Some of our very favourite deep and delicious red BC wines. Black Sage is reknowned for its quality bold red wines. Available online to #ShiptoSip to enjoy at home!
Black Sage wines are consistently on our #FavouriteThings list and we personally recommend their wines.
Cabernet Sauvignon
The vines for this wine dig deep in the parched Canadian landscape to produce a robust red wine brimming with flavour and character. Aged in French and American oak for more than 16 months, the 2017 Black Sage Vineyard™ Cabernet Sauvignon displays cassis, toasted oak and hints of spice.
HARVEST REPORT
A very cold winter led to a spring that saw record levels of rainfall, resulting in explosive vine growth. This was followed by some of the warmest temperatures ever recorded for the first week of August in the Okanagan. Even with the slow start to the season, the steady summer heat had our vineyard team harvesting a week earlier than average. Their hard work paid off; aromatic whites are crisp and fresh with a lively palate, while our reds are rich and fruit-forward.
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
The grapes were picked at peak ripeness and gently crushed and destemmed into stainless steel tanks. The wine was pumped over twice daily during fermentation. The wine then went through malolactic fermentation and was aged in specially selected French and American oak barrels for 16 months before being filtered and bottled. 99% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc.
TASTING NOTES
Lush cherries, vibrant raspberries, hints of vanilla and mocha and a touch of earthy notes can be found on the nose. The palate has enticing flavours of dark cherries, cassis, vanilla and mocha notes. The finish lingers long after the last sip.
FOOD PAIRING
Pair with rich dishes like lamb stew or prime rib. This wine also pairs perfectly with strong, sharp cheeses and rich chocolate desserts.
Cabernet Franc
The 2017 Black Sage Vineyard™ Cabernet Franc is produced from tenacious vines that for over 20 years have thrived in the rugged South Okanagan desert.
HARVEST REPORT
A very cold winter led to a spring that saw record levels of rainfall, resulting in explosive vine growth. This was followed by some of the warmest temperatures ever recorded for the first week of August in the Okanagan. Even with the slow start to the season, the steady summer heat had our vineyard team harvesting a week earlier than average. Their hard work paid off; aromatic whites are crisp and fresh with a lively palate, while our reds are rich and fruit-forward.
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
The grapes were brought in at full ripeness and fermented in stainless steel tanks for 2 weeks. During the fermentation process, the wine was pumped over twice daily to enhance flavour and color extraction. The wine then went through malolactic fermentation and was aged in a blend of French and American oak barrels for 18 months.
TASTING NOTES
The nose has pleasant aromas of red berries, red currants, dried strawberries, and smoky mocha notes. The flavours on the nose carry over to the palate with bright red fruits, mocha, vanilla and a hint of spice on the finish. The acidity is lively, and the tannins are firm yet approachable.
FOOD PAIRING
The firm tannins in our 2017 Cabernet Franc make it a great pairing for bold choices – a rack of lamb, venison, duck breast or slow-cooked pork. For a vegetarian option, this wine goes great with sautéed mushrooms. We also recommend pairing our Cabernet Franc with mature, hard cheeses.
Merlot
Like other reds from the Black Sage Vineyard™ these vines dig deep to produce an elegant wine. Aged in French and American oak for over 18 months, the 2017 Black Sage Vineyard™ Merlot displays intense aromas of red and dark fruit, with a hint of plum and vanilla.
HARVEST REPORT
A very cold winter led to a spring that saw record levels of rainfall, resulting in explosive vine growth. This was followed by some of the warmest temperatures ever recorded for the first week of August in the Okanagan. Even with the slow start to the season, the steady summer heat had our vineyard team harvesting a week earlier than average. Their hard work paid off; aromatic whites are crisp and fresh with a lively palate, while our reds are rich and fruit-forward.
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
The grapes were brought in at full ripeness and fermented in stainless steel tanks for 2 weeks. During the fermentation process, the wine was pumped over twice daily to enhance flavour and color extraction. The wine then went through malolactic fermentation and was aged in a blend of French and American oak barrels for 18 months.
TASTING NOTES
This Merlot exhibits big jammy plum, bold blueberry, smooth vanilla and a hint of smokiness on the nose. The palate has similar flavours of rich ripe fruits and spices with pleasant smoky vanilla notes. The tannins are soft, and the finish is long with the flavours lingering long after the last sip.
FOOD PAIRING
Pair our 2017 Merlot with pot roast, meatloaf, venison steaks, other braised meats and firm cheeses.
There is no wine-growing region in the world quite like the Black Sage Bench.
Located at the northern tip of the Sonoran Desert, with scorching mid-summer temperatures, the rugged bench was thought to be good for little more than growing scrub and grazing cattle in the early 1900s. When partners Harry McWatters and Bob Wareham — then-owners of Sumac Ridge Estate Winery in Summerland — purchased a fallow vineyard site on the bench in 1992, intending to plant grafted vinifera vines imported from France, they raised more than a few eyebrows. Many thought it would be an expensive mistake.
The partners named the 115-acre site Black Sage Vineyard™, after the road it fronts, and planted it with the late-ripening premium grapes that thrive in hot, arid conditions. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc represented about seventy percent of the planting. White varieties included Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
The reds were the first classic Bordeaux varieties to be planted in the region, and when the vines began to produce juicy, intensely flavoured fruit, other growers soon followed suit. Since 1993, the Black Sage Bench has become renowned for the quality of bold red wines it produces.
Crafted by the experienced hands of winemaker Jason James, the exceptional wines have a bold new label that matches their confident personality. This new family of wines will showcase what happens when the right vines are planted in the right location.
Ideal for late-ripening reds, the vineyard continues to host the 20-year-old Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc varieties. White varieties — not as suitable for one of the hottest vineyard locations in Canada — provide excellent grafting opportunities with their well-seasoned rootstalks; if the soils dictate, new varietals will be introduced.
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Tasting notes and bottle shots provided by Dina Clark, Arterra Canada, image courtesy of the winery
