Hy’s of Canada proudly launches signature 18-six-18 wine

Hy’s and Gotham proudly launch signature 18-six-18 wine

Earlier this year, June 18 to be exact, key senior members of the Hy’s and Gotham group got together for an afternoon to put their winemaking skills to the test. Luckily, their partner and guide in this experiment was Road 13 Winery, recently awarded 2018 Winery of the Year by Wine Align National Wine Awards of Canada.

The goal that day was to create a proprietary red wine, unique to the 3 BC locations, that could be enjoyed with a perfectly grilled Prime Grade steak. Using a base Bordeaux-style blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Merlot from the Similkameen Valley, various percentages of petit Verdot and Malbec were added, and subtracted. After 5 iterations, playing with a ratio of 75-80% base wine and higher balance of Malbec to petit Verdot, a consensus was reached.

Named for the date the blend was “born”, 18-six-18 is now bottled and ready to be enjoyed.

Road 13 Winemaker Jeff Del Ninn says, “The 2016 18-six-18 is generous and dense in colour. Intense aromas of cassis, black cherry and black berry leap out of the glass and immediately begin telling the story of the tremendous 2016 growing season. The primary dark fruits are very prominent and accentuated with notes of vanilla, cream, black pepper, and sage. On the palate, the wine is supple and elegant, with a freshness of acidity. Woven into the matrix of delicious black fruited splendor, you find notes of violet, dark chocolate, graphite and anise.

The overall impression is of a complex, elegant wine that is built to age for 5-8 years (or longer based on your preferences and individual assessment of the wine over the years), pairing brilliantly with rich protein dishes.”

Hy’s Whistler’s Rene Bousquet, Hy’s Vancouver’s Tim Butt and Gotham’s Sam Jonnery were delighted with the first sample. They agree that their 2016 18-six-18 will only get better with age, but are proud to offer it now at Hy’s Vancouver, Hy’s Whistler and Gotham Steakhouse.

Media release and bottle image courtesy of Hy’s of Canada. Feature image courtesy of Hy’s Whistler.