Try out a wine subscription
From Aug 2 to 6, The Westin Bayshore’s H2 Rotisserie & Bar and H Tasting Lounge presents Eat, Drink and Be Prideful — Pride-themed bites and sips, to celebrate inclusivity during Vancouver’s 40th annual Pride celebration.
Drop by and savour a selection of vibrant, à la carte share plates and cocktails, created especially for the occasion. In addition to its regular menu special Pride-themed plates, perfect for sharing include Ru-Prawn’s Drag Race Cocktail, “Herb Your Enthusiasm” Sundried-Tomato Bread, Wasa-bae Ginger Crab Salad, “Vitamin Sea” Seared Scallops and “If You Can’t Love Yourself ...” Vanilla and White Chocolate Rainbow Cake. More info at h2restaurant.com
As B.C. Liquor Stores continue to price “quality” wine out most buyer’s comfort range, it is time to rethink your buying strategy.
Relying on 30 years of trade connections Marquis Wine Cellars is offering access to a hidden supply of quality wines that ends up in restaurants and private wine cellars to you via its new wine club.
A monthly subscription of your choice will include hand-selected wines brought in especially for club members as well as reward referrals, producer samples or coupons. Tasting notes, independent ratings and food pairing ideas accompany monthly packages along with exclusive member access to festivals, tastings, seminars and holiday salons in the Lower Mainland.
Full details at marquiswineclub. com Noble Ridge Reserve Chardonnay 2015, Okanagan Valley $29.90 | 89/100
UPC: 626990263227
The Noble Ridge Reserve is a mix of French clones 76 and 95 grown over glacial and fluvial deposits of sand, gravel and rock on Okanagan Falls. It’s aged 14 months in French oak that is 20 per cent new. As warm as the year was this wine overcomes the cooked heated fruit of its peers, offering a rich creamy but fresh mid-palate. It’s still a bit more California than Okanagan but in a good way. Peachy nutty, leesy and more with balance and some complexity, can’t wait to see this in more normal cooler growing seasons. Buttery seafood dishes or creamy mushroom pastas all work here. Langlois Chateau de FontaineAudon Sancerre 2016, Sancerre, Upper Loire, Loire, France $34.99 | 90/100
UPC: 3382250000311
The Fontaine-Audon 15-hectare vineyard surrounds one of the rare castles of Sancerre, in St- Gemme. The 100-per-cent Sauvignon Blanc site grows over prized terroir the French call silex, or flint. The wine sees no wood but is aged on its lees. The nose is bright with mineral, grassy/ hay, exotic tropical/ grapefruit notes. The attack is fresh with a citrus, gooseberry, stony, flinty bent. Crisp, mouthwatering and clean, this is a winner. The classic match is chèvre, but this will work well with chicken, mixed sushi or shellfish. Drink or hold through 2021.