Written By Treve Ring Drink This / Libations Oct 31, 2014 Hallow’wines SHARE VIA: Facebook Twitter PinterestI’m not one for themes. And I’m not one for holidays. That said, I am certainly one for good drinks. These days, packaging trumps all else on store shelves, sadly often masquerading the plonk (slang: cheap wine) inside. If a wine company spends $$$$ on marketing, that’s a tip that marketing trumps wine. I’m all for a good label however – the first sense engaged in the experience is the eyes. There are labels and packaging that reference the darker side AND are honest and tasty – perfect for your Halloween plans. Here are five labels and juice that will suit your October 31, and any other day of the calendar year. LocavoreMoon Curser Vineyards Afraid of the Dark 2013 Okanagan Valley, BC *$22 +866152You needn’t fear the dark to drink this beguiling, medium bodied white from the bottom reaches of the Okanagan Valley. Moon Curser Vineyards has proven that no one needs to fear Rhone varieties in BC, expressed through their concentrated wines like this roussanne, viognier, marsanne blend. These grapes can absorb the desert heat, expressed through the aromatic roses, peaches, ripe pear nose. The round, ripe and creamy palate shows orange blossom, gingersnap spice, ripe peach and nectarine and lime pulp. There’s a bitter peach fuzz on the warm finish. Partner with your Thai / Indian take out pre-trick-or-treat festivities. 88 points. Cellar DwellerRavenswood Winery Beseiged 2013 Sonoma, California $25 898247This limited release has arrived to BC just in time for Halloween, but we wish it would stick around for longer. Layered blend of mostly Sonoma County, with petite sirah, carignane, zinfandel, syrah, barbera, alicante bouschet and mourvèdre all playing a part in this deep, savoury blend. Dried and ripe fruit all teem together here – cherries, cassis, black plum, blackberry – along with scented violets, dried spice, subtle leather and sueded tannins. Enjoy now with veal or pork loin, or lay down for 1-2 years. 89 points. BudgeteerBodegas San Alejandro Pablo Old Vine Garnacha 2012 Calatayud, Spain $15 +205518This will warm you after a night trick or treating. Round and ripe, with black cherry, anise, blackcurrant jam and cracked black pepper. More of the same on the palate, along with a rush of juicy black fruit, black wine gummies and dried herbs. Nice, honest fruit concentration over slightly ragged tannins, urging you to partner with grilled pizza or ragu sauced pastas. Another example of great red values from Spain. 87 points. AdventurerFullglass Wines Skulls 2013 South Australia, Australia $20 +172825Look directly at the label and tell me what you see. A man falling from a tree? Or a human skull? You don’t even need to have been drinking to be mesmerized by this artistic illusion, an illustration by artist Istvan Orosz titled Ship of Fools. However, be forewarned: if you drank a whole bottle of this heavyweight bruiser (16.5% alcohol!!!), you’d just be seeing stars (or be passed out).The 16.5% alcohol is certainly evident – from first nostril cleansing sniff to the slow warmth down your throat. 100% Shiraz, this is from 20-60 year old Barossa vines, raised in American barriques. Deep purple in hue, with high intensity candied red and black herbed licorice notes, and a concentrated palate of polished black fruit, exotic spice, cinnamon, incense, toast and vanilla. Tannins are plush finish is inky black licorice. Even with all of this ripe and massive fruit, the alcohol is evident (no illusion could mask 16.5%). This is a monstrous wine. 87 points. No WineosCrystal Head Vodka Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada $60 +56663How to make your perceived colourless, odorless and flavourless spirit stand out in the competitive vodka market? Have a story and shout it. This product has a lot going for it before even considering what’s inside that head. First up – the packaging. The distinctive glass skull is based on the mysterious 13 Crystal Heads that have been found all over this planet. These heads are believed to be between 5,000 and 35,000 years old and were carved from a single quartz crystal over a period of several hundred years, sans tool marks. They are believed to offer spiritual power to those who hold or possess them. Secondly – the celebrity spokesperson. New age Ghostbuster, old school Blues Brother, and Canadian acting icon Dan Aykroyd has been a vocal and active supporter of his vodka. Thirdly – the scandal. The vodka was initially banned by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, reportedly due to their concerns about the appeal of the packaging to youth, and the possibility of binge-drinking resulting in alcohol poisoning. Those types of things get people talking.But that aside, what’s inside? Quadruple distilled grain spirit, thrice filtered through charcoal, and then through Herkimer diamonds, and free of any additives like glycol or sugar. There’s a faint vanilla sweetness to the nose and finish, but in the mouth it’s neutral, cool and clean, with a whisper of heat burn going down. The smooth neutrality makes this a natural for mixed drinks. Bonus = instant Halloween décor. DRINK ThisEach week Treve highlights 5 timely and tasty picks. Her weekly choices include Locavore (BC wines), Cellar Dweller (wines to lay down for a while for maximum enjoyment), Budgeteer (wallet-friendly bottles under $15), Adventurer (wines for geeks, enlightening or pushing the envelope) and No Wineos (a non-wine pro-alcoholic beverage). So what are you waiting for? DRINK This! DRINKing Guide: How to use our purchasing information.*Asterisks denote wines that are only available at the winery or select private liquor stores. All other wines are available through BC Liquor Stores. The price is suggested retail price, and may fluctuate depending on source. Wines are scored out of 100 points. SHARE VIA: Facebook Twitter Pinterest Written By: Treve Ring Treve Ring is a wine writer, editor, judge, consultant and certified sommelier, and has been with EAT Magazine for over a decade.\r\n\r\nIn addition to her work with EAT, she is a Wine Critic and National Judge for ... Read More You may also like Cocktails / Drink / Drink Academy / Drink This / Entertaining / Spirits / Victoria July 3, 2019 An Introduction to EAT’s New Columnists It’s all about cocktails, the home bar, what to buy, and what to serve. Founders Kyle and Nate launched their bar consultancy, The Nimble Bar ... Read More Cocktails / Drink / Drink This / Spirits May 3, 2019 Pink Peppercorn & Thyme Gin Twist featuring Sheringham’s Kazuki Gin It’s almost summertime. And in case you didn’t know, that means gin cocktails on the patio. Vancouver Island has a plethora (yes, I just said ... Read More Cocktails / Drink This May 19, 2016 It’s National Caesar Day – You Know You Want One “Celebrating Caesars: Canada’s Signature Cocktail” If you enjoy sipping on a caesar get ready to raise your glass on May 19th, to ... Read More Beer & Cider / Drink This March 17, 2016 Ernest Hemingway and a Night of Wine Tasting “Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest ... Read More Drink This / Red Wine December 17, 2015 BC’s Newest & Hottest Wine Region Lillooet. Wine. Not two words that you usually see together, but that hasn’t deterred the folks at Fort Berens Estate Winery. They’ve been too ... Read More Drink This / Sparkling Wine December 31, 2014 Celebrate (Every Day) with BC Bubbles I’m not advocating saving sparkling wine for special occasions. Quite the opposite – any day that ends in Y receives a YAY sparkling wine vote ... Read More Comments are closed.
Cocktails / Drink / Drink Academy / Drink This / Entertaining / Spirits / Victoria July 3, 2019 An Introduction to EAT’s New Columnists It’s all about cocktails, the home bar, what to buy, and what to serve. Founders Kyle and Nate launched their bar consultancy, The Nimble Bar ... Read More
Cocktails / Drink / Drink This / Spirits May 3, 2019 Pink Peppercorn & Thyme Gin Twist featuring Sheringham’s Kazuki Gin It’s almost summertime. And in case you didn’t know, that means gin cocktails on the patio. Vancouver Island has a plethora (yes, I just said ... Read More
Cocktails / Drink This May 19, 2016 It’s National Caesar Day – You Know You Want One “Celebrating Caesars: Canada’s Signature Cocktail” If you enjoy sipping on a caesar get ready to raise your glass on May 19th, to ... Read More
Beer & Cider / Drink This March 17, 2016 Ernest Hemingway and a Night of Wine Tasting “Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest ... Read More
Drink This / Red Wine December 17, 2015 BC’s Newest & Hottest Wine Region Lillooet. Wine. Not two words that you usually see together, but that hasn’t deterred the folks at Fort Berens Estate Winery. They’ve been too ... Read More
Drink This / Sparkling Wine December 31, 2014 Celebrate (Every Day) with BC Bubbles I’m not advocating saving sparkling wine for special occasions. Quite the opposite – any day that ends in Y receives a YAY sparkling wine vote ... Read More
2024 Issue / EAT Magazine News Jan 7, 2024 Fare Well IT WITH WITH PROFOUND sadness and regret that I write this final letter in the final issue of EAT magazine. The decision to cease publication is one ... Read More
2024 Issue / Magazine Jan 7, 2024 January | February 2024 Issue 28-01 The final issue of EAT magazine available ... Read More
Beer Dinners / Victoria Jun 26, 2015 Brewmaster’s BBQ Recap in Photos The third dinner in the Houseguest Dinner Series, The Brewmasters BBQ, was held last Sunday at the Drake Eatery. Photographer Sherri Martin was at ... Read More