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.
2006 Malbec
Weinert
Mendoza, Argentina
$29.99
Made from vines that are 70-110 years old. More elegant and balanced than many Argentinian Malbec wines. Garnet/black with deep intensity. Steely dark fruit, black cherry, blackberry, plum, and spice on the nose. Good balance with smooth ripe tannins. Dark fruit dominated the palate followed by a medium-plus finish.
89 points
2010 Pinot Noir
Mount Boucherie
West Kelowna
$19.99
(Tasted in 2020)
(Somehow this got misplaced earlier. I post it now to show how well it aged.)
At 10 years old, perhaps, maybe, maybe not, just a little past its peak, but I still know why I bought it. After a wide range of disappointing 2011 Pinot Noirs from many regions, this one was an absolute delight. Garnet/brick with medium intensity. Rich and layered on the nose with aromas of dried cherry, earth, forest floor, perfume, spice, game, and leather. Well balanced with silky smooth tannins. The flavours reflect the nose followed by a medium-long finish. Reminiscent of a well-aged Burgundy. Fragile the next day and it faded quickly.
94 points
2009 Merlot
Blackwood Lane
Langley, BC
$29.00
OMG! This wine was impressive when I tried it after it was first released. Now it is amazing. Perfectly aged. Garnet red with medium-deep intensity and a slight hint of bricking. Every time you nose the wine, there is more to be discovered. Rich, layered and complex with aromas of dark cherry, cocoa, cassis, plum, dark berries, ripe plum, fig, vanilla, and more. Very well-balanced. Velvety soft on the palate with flavours that mirror the nose followed by a long finish with depth and lingering concentrated berries. Amazing.
97 points
2012 Serious Syrah
Pacific Breeze
New Westminster, BC
$NA
Garnet red / brick with deep intensity. The nose shows great varietal character with aromas of black pepper, blackberry, earth, game, spice, and cocoa powder. Well balanced with smooth ripe tannins. Well integrated and layered on the palate followed by a medium-long finish. Beautifully aged and at or near its peak.
95 points
2013 Summa Quies Pinot Noir
Howling Bluff
Naramata
$35.00
Made from a blend of clones 667, 777, and 114. The vines were 5 – 9 years old. The wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels – 30% new, 30% second fill, and 40% third fill. Garnet red with a brick rim and medium-deep intensity. A classic Pinot Noir nose showing aromas of forest floor, game, earth, dust, and herbs along with dried cherries and plums. Very well balanced with soft smooth tannins. The palate echoes the nose followed by a lingering medium-long finish. Beautifully aged and close to peak perfection. Proof that BC can give Burgundy a run for the money and at a much more affordable price.
97 points
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
