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.
2016 Pinot Noir
Cedar Creek
Kelowna, BC
$21.24
Garnet red with a tinge of brick and medium-deep intensity. The nose shows aromas of cherry, earth, tar, stewed strawberry, black tea, plum, chocolate, and tree moss. Good balance with a slightly sweet edge. The flavours mirror the nose followed by a medium-plus finish.
89 Points
2017 Merlot
Scorched Earth
Kelowna, BC
$27.99
Garnet red with some bricking and medium-deep intensity. Dried red fruit, blackberry, dark cherry, a touch of cinnamon, earth, plum, spice, and undertones of bacon, leather, and pencil shavings. Good balance. Pleasing on the palate, but sadly not as impressive as the nose. A medium-plus finish.
90 Points
2014 The Judge
Hester Creek
Oliver, BC
$45.00
A blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, this wine is garnet red with deep intensity. Cherry, plum, spice, and a touch of cocoa on the nose. Very good balance. The aromas are reflected on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish. This wine improved significantly with breathing. Serve with a rack of lamb or Italian sausages.
90 Points
2016 Devil’s Advocate
Serendipity
Naramata, BC
$34.99
Dark garnet red with medium-deep intensity. The nose is layered with aromas of beetroot, red currant, earth, cherries, leaf, plum, raspberry, black tea, salami, bramble, and sawdust. Very good balance. The flavours follow the nose. A medium-plus finish.
91 Points
2009 Bordeaux (Saint-Emilion)
Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot
Saint-Emilion, France
$109.99
I purchased this wine in Saint-Emilion only to find that it was listed in BC and sold for the same price (exchange factored in). Lesson learned. As it is from the right bank, it is Merlot dominant. Garnet red with deep intensity with deep intensity. The nose is deep and interwoven with red and black fruit earth, graphite, cherries, tomato leaves, plums, and spice. Well balanced. The palate is rich and complex with flavours carrying over from the nose. Followed by a medium-long finish.
93 Points
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
