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.
2014 Peloro Rosso
La Casematte
Sicily, Italy
$28.00
Each time I sample this wine, it just gets better and better. Made from a blend of 70% Nerello Mascalese and 30% Nocera grapes, this wine is garnet red with a hint of brick and medium-deep intensity. Smoke, dried red fruit, raspberries, cherries, strawberries, rhubarb, savoury notes, and spice. Very good balance with well-integrated tannins and a velvety structure. Bright, juicy, ripe red fruit, black tea, and earthy notes on the palate followed by a medium-long finish.
2013 Mantra (Bordeaux Blend)
Kismet
Oliver, BC
$24.99
Garnet red tinged with brick and dep intensity. The nose is a tightly woven interplay of spice, dark berries, plum, meat, bramble, and savoury notes. Well balanced with silky smooth tannins. The flavours mirror the nose followed by a subtle medium-long finish. Very good.
2011 Langhe Rosso
Beni di Batasiolo
Piedmont, Italy
$23.99
Beautifully aged at eleven years old. This blend of Dolcetto and Barbera is garnet red with a hint of brick and medium-deep intensity. The nose is rich, layered and complex with aromas of Earth, truffles, meat, black olives, cherries, and fruitcake undertones. Well balanced with silky smooth tannins. A seamless transition from the nose to the palate. A medium-long finish with flavours lingering. This is why you should age wines whenever possible. Wow.
2010 Voluptuous (Merlot/Cabernet Franc)
Van Westen
Naramata, BC
$29.90
Garnet red/black with deep intensity. The nose is a symphony of ripe red and black fruit, dried fruit, plum, cherry, spice, vanilla, briar, and hints of leather and tar. Well balanced with smooth ripe tannins. Big on the palate with flavours echoing the nose followed by a medium-long flavourful finish. Well-aged and near its peak.
2009 Syrah (Coyote Bowl)
Church and State
Oliver, BC
$59.90
Garnet/brick colour with deep intensity. The nose is elegant and layered with meaty, prune, leather, cedar, mushroom, dried fruit, pencil shavings, menthol, and vanilla aromas. Well balanced with soft ripe tannins. The flavours mirror the nose followed by a medium-long plus finish. Peak perfection.
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
