2016 Chardonnay
Quails’ Gate
West Kelowna, BC
$24.49
Golden straw colour with medium intensity. Well integrated oak and fruit on the nose with aromas of toast, butter, apple, and citrus. Good balance. The palate is fresh and fruit forward followed by a medium-plus finish.
2018 Gamay Noir
Blue Mountain
Okanagan Falls, BC
$29.90
Look out Beaujolais, this is impressive Gamay. Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. Cherry, earth, forest floor, and a touch of spice and vanilla on the nose. Well balanced with a silky texture. Bright and juicy on the palate, full of flavour followed by a medium-long finish.
2016 Merlot
Sandhill
Kelowna, BC
$21.99
The grapes for this wine came from the Vanessa Vineyard as well as the Sandhill Estate Vineyard. Garnet red with a hint of brick. Plum, ripe cherry, earth, dust, and fig with spice undertones. Good balance. The flavours echo the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. This wine improved significantly after lengthy decanting.
2017 All That Jazz
Kraze Legz (Skaha Vineyards)
Kaleden, BC
$27.49
A blend of 75% merlot and 25% cabernet franc. Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. Red and black berries, cherry, plum, bramble, earth, and chocolate undertones. Very good balance with ripe tannins. Berries dominate the palate followed by a medium-long finish. Very good value.
2015 Syrah
Black Hills
Oliver, BC
$39.99
Garnet/black with deep intensity. Blackberry, boysenberry, meaty, pepper, chocolate, and earth on the nose. Well balanced with soft ripe tannins. Juicy berries dominate the palate followed by a medium-plus finish. Beautiful now and will continue to improve for another three to five years.
(all photos – Sam Hauck)
