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.
2017 Pinot Noir
Carson
Okanagan Falls, BC
$39.90
Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. Classic Burgundian nose with aromas of beetroot, dark berries, earth, pepper, black tea, lavender, forest floor, and truffles with a hint of vanilla. Well balanced. The flavours reflect the nose along with prune notes followed by a medium-long finish. This wine improved greatly after decanting and ample time to breathe. Harmonious from beginning to end.
93 points
2004 Lalande de Pommerol
Chateau Siaurac
Pomerol, France
$22.00
Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. Spice leads on the nose followed by ripe red and black fruit, plum, licorice, earth, and a hint of black pepper and cedar. Very good balance. Bright fruit on the palate with red ripe berries, menthol, dark berries, beetroot, and blackberries leading followed by a medium-long finish. This wine still has lots of life and proved to be good value. Note: The current vintage lists for $50 and is rated 93 points. Recommended from 2010 – 2025. I think I caught it near its peak.
2010 Merlot (Reserve)
Mission Hill
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.
94 points
2011 Syrah
Black Hills
Oliver, BC
$34.88
Garnet/black with deep intensity. The nose is complex, layered with varietal aromas of blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, black pepper, cinnamon, licorice, plum, leather, savoury, and sawdust. Well balanced with smooth ripe tannins. The aromas are echoed on the palate followed by a medium-long plus finish. Very impressive!
96 Points
2009 The Rebel (Syrah)
Blackwood Lane
Langley, BC
$44.00
2009 was a good year for BC reds and this wine proves the point. Garnet red colour with deep intensity. The nose is deep, dark, layered and complex with aromas of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, black olive, plum, delicate black pepper, cigar box, black tea, and hints of menthol and vanilla. Well-balanced with integrated tannins. A symphony on the palate with berry flavours leading the parade, followed by a long lingering finish. If you are lucky enough to have a bottle of this in your cellar, it should be just fine through 2025.
96 points
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
