2016 Chardonnay (Winemaker’s Reserve)
Mount Boucherie
West Kelowna, BC
$30.00
I tried this wine (same vintage) about a year ago and really liked it. Now with another year of cellaring, it was even better. Lemon yellow in colour with medium-minus intensity. The nose shows aromas of apple, lime, honeydew melon, butter, and toast. Well balanced. Big flavour on the palate. Well-integrated oak and fruit. Flavours linger on the medium-long finish. Harmonious from beginning to end.
2018 Muscadet
Bonnet-Huteau
Loire Valley, France
$26.40
Lemon yellow with medium-light intensity. The nose shows aromas of lemon, honeysuckle apple, and citrus undertones. Good balance with light body. Pleasing fruit on the palate followed by a medium finish. Best enjoyed with oysters.
2016 Vihno Branco
Herdade do Cebolal
Vale das Equas, Portugal
$24.99
Bright yellow with medium-plus intensity. The nose is an interplay of lemon, white peach, honey, and beeswax. Very good balance and a creamy texture. Very pleasing on the palate with flavours following the nose. A medium-plus finish with a slight apricot pit bitterness on the finish, making it an ideal food wine. This wine really improved with time to breathe.
2012 Syrah (Reserva)
Falernia
Valle de Elqui, Chile
$23.34
Deep garnet red with deep intensity. The nose is layered with aromas of black cherry, blackberry, plum, black pepper, saddle leather, spice, and cocoa. Very good balance with smooth ripe tannins. The flavours echo the nose with fruit dominating the palate. A slightly hot finish with fruit lingering.
2016 Merlot (Oldfield Reserve)
Tinhorn Creek
Oliver, BC
$28.99
A blend of 85% merlot, 10% cabernet franc, 3% petit verdot, 1% malbec, and 1% cabernet sauvignon gives this wine a distinctive character. Garnet red with deep intensity. Intense red and blackberries, plum, black cherry, sweet spice, and vanilla on the nose. Well balanced with soft ripe tannins. Juicy on the palate followed by a medium-long finish. Very good value.
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
