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 similar to 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.
2014 Viognier
Eau Vivre
Cawston, BC
$23.00
A 10-year-old Viognier? Here is another white wine that I had never intended to age, but it turned out to be a blessing. Golden yellow with medium intensity. Apricot peel, citrus, honey, orange blossom, and white peach on the nose. Well balanced with good mouth feel. Big on the palate with flavours mirroring the nose followed by a medium-long finish with flavours lingering and intensifying, especially orange zest.
94+ Points
2019 Merlot (Odyssey)
Gray Monk
Okanagan Centre, BC
$35.99
Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. An aromatic nose of blackberry, black currant, beetroot, cherries, black olives, earth, plum, and pencil shavings. Very well balanced with medium-plus body. The flavours reflect the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. This was a surprisingly light wine, but with a lot going on so it is easy to see why it won a Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal. It stood up well and improved over 2 days.
92 Points
2018 Malbec
Moon Curser
Osoyoos, BC
$31.99
Garnet/black with deep intensity. This big fruit forward nose opens with aromas of blackberry, bramble, black pepper, and plum followed by earth, leather, cherries, raspberries, coconut, spice and savoury notes. Very good balance with smooth ripe tannins. Slightly hot on the palate at 15.1% ABV with pleasing flavours that echo the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. Note: This wine improved noticeably on day two so if you open one, give it lots of time to breathe.
91++
2015 The Creek (Bordeaux Blend)
Tinhorn Creek
Oliver, BC
$30ish (This wine was a gift.)
This blend consists of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 7% Malbec, and 3% Petit Verdot. It utilized wild and selected yeasts and then aged in 40% new French and Hungarian oak for 24 months. Black pepper, black berry black olives, nutmeg, plum, cedar, chocolate, almond, and pencil shavings. Very good balance. Big on the palate with flavours echoing the nose followed by a medium-long finish with flavours lingering.
93+ Points
2014 Syrah (Bush Vine)
Maverick
Oliver, BC
$27.84
Garnet red with deep intensity. The nose is rich and deep with aromas of blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, dried herbs, plum, raisin, spice, stewed prunes, and a hint of salami. Well balanced with smooth ripe tannins. The flavours reflect the nose followed by a medium-plus finish with some drying tannins.
92 Points
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
