NV Brut Reserva
Segura Viudas
Torrelavit, Spain
$16.99
Segura Viudas is well-known for delivering good quality sparkling Spanish wines (cava) and this modestly priced Reserva proves the point. Straw coloured with medium-light intensity. Baked apple, citrus, brioche, and dried tree fruit with undertones of yeasty lees on the nose. Good balance and mousse. The fine bubbles are persistent. The flavours mirror the nose and are followed by a medium-plus finish with flavours lingering. With great value like this, you can keep a bottle of this in your fridge for everyday refreshment.
NV Charisma (Viognier)
Gold Hill
Oliver, BC
$17.00
The grapes for this wine came from the Oxbow Reach Vineyard. Lemon yellow colour with medium-minus intensity. The nose shows aromas of peach, apricot, and honey with floral notes and a hint of smoke. Creamy on the palate and good balance. Butter, apricot, honey. lime, lemon zest on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish with fruit flavours lingering along with some slight food-friendly bitterness. This viognier is quite different from others. Some can be almost oily and very full-bodied. This one is a little lighter, refreshing, and with lots of flavour.
2020 Rosé (Quill)
Blue Grouse
Duncan, BC
$23.99
This wine is made from 100% Cowichan Valley Gamay that was given 24 hours of skin contact resulting in a burnt orange/cherry red colour with medium intensity. The nose opens with aromas of strawberries, lemon curd, cherries, honeydew melon, and some undertones of pink grapefruit. Good balance. Strawberry, cherry and pink grapefruit dominate the palate followed by a medium-plus finish. At only 12%, this is a lovely patio sipper and a great match for salmon, ham, or chicken.
2019 Pinot Noir
Harper’s Trail
Kamloops, BC
$26.79
The grapes for this wine were grown on their Thadd Springs estate vineyard. Garnet red with medium-plus intensity. Dried cherries and strawberries, forest floor, toast, and spice on the nose. Very good balance with velvety smooth tannins. The flavours reflect the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. Quite impressive. Great now and cellar-worthy for 5 – 8 years.
2017 Corbieres
Gérard Bertrand
Narbonne, France
$19.99
A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mouvedre. Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. The nose is integrated with aromas of dusty fruit, red and black fruit and berries, spice, juicy watermelon, and earth. Good balance with slightly drying tannins. The flavours follow the nose. A medium-plus finish. A very good BBQ wine that opens and improves with time to breathe.
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
