Sam The Wine Teacher 
In addition to the weekly wine review and the various other, usually wine-related, articles I write for MyVanCity, I am including a new one that will appear from time to time. I’m calling it, ‘From the Cellar’.
The winery sits on 17 acres on the idyllic Black Sage bench, which is home to well-known wineries such as Bartier Brothers, Black Hills, Burrowing Owl, Church & State, Dessert Hills, French Door, Le Vieux Pin, Phantom Creek, and Stoneboat among others.
The Italian heritage is shown in the names of their wines, Pinot Grigio rather than Pinot Gris and Pinot Nero instead of Pinot Noir. Their sparkling wine, Pinozannte is a nod to Prosecco though made from predominantly Pinot Gris with a touch of Pinot Noir.
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.
2020 Chardonnay Nostalgia Oliver, BC $24.99 Pale straw with medium-light intensity. Ripe yellow apple, butter, lemon curd, nectarine, a hint of pineapple, and vanilla. Well balanced with a creamy texture. Butter, toast, honeydew, citrus, dominate the palate with a splash of spice. Flavours linger on the medium-long finish. 2020 Pinot Gris (Quill Label) … Read more
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 … Read more
The flavours mirror the nose followed by a medium-long finish. Very impressive. Be sure to buy some to cellar. If there are still people who do not think BC can produce great cab sauv, this wine will make them believers.
2020 Sauvignon Blanc Mayhem Okanagan Falls, BC $20.00 Pale straw with medium-light intensity. The nose shows aromas of peach, grass, gooseberry, minerality, lime zest, and delicate banana notes. Good balance. Refreshing on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish with flavours lingering. Tasting this makes me think of seafood, salmon, white fish, and prawn and … Read more
2019 Chardonnay Fort Berens Lillooet, BC $20.99 Made primarily from estate grapes, this wine is lemon yellow with medium-light intensity. The nose opens with lemon, honey, tangerine, lime zest, white flowers and gentle buttery notes. Well balanced. Fresh on the palate with the flavours echoing the nose followed by a medium-long finish. This is … Read more
Fort Berens have expanded their estate vineyards to 38 acres with the addition of the 18-acre Red Rock Vineyard. This brings 6 acres of Merlot, 5 acres of Cabernet Franc, 3.5 acres of Riesling, 2 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and 1 acre of Grüner Veltliner.