In addition to the weekly wine review and the various other, usually wine-related, articles I write for My Van City, I am including a new one that will appear from time to time. I’m calling it, ‘From the Cellar’.
It will be much like the wine reviews, except that it will feature wines that have been aged.
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 I have to blow the dust off. There are no hard and fast rules. I recently bought a couple of reds at my local liquor store that were 2010 vintages (a great deal in my eyes). 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.
Prices indicated are the costs when purchased.
2009 Pinotage
Stoneboat
Oliver, BC
$24.90
Garnet red with a brick tinge and deep intensity. Dark berries, black cherries, prunes, leather, chocolate, and baking spice on the nose. Very good balance with velvety smooth tannins. The flavours reflect the nose followed by a medium-long finish. Very nicely aged. 2009 was an excellent year.
91 Points
2014 Syrah (Lone Wolf)
Marichel Vineyard
Naramata, BC
$23.90
Garnet red in colour with still a touch of youthful purple on the rim. Spice, earth, dark berries, cherries, chocolate, and hints of black pepper on the nose. Good balance. The flavours mirror the nose followed by a slightly hot medium-plus finish. Very decent, but not their best vintage.
88+ Points
2013 Merlot (Reserve)
Pacific Breeze
New Westminster, BC
$34.99
Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. The nose is rich and integrated with aromas of dark fruit and berries, violets, leather, pencil shavings and a hint of earth. Very good balance with smooth ripe tannins. The flavours echo the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. Delicious!
92 Points
2010 Cabernet Franc
Fort Berens
Lillooet, BC
$24.99
Garnet/black tinged with brick and deep intensity. The nose displays aromas of blackberry, dusty herbs, dark cherry, pepper, plum, spice, earth, and pencil shavings. Very good balance with smooth integrated ripe tannins. The palate shows good varietal character that reflects the nose followed by a medium-long lingering finish. Near its peak and a delight to drink.
92+ Points
2009 Merlot
Blackwood Lane
Langley, BC
$29.00
OMG! This wine was impressive when I tried it after it was first released. Now it is amazing. Perfectly aged. Garnet red with medium-deep intensity and a slight hint of bricking. Every time you nose the wine, there is more to be discovered. Rich, layered and complex with aromas of dark cherry, cocoa, cassis, plum, dark berries, ripe plum, fig, vanilla, and more. Very well-balanced. Velvety soft on the palate with flavours that mirror the nose followed by a long finish with depth and lingering concentrated berries. Amazing.
96 Points
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
