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.
2019 Chardonnay
Mirabel
Kelowna, BC
$28.00
Straw coloured with medium-minus intensity. The nose shows aromas of juicy peach, honeydew, gala apple, toast, and lime. Good balance with a good mouthfeel. The palate shows flavours of butter, honey, lemon, toast, apple, and peach followed by a medium-plus finish. Lovely!
91 Points
2013 Il Falcone (Rosso Reserva)
Castel del Monte
Apulia, Italy
$29.99
I first tasted this vintage four years ago, and it has certainly held its own. The wine comes from the Apulia region of southern Italy (the ‘heel’) and is made from the Nero di Troia (aka Uva di Troia) grape. Aged 14 months in French oak. Garnet/black with deep intensity. The nose shows aromas of dark ripe fruit, prune, blackberry, tobacco leaf and earth. Good balance with medium body and integrated supple tannins. Cherry, dark fruit, spice and a hint of leather on the palate. A medium-long finish with lingering fruit. Very good now, but could be cellared for another three years. Serve with charcuterie, smoked gouda, and aged cheddar.
90 Points
2014 Hidden Corner
vinAmité
Oliver, BC
$37.90
Dark garnet red deep intensity. The nose is rich and layered with aromas of dark cherry, plum, black tea, warm baking spice, cashew, leather, and earth. Very good balance with velvety smooth tannins. The flavours echo the nose followed by a medium-plus nicely aged finish.
92 Points
2014 Mantra (Bordeaux-styled blend)
Kismet
Oliver, BC
$27.99
Garnet/black with deep intensity. This is a blend of 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Petit Verdot, and 10% Malbec. The nose is deep and integrated with aromas of dark berries, dark fruit, sweet spice, fruitcake, coconut, almond, and sawdust. Very good balance with smooth ripe tannins. Rich on the fruit-forward palate followed by a medium-long, warm finish. Elegant.
96 Points
2012 Vicuna Roja (Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec)
Blackwood Lane
Langley, BC
$29.99
Garnet red with a hint of brick and medium-deep intensity. The nose is fragrant and perfumed. Aromas of cherries, plums, raspberries, blueberries, red currants, sweet spice, black tea, violets, and toasted almonds leap out of the glass. Very good balance with velvety smooth tannins. A medium-long lingering finish. Elegant and harmonious from beginning to end. (Note: Blackwood Lane has recently moved to Penticton)
96 Points
(All photos, except as noted – Sam Hauck)
Feature image: Pixabay
