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 I have to blow the dust off. 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.
Prices indicated are the costs when purchased.
2017 Pinot Blanc (Mystic River)
Wild Goose
Okanagan Falls, BC
$19.00
Pinot Blanc wines should usually be consumed within a couple of years of purchase, but this one had what it takes to go the distance as do many better-quality BC wines. Lemon yellow with medium-minus intensity. Lemon, apple, green pear, peach, melon, white blossoms, and almond aromas on the nose. Good balance. The flavours follow the nose and haven’t deteriorated with time. A medium-long finish with mouth-watering fruit and almond notes lingering.
2016 Gamay
Deep Roots
Naramata, BC
$22.53
Garnet red with hints of brick and medium-plus intensity. Cherry, banana, earth, game, leather, vanilla, and floral undertones on the nose. Well balanced. The flavours echo the nose followed by a medium-long finish. Harmonious and well-aged.
2014 Syrah
C.C. Jentsch Cellars
Oliver, BC
$31.90
Sadly, this winery is no more which goes to show that when you find some amazing wine, you should always buy as much as you can because you just never know. Dark garnet red/black with deep intensity. Complex and varietal with aromas of dark berries, black cherries, black pepper, earth, chocolate, nutmeg, and pencil shavings. Well-balanced with well-integrated tannins. The palate mirrors the nose followed by a long-lingering finish with flavours evolving. This wine is excellent and at peak perfection. Outstanding!
2010 Merlot (Reserve)
Mission Hills
West Kelowna, BC
$24.99
Aged in French and American oak for 12 months. Garnet red with a hint of brick and deep intensity. The nose is rich, layered, and complex with aromas of plum, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, cherry, dust, fruitcake, and vanilla. Well balanced with well-integrated tannins. The flavours reflect the nose followed by a long lingering finish. Good for another 3 – 5 years. Comparable to many Bordeaux at much higher prices.
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
Blackwood Lane
Langley, BC
$49.00
Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. The nose is classic cab – blackberry, blueberry, cassis, cherry, dried leaves, dusty, cinnamon, pencil shavings and more. Very well balanced with fine-grained tannins. The nose carries over onto the palate followed by a long lingering finish. Elegant and harmonious. Very impressive and at its peak.
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
