Tag Archives: chardonnay

Feb4

A Canadian Foursome

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A Canadian Foursome

There’s nothing like a quartet of Canadian wine to pass the weekend. This time we were tasked with west coast wine from the Okanagan Valley in that best of natural playgrounds, British Columbia.

Let’s see what the

The 2010 Noble Ridge Meritage, a blend of predominantly Merlot grapes with some Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French and American oak barrels, is a friendly and fruit-forward with a little spicy kick. Berries abound, driven first and foremost by blackberries. Built to please, this one’s a crowd pleaser.

About Noble Ridge: Jim and Leslie D’Andrea began the Noble Ridge winery in 2001. When they purchased the property it had only 3.5 acre of vines. Since then they have planted an additional 18 acres. Tending to vineyards and making the wines is all done by hand.

The 2010 Sonoran Estate Winery Jazz Series Riesling Gewrurztraminer, is a crisp blend with an aromatic component to please any Gewurz lover. Green apples and stone fruit, and a hint of citrus. Great balance! And do I have a daring pairing for you with this one – roasted kale chips. It surprised me how well the roasted kale and this wine go together, but there was a harmony in my mouth that was pretty damn astounding!

About Sonoran Estate: “Immigrants from Holland in 1982, the Smits family were Fraser Valley flower growers until moving in 2000 to a Summerland orchard set on a dramatic slope overlooking Lake Okanagan. After opening a highway-side bed and breakfast, the Smits replaced the fruit trees with vines, opening a winery with the first fruit from the vineyard. The varieties grown include merlot, pinot noir, chardonnay, gewürztraminer, riesling, ehrenfelser and pinot blanc. In 2007, the family moved from the original Sonoran winery, which had difficult highway access, to a high-traffic site on the wine route in Summerland. Beginning with the 2005 vintage, Sonoran now releases its premium wines under the 13 Moons label. Inspired by the lunar cycles, the label also signals a commitment to biodynamic practices.” — BC Wine.com

2009 Dunham Froese MDC, a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Zinfandel, and 25% Syrah, is about as approachable as wine can get. Silky smooth, with the softness of a cool blueberry pie. A great solo joy, it doesn’t need food to make it memorable. The wine is a tribute to Dunham Froese proprietor Gene Covert’s late father, who was an avid Cab drinker.

About Dunham Froese: Dunham Froese, now known as Covert Farms, was founded in 2005 together by the Covert and and Froese families. Those wines from the early years were well received and the winery was named “Best New Winery to Watch for” in 2008 by the Okanagan Wine Festival Society. In 2011, the Covert family assumed full ownership.

2011 Platinum Bench Chardonnay, the inaugural release of this wine. It’s got even oaky backbone to make us know it means business, but without taking away that citrusy zing. MIngling iwth that citrus are crisp Granny Smith apples and a melony softness. Very refreshing on the finish. We previously wrote about Platinum Bench’s 2011 Gamay Noir and Pinot Gris, which we were fans of, so it’s very interesting to find another potent weapon in their vinous arsenal. These folks have sure come out swinging. Production is only 350 cases.

About Platinum Bench Estate Winery: We truly don’t know much yet about the Platinum crew. They’ve barely gotten here, and they’re winning awards and storming palates. The Oliver, BC winery was established in 2012 by Fiona Duncan and Murray Jones. And there’s a dog named Wally. What more is there to know?

And that’s all folks. Truly, it is.

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For more on wines from the Okanagan valley, this is the best book I know.

Sep21

Colour BC VQA Fall Release Tasting

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Colour BC VQA Fall Release Tasting

The Colour BC VQA Fall Release Tasting was held September 20 in Vancouver. It’s the largest annual tasting of BC VQA wines in Vancouver, with 75 BC wineries present, showcasing more than 300 BC VQA wines.

Before we get started on our notes, it should be noted that the 2011 summer was cool, and produced some fantastic white wines. Some wineries used malolactic fermentation to keep acidity down. For the most part, the whites were refined and elegant with really pure fruit flavors.

Here’s some of the highlights, at least for us:

Bench 1775, a brand owned by the Paradise Ranch Wines Corp. had a pair of solid wines in the mix.

Their 2011 Chardonnay is citrusy and light, which makes it very easy drinking. The fruit comes from the Partridge Rd Vineyard on the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan Valley. Being 100% stainless steel fermented, there’s no oak monster in sight with this Chard.

The 2011 Sauvignon Blanc was also noteworthy with tangy grapefruit dominating, with a grassy hint. It’s lively and crisp. Made from fruit grown on the estate at the Bench 1775 Winery in Naramata Bench, this one was also 100% matured in stainless steel.

Clos Du Soleil‘s 2011 Saturn, is a Sauternes style dessert wine that not only plays nicely on the Sauterned word, but also delivers delicious honey notes without being overly heavy. Made from late harvest Sauvignon Blanc, production is very limited at 56 cases made, so get yours while you can!

Platinum Bench is a newcomer who arrived with a bang. This couple from Winnipeg made their white wines on the property while the reds have been made at Okanagan Crush Pad’s winery, all under the hand of Michael Bartier.

The 2011 Pinot Gris is full of tropical fruits, bursting with pineapple. It’s fresh, and a lively, lovely wine. Production is limited at 165 cases, and we’re seeing a Sold Out sign in the near future for this wine.

We’re surprised to see this review so full of whites so finally one for you red fans, though if you like your tannins racy, Platinum Bench’s 2011 Gamay Noir will be mellow like The Dude for that race. The juicy Gamay Noir is brimming with delicious candied red fruit.

Spierhead Winery has really outdone themselves. BC Riesling has a new star with Spearhead’s 2011 Riesling. It’s off-dry, chock full of lime and peach. Citrus and minerality in perfect harmony. The grapes for this wine were grown on our own Gentleman Farmer Vineyard. With only 185 cases produced, run – don’t walk – to get yours.

Stoneboat Vineyards continues going from strength to strength. We’ve previously reviewed their 2010 Chorus and 2008 Pinotage, and we’re fans of both wines as well as the Stoneboat brand. And their impressive 2011 Pinot Gris keeps the bar set high. Stone-fruit, specifically apricots and peaches, followed by a citrus finish.

We’re not very familiar with Terra Vista Vineyards so when both of their only two wines made the highlight reel from the tasting, we took notice, and it’s not just the experience but also the grapes they’re working with that pulled us in.

The 2010 Figaro – a Roussanne and Viognier blend – is only in its second vintage. We got stone fruits and a delicate floral component in white flowers and orange blossoms. It’s lively and light.

Then there was the 2011 Fandango – a Albarino and Verdejo blend that is in its first vintage. An extremely aromatic, floral wine, it’s rich and fragrant but with a freshness and lightness.

The View Winery does more than funny videos at the Vinos film festival. Their 2011 Gewurztraminer is a dry, different kind of Gewurz. Sure, it’s spicy but completely devoid of the heavy-handedness and full-on floral component of many run of the mill Gewurzes.

Hillside Winery‘s  2010 Merlot Cabernet Franc is a beautiful marriage of two of the Bordeaux’s Right Bank varieties.  A very luxurious mouthfeel is filled with complex and lingering flavors, dark plums, bright cherries, milk chocolate and with a pleasant tart cranberry undertone.

Kalala, that organic winery making resonably priced wines, deserves an honorary mention as their 2010 Harmony White, a blend of Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Auxerrois, was a pleasantly nice surprise, and we’re looking forward to seeing more of Kalala in the future.

And then there was McWatters, but we’re gonna make you wait for this one as we’re dedicating an article just for their wines – they’re that good.

 

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For more on wines from the Okanagan valley, these are the best books I know.

May24

Novelty Hill | Januik Tasting

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Novelty Hill | Januik Tasting

The Novelty Hill | Januik Winery is located along with at elast a couple dozen other wineries in the quaint, little town Woodinville, Wa. just outside Seattle. Winemaker Mike Januik, a former back-country ranger, was the head winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle for 10 years before leaving to start Januik Winery in 1999. Counted among Washington’s most acclaimed winemakers, he’s been making wine in the Columbia Valley since 1984.

Mike Januik makes wines for both of the winery’s two brands: Novelty Hill and Januik. The fruit for both brands comes from the Columbia Valley AVA in Washington. The estate vineyard is the Stillwater Creek Vineyard, a warm site known for its steep slopes and fractured basalt.

Both Januik and Novelty Hill wines have received praise from some heavy-hitting wine critics, and after tasting some wines in their expansive lineup, both brands showed very well. Here’s some thoughts on what we tasted that’s not so subtly slanted towards Novelty Hill wines (…and no Cabs in this roundup):

The Novelty Hill 2008 Stillwater Chardonnay (1,222 cases) from the Stillwater Creek vineyard, and barrel fermented and aged sur lie for 10 months, made me use the adjective “mouth-popping” for the first time ever. Don’t know where that came from, be it inspiration of the moment or a vestige of some review I had read in the past left behind in my noggin’. But yes, I dare say, there was mouth-popping pear on the palate with this Chard. The color of a pale lemon, with a silky smooth texture, and a creaminess to balance those poppin’ pears, this beauty’s ready to drink now (and the Wine Advocate says it’ll “provide enjoyment over the next 4 years” though you’ll need a few bottles for that kind of longevity).

At only 188 cases, the 2008 Novelty Hill Sangiovese from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard will most certainly be a hard-to-find wine. Aged 20 months in French oak. Ripe, stewed fruits on the nose, reminiscent of hot, southern Italy in my wandering thoughts. Spicy, peppery, with a slightly bitter finish. I wrote in my initial notes that it is intense, though winemaker Mike Januik said “intense” is an adjective best reserved for camping trips, so I’ll try to scratch that. My immediate thought was that this would pair well, if not perfectly, with flank steak fresh of the grill.

2006 Novelty Hill Columbia Valley Syrah – Dark, ripe fruit. An easy finish that lingered like a welcome dinner guest. The fruit for this wine comes 70% from the Stillwater Creek estate vineyard with another 30% from the Lewis Vineyard, both in the Columbia Valley.

The 2008 Januik Lewis Vineyard Syrah (only 415 cases made and now sold out) has received plenty of critical acclaim, with 91 pts from Wine Spectator and 90 from the Wine Advocate among others. Having spent 18 months in French oak and a year in bottle, it was now full of peppery spices and dark berries. The tannins had already mellowed nicely, and there’s a lovely acidity, and an elegant finish. This Syrah comes from 15-year-old vines cropped at two tons per acre in the Lewis Vineyard in the Columbia Valley just outside Prosser.

2008 Novelty Hill Roussanne (90 pts. Wine Advocate) – 296 cases with fruit from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard, and Sur lie aged for 10 months. 100% Roussanne. Pleasant, fruity nose. Citrusy mouthfeel. Clean, balance acidity. Washington State is not at all known for Roussanne, but with this wine, it’s done right.

The 2008 Novelty Hill Spring Run rose (a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre from the Stillwater Sreek Vineyard) Pearly pink in the glass, offered very sweet, candy-like fruit. A pleasant though sugary finish. A fresh alternative for White Zin drinkers. Old time general store candy in a glass.

Architecturally, the Novelty Hill | Januik winery itself is worth the visit. The minimalist concrete and wood structure was a sight to behold, and the clean lines of the tasting room with massive windows opening up onto the sunken barrel and vat room impressively combine enjoyment and industry. I personally also loved the cool moods of the Nancy Farrar Coughlin surfer watercolors on the tasting room walls, and would clamor to get a pair of these on our walls.

For more on Januik and Novelty Hill wines, as well as other Washington State wines, wineries and winemakers, I’d recommend picking up Washington Wines and Wineries: Essential Guide in paperback or for Kindle.

Apr25

How I Met Your Cabernet: Clos Du Val’s Rise to TV Stardom

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How I Met Your Cabernet: Clos Du Val’s Rise to TV Stardom

Shortly after visiting the Clos Du Val Winery in the Stags Leap District of California’s Napa Valley, we noticed one of their bottles on an episode of Two and a Half Men. There was a pointed finger or two and a happy “Hey!” on our couch, and then time passed. But over the next few months, that same bottle with its easily identifiable terracotta-colored label with the squiggles appeared on How I Met Your Mother, Entourage, and several other shows. Turns out Clos Du Val’s product placement had been some time in the making.

As far back as 2004, both the LA Times and Decanter declared Clos Du Val the winner (or perhaps A winner) of the product placement game. Apparently back then at least “no one tracks wine placements in films and television programs, but Aaron Gordon, president of the Set Resources entertainment marketing firm in Santa Monica, believes that Clos du Val appears in more shows than any other brand”, according to the piece.

This aggressive PR push came on the heels of Clos Du Val having in the past couple years fallen from the elite group of must-have Napa wines. The prominent placements combined with national ratings and reviews, new branding and a price push proved to be a winning combination. Even Wine Spectator, who had gotten down on Clos Du Val for not adapting to the fruit bomb era that customers wanted, praised Clos Du Val in an article titled Napa Mavericks for defying trends.

So now, almost ten years since this change in direction, Clos Du Val is going strong with a vibrant, recognizable brand and a solid product in the bottle. Personally, we are perennial fans of the Carneros Chardonnay and some other delightful discoveries have been their uniquely-branded and old-world leaning Primitivo, which I believe hasn’t been made since 2009, as well as the Carneros Pinot Noir. And the brand, well yes, it is in the back of our heads and catches our eye every time I spot the squiggles and terracotta on TV or at the movies.

With all this visibility, I dare say some of us should get into a long-term drinking game with this. If you spot a Clos Du Val bottle, pour yourself a glass of Cab or Chard in the California fashion!