Acura Tasting Room at Vancouver Int'l Wine Fest

Tons of ratings here, with over 800 wines to taste we didn't get nearly as many as I would have liked and I didn't have time to make detailed notes on most of them. There are detailed tasting notes throughout on some of the best ones that we ended up buying.

Listed by country, starting with the host country, France (which we barely scratched the surface of)










France - Bordeaux

Baron Philippe De Rothschild

2012 Mouton Cadet Rouge, Bordeaux- 78
2012 Mouton Cadet Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux- 83
2010 Saint-Emilion Baron Carl- 81
2010 Pauillac Baron Nathaniel- 84

Compagnie Medocaine Des Grands Crus

2012 Chateau La Maroutine Blanc Bordeaux- 83
2010 Chateau La Maroutine Rouge Bordeaux- 83
2011 Chateau Dubourg Saint-Emilion- 84
2008 Chateau Castera Medoc- 84

France - Bourgogne/Beaujolais

Maison Louis Jadot

2010 Bourgogne Pinot Noir Couvent Des Jacobins- 89
2010 Beaune Premier Cru Clos Des Ursules- 92












Australia- South Australia

Wolf Blass

2008 Gold Label Pinot Noir Chardonnay (Sparkling)- 80
2010 Gold Label Shiraz- 85
2012 Gold Label Chardonnay- 81









Canada - British Columbia

Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars

2012 Pinot Noir- 86
2012 Chardonnay- 86

Burrowing Owl Winery

2011 Merlot- 85
2011 Cabernet Franc- 82
2011 Chardonnay- 83
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon- 86
2010 Meritage- 86

Gray Monk Estate

2010 Odyssey Rose Brut- 81
2010 Odyssey Meritage- 87

Summerhill Pyramid Winery

1998 Cipes Ariel- 91

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards

2012 Oldfield Series 2 Bench White- 86
2010 Oldfield Series Merlot- 86
2009 Oldfield Series Pinot Noir- 88
2010 Oldfield Series 2 Bench Red- 84

Wayne Gretzky Okanagan

2010 Icon 99- 72










Chile - Colchagua Valley

Cono Sur Vineyards

2011 Single Vineyard Carmenere- 87
2011 Single Vineyard Syrah- 85

Lapostolle

2010 Clos Apalta ($124.99)


A beautiful blend of Carmenere (71%), Cabernet Sauvignon (18%) and Merlot (11%), this wine takes the best from each of it's grapes and integrates them perfectly. The nose is overwhelmed with fruit; blueberries, black cherries and a little plum, with a hint of spice as well. The fruit continues through to the palate, with a long and lasting finish. Still very young; I've rated it a 94 now, I suspect that number will climb closer to 100 once it properly ages.














Italy - Tuscany

Tenuta Argentiera

2011 Poggio Al Ginepri Red- 87
2010 Villa Donoratico- 85
2010 Argentiera Dolgheri Superiore- 88

Barone Ricasoli

2012 Albia Rose- 84
2011 Campo Ceni- 87
2010 Brolio Riserva Chianti Classico DOCG- 90




2011 Brolio Chianti Classico DOCG ($24.99)


80% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon

One of our favorites at this price point; red fruit and violets on the nose. Very fruity palate with well balanced tannins and a touch of spice on the finish. Will only improve with a bit of time in the bottle. 89.



Italy - Piedmont

Fontanafredda/Borgogno

2009 Fontanafredda Barolo Di Serralunga D'Alba DOCG- 93
2012 Fontanafredda Barbera Piemonte "Briccotondo" DOC- 85
2009 Borgogno Langhe Nebbiolo "NO NAME"- 89

United States - Livermore Valley, California

Concannon Vineyard

2008 Heritage Petite Sirah- 88
2009 Conservancy Petite Sirah- 86

2008 Reserve Petit Sirah ($40.00)

A totally new varietal for us; and we loved it. Very dense and well structured. Plums and a touch of caramel on the nose. The palate will enjoy lots of fruit with a hint of cinnamon and spice. Very good now but another few years in the bottle will only enhance. 89.







United States - Napa Valley, California

Signorello Estate Winery



2011 Cabernet Sauvignon ($99.99)

They were tasting their new 2011 vintage but the on-site liquor store was selling the 2010 which is what we purchased.

Slight notes of sweet cedar, black currents and spices on the nose. Full bodied with very well balanced acidity. Very fruit forward. Accessible now but will only improve with another decade or more in the bottle. Incredibly smooth. 94.