Oct 15, 2010
Have you ever wanted to learn how to develop a greater appreciation for wine? The Blackcomb Wine Club always welcomes new people!
The Blackcomb Wine Appreciation Club has been active since 2001. We are a community interest group focused on developing wine culture and appreciation through tasting and interaction. “Membership” is open – no commitment is required, and there is no membership fee. The club was developed as a sociable way to enjoy tasting wines, and discover new favourites (and learn a little too!).
Events are generally held once per month at The Fitzsimmons Pub and occasionally at other venues (such as the Whistler Brewery or the Fairmont Wine Room etc). There is a small drop in fee of $5 – $10/person. The format is a sit-down, structured tasting, wine by wine, with host/moderator frequently with special guest speakers and occasional wine and food pairing dinners.
Members are able to sample wines before purchasing, and there are significant wholesale savings when purchasing in quantities of cases or half cases (12 or 6 bottles).
Future events are posted on The Blackcomb Liquor Store Facebook page.
You are invited to our next event. Come out and expand your palate and try some new wines!
Oct 6, 2010
The concept of counterparts is a straightforward one. Such as: action and reaction, night and day, male and female, and so on. Not necessarily exact opposites, but corresponding differences. This adds definition by contrast, keeps things in balance, helps us to appreciate variety. There are many examples of counterparts in the world of wine, as in nature and everywhere else; but truly one of the most classic and precise examples to be found, is that of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Both are grapes, both hail distantly from the same genetic family, both are enjoyed all over the globe: arguably the two single best known grape varieties worldwide. Chardonnay is a white wine grape; Pinot Noir is a red wine grape. Chardonnay is prolific bordering on ubiquitous while Pinot Noir is the elusive heart breaker of countless winemakers the world over. More often than not they are found in the same growing areas, and in Burgundy they are basically the be all and end all of all wine making bar none.
I happen to enjoy both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and recently tasted two excellent examples from Hartford Court in California’s Sonoma Valley. Hartford Court is a very limited production winery that focuses heavily on single estate bottlings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Production of these special wines can range from 800 cases to less than 100 cases.
The Hartford Court Stone Cote Vineyard Chardonnay 2005: produced in 100% French oak, 60% of which is new oak. The wine is clear with a deep golden straw colour that fades slightly around the rim. The nose is moderate and layered with youthful and slightly developed characteristics. It offers creamed corn, vanilla, lime, sweet hazelnut and citrus notes. The palate is dry and medium-full bodied and well-balanced with flavours of spice, toast, white citrus fruits, and a rich buttered biscuit character that lingers well.
The Hartford Court Fog Dance Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005: produced in 100% French oak, 55% of which is new oak. The wine is clear, and shows a pale ruby colour that fades to a slightly ruddy rim. Youthful as well a slightly developed aromatics rise from the glass showing sweet leather, stewed strawberry, woodspice and wet cherry blossom. The palate is dry, medium weight with juicy acidity and gently balanced tannins. Loads of flavours are present giving juicy red berry fruit, hints of sweet beets, tangy cherry, earthy spiciness, and a long warm finish.
Both excellent wines in their own right, as well as fine examples of the “yin and yang” of red and white wines. So even as we head ever closer to colder weather remember to balance your wine enjoyment with both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, (or whatever counterparts you love best!).
Cheers!
Michael
Blackcomb Liquor Store
Aug 24, 2010
SAVVY SIPPING — SNAP Sea To Sky September 2010 edition
“The Virtue of Patience”
We recently took a trip to visit old friends of ours in Kelowna; friends who have a swimming pool; definitely the highlight of the trip for our 2 year old daughter! So as Scarlett started by easing her way into the water, (first sitting on the edge, then working her way to jumping in with hands held, and by the third day running headlong off the edge and splashing into the arms of whichever adult happened to be in the water at the time), we made a pact with our generous hosts to drink only good wine during the visit. It was a vintage evening, with perfectly prepared food I sadly do not have time to delve into, but the wines ranging in age from 6 to 11 years, were superb.
The Starter Shafer Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1999: still inky dark in the centre of the glass yet showing its age around the edge where the purple fades to a ruddy reddish tone. The nose offering dried cassis, prune plums, cocoa and earthy cigar box aromas. The palate is still well structured with the tannins softening in their age yet still supportive of the sweet leathery fruit, black liquorice, and nearly nutty oak character, with a warm and persistent finish.
The Head to Head Mission Hill Family Estate Oculus 2003 vs. Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin 2003. Both from the same year, both produced with similar grape varieties, of course sharing several similarities, yet maintaining distinctly different characteristics. Each wine was starting to show the ruddy fade of colour, each wine offering more mature notes on the nose and palate. The Oculus with a more modern style overall had a bit brighter fruit character with kirsch, baked cherry, woodspice notes, and softer tannins, while the Osoyoos Larose was a more true throwback to the Bordelaise with a dense structure, and notes of raisiny cassis, violet and earthy dried pepper. Both wines complemented the lamb magnificently.
The Surprise Foxtrot Vineyards Pinot Noir 2004: the inaugural vintage of this highly esteemed vineyard, who for several years produced grapes for other wineries and now have created a cult following for their exquisite Pinot. Still fairly youthful in character this medium bodied wine maintains a wonderful freshness to its acidity and red dominant fruit character layered with notes of crushed strawberries, dried leaves, game, and a delicate clove like spice. Wonderfully balanced with a lingering finish, this wine will continue to develop over time.
The Closer Woodward Canyon Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon 2002: a perennial standout produced from the oldest Cabernet vines in Washington state. A beautifully balanced wine from start to finish, slightly red-brick in colour with flavours and aromas of crushed violets, dried black cherries, cassis, dusty packed earth, and old cedar, Wonderfully integrated spicy oak and a very long elegant finish – an incredible wine with a little more longevity to it as well.
So just as Scarlett was rewarded with taking her time as she ventured more and more boldly into the pool, so too were we rewarded with the virtue of patience and time with truly memorable vintage wines. The moral of the story: take your time, and life is too short to drink bad wine.
Enjoy!
Michael Kompass
Dec 19, 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BLS STAFF Well, what a fairy-tale start to the Winter, with mother nature really delivering the goods. While all that snow was falling we were busy probing our suppliers for their best new wines, and we have found many winners. Yep, we tasted over 500 wines in November alone, so that we could continue to offer you the best wine in Whistler. Read on for some of the best. We had a blast at Cornucopia and it has been interesting to see some sudden interest from new suppliers keen to enter the Whistler market (ed – I wonder why?). The BC wine industry continues to grow (now a winery in Lillooet!) with some excellent new entries into the market that are a must to try. If you need any recommendations for matching wine with your dinner ideas, we’d love to help out; give us a call or stop by the store. Lastly we’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas filled with family, friends and of course, good wine!
Champagne – Something to Celebrate – Michael Kompass
Champagne – No other sparkling wine has the history, tradition, and prestige, and no other sparkling wine has the weight, complexity, and diversity of champagne. The elaborate
production is what gives champagne its character… Read more…
Beard on Beers – Belhaven Wee Heavy
My Grandmother’s maiden name is McGregor; which somehow makes her “the son of Gregory.” You’d think with that heritage I’d know all there is to know about Scotch ale. Quite the opposite actually, but a little research over a pint of ‘wee heavy’ revealed quite an interesting story. Read more…
The Rarest of Rare – Single Cask, Single Malt Whisky
The Single Malt Whisky is among the most revered beverages on the planet. No other spirit offers the diversity and ‘sense of place’ and no other spirit has the cult following of great single malt Whisky. The McGibbins’ “Provenance” series of single cask, single malts are
worthy of a place in any scotch Whisky lovers’ bar… Read more…
Dec 19, 2009
THE LATEST FROM THE BLACKCOMB LIQUOR STORE
So I guess you’re wondering what this is all about then? Well, since not everyone can make it to our wine club events, we thought we’d bring the wine club to you! Yeah, yeah, no tasting by email but we’re working on bringing back the scratch & sniff patches 🙂 Anyhow, it’s been a big few months and just as we write this we’ve had a vertical tasting of Oculus and the new Compendium – fabulous work from Mission Hill! John Duval (former Penfold’s Grange winemaker) visited with his new wines and the new vintage BC wines keep arriving each week. Let me see, what else? We found a secret stash of 1997 Grand Cru Chablis and 1999 1er Cru Chablis for your drinking pleasure, and we keep coming across great value reds from Portugal, so look out for those at under $25. Enjoy the newsletter – we certainly enjoyed putting it together and remember it’s coming up quickly to Thanksgiving and Halloween, so please let us know if you need anything to make your dinner or party a memorable one. Cheers – Ed.read more…
John Glaetzer Visits
We recently had the pleasure of a private tasting with legendary Australian winemaker John Glaetzer, who was showcasing his signature ‘John’s Blend’ and also the new Gypsie Jack
range…read more…
Beefeater 24 Review- Michael Kompass
The world is constantly changing, and the drinks industry is no exception. Products and fads come and go, tastes and fashions change, and the ‘hot & not’ lists go on and on. Every once in a while something really good comes along, and Beefeater 24 is something really good!.read more…
Sixer’s Suggestions – Orofino Wines
After purchasing the vineyard in 2001, John and Virginia Weber have gone on to do great things with it. Located in Cawston, in the heart of the Similkameen Valley, Orofino
are now producing some of B.C.’s top wines. read more…
Beard on Beers – Phillips IPA
India Pale Ale was a cunning recipe devised by the British back in the days of the Colonial occupation of India. Now India’s a pretty hot place, so the lads needed to quench their thirst with tasty beer. How would they ship it to the sub-continent without it spoiling?
What a dilemma! Lots of hops were added, a higher alcohol content and the resin from that hops kept the bugs at bay. IPA was born. This truly was one of the last great triumphs of the British Empire! read more…
Pascal’s Picks – Hoegaarden
No, I’m not talking about those garden tools, but the original Belgian white beer, HOEGAARDEN!! This ain’t no twist off jobby, it’s European! read more…
