A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

Jean-Paul Brun ’12 Terres Dorees Beaujolais Blanc

IMG_5338

Wait a sec – Beaujolais Blanc? We didn’t learn about this in weekend warrior wine class. As with so many wine regions, in between the official roster of appellation wines there are boundary pushing cracks where highlights like this shine through.

Jean-Paul Brun 2012 Terres Dorees Beaujolais Blanc | AC Beaujolais, France | $30 +648071

Jean-Paul Brun is the owner and vigneron at the Domaine des Terres Dorées, located in Southern Beaujolais, just north of Lyons, in a beautiful area known as the “Region of the Golden Stones.” Sustainably focused and non-interventionist in both the vineyard and winery, Brun is a firm advocate of minimal SO2, natural yeast, old vines and low yields with his wines, and has seen wide critical acclaim for his honest, expressive Beaujolais. One of the most revered and iconic producers of the region, Brun couldn’t be bothered by appellation rules; though he makes exceptional gamay and Cru Beaujolais wines, he also produces characterful and intriguing rosé, roussanne, viognier, late harvest and sparkling wine that falls outside of any regional regulations. In other words, he gives not one shit about what he is supposed to do, but devotes all his many years and talents to what he wants to do – expressing the best of his region.

Gamay accounts for 99% of the grapes grown in Beaujolais, so this Beaujolais Blanc (100% chardonnay) is a rare treat and a fantastic value. The warmer climate allows for a richer, fuller wine while the limestone soil adds a fresh, mineral-laden element.

The wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks that are laid on their side to allow for more lees contact, amping the complexity further. The resulting wine (bottled without any oak) is brimming with apple, pear, citrus, creamy lees and bright, saline minerality. Fantastic depth and length, and ideal for these late summer nights when the evening chill blends with the sunset.

EVERY AWESOME THING WE DRANK

Beer Brief, Vol. 70

It's back (and brief-er)! A bulleted briefing of beer news and imminent events, mapped for your crawling pleasure by Thalia Stopa.

The Coolest New Bars to Score a Cocktail in Vancouver Right Now

There are a whack of new bars to check out if you're looking for somewhere to grab a cocktail in Vancouver right now.

Picking Grapes with Jayton Paul

We put our Picking Grapes questions to the Wine Director for Boxset Collective (Published on Main, Bar Susu, Novella, Twin Sails).

Picking Grapes with Ryan Mellor

One look at the extensive Gotham wine list - broken down by region, sub-region, appellation, varietal, rating and more - left us with no doubts that the restaurant's Wine Director was the perfect person to field our Picking Grapes questions...