Wines & Spirits recently tasted this excellent wine and wrote a glowing report:

This starts off cool and spicy, the mineral tannins not supporting the weight of the black raspberry fruit. Give it time and the minerality grows more complex, the fruit shifting from heavy to heady, firm and bold. It is a powerful zin with a lot going on. Rutherford Ranch, St. Helena, CA

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Innovative BC garagiste winery is a small family owned winery in New Westminster who have a fierce passion for developing excellent small-lot, handcrafted wines. They source grapes from all the best wine growing regions of California, Oregon, Washington and B.C. Since opening in March 2007, they have won more than 50 International Medals, including five Best of Class awards. A true Canadian success story!

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Already well established as the No. 1 in Argentinean wine Europe, Argento is also fast growing within Eastern Canada and is within the top 5 Argentinean wines. Argentine wines have been the fastest growing wine category here in Alberta for a while now, and latest figures show the reds up by 53% and whites by 38%. This is well ahead of the market which is up 5%. Very competitively priced for wines of such excellent quality from the Mendoza region, the range includes: The Classic Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio for $9.97 With the Reserva Malbec and Cabernet Suavignon at $11.97 Created in 1999 by one of the regions most respected vignerons, Argento embodies the unique Argentine spirit. Try a real taste of Argentina.

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Dry Creek wines from California have long had a reputation for producing exceptional wines, and the latest review from The Wine Enthusiast for their 2006 Mariner confirms they are still producing top class performers.  They comment Mariner shows the edgy tannins that Dry Creek red wines invariably display, with a sandpapery texture. That makes the wine, which is a Bordeaux blend of five varieties, a little rustic. But the dryness and bite are a nice alternative to the riper, softer Napa style, and more versatile at the table. Good now, and should slowly develop in the bottle for years. Try one soon and see for yourself how good it is.

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Producer of exceptional wines from the Colchagua Valley terroirs, including the Microterroir Carmenere Los Lingues 2006 which scored 93 pts. This was also chosen as the Best Carmenere of the World. Wine & Spirits recognized Casa Silva due to the exceptional consistency, quality and unique style of its wines.

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Recently tasted by Wine Spectator, they commented...A toasty Champagne, with a wooly texture, firm acidity and flavours of biscuit, smoke, straw and citrus zest. There is a minerally vein throughout and good balance overall. Drink now through 2015.

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Tinhorn Creek are Canada's first carbon neutral winery, and are running a Get Sustainable contest where customers can win up to $2500 towards a sustainable project or product via on-line entry.  Customers simply have to submit a 50 word entry via Tinhorn website as to how they will make the world a greener place. See http://www.tinhorn.com/page.php?pageID=178&parentID=137&newsID=108 for details.  Retailers also can run an in store contest where customers can win a Messenger Bag & On the Go Water Bottle.  Simply contact your rep or call 4032960176 for details.  Tinhorn Creek Merlot & Chardonnay is also on LTO with savings of $24 per case until Oct 7th.

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Organized by Wine Access, Canada's leading wine magazine, four of Thorn Clarke's Australian wines scooped the Judge's Choice in the International Value Wine Awards, recognizing the excellent quality and taste of the wine provided to Canadian consumers at an exceptionally good retail price.  Awards as follows: 89 pts Thorn-Clarke 2008 Shotfire Quartage $22 : Judges Choice - Red Blends 88 pts Thorn-Clarke 2008 Terra Barossa Shiraz $17-20 : Judges Choice - Syrah/Shiraz 87 pts Milton Park 2008 Shiraz $13-15 : Judges Choice - Syrah/Shiraz 87 Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Shiraz $25 : Judges Choice - Syrah/Shiraz

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Gismondi the well known wine critic writes in the Vancouver Sun... "...the Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 presents a delicious example of proper New Zealand sauvignon. Look for jalapeno, grapefruit rind, passion fruit aromas with a lemon and nettle streak. Rich, full and creamy, the palate is fresh and elegant with juicy acidity and plenty of passion fruit, gooseberry, smoky jalapeno, asparagus, lime and melon flavours. There is fine intensity and balance with a long finish. Try this with mussels." Anyone with a good mussels recipe out there?  Please post it. Retails around $21 at good wine stores Score 90/100 In Alberta ask for CPC 726882 / In BC UPC 9421018070013

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[caption id="attachment_238" align="aligncenter" width="150" caption="Enjoy this short intro..."][/caption]   Hello everyone, Ever the innovators, Renaissance Wines are proud to bring you thier own video channel, courtesy of YouTube. The first edition "Grape Tapes" features a short (5 minute) video about the fantastic California Wines that come from Patz & Hall. Just click on the link, to hear about some great Pinot's & Chard's...

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Check out their video via facebook at http://bit.ly/bCSCMV

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Renaissance sales consultant Marion Webb tries her hand 'wax sealing' Belle Glos Pinot Noir at the winery during her visit there in January 2009. Don't leave your day job Marion ...

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This article hit yesterday in the San Francisco Chronicle in which our wonderful winemaker, Nick deLuca, was recognized as being a top winemaker to keep an eye on in 2009. Indeed, how one guy could make a Top 100 Cabernet (San Francisco Chronicle) a Top 100 Pinot Noir (Wine Spectator) and a Top 100 Syrah (Wine & Spirits) in the same year is truly amazing. We are very proud of him and his winemaking. We see this as yet another message to the trade that our brand is exciting and dynamic with compelling quality.

> Click here to read the article

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The Ayala Champagne marque is a new addition to the scene here in Canada. Now owned by the Bollinger group, Ayala is rapidly making a name for itself in the 'zero dosage' market. It is a gutsy move since Champagne with no dosage, can be overly crisp and acidic (no makeup to hide potential flaws). However, in the cellars of Ayala, ripe fruit and careful handling ensure a totally natural wine with lovely balance and lean structure. The Brut Rose however, was the big hit at our party --- a very pretty wine with modern style.

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In celebration of the Willowpark Wine Auction's 15th anniversary, Renaissance and Clarus had four top tier California suppliers in attendance, pouring their new releases. All proceeds for the auction went to the Willowpark Vintage fund. The fund is instrumental in supporting seniors housing in Calgary - a great cause for the ageing population like we have throughout the province. We enjoyed J. LOHR, CHALK HILL, DUCKHORN, JORDAN AND CAYMUS wines throughout the evening.

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On Saturday October 25th, Auction lots donated by Renaissance Wine Merchants Ltd. totalled about $45,000 for the Honens International Piano Competition.  It was a great evening with lots of food, wine and spirited bidding. Thanks so much to Empire Custom Homes for hosting this wonderful event. To follow the Honens 2009 Festival check their website at www.honens.com

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One of the key events, held each September in Calgary, is the SLOWFOOD Calgary Chapter's Feast of Field celebration of local foods and wines. Renaissance participates each year and this year it was spectacular. The weather was perfect for a lovely afternoon at Rouge restaurant just outside the downtown core. We tasted the latest releases from Tinhorn Creek vineyards, Summerhill Pyramid winery and our newest Canadian winery, Twisted Tree.

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Each year we try to pick 100 or so wines & spirits which show the diverse range of our portfolio. Then we invite our customers and friends to try them at our offices which are perfect for these types of events. The past week was a great success.

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Chris Condon, chairman and CEO of Trago Tequila, was recently visiting Canada to introduce his exciting line of super premium Tequila. The three types; Silver (unwooded), Reposado and Anejo are brilliant examples of the new wave of quality tequila being produced now in Mexico. Chris explained to us in great detail the philosophy of the company and the style of each type. Afterwards we tasted these beauties (and pretended to work after). We learned some interesting facts about the burgeoning tequila market - which is the leading premium spirit in percentage growth in Canada followed by Rum. We very much look forward to sharing these tequilas and these stories in the months ahead with our customers.

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During spring of 2008, we welcomed many of our California wine suppliers taking part in the Canadian wine tour. It is a great opportunity for the trade and the greater public to become acquainted with the latest releases from California wine producers. It was a fabulous day with lots of great California wine to try.

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When Burgundy supplier Luc Bouchard of Bouchard Pere et Fils comes to Canada there are not enough seats available to meet the demand for his wine. The current 2005 vintage is probably one of the greatest years, across the board for Burgundy (white and red). So we had a great deal of fun going round to our customers for ‘one on one’ visits together with Luc. This visit was with our customers/friends at the Wildwood restaurant in Calgary.  

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