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. A few years ago, I bought a couple of 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.
2015 Il Falcone
Castel del Monte
Apulia, Italy
$30.99
This blend of 70% Nero di Troia and 30% Montepulciano is garnet red with medium-deep intensity. The nose is appealing with aromas of dried fruit – cherry, strawberry, blackberry, and blueberry as well as leather, tobacco leaf, and spice. Good balance. The flavours echo the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. Serve with meat-based Italian dishes, steak, or roast beef.
89+ Points
2015 Pinot Noir (Golden Retreat Vineyard)
SpierHead
Kelowna, BC
$34.50
At the time of this vintage, the winery was named after the road it was on. However, a South African winery had a similar name and was listed in BC, so to avoid legal challenges, the name was changed to SpearHead. Garnet tinged with brick and medium-deep intensity. The nose is well developed with tertiary aromas of dried cherry and strawberry, leather, tar, soy, cashew, and pencil shavings. Well balanced. Refreshing on the palate with flavours reflecting the nose. Mouth-watering flavours linger on the medium-plus finish. This wine has developed finesse over the years and is near its peak.
92+ Points
2014 Moksha
Kismet
Oliver, BC
$33.34
This is an interesting blend of 39% Syrah, 18% Malbec, 18% Mourvedre, 18% Grenache, and 7% Viognier. Garnet/black with deep intensity. The nose is deep, dark, and inky with lots of tertiary aromas along with raspberry, dark cherry, dried fruit, soy, tar, leather, earth, truffles, game, baking spice, and pencil shavings. Very good balance. The flavours echo the nose followed by a medium-long finish with flavors lingering.
93 Points.
2019 Zinfandel
Rust
Oliver, BC
$29.99
I saw this one on sale at a local LRS (private liquor store) and was pleased with the price so I bought a few. The current release goes for $55. It always pays to scan the shelves and see if you can find older vintages with their corresponding older prices. The grapes for this wine came from the South Rock Vineyard on the Golden Mile Bench which sits at 333 metres with a SE aspect and is comprised of a fluvial fan of gravelly clay and eroded mountain rock. The wine spent 10 months in new (40%) American and French oak. It was bottled unfiltered and unfined. The seemingly high alcohol (15.9%) is only slightly noticeable on the palate and finish. Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. The nose is rich and complex with aromas of red and black fruit, especially blackberry, blueberry, cherry, spice, raisin, and cedar. Well balanced. Big and round on the palate with juicy fruit flavours that follow the nose. A medium-long finish with fruit flavours lingering. Well-made and lovely with Greek ribs. I first sampled this vintage a few years ago and it has aged beautifully!
95 Points
2009 Merlot
Blackwood Lane
Langley, BC
$29.00
Blackwood Lane moved to Penticton recently taking over the former Perseus location. This vintage was made at their former Langley location by Charles Herrold, the original winemaker. Garnet red with deep intensity and no noticeable bricking. The nose is rich, layered and complex with aromatic aromas of blackberry, black cherry, bramble earth, floral, leafy, plum, raspberry, spice, bacon, chocolate, underbrush, and pencil shavings. Well balanced with silky smooth tannins. The flavours echo the nose followed by a long, lingering finish. At its peak. Wow!
97 Points
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
