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.
2018 Chassagne-Montrachet
Louis Jadot
Beaune, France
$100.00
Golden lemon yellow with medium intensity. A nose with great depth and interwoven aromas of apple pie, lemon curd, and delicate mandarin, mango, almond, and butterscotch. Well balanced. The palate is layered with flavours that mirror the nose followed by a medium-long finish. Impressive at eight years old. Serve with crab, salmon chicken or a cheese plate.
95 Points
2019 Cabernet Franc Rosé (Free Form)
Haywire (OCP)
Summerland, BC
$26.99
Rainier cherry red tinged with orange and medium-minus intensity. Cherry, orange zest, pomegranate, cherry, dried cranberry, and a touch of dried herbs on the nose. Well balanced with a creamy texture. Full and flavourful on the palate with flavours reflecting the nose, and followed by an elegant medium-plus finish. A good match for salmon, baked ham, or custard with strawberries.
91 Points
2018 Syrah (Midnight Black)
Tender Hope
West Kelowna$36.00
This winery opened in an industrial section of West Kelowna some years ago, but has now moved to the District Wine Village in Oliver. This lovely vintage is garnet/black with a touch of brick on the rim, and deep intensity. Lots of dried red and black fruit on the nose, along with stewed plum, dark cherry, raisin, earth, leather, and pencil shavings. Well balanced with smooth ripe tannins. The palate echoes the nose followed by a medium-long, warm finish.
93+ Points
2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Détente Vineyard)
Second Chapter
Oliver, BC$35.00
Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. The nose is rich and interwoven with aromas of red and black fruit, cherry, wild berries, spice, dried leaf, and cocoa. Well balanced with soft ripe tannins. The palate is packed with flavour, followed by a medium-long finish. Yummy at ten years old.
93+ Points
2016 Pinot Noir
Mirabel
Kelowna, BC$49.00
Garnet red with a brick rim and medium-deep intensity. The nose is dark and inky with depth showing lots of tertiary aromas – dried fruit, plum, leather, tar, and baking spice. Well balanced with smooth ripe tannins. The flavours reflect the nose, followed by a medium-long finish with some flavours lingering. A good match for roasted fowl or prime rib with a light gravy. At its peak.
Sadly, Mirabel closed their doors in 2025 after two devastating seasons.
94 Points
(All photos – Sam Hauck)