#FavouriteThings Holiday Gift Suggestions | Gold Hill Winery

“In this series we bring you our #FavouriteThings Holiday Gift Suggestions which we personally recommend”

Very pleased to welcome Gold Hill to our list of BC wines that we recommend for your holiday gift giving.  If you are looking for just the right wine for a special someone then look no further, here are our suggestions for your sipping pleasure.

About the wines:

2016 started with the warmest spring in almost 20 years. Budbreak was the earliest on record. Although veraison arrived two weeks ahead of schedule, an abrupt cooling of weather in the fall (with temperatures lower than normal) slowed fruit development and allowed for full ripening with good acidity in the fruit.

2016 syrah

Our Syrah is clone 7 on 3309 rootstock, producing fruit with great aromatic profile and elegant tannins. It was hand-picked in October, and hand-sorted in the vineyard to remove any damaged berries or non-grape material. Viognier was picked from an adjoining block and mixed with the syrah at the crush pad, where it was destemmed, and then partially crushed. The syrah and viognier must was allowed to slowly warm up, while cold soaking, allowing wild flora to start co-fermentation on the surface of the must. At 18 C, the must was inoculated and fermented between 26 and 28 C. Daily pump-overs allowed full development of the tannins. Before the ferment finished to dry, the young wine was transferred to 40% new oak barrel where it aged a further 18 months.

Our 2016 Syrah has aromas of orange blossom, crème brulée and cedar strip. On the mouth, flavours of cherry pie, orange peel, and baked pie. Notes of white pepper and fresh thyme are supported by ripe medium weight tannins. The finish is medium length and best suited for lighter entrées. Enjoy now and for the next couple of decades.

2016 cabernet franc

Cabernet Franc clone 214 on 3309 rootstock was picked in October, then sorted in the vineyard to remove any damaged berries or non-grape material. Once at the crush pad, it was destemmed, and then partially crushed. The must was allowed to slowly warm up, while cold soaking, allowing wild flora to start fermentation on the surface of the must. At 18 C, the must was inoculated and fermented between 26 and 28 C. Daily pump-overs allowed full development of the tannins. Before the ferment finished to dry, the young wine was transferred to barrel where it aged a further 18 months.

The resulting wine has aromas of maple wood embers, vanilla, all-spice and lilly of the valley floral notes. In the mouth, this medium-bodied wine expresses Okanagan cherry juiciness, with notes of cordial on the finish. Herbal notes of sage and cedar round out the palate. Ready to enjoy but will cellar easily for a decade.

2016 grand vin

 

The culmination of our best efforts, Grand Vin is in the tradition of French Bordeaux Chateaus, signifying the best wine produced at the winery. A blend of predominantly Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, and made with the ripest, select areas of our home block. Producing this wine from fruit grown on our home Estate, makes this wine a definite Okanagan representation of a classic Right Bank Bordeaux. The vine clones are all ENTAV selections on 3309 rootstock, producing fruit with great aromatic profile and elegant tannins. Most of the fruit was hand-picked in late October, and hand-sorted in the vineyard to remove any damaged berries or non-grape material. At the crush pad, the clusters were destemmed, and then partially crushed. Each individual variety was picked and crushed separately. For each wine batch the must was allowed to slowly warm up, while cold soaking, allowing wild flora to start co-fermentation on the surface of the must. At 18 C, the must of each wine batch was inoculated and fermented between 26 and 28 C. Daily pump-overs and delestage, allowed full development of the tannins and colour. Before the ferment finished to dry, the young wine was transferred to 100% new French oak barrel where it aged a further 18 months.

Our 2016 Grand Vin is a serious Okanagan red blend. Dark and brooding it would be equally at home with a roaring fire or outdoors, grilling steaks. On the nose the Cabernet Sauvignon contributes blackberry and raspberry, with notes of red currants and cherry from the Cabernet Franc. In the mouth, there is a lovely viscous density with notes of vanilla from significant barrel time. Mouth-coating ripe tannins enhance the finish. Drink now through to 2035.

8,000 YEARS IN THE MAKING

Our founders believe quality grapes are the key to good wine and quality grapes only come with good vineyard management. Gold Hill’s management is a family affair, rooted in tradition, and 8,000 years of training makes it second nature.

65 GOLDEN ACRES

Our family owns 65 acres of vineyards in the Okanagan Valley with 24 acres on the Golden Mile and 32 acres in the heart of Osoyoos. Growing grapes is more than a business it’s our family’s passion. We sell most of our fruit, and those grapes form the backbone of several renowned B.C. wineries.

Wine specifications courtesy of the winery. All images MyVanCity. I received complimentary bottles of the wines to facilitate this feature. 

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