Le Lys is a white wine from the South-West region of France.  It has become a staff favourite since the moment we tasted it.  We feel it would be a nice accompaniment to your Thanksgiving table.

“Le Lys is a crisp and refreshing white wine typified by its powerful fresh notes of newly-gathered apricot and citrus fruit.  The mouth has the fullness of ripe Semillon yet it is neither heavy nor cloying:  the touch of acidity gives it all the vivacity and freshness it needs.” -Les Vignerons de Buzet

One night I went to a steak house in the city and described to the waiter the characteristics of what I was looking for in the wine I wished to consume.  I asked for a wine that was full bodied,  jammy, smooth, with a clean long finish.  He brought out The Holy Trinity and based on that evening I brought it into CJ’s.  It is a blend of three grapes – Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre.  I highly recommend The Holy Trinity 2004.

I finally tried the Church & State Quintessential 2005 and all I have to say is … YUM!!  The Quintessential is a blend of five varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Malbec.   It is a full bodied fruit forward wine with hints of vanilla and chocolate, very smooth tannins and acidity with a nice long finish that lingers until the next sip.  I loved it.  I would highly recommend this wine.  It is a wine that is ripe for drinking right now.  Okay, so I had a little more to say than YUM.

Too many choices….

Maybe for this posting I will just stick to beer.  Now where to begin!!  So many options.
Beer for me is a seasonal thing – in the summer I like a good heifeweisen or wheat beer and in the winter when it’s cold I reach for a nice thick creamy stout.  Something with lots of espresso and chocolate.  YUM…

The new gopher beer from Big Rock is a nice crisp lager.  Their lime beer is also my favorite out of all the lime beer choices. 
The 6 different beers in the Mill St Summer Sampler pack are very refreshing on a hot day, especially the lemon tea beer.  We were trying to bring this one in the individual 6 bottle pack but they aren’t available in Alberta
As for light beers I’m still a fan of the Canadian 67.
Let’s not forget the Big Rock Grasshopper.  So good with a wedge of lemon or lime.  That’s refreshing. 

In the fall we’ll discuss my choices for amber ales.  Guess what – Big Rock Traditional Ale – on top.

Ever wonder what the owner is drinking these days?  What are his favourites?  Ready?  Here they are:
Burrowing Owl – Meritage or Syrah
Michael David Earthquake Syrah
Captain’s Table Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon
Camus cognac
Rickard’s Taster pack (for a limited time it comes with a beer can chicken roaster – and Cliff seems to be collecting a lot of beer can roasters.  I wonder what I’m getting for Christmas this year?  hmmmm….)

Talk about smooth.  And yummy.  Very jammy with lots of berries and very smooth tannins give a lovely finish to this exquisite Canadian wine, Burrowing Owl Syrah 2005.  Another staff pick for Julie and Cliff.

And what about the white wine drinkers?  How about a nice summer chardonnay?  Cono Sur Chardonnay from Chile.  Buttery notes with hints of peaches.  Delicious.  Bet you can’t put the bottle down.