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Tastings: December 2025
01 December 2025
90PTS
Therianthropy Ruby Woolf Pinot Noir 2022
St David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaAll the Therianthropy wines moved to Diam as of 2022, which is a fantastic choice for their longevity and liveliness. This PN, from St. David's Bench's dry farmed Bock Vineyard, was native ferment with 50% whole cluster, 3 day cold soak, and then into neutral French barrique for 7 months without disturbance, heading to bottle without fining or filtration. Wild strawberry, raspberry, herbal branch flood a juicy frame, with fine grained tannins, and crunchy acidity, finishing with a pink peppercorn dust. Quite smart, finessed, and fresh.Prices:| ON | $31.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Blue Grouse Pinot Noir 2021
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaPouring pale ruby-garnet, this four year old Cowichan pinot noir reveals an evolving yet perfumed and intriguing nose of pomegranate, persimmon, and rose petals, with hints of bergamot, red beet, and dried seaweed. The palate is supple and light, showing more nuance and finesse than structure or power, accented by the island’s distinctive saline minerality. It’s drinking beautifully now.Prices:| BC | $35.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Pinot Noir Unsworth Vineyard 2023
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaThe 2023 version of the estate Unsworth Vineyard pinot is showing more colour than last year, and is a little less pale, which is commensurate with its flavour intensity. The red fruit pitches wild notes, streaked with savoury, forest, and earth complexity, that is propelled by some fiery acidity from front to back. Like all the single vineyard wines, the estate version is fermented in stainless steel before spending 15 months in 15% new French oak. The clonal mix is 777 and 115, planted in a vineyard of marine sediments after rising from the sea at 80m above sea level, oriented to the southwest. The winery suggests serving any of its pinots with cedar planked salmon, herbed pork tenderloin, or beetroot salad, calling it a soulful red for fall and winter menus.Prices:| BC | $74.90 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Pinot Noir Saison Vineyard 2023
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaThe first time I saw the single vineyard pinot noir from Saison Vineyards, I knew the wine would be special. Meticulous farming and caring owners have revealed the property's glacial till soils, seemingly placed on Vancouver Island to nourish magically fussy pinot noir grapes. The blend is 50% clone 828, with equal parts 667 and 777. Saison has both depth and flavour intensity, making it the flagship Unsworth pinot. Fragrant Bing cherry and bramble notes draw you into the glass to enjoy the complexity and finesse of this wine. Less is more at Uunsworth, and this is more. The Saison Pinot Noir is a provincial treasure if you can find some.Prices:| BC | $75.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Pinot Noir Zanatta Vineyard 2023
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaYear two of the Unsworth Zanatta Vineyard Pinot Noir has arrived. The fruit is sourced from a single block within the Zanatta Vineyard, which contains some of the oldest, unidentified Pinot Noir clones in the Cowichan Valley. Compared to last year, the style remains streamlined yet shows reduced acidity, allowing the earthy, cherry undertones to emerge on the mid-palate and finish. Dark plums, ripe cherries, and a hint of earthy forest floor finishes the deal. The destemmed whole berries are fermented in stainless steel and aged for 15 months in French oak, of which only 15% is new. Much more finesse this year.Prices:| BC | $65.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Haut-Blanville Réserve Pinot Noir 2024
Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceChâteau Haut-Blanville is a family-owned Languedoc wine estate that was founded in 1997 by Béatrice & Bernard Nivollet. Their 70 ha of vineyards extend across The Grés de Montpellier AOP, stretching from the Hérault middle valley to the Vidourle, and from the Mediterranean in the south to the Pic Saint-Loup in the north. Wines are produced naturally, without the use of any additions except a minimal amount of sulphur upon bottling. This pinot noir comes from the limestone and basalt soils of Pézenas at 100-150m, on a cool, north-facing single vineyard. Fragrant blackberry, plump plum flood a juicy palate, with perfumed baking spices to season, and fine, supple tannins to frame. There's an alluring stony underlay here, reflective of the profound soils of Pézenas. Great value.Prices:| ON | $21.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Pinot Noir Boehemia Vineyard 2023
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaBohemia was first planted in the early 2000s. It was part of the Unsworth pinot mix. Still, in recent years, Viticulturist Felix Egerer and team have meticulously farmed the site, so much so that a decision was made to bottle the 2023 as a single vineyard version, and it was a good decision. The barely there red colour echoes the delicate, faint nature of this wine, which sings Vancouver Island cool climate in a manner that would make a great Volnay proud. Ripe cherries and ripe tannins make the perfect mesh, with a sprinkling of spice. Polished and elegant, this is a unicorn bottling if ever there was one. Supplies are limited. It is aged 15 months in French oak, of which 15% is new. It is fermented in stainless steel.Prices:| BC | $70.00 | 750ml |
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