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 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.
2022 Chardonnay
Meyer Family Vineyards
Okanagan Falls, BC
$20.96
Every once in a while, an excellent vintage elevates even entry-level wines, and this is just such a case. Golden straw with medium-minus intensity. The nose is bright and inviting with lemon zest, mandarin peel, a slight hint of banana, lemon cream, juicy honeydew, and a toasty undertone. Very good balance. Interwoven flavours on the palate, followed by a crisp medium-long finish. Oh, how I wish I had bought cases of this wine when I had the chance.
94 Points
2019 Gewürztraminer (Fortified)
Mayhem
Okanagan Falls, BC
$31.40
What a unique wine! This is the only fortified (18%) Gewürztraminer I have ever heard of, and it is delicious. Golden yellow with medium intensity. The nose invites you in with layered aromas of stone fruit, honeydew melon, citrus, rose petals, sweet spice, and lychee. Very good balance with the perfect amount of acidity to balance the sugar. Unctuous on the palate with mouth-filling flavour that lingers on the medium-long finish. At 18% ABV, think of this as a white port. I’m inclined to skip dessert and simply savour a glass of this, but my wife suggests it would be delightful with angel food cake, plain New York cheesecake, or Pavlova. It was every bit as delicious as when I last tried it in 2022.
93 Points
2018 Fourth Dimension (Bordeaux Blend)
TIME Family of Wines
Penticton, BC
$39.99
A blend of Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Garnet/black with deep intensity. The nose is deep and complex with aromatics of dark berries, cherries, earth, fruitcake, dried leaf, pepper, plum, and raspberry. Well balanced with smooth ripe tannins. Deep and dark on the palate with flavours following the nose. The finish is medium-long with flavours lingering. A well-aged wine. Serve with prime rib, steaks, or charcuterie.
96 Points
2015 Syrah
Laughing Stock
Penticton, BC
$41.40
Garnet/black with deep intensity. Aromas of black berry, black cherry, blueberry, black pepper, cinnamon, dried herbs, leather, prune, and a hint of chocolate on the nose. Well balanced with silky smooth tannins. The aromas carry over to the palate, followed by a medium-long finish. Beautiful.
95 Points
2011 Pinot Noir (Two Barns)
Domaine Serene
Dayton, Oregon
(gift $79?) (2013 price $90)
Located in the Dundee Hills of Oregon and across the road from French owned Domaine Drouhin Oregon winery. This is prime Pinot country. According to the winery, “Two Barns vineyard is a low elevation vineyard planted to sedimentary soils of the Willakenzie series. These soils make Two Barns unique to the Dundee Hills AVA, typically known for its red Jory soils.” The wine spent 16 months in French oak, 61% was in new barrels. Garnet red in colour with some bricking and medium-deep intensity. The nose shows classic Burgundian character with aromas of dried red fruit, forest floor, earth, dried herbs, and game. Well balanced with silky smooth tannins. Luscious on the palate with flavours echoing the nose, along with black tea notes, followed by a medium-long finish.
95 Points
I had the pleasure of visiting this winery in 2014 after attending the International Pinot Noir Celebration in nearby McMinnville.
(All photos – Sam Hauck)