“In this series we bring you our #FavouriteThings Holiday Gift Suggestions which we personally recommend”
The Blasted Church wine labels are definitely show stoppers, but then again their wines are definitely worthy! I bet you have some Blasted Church wine lovers on your list. Just be sure to grab these wines for yourself too. Always a hit any time of the year but especially welcome during the holidays. Blasted Church is a host/hostess favourite!
Let’s get this list started with a bang, a Big Bang!
Big Bang Theory 2021
Hockey is religion.
Winemaking
59% merlot, 28% gamay, 5% syrah, 5% cabernet sauvignon, 1% cabernet franc, 1% refosco, 1% pinot noir
Our 2021 Big Bang Theory brings together fruit from our estate vineyard on the Skaha Bench with fruit from vineyards in Oliver, Osoyoos, and a tiny splash from the Similkameen. Each lot of fruit is hand harvested as it reaches peak maturity and is brought into the cellar where the lots are vinified separately. The fermentations are managed intentionally to be lighter on extraction to preserve the fresh, juicy profile of the final blend.
After fermentation, each lot was put to barrel, primarily neutral oak, for MLF and aging for a minimum of 6 months before being assembled to create the final blend. Over the course of our blending trials, we decided to include a portion of 2020 Merlot that had been in barrel for 14 months to add complexity while also helping to drive the richness and structure of the wine.
Tasting notes
Colour: Deep ruby.
Nose: Dark cherry, plum, cigar box, strawberry, wild sage, and cassis.
Palate: Red berries and plum open the attack, with dark cherries and chocolate carrying through the mid-palate as the tannin builds into the juicy, balanced finish.
Pairings
A perfect pairing with almost anything from the grill. Sausages, burgers, or a smoky pizza would all make for a terrific pairing.
Hatfield’s Fuse 2020
Wash and wax while you relax.
36% viognier, 16% orange muscat, 12% chardonnay musque, 9% sauvignon blanc, 8% chardonnay, 7% pinot blanc, 6% pinot gris, 4% gewurztraminer, 2% riesling
Winemaking
The 2020 Hatfield`s Fuse is a blend of fruit from our estate vineyard in Okanagan Falls, as well as fruit from Oliver and Osoyoos. Each lot of fruit is harvested separately as it reaches a perfect balance between flavour, sugar, and acid to bring a specific character to the final blend. When it reaches the winery, the fruit is destemmed, but not crushed, before being pressed to tank. Every fermentation is managed individually, giving the cellar team a broad palette with which to blend the final wine.
The various components are selected to bring a piece to the whole. The Viognier and Chardonnay Musque bring richness and aromatic intensity, the Orange Muscat and Gewurztraminer contribute florals and spice, the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Blanc are perfect partners for the natural acidity each brings to the blend. Every wine in the blend has a specific role to play, and in 2020 they are all performing their roles beautifully!
Tasting Notes
Colour: Pale straw.
Nose: Stone fruit, lemon, orange blossom, and spicy muscat.
Palate: The stone fruit and muscat notes on the nose translate through to the palate, opening up the attack before lemon, mango, and pineapple take over into the rich mid-palate and on into the well-balanced finish.
Pairing
Halibut, roasted chicken, or creamy pasta dishes.
Cabernet Merlot 2019
Breathe in. Breathe out. Now sip.
Winemaking
Each individual lot of fruit was hand harvested separately at its optimal balance of sugar, acidity and tannic ripeness before being brought into the winery where the fruit was destemmed, but not crushed, and transferred to tanks for 5 day cold soaks before the fermentations kicked off. The separate fermentations were each managed according to their specific needs, with pumpovers ranging from 1 to 3 times daily depending upon the status and stage of the ferments.
After 18 to 28 days on skins, the wines were drained from the tanks directly to barrel for malolactic fermentation. The oak was French, American, and Hungarian, of which 20% was new, 4% was second-fill, 25% was third-fill, and 51% was neutral. The wines were in barrel for 14 months before being racked to tank for blending and back to barrel for an additional 6 months of aging before bottling.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep ruby
Nose: Cassis, strawberry, blueberry, and pencil shavings.
Palate: A supple attack of dark berries and plum leads into a beautifully structured mid-palate. Savoury black olive and cassis carry through the persistent finish.
Pairing
Beef, lamb, or venison would provide a great match to the wine in its youth, while duck or mushroom dishes would be perfect companions for the wine in the years to come.
Our Vision
To collectively lead the renaissance of Blasted Church by elevating the brand perception and consumer experience to match the world class wines we produce.
Wine notes courtesy of the winery. Images: MyVanCity. I received complimentary wine to facilitate this feature.
