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.
2016 Pinot Noir
Tantalus
Kelowna, BC
$27.83
Garnet red with medium-plus intensity. The nose is inviting with delicate aromas of cherry, strawberry, violets, spice, and plum. Good balance. The flavours mirror the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. This wine improved noticeably with breathing.
90 Points
2010 Bordeaux
Chateau Pipeau
Saint-Emilion, France
$49.99
Garnet/black with deep intensity. An aromatic nose with aromas of blackberry, black currant, plum, spice, fruitcake, leather, underbrush, and cedar. Good balance with slightly drying tannins. Pleasing fruit on the palate followed by a medium-plus dry finish. Still has years to go.
91 Points
2014 Moksha
Kismet
Oliver, BC
$33.34
Garnet red with deep intensity. The nose opens with aromas of sweet baking spice, blueberry, raspberry, prune, and vanilla. Very good balance. Well-integrated flavours on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish.
91 Points
2016 Cabernet Franc (Lover’s Lane)
Seaside Pearl
Abbotsford, BC
$35.00 (current price)
Garnet red with deep intensity. Ripe berries, dried fruit, black currant, leather, earth, sweet spice, and sandalwood on the nose. Very good balance with mature tannins. Juicy berries dominate the palate along with plums, cherries, raspberries, dried blueberries and a touch of cloves. The wine ends with a medium-long finish.
93 Points
2016 Merlot (Rattlesnake Vineyard)
Second Chapter
Oliver, BC
$36.99 (Approx)
The Rattlesnake vineyard is on the Golden Mile bench and features sandy soils. This wine, aged 20 months in French oak is garnet red with deep intensity. Still youthful at almost 10 years old, the nose displays aromas of red fruit and berries – cherries, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, and red currants. Good balance with bright acidity. Yummy on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish. If I had another, I’d leave it alone for another few years. The back label says it is recommended to open from 2026 to 2028 and will improve thru 2032. This is one time there is truth in advertising.
89 Points
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
