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 ten-year-old vintages (and at their release prices!). While most people drink what they buy within days, if not hours, more and more people are realizing the benefits of holding on to some of their wines and enjoying them.
The prices indicated are the costs at the time of purchase.
2015 Late Harvest Kerner
Singletree
Abbotsford, BC
$12.95
I had some guests arriving that really aren’t into wine, but I knew they would appreciate something that was sweet, fruity, and not too high in alcohol (12%). I went down to the cellar to see what I could find, and this fit the bill. It might seem a bit odd to open a wine like this at 11 years old, but it has just the right acid/sugar balance to go the distance. Lemon-yellow with medium-minus intensity. The nose is beautiful, rich, and ripe with stone fruit, tree fruit, honey, floral, and lime notes. Very good balance. Unctuous and mouth-filling on the palate with flavours that echo the nose, followed by a medium-long finish. Serve with pound cake, carrot cake, banana bread, or New York cheesecake.
92 Points
2021 Chardonnay (Reserve)
Elephant Island
Naramata, BC
$28.75
Golden lemon yellow with medium intensity. The nose shows aromas of baked apple, lemon cream, pear, lime, wild honey, cashew, and a slight whisper of chocolate. Full-bodied and well-balanced. Full on the palate with flavours that reflect the nose, followed by a medium-long finish. Serve with lobster, crab, cream-based pastas, or Thai dishes.
95 Points
2015 Pinot Noir Gold
Little Engine
Penticton, BC
$55.00
Garnet red with some bricking and medium-deep intensity. Lots of tertiary aromas along with dried red fruit, dark cherry, raspberry, cranberry, black tea, earth, savoury notes, leather, and tar. Very good balance. The flavours reflect the nose, followed by a medium-long finish. This wine improved noticeably over time and is beautifully aged and near its peak. Pair it simply with old cheeses, a baguette, charcuterie, and nuts.
96 Points
2015 Cabernet Franc
Gold Hill
Oliver, BC
$34.99
Garnet/black with deep intensity. A rich and layered nose of ripe black currant, spice, dust, leaf, a touch of blueberry, black pepper, dark cherry, plum, and pencil shavings. Very good balance with smooth ripe tannins. Warm and flavourful on the palate, followed by a medium-long finish. Bold and beautifully aged.
96 Points
2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
Vanessa Vineyards
Cawston, BC
$79.99
Garnet/black with deep intensity. The nose is deep, dark and layered, with lots of red and black fruit, currants, chocolate, dried figs, and all things you’d expect from a classic cabernet sauvignon. Well balanced. Powerful on the palate, followed by a long, lingering finish. A ‘wow’ wine and likely the best cabernet sauvignon I’ve ever had from BC. It still has miles to go, an easy 5-8 more years. Lucky you if you are still hanging on to one.
97+ Points
(All photos – Sam Hauck)