Broadway International Wine Shop - Wine Blog Vancouver, Kitsilano

Date: 22 January'12

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Hello Everyone,

This week we are featuring the 2010 Jaja de Jau Syrah from Château de Jau & Les Clos de Paulilles in Roussillon, France. "Jaja" is a slang for the region's delicious full-flavoured, great value wines and is the house selection at the local bistros. This particular wine is from the Dauré family who has long been acknowledged as the premier winemaking family of Côtes du Roussillon.

The wine is described by the winemaker as a "chunky, peppery red with smokey kirsch/blackcurrent and herbs de Provence scents; delicate floral nose, well-balanced tannins and acid; hints of raspberry on the palate". To us, it was a soft and flavourful fruity syrah that is a tasty quaffing wine. Pair this with a good book or good company, and you'll be set.

Cheers!

Broadway International Wine Shop
2752 West Broadway | Vancouver BC | Canada V6K 2G4
t (604) 734.8543 | f (604) 736.7809 | hello@broadwaywineshop.ca

Open 11am - 9pm daily. Parking in rear.

Kitsilano's first private Specialty Wine Shop! Serving Vancouver Westside since 1986

Date: 12 January'12

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Hello Everyone,

I must admit that I love Sea Cider Rumrunner. No joke. It has this unique flavor that is inspired by Newfoundland Screech barrels. Tasty, local and organic. Hand pressed, fermented with Champagne yeast then aged in rum barrels. Need I say more?

Cheers!

Broadway International Wine Shop
2752 West Broadway | Vancouver BC | Canada V6K 2G4
t (604) 734.8543 | f (604) 736.7809 | hello@broadwaywineshop.ca

Open 11am - 9pm daily. Parking in rear.

Kitsilano's first private Specialty Wine Shop! Serving Vancouver Westside since 1986

Date: 06 January'12

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Hello Everyone,

For this Saturday's tasting we are bringing out a bruiser from down-under! As they say on the back of the bottle, "this one ain't no tea party". It's the Punch in the face Shiraz, that hails from South Australia. So if you're curious what a good old-fashioned whipping from a brute of a wine is like, drop on by between 3-6pm. Don't say we didn't warn you!

As usual, Roger will be here to charm you... and then dish out some punishment. Worry not, to give you a fighting chance you'll get 10% off this knock-out Shiraz during the tasting.

Good luck and remember to keep your chin down.

Cheers!

Broadway International Wine Shop
2752 West Broadway | Vancouver BC | Canada V6K 2G4
t (604) 734.8543 | f (604) 736.7809 | hello@broadwaywineshop.ca

Open 11am - 9pm daily. Parking in rear.

Kitsilano's first private Specialty Wine Shop! Serving Vancouver Westside since 1986

Date: 29 December'11

Hello Everyone,

Yes, it's that time again when we gather with friends and family to ring in the New Year. To help with this, the sparkling and knowledgeable family at Broadway International Wine Shop are here for you. We have been tasting bubbly wines for a while now, and we feel like we have put together a nice selection for you. Full bottles, half bottles, champagnes and proseccos, styles and prices to suit everybody's tastes.

From our family to yours, we hope you have a fun and safe evening.

Cheers to 2012!

Broadway International Wine Shop
2752 West Broadway | Vancouver BC | Canada V6K 2G4
t (604) 734.8543 | f (604) 736.7809 | hello@broadwaywineshop.ca

Open 11am - 9pm daily. Parking in rear.

Kitsilano's first private Specialty Wine Shop! Serving Vancouver Westside since 1986

Date: 12 October'11

This little beauty definitely charmed us! The appealing, Vinaceous 2009 Shiraz, comes to you from the McLaren Vale in South Australia. The wine is a lighter style shiraz that is dark ruby in colour and has lots of chocolate, spice and dark berry notes. The smooth tannins makes this one go down rather easily. The Snake Charmer is a seductive little number that is more than drinkable now. As a side note, we also love the 1930's art-deco movie & circus poster inspired labels.

Cheers!

Broadway International Wine Shop
2752 West Broadway | Vancouver BC | Canada V6K 2G4
t (604) 734.8543 | f (604) 736.7809 | hello@broadwaywineshop.ca

Open 11am - 9pm daily. Parking in rear.

Kitsilano's first private Specialty Wine Shop! Serving Vancouver Westside since 1986

Date: 28 July'11

concannon pinot noir '09

by Chris
We like Vista d'Oro, it's that simple. Once apon a time we carried their sinfully tasty artisan jams, and now we have some of their elegant Pinot Noir and Syrah in stock. This wine is highly recommended to try this BC Day long weekend as they are a local Farm making some delicious wines with fruit from the Okanagan.

Vista d'Oro '09 Pinot Noir
This is a very elegant, old-world approach Pinot that has a beautiful light colour in the glass but a silky mouthfull of strawberry/cherry when in your mouth. This wine would go perfectly with lighter dishes but I just enjoyed it on it's own.

Vista d'Oro '08 Syrah
What comes to mind when I tasted this Syrah is white pepper. This wine has a bit of strength with the dark berry flavours, but there is this elegant white pepper finish that left me wanting another sip. This wine is very well crafted, but overall, it just tasted good and the bottle finished a little too fast!

Broadway International Wine Shop
2752 West Broadway | Vancouver BC | Canada V6K 2G4
t (604) 734.8543 | f (604) 736.7809 | hello@broadwaywineshop.ca

Open 11am - 9pm daily. Parking in rear.

Kitsilano's first private Specialty Wine Shop! Serving Vancouver Westside since 1986

Date: 11 Apr '11

concannon pinot noir '09

by Chris
I don't often fight over wine, let-alone polish off a bottle of wine between me and my significant other in one night. This approach to moderation and non-confrontation came to an abrupt hault when I brought home the Concannon Pinot Noir last night. I wouldn't go so far as to say we fought over the last few drops, but I can say there was a bit of a competition/mild desperation when what we thought would be a last glass, turned out to be a last 1/4 glass. The bottle has a pretty deep punt (the indent on the bottom of the bottle) so we were a bit mislead into thinking there was more left than there was. Just keep that in mind when you get down to that last 1/4 of the bottle or so, to avoid the surprise.

The wine itself reminded me of a very pleasant strawberry compote. Not the type you get at a cheap breakfast place that comes out of some big tub, but from a slightly finer restaurant where they use real strawberries and make it fresh that day. It has a touch of refinement and subtle spice notes that makes this wine worth the price, and then some. I'll say this upfront, the wine is fairly "New World" in style, but we went into this looking for something to relax with and enjoy, and that's exactly what we got.

Another nice little bonus is that this one is not available in the Government liquor stores, but only to us smaller shops and restaurants. This is definitely one that we will keep in stock for the foreseeable future.

$21.85

Broadway International Wine Shop
2752 West Broadway | Vancouver BC | Canada V6K 2G4
t (604) 734.8543 | f (604) 736.7809 | hello@broadwaywineshop.ca

Open 11am - 9pm daily. Parking in rear.

Kitsilano's first private Specialty Wine Shop! Serving Vancouver Westside since 1986

Date: 21 Feb '11

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In our words...
BIWS: Like a fool, I used to think the name of Joie's "PTG" was a wink to the cult French wine "passetoutgrain", but after spending the weekend canoodling with their 2008 vintage, I now know that it stands for "Praise These Grapes"! Much heavier than I expected a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay to be, this little delight was very well balanced, with structure and gorgeous berry notes throughout. If you have the chance to open a bottle and pair it with a nice Appellation cheese, compte would be perfect, me thinks, you will not be let down, in the least.

In thier words...
JOIE Farm: Our reserve wines are hand-crafted, small batch lots with an emphasis on low-yields, careful selection and traditional Old World methods. PTG stands for "Passetoutgrain", a classic, but little known wine of Burgundy that combines the elegant Pinot Noir of the Côte d'Or with the rich, spicy Gamay of Beaujolais. Both of these varieties excel in the climate and soils of the Okanagan Valley. We utilize our best fruit from each vintage; employ whole cluster fermentation and gentle pressing and then age the wine for 10 months in a combination of premium French Oak barriques and puncheons to create a wine of both richness and finess.

In other people's words...
John Schreiner on Wine, Sep 6 2010: 91 Points. PTG stands for Passetoutgrain, which is what Burgundians call wines made from blends of Pinot Noir and Gamay. This wine is 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Gamay, with fruit from four vineyards on the Naramata Bench one in Vernon. Once again, all the stops were pulled out in making this wine, starting with the use of a sorting table to select the best berries. Some of the fruit was fermented in small tanks; some was fermented in a French oak cask and was actually trod by foot. You would be surprised how many Okanagan winemakers use bare feet to press Pinot Noir. The foot is much gentler than mechanical methods and gentle is good with Pinot Noir and Gamay. The wine is dark ruby with aromas of spicy cherries. On the palate, there are flavours of cherries and spice and cola. This is another wine with heft – a rich texture and a long finish.

Joie Farm '10 Muscat (limited quantity)
We have received a very small allotment (24 bottles) of the Joie Farm Muscat this year. If you are interested in trying this very small production wine, act fast!

In their words...
This wine exhibits a nose of white pepper and freesia supported by white peach. The structure of the wine is light-medium bodied and slightly off-dry with mouth-watering acidity. On the palate, flavours of white peach dominate with a hint of dried blueberry lingering just beneath the surface. Bring on the prosciutto & pecorino.

Broadway International Wine Shop
2752 West Broadway | Vancouver BC | Canada V6K 2G4
t (604) 734.8543 | f (604) 736.7809 | hello@broadwaywineshop.ca

Open 11am - 9pm daily. Parking in rear.

Kitsilano's first private Specialty Wine Shop! Serving Vancouver Westside since 1986

Date: 11 Feb '11

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The Beatle's had it right, all you really need in life is love. If you are lucky enough to have found that special someone to grow old with, this weekend is your chance to let them know just how much you love them. Chocolate dipped strawberries, soft music, a crackling fire place with roses on the mantle, your loved one and a nice glass of wine. Can it get any better? While we can't make sure your romantic fire is stoked, we can give you some help in lighting the fire.

Drop in and see us to take advantage of our free tastings all weekend long. Saturday will see us feature a beautiful, light and crisp rosé sparkling wine, because what is a celebration of love without a little sparkle? Sunday afternoon will see the return of the much acclaimed ChocoVine. If you missed out on tasting this sweet little gem earlier in the month, do yourself the favour of trying and buying this weekend. At least you'll know that the wine won't disappoint. Tastings run from 3-6 pm, both days.

The romance of Valentine's Day wouldn't be the same without lovely roses, so we have teamed up with our friends at Garlands Florists to offer you fresh cut long stem red roses for purchase all weekend long and Monday Valentine's Day. At 5$ a stem, you can't go wrong.

Back at the Wine Shop this year is Kitsilano's own, Chocolate Arts. Their beautiful and elegant chocolates are handmade in small batches using only the finest, locally sourced, organic ingredients available. We will have their dark chocolate heart-shape boxes. Hidden inside are little red-foil wrapped dark chocolate hearts.

Garlands Florists
Located in Kitsilano since 1996, Garlands Florist focuses on modern, contemporary, European design. Garlands Florist is committed to excellence. Their attention to detail and creativity ensures that every order surpasses your expectations. Check out their website at www.garlandsflorists.com.

Chocolate Arts
Creative chocolatier Greg Hook, owner of Chocolate Arts, has been bringing Vancouver a taste of heaven (in the form of Chocolate) since 1989. Check out their website at www.chocolatearts.com.

Broadway International Wine Shop
2752 West Broadway | Vancouver BC | Canada V6K 2G4
t (604) 734.8543 | f (604) 736.7809 | hello@broadwaywineshop.ca

Open 11am - 9pm daily. Parking in rear.

Kitsilano's first private Specialty Wine Shop! Serving Vancouver Westside since 1986

Date: 3 Feb '11

For centuries now, mankind has been searching for the perfect combination. Bangers and Mash. PB and J. Sam and Diane. Chocolate and wine. All excellent pairings that work well, when done right.

As avid wine enthusiasts, we all know the four colour variations of wine. You got your red wine, your white, brown wines and rosés. All as distinct in flavour profiles as they are in colou..wait. What? Brown wine? Must be a joke, right? Luckily, far from it. The team here at the shop have had a special little secret we've been sitting on, waiting for the right time to blow the minds of you, our fine friends. That secret is Holland's ChocoVine, and the time is now!

ChocoVine is a flawless pairing of Dutch chocolate and French Cabernet. Separately, both wonderful flavours, but together they make something much grander than just the sum of their parts. Silky smooth and decadent, this cream blended wine is unlike anything else on the market. Very similar in taste (in my humble, Irish opinion) and texture to Baileys or any Irish cream, and quite close visually as well. Delicate on the tongue with, surprise surprise, a lovely chocolate kiss and a full round red wine body. Not to be confused with your kid's chocolate milk, the ChocoVine does have a slight warming trail to it as the 14% alcohol makes its way over your taste buds and down your throat. Not overly aggressive, but the alcohol is there and can be noticed.

This wine, and I almost hesitate to use the term wine, is blended by Team Products from Holland. Team Products is a subsidiary of Dekuyper, who are widely considered to be the be all and all of cream based alcohol. Very versatile, ChocoVine can be used to make cocktails, spice up hot drinks, or poured over the rocks. Personally I think the way to go is a chilled glass, and a bowl of hazelnuts.

Next time you're in the mood for a nice, interesting glass of wine, why not think outside the bottle. Shop tested and approved, ChocoVine is sure to please. And as with all of our wines, these guys are good enough for us to keep on our shelves, so why not clear some space on yours?

Broadway International Wine Shop
2752 West Broadway | Vancouver BC | Canada V6K 2G4
t (604) 734.8543 | f (604) 736.7809 | hello@broadwaywineshop.ca

Open 11am - 9pm daily. Parking in rear.

Kitsilano's first private Specialty Wine Shop! Serving Vancouver Westside since 1986

Date: 27 Jan '11

In our on going efforts to keep both money in your wallet and wine in your glass, we here at Broadway International Wine Shop, would like to introduce you to the wines of Washington State's Stimson Estate Cellars.

Nestled between the 48th and 46th parallels (the same as the Burgundy, Loire, and Bordeaux regions of France), this Columbia Valley winery has a rich climate in which to grow and produce some furiously intense varietal flavourings. Fully ripened fruit lend a touch of elegance and character to these well crafted wines. Also helping to tilt their products to the quality side of the spectrum, is their involvement with Chateau Ste. Michelle. Washington's oldest and most decorated winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle lends an inspiring hand and a Midas touch to these friendly and approachable wines.

And as with all of our wines, these guys are good enough for us to keep on our shelves, so why not clear some space on yours?

Stimson Estate CEllars '07 Chardonnay
$17.85

Stimson Estate Cellars '08 Merlot
$17.85

Broadway International Wine Shop
2752 West Broadway | Vancouver BC | Canada V6K 2G4
t (604) 734.8543 | f (604) 736.7809 | hello@broadwaywineshop.ca

Open 11am - 9pm daily. Parking in rear.

Kitsilano's first private Specialty Wine Shop! Serving Vancouver Westside since 1986

Date: 20 Jan '11

pizza

Never one to shy away from hot trends and pop culture, I have resolved myself, in this new year, to remain on the cutting edge of all things "hip" and "cool". This being the case, I decided the other day to try out this new food that all the kids are talking about. Just hitting the streets of Vancouver within the last few months, this new dough based delicacy, known as pizza (Peet-Suh), is all the rage, apparently. I was lucky enough to find a shop that sells this circular, cheese topped food near my place on Commercial Drive, and must say I'm a fan. This has a real good chance of catching on, not only in other parts of the city, but world wide (I feel like the Italians could do good things with this). After a bite or two, visions of pizza and wine started to jig in my head. Could these two fine tastes be paired together? Would Italian wines work? Will I get some sort of Nobel Piece Prize?

Coming in a variety of styles and tastes, both pizza and wine have something to offer everyone. With all foods, the goal when pairing with wine, is to compliment flavours. Spicy food? Sweeter wine. Bland food? Try a spicy, peppery wine. Think of a flavour your meal may be missing, and add that flavour with your glass. But of course, whatever you want to pair with your food, will always be the right decision.

Here are some staff suggestions to get you started;

Montalto —- ´09 Nero D'Avola/Cab Sauv (Italy) Margherita pizza. Classic wine to pair with a classic slice. $12.85	Monte Antico — ´07 Sangiovese/Merlot/Cab. Sauv. (Italy) Pepperoni or Salami based pies. $18.85
J. Lohr — ´09 Riverstone Estates Chardonnay (USA) Perfection incarnate when sipped beside a pesto, or chicken pizza. Unoaked Chard with a creamy white sauce pizza, heck yeah! $23.85	The Squid's Fist — ´09 Sangiovese/Shiraz (Australia) Deli lovers, meat lovers, carnivore special, anyway you slice it, lots of meat, lots of flavour, lots of reasons to have this wine. $34.85

Broadway International Wine Shop
2752 West Broadway | Vancouver BC | Canada V6K 2G4
t (604) 734.8543 | f (604) 736.7809 | hello@broadwaywineshop.ca

Open 11am - 9pm daily. Parking in rear.

Kitsilano's first private Specialty Wine Shop! Serving Vancouver Westside since 1986

Date: 19 Jan '11

Broadway International Wine Shop
2752 West Broadway | Vancouver BC | Canada V6K 2G4
t (604) 734.8543 | f (604) 736.7809 | hello@broadwaywineshop.ca

Open 11am - 9pm daily. Parking in rear.

Kitsilano's first private Specialty Wine Shop! Serving Vancouver Westside since 1986

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