“A (most often) weekly wine review from our intrepid wine reviewer Sam Hauck for MyVanCity.”
2018 Chardonnay
Fort Berens
Lillooet, BC
$20.99
Impressive. Straw coloured tinged with green and medium-minus intensity. The nose shows aromas of butter, vanilla, green apple, lemon, and undertones of tropical fruit. Well balanced with a creamy texture. The flavours echo the nose followed by a medium-long finish. This wine over-delivers for the price.
2018 White Meritage
TIME
Penticton, BC
Consistently one of my favourites from TIME. Lemon yellow with medium-light intensity. The nose is inviting with aromas of lemon, pear, grapefruit peel, honeysuckle, beeswax, wet stones, and smoke. Good balance with a creamy texture. The flavours follow the nose with hints of apricot and white pepper. Ripe honeydew melon on the finish. This is a very versatile food wine and we enjoyed it with homemade turkey soup. This is an age-worthy white, so I plan on buying more to lay down in the cellar.
2017 Malbec
Catena
Mendoza
$24.99
High Mountain vineyards help to ensure that the wines have sufficient acidity to balance the ripe fruit. Garnet/black colour with deep intensity. The nose shows aromas of dark berries, earth, and dusty herbs. Very good balance with smooth ripe tannins and medium body. Cocoa, dark berries, plum, and spice on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish. Perfect with asado – an Argentinian mixed grill BBQ.
2015 Petit Claret
Vin Amité
Oliver, BC
$28.99
This is a typical right bank Bordeaux blend of 60/40 merlot and cabernet franc. Garnet / black colour with some bricking and deep intensity. The nose is rich and layered with aromas of dried red and black fruit, dark berries, dust, and hints of chocolate. Well balanced. Big and round in the mouth followed by a medium-long finish with flavours lingering. Absolutely delicious and a true bargain.
2017 Merlot
Church and State
Oliver, BC
$36.79
This wine improved greatly after considerable time to breathe. Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. Aromas of cherry, plum and bramble on the nose. Good balance with slightly grippy ripe tannins. Ripe, bright fruit on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish. Rather young right now, but buy lots for the cellar and age for another five to ten years. Beautiful.
