2017 Gamay
Rust Winery
Oliver, BC
$23.00
Initially, I was devastated to find out that Mount Boucherie no longer offered Gamay as it was a favourite of mine. Fortunately, the news was not as bad as it first appeared. The new owners also owned Rust Winery (located on the former Rustico site) and decided to market it under the Rust label. The grapes come from the same vineyard and are still made by the talented Jim Faulkner. The wine is garnet red with medium-deep intensity. The nose is powerful with violets dominating and strawberries and cherries following. It is well balanced with good structure. The palate mirrors the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. This is an excellent example of BC Gamay.
2015 La Chanaise
Dominique Piron
Morgon, France
$26.99
Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. The nose is subtly layered with sweet spice, floral notes, red berries and a hint of menthol. Well balanced and well structured. The flavours mirror the nose followed by a medium finish.
2014 La Réserve
Villa Ponciago
Fleurie, France
$26.99
Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. Strawberries and cherries, earthy, bramble, vanilla and a meaty note. Good balance and structure. The aromas carry through onto the palate, followed by a medium finish. This wine improved with time to open.
2010 Riesling (Larch Hills)
Ganton and Larson Prospect Winery (a Mission Hill label)
Oliver, BC
$10.95 (original price when released)
The grapes for this wine come from a vineyard on Anarchist Mountain on the east side of Osoyoos. My last tasting of this vintage was two years ago and the wine has only gotten better. Too bad it is my last bottle of this vintage. Lemon yellow with medium-minus intensity. The nose is layered with diesel, red apple peel, minerality, citrus and lanolin. Good balance and structure. The flavours echo the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. Good quality Riesling is well worth cellaring.
2010 Unleashed Riesling
See Ya Later Ranch
Okanagan Falls, BC
$16.80 (original price when released)
Ripe lemon colour with medium-minus intensity. Lemon/lime, red apple peel, interlaced with minerality and diesel notes. Well balanced with good structure. Mouth-watering on the palate with all the character mentioned on the nose. A medium-long finish. Nicely aged.
If you are a Riesling fan, grab some bottles, say half a case, at a price point you are comfortable with and lay several down to age – 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years. You’ll be amazed at how well they change and evolve.
