Tag Archives: Okanagan

Jun5

Wayne Gretzky Estates No.99 Collection Pinot Grigio 2012

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Wayne Gretzky Estates No.99 Collection Pinot Grigio 2012

No99_PinotGrigioIt came as a complete surprise to me to see the Wayne Gretzky Estates brand come out with two Okanagan wines this spring. As it turns out, the whole Gretzky wine brand was dealt to Peller Estates in 2011 by Ontario’s Creekside Estate Winery. And as far as I can tell, no draft picks changed hands.

As a wee Prairie boy growing up, the Wayne Gretzky signature – so easily recognizable to any Canadian kid – created an emotional response that has less to do with wine and more to do with hockey collectibles of years past than, and very much to do with my urge to see what the wine is all about, and in hockey fan lingo, “get closer to the game”.

So let’s see what’s in the bottle…

The 2012 Pinot Grigio is pale in color, with a nose of candied pear, peach, honey melon, and sweet peas.

On the palate, there are pears, peach, honey melon and a hint of citrus on the finish.

This is a medium-bodied wine, with medium acidity and a soft mouthfeel.

It’s an easy drinker, best served ice cold so perfect for a hopefully hot west coast summer, and definitely for drinking now.

About Wayne Gretzky Estates

Wayne Gretzky established Wayne Gretzky Estates to raise funds for the Wayne Gretzky Foundation, which supports numerous charities, including minor hockey programs for less-fortunate kids.

May9

Hester Creek Barrel Selects Merlot 2011

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Hester Creek Barrel Selects Merlot 2011

HC_2011-Merlot This wine is like a old-time fairy tale of sorts, in my mind. And in a good way. Picture for yourself a forest floor of blackberries blueberries and black currants, juicy and supple forest fruit from the late summer. It’s a comforting scene in mouth and mind, but as with any old school fairy tale, there’s a darker side. Wonder what it is that goes bump in the night? It’s that beast that only wine drinkers know so well. Indeed, the oak monster lurks in the shadows. But don’t be too afraid, especially if you’re not shy about the soft vanilla and toasty notes it brings to the table – there’s a harmonious balance of oak and fruit here.

And for such a young thing, it’s mature for its age, and instantly drinkable. Tannins are smooth, the mouth feel “round” for lack of a better word, and without heat despite clocking in at a hair above 14%. Perfect pairing for your favorite red meat off the grill, but stands up well on its own as a sipper.

As a footnote of sorts, Hester Creek states that this wine is aged in specially selected barrels. I’m curious, who selects them and what’s the criteria? Are the other barrels envious? And did the selector of barrels at any time stop and mutter to themselves “these are not the barrels you are looking for”? Let me mull on these with another glass.

Apr8

Church and State Coyote Bowl Meritage 2008

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Church and State Coyote Bowl Meritage 2008

We recently had a chance to taste the 2008 Coyote Bowl Meritage from Church and State, a winery in the Okanagan Valley, in British Columbia, Canada. I didn’t know much about the winery going in, and if you don’t either, here’s the dirty:

In the Okanagan Valley, Church and State farms 60 acres on estate land, mainly on the Black Sage Bench, and a further 30 acres through our partnerships with growers in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys. They also have 11 acres of planted grapes on the Saanich Peninsula. Nestled in the Coyote Bowl Vineyard, the winery of the same name offers splendid views of the valley and graceful concrete and beam architecture.

And here’s what we found out about what’s in the bottle after some swirling, sipping, and such:

Church and State 2008 Meritage

Church and State 2008 Coyote Bowl Meritage (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot blessed by the Meritage Alliance).

Developing complexity for what is still a young wine, the berry-dominant fruit plays nicely off the well-integrated oak, supported by smooth tannins. There’s a pleasant complexity here, with hints of hebality and smokiness.

According to the winery, “the fruit for this wine, sourced from different vineyards in Oliver and Osoyoos, was picked in late October, 2008. The juice was fermented in stainless tanks and transferred to French Oak Barrels – 20% new oak – where it was matured for 31 months before being bottled.”

Production was ramped up significantly from the 07 vintage, from 550 cases to over 1500 cases in 08.

The wine is not without critical merit, having won Gold at the 2012 New World International Wine Competition and another Gold at the 2012 All-Canadian Wine Championships.

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.

Jan18

Rolling Stones on a Whole Lot of Wine

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Rolling Stones on a Whole Lot of Wine

Over the last little while I’ve noticed that the Rolling Stones appear on a whole lot of wine out there, or at least it seems that way. On California wine from Mendocino, Canadian ice wine, and sometimes on wine where it’s pretty damn impossible to figure out where the wine comes from or even what grapes are involved.

This is nothing new and other celebrities from Elvis to the Grateful Dead have gotten in on this. After all, beyond the wine itself, these items exist as collectibles and the bottles will surely last sealed and cherished long after the Best Before date of the juice inside, and dare I say it, even beyond the seemingly unending the lasting power of the Stones themselves.

What’s interesting is the depth of the Rolling Stones band’s and brand’s involvement. This is a global brand with amazing reach so why do the Stones tongue logo, and for example, the names of their most memorable tunes Satisfaction and Sympathy for the Devil appear on the labels of a small release of Canadian ice wine? Perhaps it’s just another conquest in a long line of supermodels, platinum records and other triumphs. Though the Stones have apparently tried the Pinot Noir ice wine and have given it the thumbs up, says Jeff Harder, owner of Ex Nihilo winery in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, where the wine hails from.

Whatever the reason, the business model is working both for the celebrities and the wineries. Sales of celebrity based wines have been on the rise the last few years. Gary Vaynerchukonce said that celebrity wines are “the next new marketing oasis”, but that oasis is running dry. Market saturation and overload are close at hand, but in the spirit of the Stones, why bother with those dreary details. No, let’s concentrate on the rock ‘n’ roll, and at least for now, a good – or even half decent – wine can be a part of that rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.

Nov30

A Tale of Two Merlots

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A Tale of Two Merlots

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In one hand, I have an unoaked Merlot from the cold climes of Canada, and in the other a legendary Merlot from Napa’s Stag’s Leap District.

The unoaked one, the Saxon Winery 2011 Merlot from the Okanagan Valley, is playful as a Mini Cooper on a sunny summer Sunday while the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2006 Merlot has all the pedigree and muscle of a classic ’67 Ford Mustang, you know, from that time before Ford got it all oh-so-wrong.

But enough chit chat, let’s take them for a spin.

Saxon Winery 2011 Merlot

Saxon Winery, in Summerland, British Columbia, is situated in the Okanagan Valley, an area known for stunning cool-climate Germanic grapes. Saxon’s wines are organically grown and hand-harvested using environmentally sustainable practices.

The ’11 Merlot, blended by winemaker Danny Hatting, has a splash of Pinot Noir thrown in with Naramata bench Merlot grapes, and has not even had a whiff of oak. The result is a fresh, lively wine.

It has a generous nose of raspberries and chocolate, and perfumy aromas that brings to mind a gourmet Big Turk chocolate bar, one of my favorite childhood treats. It’s rare for wine to remind a person of his childhood treats, and this gives the Saxon Merlot a special place for me.

It’s light on the palate, and a truly intriguing wine experience – red berries, chocolate and subtle pepper.

It’s all well and good on its own, and though it doesn’t have the oomph of an aged and oaked Merlot, it can also be paired with meat dishes for the holidays.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2006 Merlot

Everyone who knows wine knows Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, one of California’s earliest wine estates established by Warren Winiarski in 1970, and based in the Napa Valley’s Stag’s Leap District. Famed for its victory at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars has risen over the years to be a legendary institution in American wine.

This 2006 Merlot is from our own cellar, acquired on a trip to Napa two years ago, and it was a good time to uncork it.

But even as it stood there, still corked and brought upright to settle any sediment, it’s impressive. Just look at the bottle. It stands there with might and presence, as if knowing that what’s about to go down your throat may just very well change your life a little bit with every sip.

And then, with a pop, some breathing room, and a couple pours, we go for broke…

The nose is wonderfully complex, with aromas of black cherry, black berries, cedar.

On the palate, black plum, licorice and vanilla notes from fabulously integrated oak. The tannins are definitely there, firm and strong but graceful. The long finish brings dark chocolate and ripe blackberries.

Six years on, it’s still feeling young and has several years on it.

As far as pairings go, there’s no red meat that this graceful beast couldn’t go with, but that’s just me talking.

Both of these wine impressed, and have their own places and purposes, much the same way a fun car like a Mini Cooper and a muscle-bound V8 Mustang do. So pick wisely, and enjoy :)

Nov5

New Releases from BC VQA Wines

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New Releases from BC VQA Wines

New releases of British Columbia VQA wines are being rolled out, and we had the chance to taste a few. Among the wines, there are several whites form the 2011 vintage, which was a challenge as the growing season was late from beginning to end. There was the second lowest number of growing degree days (more on that here) since serious wine was made in British Columbia. In other words, it was a very cool year.

Saxon 2011 Gewurztraminer – Light straw in the glass. Passion fruit so genuine there’s the same prickliness as when easting a passion fruit, rose petals, lychee. Juicy minerality.

All in all, a more discreet Gewurz on the drier side of middle – I mean, who needs all that perfume anyway? Saxon dubs it a “priot sipper”and who are we to argue, but I’d also be ready and willing to tuck into some curry with this Gewurz.

Joie Farm 2010 Reserve Chardonnay (10 months in oak) – Light gold in the glass. On the nose, mango, tangerine, white spring blossoms, apricot, and ginger of the ale variety. Smooth on the palate, with mango, tangerine, butterscotch, apricots and peaches, and ginger. This one’s young, so let it breathe so coax out the best.

Joie Farm’s 2010 Reserve Chardonnay was a bronze medalist at the All Canadian Wine Championship in 2012.

Laughing Stock 2011 Pinot Gris – A shy nose of pears, but a lemon-lime peel ‘n’ pulp party in the mouth. Nice dose of acidity.

Laughing Stock added a new winemaking tool to their fermentation of the 2011 Pinot Gris. If addition to having 53% of the juice in French oak barrels and 39% in stainless steel, 8% was in concrete eggs.

Young & Wyse 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon – Opaque ruby in the glass. Baking spices, a smooth infiltration of oak that delivers toasty and vanilla notes. Sweet blackberries, black currants and black cherries. Chewy tannins. Juicy mouth feel. Bottled without fining or filtration.

Stephen Wyse was at Burrowing Owl for 10 years before departing to run his own family winery. He was a big part of Burrowing Owl’s success, so it’s no surprise he’s succeeding on so many levels at Y&W. The 2010 Cab Sauv, which won a Silver Medal at the 2012 All Canadian Wine Championships, is a fine example of this.

Tinhorn Creek 2009 Merlot – On the nose, jammy raspberry, cedar, plums and vanilla. On the palate, much of the same raspberry, plum and cedar. Pleasant acidity, and well integrated tannins.

Stag’s Hollow 2011 Simply Noir (Gamay, Pinot Noir, Merlot) – Reminiscent of a Beaujelais Villages style. Fruit-forward with sugar plums, banana peel. Such a great choice if you want to go red with whatever fowl you’re preparing.

Note: The Quinta Ferreira 2011 Chardonnay was suffering from bottle shock, so we are unable to provide tasting notes on it at this time.

Oct25

Summerhill Pyramid Winery Baco Noir 2009

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Summerhill Pyramid Winery Baco Noir 2009

The ’09 Summerhill Pyramid Winery Baco Noir (13.5% alc.) comes from organic and transitional grapes from the Okanagan valley in British Columbia, Canada.

It is almost opaque ruby color, typical for Baco Noirs. Initially tight on opening, aromas of leather, something on the sweeter side of a cigar box, spices, and a vague hint of liquorice root developed. In the mouth, there is the acidic tartness of swamp cranberries, and black berries.

This Baco Noir took a while to open up so take your time getting to know it. The notes that develop are well worth it.

It pairs well with game, lamb, or a rack of ribs with good ol’ barbecue sauce. I can also tell you what it definitely does not pair with: tomato sauce based pasta dish. The acidity of the tomatoes clashed with the tartness of the Baco Noir, and made it harsh. This was a pairing gone wrong, and one I’ll put down to experience in the live and learn category. Baco Noir is an acidic red wine, so pair with that in mind.

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

Oct18

Le Vieux Pin & La Stella’s Big Reds

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Le Vieux Pin & La Stella’s Big Reds

Le Vieux Pin and La Stella, sister wineries from the Okanagan valley in British Columbia, Canada are known for capturing an essence of old-world winemaking in the new world. I’ve made an acquaintance with their bounty from time to time, most recently in 2011, when I tasted some Le Vieux Pin’s wines after they had recently uprooted Pinot Noir vines from the vineyard and replaced it with Syrah. I was thoroughly impressed with the Syrah takeover (here are my tasting notes from that time).

So I was delighted and curious when I was invited to sample their two new limited release wines, the Le Vieux Pin Retouche 2009 and La Stella’s Maestoso 2009 as well as La Stella’s La Sophia 2009.

First up was the Le Vieux Pin Retouche 2009, a “hermitaged” Bordeaux. If that term catches you off-guard, here’s the skinny: in the 18th and 19th century, some Bordeaux winemakers added Syrah – at times from the famous vineyards in Hermitage – to their wines to add roundness and comfort.  For example, in 1775 Chateau Lafite‘s Cab was blended with Hermitage and was noted as one of the greatest wines of its day. With Retouche (the name itself is an homage to this practise that was kept quiet back then), Le Vieux Pin have found a suitable balance of just enough Syrah that it brings out the best of the Cabernet but still stays behind the scenes.

My notes on the ’09 Retouche: Velvet smooth with aromas of blackberries and smoke in a subtle old-world manner. Tannins that have sufficient kick without knocking you off your stool. Big, bold finish. The Retouche is definitely still young and best saved for a couple years down the road.

Maestoso 2009 (100% Merlot) is La Stella’s flagship wine, and what an impressive one she is! The 2009 growing-season was especially kind in the south Okanagan and the winemaking team at Le Vieux Pin have done a splendid job bringing it to bottle.

My notes on the ’09 Maestoso: Deep and dark in the glass. Delectably sweet raspberries and blueberries mingling with spice and a hint of rustic, meaty fattiness.  An elegant, pleasant finish. A fine example of Merlot done right in the Okanagan.

The La Stella La Sophia 2009, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine, which is a rarity in the Okanagan and a wine which the winery makes in years it makes sense. There were only 48 cases produced from this vintage (that’s 2 barrels for you math geeks) so availability is very limited

My notes on the ’09 La Sophia: Dominated by candied cherry that was truly unique and interesting in a very good way. Hints of liquorice, building up through the finish. Tannins that take no prisoners.

The folks at Le Vieux Pin were also nice enough to set up a horizontal tasting of Viogniers and Rhone-style white blends from across the globe to taste against their “Ava”s but more on that a little later.

Till then, keep on sipping and swirling!

 

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

   

Oct12

Summerhill Cabernets 2009

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Summerhill Cabernets 2009

The 2009 Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cabernets is in our glass today.

The Cabernets in the glass are 70% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Sehkon Family Vineyard in Canada’s favorite desert town of Osoyoos, and 30% Cabernet Franc from Knollvine Farm up the road in Okanagan Falls. These are a blend of organic grapes and grapes transitioning to organic certification. The fruit is 100% barrel aged for 28 months.

On first look, it’s a garnet pool of great expectations.

On the nose, there’s good ol’ black currant, chocolate covered cherries like Cherry blossoms in the candy aisle if they were made with sour cherries, a mélange spiciness and brown sugar (mélange being a fancy French word for “mix”), cloves, and a gentle toastiness.

On the palate, bitter coffee beans, creamy espresso-cherry bombs, green pepper.

This is a juicy, medium-bodied wine with a soft, lingering finish that is rather pleasant. it is an easy-drinking red that should appeal to a broad spectrum. Definitely ready for drinking now. Unfortunately, this wine doesn’t offer great value. A price point closer to “20 bones”, as Gary Vaynerchuk might say, would work, though value needs to be placed on Summerhill‘s long-time efforts to transition all of their vineyards to be organic (currently some are in transition while others are organic).

…and on last thing, if you haven’t already checked out our wine travel pics, hop on over to our Pinterest page.

 

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