So sometimes we get a little busy and overlook a post that should have been published awhile ago. This is exactly what happened with Wine Weekend. But because the reviews are still relevant today we thought it would be a shame to not share.
Well, it was a busy wine weekend. On Saturday, I was off to a “Christmas Mingler” Open House at Pacific Breeze Winery in New Westminster. It was a very well attended event with people arriving all afternoon.
Upon entering I was given a four-station passport. I made the rounds from Chardonnay to Assaszin (Zinfandel) to Killer Cab and then Syrah. Winemakers, Devon Stewart and Dylan Hamilton, and their helpers, were decked out in festive gear and pouring the wines. There was also a great selection of wine nibbles – a variety of cheeses, crackers, charcuterie, chocolate and other sweets. Up-ended barrels served as tables for people to rest their plates and glasses on. Decorative wine gift baskets were available; as was a selection of cork related crafts – wreaths, key fobs and bottle stoppers, produced by local mixed media artist Lea Sevcov. All proceeds went to the local food bank.
The room was filled with friends of Pacific Breeze, people reconnecting and comparing notes. Owner Maurice Hamilton worked the crowd chatting with everyone. I was impressed with the wines tasted and I left with a bottle each of the Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Syrah as I already have a selection of Killer Cab vintages in my cellar. As featured specials, the Chardonnay and Zinfandel were offered at five dollars off the regular price. Sweet!
Next it was off to Westwood Wines in Coquitlam to see the effervescent Alison Scholefield from the Okanagan Crush Pad who was pouring a selection of Haywire wines. We tasted The Bub 2012, a classically inspired sparkling wine made from 51% pinot noir and 49 % chardonnay. It’s all mineral, green apple and yeasty aromas and flavours. Bubbles always go well with salty potato chips or popcorn. Sounds like a movie night wine to me. If you are a fan of Champagne, you really have to taste this wine, which makes BC proud. It is a bargain at $24.90.
Next was the 2012 Switchback Vineyard Pinot Gris. Concrete egg fermented wines tend to have a soft creamy elegance to them. This one is big and round in the mouth with well-integrated fruit and minerality. Their 2012 Pinot Noir shows classic cherry character with soft tannins.
Blackberries, pepper, earthy and meaty describes the 2012 Haywire Syrah. Pair this wine with roasted meats, both white and red, stews and big casseroles.
Sunday it was back to Westwood Wines, my local VQA store, to see Nicole, sales rep for Cedar Creek. She was pouring their 2012 Chardonnay. I remember the 2009 Chard being very oaky, actually to the point that it dominated the fruit (though I really enjoyed it). Nicole mentioned that the winemaker at the time had been aiming for a California style of wine. This recent vintage, by contrast, shows an excellent balance of oak and fruit, to the point that many people, even those who claim not to like Chardonnay, like this one. Definitely a wine to try.
The 2013 Ehrenfelzer (a Riesling / Silvaner cross) is drier than the previous vintage and is an elegant version of what is often an off-dry wine. This fruit-filled bounty comes from 36-year-old vines, which undoubtedly accounts for its sophisticated character.
Nicole then poured the 2013 Platinum Series Riesling. There’s no mistaking what you are drinking with this wine. It screams out classic Riesling – dry with lime and floral notes and with only 8.8% alcohol, this is a great luncheon wine. Rieslings are very versatile wines and go with almost anything you’d pair white wine with. I’d suggest oysters, halibut or pasta Alfredo, but it’d also work very well with sauerkraut and Bratwurst.
Then it was on to the block 2 Platinum Pinot Noir. Bright on the nose and palate with violets and cherries. This is an elegant feminine wine with good complexity. Serve with duck and mushroom risotto.
The final wine in the flight was the 2011 Merlot. 2011 was a tough year in the Okanagan for red wines and many from that year tend to be rather lean. Good growers and good wine makers just see this as a challenge and they take the appropriate steps to make the best wine possible. This one has had 18 months of aging in French oak barrels and the result is a lovely easy drinking red with red fruit and a hint of raspberries.
