Gray Monk Pinot Gris 2012

Gray Monk Pinot Gris 2012 ($17.99, SKU 118638) This was brought to a dinner by a tasting panel member. It surprised all of us with its fruity taste and went well with a Mediterranean dinner. Pinot Gris wines were usually quite dry but this was different. The amazing thing was there was some wine left over and I put it in the refrigerator. I forgot about it until a week later and finished it with dinner. It was still very fruity. It amazed me that such an economical wine had such staying power. At this price, it would be a great summer barbeque wine.

Famille Perrin Vacqueyras Les Christins 2010

Famille Perrin Vacqueyras Les Christins 2010 (WS91, $26.99 SKU 585315) I found this displayed prominently across from the cashiers at 39th & Cambie. I bought it because this was a southern Rhone red wine and the region usually offered good value wines. I opened it with a variety dinner (lobster tail, beef steak, vegetable with dips and tomato sauce chicken). It took an hour to open up in the glass, but it was a wonderful offering. The nose was pleasant and the palate was smooth. There were taste of berries and a hint of pepper. It went well with most food. According to Wine Spectator, it can be enjoyed now or cellared until 2018. There is ample stock in the system.

Birichino Malvasia Bianca Monterey 2010

 

Birichino Malvasia Bianca Monterey 2010 ($18, SKU 880302) Now back to basics: trying to find good value wines in the LDB stores. I went by the 39th & Cambie store three days ago and found an U.S. white wine marked down from $25.95 to $18. The grape was Malvasia Bianca, which I vaguely remembered from my trip to the Napa Valley last year. I opened it with some salad and seafood. It was amazingly aromatic with a strong pleasant floral fragrance. There was medium body and moderate fruitiness on the palate. It was apparently an old grape that originated from Greece and now grown in California. The same wine from Sterling Winery retailed for US$30 and was not as aromatic as the Birichino. Now this was a one time buy at the liquor store and there were only 7 bottles left on the shelves with the U.S. wines as of Sunday afternoon. The SKU does not show up in the liquor store website, so you will have to ask one of the consultants.