A decadent but fresh Barossa Shiraz with sweet and smoky aromas of bleuberry, blackberry, sweet mint and espresso, fruitcake spice and leather with hints of cigarbox and dark earth. The palate is sweet and lush with great acidity to balance the layers of berry, spice and coffee flavours. Soft tannins on the finish and a long mocha linger...
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 24th, 2010

A new package on a old favorite!
This De Bortoli Family Selection red blend has obvious sunwarmed wild berry and eucalyptus aromas, chocolate, vanilla and a mineral/saline core. Sweet ripe fruit dominates the palate - notably juicy blueberry and raspberry - sweet spices and chocolate with a hint of tobacco. Supple and generous with a smooth lingering finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 23rd, 2010

There's no lack of ripe fruit and supple sweetness in this blend of 60/40 Shiraz~Cab - it has aromas of mixed black berry jam with eucalypt and vanilla, chocolate and fruitcake spices. The palate is juicy and plush as well - raspberry and black berries, chocolate and cola spice - smooth, fruity and very easy quaffing.
Will pair well with sweet and spicy barbecue sauces, burgers, pizza...
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 5th, 2010

Decadently rich fruit aromas - cherry jam, cassis liqueur, mint chocolate patties and cola spice notes. Lush, plump and smooth in the mouth - the rich fruit aromas are echoed on the palate, layerd with fruit cake and dense chocolate, sweet spice flavours linger across the finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 21st, 2010

This fruit-bomb Shiraz has just a splash of Viognier blended in and it releases aromas of blackberry and raspberry, vanilla and fruitcake spices with eucalypt notes. The palate is supple and juicy with plenty of sweet berry fruit, cocoa, espresso and leather followed by spice and cedar-y hints on the finish. A perfect wine for grilling when you are using a sweet, spicy and tangy barbecue sauce.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 18th, 2010

An official product of the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup, Nederburg has come up with a Limited Edition line-up of wines including this highly quaffable patio rose that will pair nicely with some appetizers and a football game!
It sports a screw cap for easy access and is a glorious ruby shade. It offers aromas of sweet black cherry and strawberry, violets and vanilla with undertones of tobacco, earth and leather. The palate is off-dry and balanced with lively acidity, it has plenty of juicy berry flavours and doesn't slouch on the finish.
Goal!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 9th, 2010

This tasty and very well-priced, old vine Zin is also very easy drinking.
Aromas of ripe cherries and raspberries, sweet spices and cigarbox are layered with chocolate. It is supple and juicy in the mouth with sweet berry, chocolate, coffee, tealeaves and spice flavours. The finish is completely smooth. This is a wine for a barbecue party it will stand up to any sweet and tangy sauce you can throw at it, and will please a crowd.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 2nd, 2010

Once again, Gallo Family Vineyards has produced an affordable and crowd pleasing wine that is perfect for your sumer parties. It has plenty of rich tropical fruit aromas sorrounded by vanilla caramels and oak spice. The palate is sweet - laden with similar pineapple and melon, vanilla and butterscotch with clove and cinnamon. Round and creamy with a bright apple-y finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 29th, 2010

New on my radar this attractively dressed, galvanized textured bottle contains a blend of Grenache & Syrah and presents very concentrated aromas of chocolate mint patties, ripe berries and cherry, violets and sweet, warm spices. The palate is round and smooth with chocolate, berry and cola spice flavours. An affordable, crowd-pleasing wine, great for barbecuing or parties.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 9th, 2010

This delicious Mendoza Cabernet is a crowd pleaser.
Aromas of sunwarmed cherries, cassis liqueur, sweet spice and vanilla, mocha and a hint of mint to brighten it. It is juicy in the mouth, there are plenty of berry flavours supported with oak spice, cocoa and tobacco. Expect great acidity, a slightly powdery texture throughout and smooth tannins on the finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 5th, 2010

A consistently delicious Zinfandel, the Sonoma Coast is a seductive aromatic medley of blueberry tea, raspberry and sweet spice, mint and dried licorice bark. A velvety and supple wine with dense berry flavours, vanilla and espesso. It is juicy and concentrated, flavours of roasted spices, bittersweet chocolate and tobacco linger across a lengthy finish.
Pair with gourmet burgers, grilled pizza or chili.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 26th, 2010

A friendly, easy drinking Merlot (with some Petit Syrah) that reveals smoky aromas, it is plummy and chocolaty with vanilla and warm spices. The palate is smooth and supple with nice power and structure - highlighted with ripe black fruits, lots of sweet spice and cocoa.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 15th, 2010

This is a young and fresh Merlot from one of BC's newest producers.
It is also a very fragrant version with appealing aromas of sweet raspberry and cherry, a hint of menthol, a whiff of crushed floral and vanilla with warm chocolate at the core. The palate supplies lots of berry flavours, it is bright and juicy in the mouth and continues along with vanilla and sweet spice flavours - oak char and cocoa linger across the finish. The finish is long with fine tannins.
Very tasty.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 2nd, 2010

A wine expressive enough to knock your socks off!
Expect a potpourri of aromas - crushed violet and rose petals, cedar chips and cinnamon wrapped around ripe blackberries and vanilla. The texture is smooth, the palate is juicy, oozing warm berry, vanilla, espresso, molten chocolate and spiced oak flavours.
This is a full-bodied wine with a creamy, spiced finish that is certain to be a crowd pleaser...
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 8th, 2010

You have to admit, the R wines, imported by Grateful Palate have some slick marketing behind them...Bitch Grenache and Evil Cabernet to name but two, are catchy and very fun.
The SUXX has plump blackberry and chocolate covered cherry aromas, baking spice and mint - opulent aromas. The palate is dense and plush, it's layered with spiced chocolate, juicy blackberry and blueberry flavours. It is a very easy-drinking red with a supple, spiced finish.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 18th, 2009

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

From Escorihuela who also produces the Don Miguel Gascon wines comes this consumer friendly blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas are current jelly and bright red fruit, vanilla and chocolate with undertones of coconut and sweet oak spice. The palate is supple with similar flavours of bright red fruits, herbs vanilla, coconut and baking spices, it has quite a lengthy choco-mocha finish and some bitterness on the finish.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 11th, 2009

A juicy crowd pleasing red with sweet aromas of caramel apples, vanilla and purple flowers with smoky sweet berries and baking spices. It is medium-bodied and juicy with smooth berry fruit flavours, vanilla and tobacco. A simple wine with little complexity but good for quaffing and an appealing price, perfect for parties.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 9th, 2009

This new California Cabernet is very easy drinking and attractively priced. Expect aromas of sweet red berries, vanilla and cherry and baking spices. The palate is juicy with plenty of mixed berry fruit and sweet spices, it's a crowd pleaser with some structure, a powdery texture and a smooth finish.
A good burger or barbecue wine.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 9th, 2009

This Shiraz and Grenache blend is an explosion of ripe blackberry and warm raspberry aromas, eucalytus and crushed purple flowers, vanilla and coconut. The palate is oozing sweet berry fruit, again with vanilla and baking spices. It is supple on the palate with soft tannins. Very easy drinking and sporting a new lower price tag.
This wine may come off as a simple fruit bomb but there's a bit more going on than that...
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - October 20th, 2009