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 like the wine reviews, except it will feature aged wines. I am a big advocate for aging BC wines.
It came to my attention that in an earlier review, I included a wine which was 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 off the dust. There are no hard and fast rules. A few years ago, I bought some reds at my local private liquor 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.
2018 Merlot
Bordertown
Osoyoos, BC
$22.69
Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. The nose shows aromas of earth, beetroot, ripe blackberry, dark cherry, leafy, a touch of prune, nutty, and spice. Good balance with smooth ripe tannins and medium-plus body. The flavours reflect the nose along with sage, leather, raspberries, and red currant. A medium finish. Be sure to decant this wine and give it time to breathe.
90 Points
2014 Pinot Noir
Serendipity
Naramata, BC
$39.99
Garnet red/brick with medium-deep intensity. An inviting nose of cigar box, black tea, leather, beetroot, spice, earth, nutty, and tree moss. Good balance with silky smooth tannins. The flavours echo the nose followed by a medium-plus finish.
90 Points
2015 Mantra (Bordeaux Blend)
Kismet
Oliver, BC
$32.49
This blend of 31% Malbec, 31% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 8% Petit Verdot is deep garnet red with deep intensity. A cacophony of aromas on the nose, including blackberry, raspberry, cocoa, warm earth, spice, a touch of sandalwood, ripe black cherry, ripe plum, black tea, dust, and coconut. Very good balance with smooth ripe tannins. Well-integrated flavours on the palate followed by a medium-long finish.
93+ points
2013 Primitivo (Reserve)
Pacific Breeze New Westminster, BC
$23.99
Unfiltered and unfined, this wine (aka Zinfandel) comes from the Bella Grace vineyard in Shenandoah Valley in California. It was aged in French and American oak for 26 months. Garnet red with a touch of brick and medium-deep intensity. The nose is a symphony of fresh blackberry, bramble, rhubarb, prunes, cherry, cinnamon, fruitcake, spice, savoury, cashew, and pencil shavings. Well balanced with silky smooth tannins. Rich on the palate with flavours following the nose followed by a slightly warm medium-long finish (due to the 14.7% ABV). An impressive wine near its peak.
95 Points
2013 Syrah
Painted Rock
Penticton, BC
$39.90
Garnet/black with deep intensity. The nose is complex and layered showing aromas of all things black: berry, cherry, currant, olive and pepper along with herbs, spice, raisins, cigar box, leather, prunes, soy, and pencil shavings. Well balanced with silky smooth tannins. The palate echoes the nose followed by a medium-long finish with flavours lingering. A delight to drink and even better than when I tasted this vintage four years ago.
97 Points
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
