2017 Chardonnay
Quails’ Gate
West Kelowna, BC
$24.99
Lemon yellow with medium intensity. The nose opens with aromas of lemon, apple, butter and vanilla. Very good balance with a creamy texture. Lemon crème and vanilla on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish.
2018 Sauvignon Blanc
Winemaker’s CUT
Oliver, BC
$26.00
The grapes come from Deadman Lake vineyard in Oliver and 15% spend time in Slovenian oak. This is a ‘Goldilocks’ wine – not too much A, not too much B, but just right. Golden straw in colour with medium-light intensity. Citrus, stone fruit, and melon on the integrated nose. Well balanced. Mouth-watering juicy fruit on the palate followed by a medium-long finish. A well-crafted wine from beginning to end.
2016 Riesling Classic
8th Generation
Summerland, BC
$19.50
If anyone in BC knows how to make quality riesling, it is Bernd and Stefanie Schales. They left Germany in 2003 with a 237-year family winemaking legacy. They settled in Canada and opened their Summerland winery in 2007 and now have twelve vintages under their belt. The grapes for this wine come from 31-year old vines on an Okanagan Falls property. Straw coloured with medium-minus intensity. Classic riesling on the nose – diesel, minerality, citrus, apple and a hint of honey. Well balanced with good structure. The flavours mirror the nose followed by a medium-long finish with crisp mouth-watering acidity lingering. This is crazy good BC riesling. Very cellar-worthy.
2016 Beaujolais
Chateaux de Pierreux
Brouilly, France
$21.99
Mineral soils give this wine its distinctive quality. Ruby red in colour with medium-plus intensity. The nose opens with minerality, wet stones, violets and dark berries. Good balance and structure. Bright fruit and floral notes on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish. (The 2018 is the current vintage available at BCLDB stores.)
2019 Pinot Noir
Corcelettes
Keremeos, BC
$25.19
Garnet red with medium-plus intensity. The nose shows aromas of cherries, meat, forest floor, plum, earth, and hints of vanilla and spice. Good balance. Pleasing fruit on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish. This is a good value pinot.
(All photos, except as noted – Sam Hauck)
