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 over five years old (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.
2014 Pinot Noir (Somenos Series)
Averill Creek
Cowichan Valley, BC
$38.00
Garnet red with medium-plus intensity. Cherry, strawberry raspberry, beetroot, leather and a hint of chocolate on the nose. Good balance with firm ripe tannins. Relatively bright and juicy fruit on the palate that mirrors the nose followed by a medium-plus finish.
90 Points
2012 Pinot Noir
Privato
Kamloops, BC
$49.90
Garnet red with a touch of bricking and medium-deep intensity. A classic Pinot Noir nose showing aromas of cherry, strawberry, blackberry, forest floor, beetroot, black pepper, black tea, herbs, stewed plums, and spice. Very good balance. The palate shows a slightly sweet entry with lots of layered fruit that echoes the nose followed by a medium-long finish. This wine has improved steadily since I first started opening this vintage in 2017.
93 Points
2018 Carménere
Moon Curser
Osoyoos, BC
$39.99
Garnet/black with deep intensity. The nose is rich and inviting with aromas of blackberry, cassis, canned cherry juice, prune, earth, leather, and vanilla. Good balance with firm ripe tannins. The palate is pleasing though not as pronounced as the nose. A medium-plus finish with some drying tannins. A little young yet, so be sure to decant. I’ll wait another 3 – 5 years to open the next one. Serve with grilled burgers or ripe cheese.
89+ Points
2015 Petit Verdot (Reserve)
Pacific Breeze
New Westminster, BC
$29.99
Petit Verdot is one of the five Bordeaux varieties, rarely seen on its own. The grapes for this stunner come from Washington’s Columbia Valley. Unfined and unfiltered, they spent 27 months in French oak. Garnet/black with deep intensity. The nose is rich, deep, dark, and layered with aromas of dark black fruit, blackberry, molasses, spice, notes of tar, cigar box, leather, and pencil shavings. Very good balance. The flavours echo the nose followed by a medium-long finish with some drying tannins. Be sure to decant and give it time to breathe. Great now through 2025. Paired well with braised short ribs and onion gravy.
92 Points
2009 Syrah
Le Vieux Pin
Oliver, BC
$44.90
Garnet/black with deep intensity. The nose is deep, dark, and inky with layered aromas of blackberry, black cherry, black currant, black pepper, cinnamon, herbs, a hint of nutmeg, dark chocolate, earth, leather, and pencil shavings. Very good balance. The flavours mirror the nose followed by a medium-plus, slightly hot finish. So glad to have caught it near its peak.
94 Points
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
