In addition to the weekly wine review and the various other, usually wine-related, articles I write for My Van City, I am going to include 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. I am a big advocate for aging BC wines.
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 VQA store that were 2010 vintages (and at 2010 prices!). 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.
2012 Cipes Blanc de blanc
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Kelowna, BC
$47.99
This beauty helped us ring in 2024. Golden yellow with medium-minus intensity. The nose is layered with aromas of honey, apple, straw, citrus, mango, and a hint of biscuit. Very good balance and lots of mousse. Citrus, lemon cream, apple, pineapple, peach, and melon on the palate. A medium-long finish with flavours lingering. Aged bubbly takes on wonderful complex flavours. Well worth hanging on to. Cheers!
92 Points
2010 Cabernet Franc
River Stone
Oliver, BC
$25.90
Garnet red with a brick rim and medium-deep intensity. Dried fruit, dark stewed cherries, leafy, prunes, spice, leather, tar, soy and sandalwood undertones. Good balance with smooth silky tannins. The flavours follow the nose along with some vanilla notes. A medium-plus finish. This wine was a bit tight at first but opened up nicely with some aerating. Very nice, but I likely missed its peak by a couple of years.
91+ Points
2014 Merlot
Burrowing Owl
Oliver, BC
$34.90
Garnet red with a hint of brick and medium-deep intensity. The nose opens with sweet ripe berries and cherries followed by aromas of cinnamon, fruitcake, perfume, plum, caramel, cashew, and sawdust. Very good balance with smooth ripe tannins. The flavours echo the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. Very nicely aged.
92 Points
2008 AC 50
Chaberton
Langley, BC
$47.50
This blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc is garnet red with brick and deep intensity. The nose is rich and deep with lots of tertiary aromas –fig, dried fruit, tar, soy, leather, undergrowth, and cigar box. Well balanced with firm ripe tannins. Pleasing on the palate with flavours that mirror the nose followed by a medium-long finish. Beautiful.
93 Points
2014 Peloro – Terre Siciliane
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, bright dried red fruit, raspberries, cherries, strawberries, rhubarb, savoury notes, and sweet baking spice. Well balanced with smooth ripe tannins. Bright, juicy, ripe red fruit, black tea, and earthy notes on the palate followed by a medium-long finish.
93+ Points
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
