Wednesday Wine Reviews by @Sam_WineTeacher

 

2014 Chardonnay

vin Amité

Oliver, BC

$29.90

Formerly known as vin Perdue until some winery in Napa felt it might be confused with the name of one of their wines and threatened legal action.  The owners felt that the most expedient and least costly option was to rebrand their wine.  Lemon yellow in colour with medium-plus intensity.  The nose is layered with aromas of apple, melon, butter and toast.  Well balanced with good mouth feel.  The palate echoes the nose followed by a medium-long finish.  It paired well with a clam and crab linguini.

 

2015 Red Sky Rosé

Black Cloud

Naramata, BC

$22.00
I reviewed this rosé over six months ago and it is even better now. Cherry red in colour with medium intensity. The nose shows aromas of cherry and strawberry with honeydew undertones. This pinot noir rosé is well balanced and there is no shortage of flavour on the palate. A medium-plus finish. This is a big, bold body builder of a rosé.

2013 Dead of the Night

Moon Curser

Osoyoos, BC

$37.30
A unique blend of syrah and tannat, this wine is garnet black with deep intensity. The nose is layered with aromas of blackberry, plum, earth, dust, cocoa and black pepper. Well balanced with smooth ripe tannins. The flavours mirror the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. This five-year old wine is good right now and will easily go for another three to five years.

 

2012 Kickass Currant

Tugwell Creek

Sooke, BC

$26.00
This wine was a gift that I set aside and forgot to drink. I have made honey wine (mead) in the past and recognize that it has its challenges, however Tugwell knows what it is doing and does it well. What most people are surprised about is that they tend to be finished dry, not sweet. This wine is a Melomel (fruit flavoured mead) made with black currants. It is garnet red with some bricking noticed (due to its age). Honey and cassis on the nose with a hint of cherry. Good balance with medium body. Bright and juicy on the palate with a honey core (but no sweetness). A medium-plus finish with lingering flavours. It paired well with teriyaki chicken thighs.

 

2016 Chardonnay

50^th Parallel

Lake Country, BC

$35.00
This has to be one of BC’s better buys for Chardonnay. Lemon yellow in colour with medium-light intensity. The nose greets you with aromas of medium-plus toast, pineapple and citrus. Well balanced with good structure. Toast, brioche, lime and minerality on the palate followed by a medium-long finish. Delicious.

 

(Photos, except as noted – Sam Hauck)