrated and supple with ripe berry flavours, loads of spice and espresso. The texture is powdery with dry, cocoa flavoured tannins.
Very tasty!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 9th, 2010

Aromas of cassis and rich blackberries, dark chocolate, a suggestion of saddle leather, tobacco leaf, warm spice and inky aromas. The palate is dark and earthy with red berry fruit, leather and cocoa - it has lifted acidity and dry, powdery tannins on the finish.
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Syrah and a drop each of Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 20th, 2010

This is a concentrated Syrah for those who like to sink their teeth into their wine!
Gobs of blackberries and rich black cherries swimming in chocolate, a suggestion of dried fruits, tobacco leaf and sweet, lifted herbal notes. The palate is dense, thick and chewy with smoky cocoa, loads of chocolate, espresso and dark berry flavours, savoury, peppery spice rub and meaty hints - the finish grabs hold with dry, firm tannins.
A forthright wine, not for the meek.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 21st, 2010

This British Columbia based winery makes sure you know what the story is by stating produced and cellared in New Westminster BC with grapes from the USA on their front label.
The wines are all very impressive - especially this Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre blend. It is undeniably opulent and succulent with aromas of maraschino cherries, sweet spices and rich chocolate with toffee notes. The palate is concentrated with dense berry/cherry, espresso and cocoa flavours, it is luscious and smooth leaving a trail of spice lingering on the finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 15th, 2010

This "made and cellared in Canada from USA grapes" (clearly stated on the front label) Cabernet has the addition of 18% Merlot to flesh it out.
Spicy blackcurrent aromas take the lead followed by rich dark earth, chocolate and a hint of prune. The palate is powerful and focused but still bright, it has plenty of cedarbox and spice flavours with firm, chewy chocolate tannins on the finish.
Despite the age, this wine could still use some cellar time, or decant and serve with some hard aged cheese or dense protein dishes.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 17th, 2009