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 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 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.
2020 Chardonnay
Painted Rock
Penticton, BC
$42.99
Lemon yellow with medium-minus intensity. Lemon, lime, mandarin, peach, apple, honey, vanilla, and toast on the nose. Very good balance with a creamy texture. Lovely on the palate with flavours echoing the nose, followed by a medium-long finish.
94 Points
2016 Pinot Noir
Serendipity
Naramata, BC
$NA (25.00?)
Garnet red tinged with brick and medium-plus intensities. A well-aged Pinot nose with aromas of soy, tar, black pepper, black tea, fruit cake, stewed plums, dark chocolate, earth, and nuts. Very good balance. The flavours mirror the nose, followed by a medium-long finish. A great example of a well-aged BC Pinot Noir.
94 Points
2019 Malbec
Blasted Church
Okanagan Falls, BC
$40.00
Garnet red/black with deep intensity. This aged Malbec shows complexity. Aromas of black berries, dried herbs, bramble, raspberry, plum, light black pepper, cocoa, leather, and savoury. Very good balance with full body. The flavours reflect the nose followed by a medium-plus finish.
92 Points
2015 Hidden Corner
Vin Amité
Oliver, BC
$38.90
Garnet/black with deep intensity. This vintage is a blend of 60% Merlot, 27% Malbec, and 13% Cabernet Franc. A layered and complex nose with dark and inky aromas of blackberry, black olive, black cherry, raspberry, plum, earth, cinnamon, leather, stewed prunes, cocoa, and pencil shavings. Well balanced. Powerful on the palate with flavours that follow the nose. A medium-long finish with flavours lingering. Impressive.
95 Points
2013 Amelia (Red Blend)
Daydreamer
Penticton, BC
$25.90
A blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Viognier. Deep dark garnet/black with deep intensity. The nose is rich, layered, and complex with tertiary aromas. Dark berries, earth, leather, game, spice, black currant, black olive, pepper, tobacco leaves, and pencil shavings. The aromas carry on over to the palate. Flavours linger on the medium-long finish. Always a good wine, but this aged version is a wow. Wish I had more in the cellar.
96 Points
(All photos – Sam Hauck)