2019 Chardonnay (Okanagan Valley)
Meyer Family Vineyards
Okanagan Falls, BC
$19.22
Green-tinged straw with medium-light intensity. Apple, pear, and lemon cream on the nose. Good balance with good mouthfeel. The flavours follow the nose. A medium-plus finish. Good value. Keep a bottle in the fridge.
2020 Pinot Gris (Quill Label)
Blue Grouse
Duncan, BC
$21.99
The Quill label is for wines that are not made from estate grapes. Most often that means they come from other vineyards in the Cowichan Valley. Very pale straw with medium-light intensity. Nectarine, lime, honeydew melon, and pineapple on the nose. Light and crisp with good balance. Pleasing fruit on the palate with flavours echoing the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. This is a very versatile food wine and it shows its best when served as part of a meal – chicken, seafood, creamy pastas, and so much more.
2020 Rosé
Mayhem
Okanagan Falls, BC
$20.00
Light cherry red in colour with medium-minus intensity. Cherry, rhubarb, young strawberry, and toasted bread on the nose. Good balance with medium body. The flavours echo the nose followed by a medium-plus finish with flavours lingering. This is a very versatile food wine and great with patio luncheons.
2019 Syrah
Moon Curser
Osoyoos, BC
$28.99
The grapes for this wine come from the west-facing Bartsch Vineyard. The wine is garnet red with deep intensity. The nose shows aromas of bramble, raspberry, red currant, plum, blackberry, white pepper, and spice. Good balance with smooth ripe tannins. The flavours mirror the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. This wine was a little grippy upon opening but rounded out nicely with some decanting. It was a good match for a grilled New York strip steak. Age-worthy for five to ten years easily.
2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
TIME
Penticton, BC
$39.99
If drinking this vintage soon, be sure to decant so it shows its best. Garnet red with deep intensity. Classic cab aromas on the nose – plum, spice, cherries, berries, black currants, nutmeg, cigar box, dusty herbs and a hint of mint. Well balanced with smooth ripe tannins. The flavours mirror the nose followed by a medium-long finish. Very impressive. Be sure to buy some to cellar. If there are still people who do not think BC can produce great cab sauv, this wine will make them believers. Only 300 cases were produced.
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
