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.
2010 Garnacha
Breca
Calatayud, Spain
$24.99
Garnet red with deep intensity. Dried dark cherries, blackberries, black plums, spice, and savoury notes on the nose. Good balance with firm tannins. Bright on the palate with flavours mirroring the nose followed by a medium-plus finish with cocoa powder notes lingering.
2012 Pinot Noir
Privato
Kamloops, BC
$39.90
Garnet red with medium-deep intensity and a touch of brick. The nose is pleasing with aromas of dried cherries, plum, beetroot, black tea, spice, earth, and salami. Well balanced with silky smooth tannins. The flavours reflect the nose followed by a medium-long finish. Impressive.
2014 Peloro – Terre Siciliane Rosso
La Casematte
Sicily, Italy
$28.00
Garnet red with brick and medium-deep intensity. Dried red fruit, dust, plum, pomegranate, cranberry, dried herbs, capers, and leather with hints of white pepper and tobacco on the nose. Very good balance. The flavours echo the nose followed by a medium-long finish. Very good.
2014 Merlot
Vanessa Vineyards
Cawston, BC
$34.99
Dark garnet red with some bricking and medium-deep intensity. The nose is layered with aromas of sawdust, pencil shavings, prune, dried fruit, blackberry, black currant, black olive, smoke, and a nutty undertone. Well balanced with smooth ripe tannins. The flavours mirror the nose followed by a long lingering finish. Excellent! So glad I hung on to this one.
2012 Quattro
Cassini Cellars
Oliver, BC
$26.00
This is a blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 26% Syrah, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Garnet red with deep intensity. The nose is rich with aromas of dried red fruit and berries, plums, earth, and undertones of spice, vanilla, licorice and pencil shavings. Very good balance with smooth ripe tannins. At almost ten years old, the palate is still bright and lively with flavours following the nose. A medium-long finish. Serve with ribs, brisket or other roasted meats. I have revisited this vintage over the years and it just gets better and better.
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
