In addition to the weekly wine review and the various other, usually wine-related, articles I write for My Van City, I am including a new one that will appear from time to time. I’m calling it, ‘From the Cellar’.
It will be much like the wine reviews, except that it will feature wines that have been aged.
It came to my attention that in an earlier review, I included a wine that is no longer made by a certain winery. They were very happy with the mention and my positive comments, but they were concerned someone might try to track down a bottle and be disappointed when they found it wasn’t being produced any longer. So, from now on I will keep the ‘Wednesday Wine Review’ to recent vintages that should still be available and ‘From the Cellar’ for those that I have to blow the dust off of. There are no hard and fast rules. I recently bought a couple of reds at my local liquor store that were 2010 vintages (a great deal in my eyes). While most people drink what they buy in a matter of days, if not hours, more and more people are realizing the benefits of holding on to some of their wines and are enjoying the benefits of doing so.
Prices indicated are the costs when purchased.
2011 Pinot Noir
8th Generation
Summerland, BC
$20.40
Ruby red with medium intensity. The nose is complex and layered with classic pinot character – forest floor, dried fruit, strawberry, cherry, plum, earth, and spice. Well balanced with soft, smooth ripe tannins. The aromas carry on over to the palate followed by a medium-long finish. Very nicely aged. A bargain for such quality.
2016 Pinot Noir (Juveniles)
Tantalus
Kelowna, BC
$21.74
At five years old, not so juvenile at this point. The wine was fermented with wild yeasts and aged in neutral French oak barriques. Garnet red with medium-plus intensity. The nose is layered with aromas of forest floor, earth, dried cherries, minerality and a slight hint of violets. Good balance with medium body and silky ripe tannins. Cherries, red currants plums and black tea on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish. Will age well for another three to five years.
2014 Hatchchild
The Hatch
West Kelowna, BC
$44.44
Garnet red with a hint of brick and deep intensity. The nose is layered with aromas of stewed red fruit, sweet baking spice, mulberry, and earth. Well balanced with soft smooth tannins. Big red fruit on the palate with stewed plums, black cherry, cinnamon, and clove. A medium-long finish. Very impressive. The good news is that the current vintage is $10 less, so stock up and be sure to age a couple.
2016 Cabernet Franc
Harper’s Trail
Kamloops, BC
$31.99
From the Thadd Springs Vineyard. Garnet red with a hint of brick and medium-plus intensity. An inviting nose of plum, dusty leaves, sandalwood, pencil shavings, a hint of green pepper, and nutmeg. Well balanced with smooth ripe tannins. Very flavourful on the palate with flavours of plum, raspberry, dusty herbs, pepper, chocolate, spice, and toast followed by a medium-plus finish.
2009 Meritage
Church and State
Oliver, BC
$35.00
Made with fruit from their Coyote Bowl vineyard. 20% aged in French oak. Garnet red with deep intensity. The nose is rich and complex with aromas of deep, dark fruit and berries, earth, cinnamon, black olive, cocoa powder, pencil shavings, and dust. Well balanced with smooth ripe tannins. The palate is layered and mirrors the nose followed by a medium-long finish with flavours lingering. Well-aged and near its peak.
(All photos, except as noted – Sam Hauck)
