My wife and I just returned from a short vacation in Vancouver. While there we, naturally, drank lots of good wine, including, but not limited to, a great off line.
Here are the other wines we drank.
Burrowing Owl Pinot Noir 2008
Okanagan Valley.
Light cherry red in the glass.
Perfumed, floral, cherry, spicy on the nose.
Medium bodied, rather high acidity, raspberry, tangy cherry, smoky, earthy, a bitter streak, intense, rich, creamy, rather delicate but still quite delicious.
As the wine sat at the table, it continued to evolve and improve.
A mouthwatering, lip-smacking finish.
Frescobaldi Castiglioni Chinati 2008
Rich cherry red in the glass.
Nothing much on the nose.
Medium weight, tart cherry, earthy, good tangy acidity, on the lean and lighter side.
Mouthwatering on the finish.
My wife liked this. I did not.
Jackson Triggs Proprieter's Reserve Meritage 2006
Okanagan Valley
A blemd of Merlot (44 per cent), Cabernet Sauvignon (38) and Cabernet Franc (18).
Very dark purple in the glass.
Dark chocolate, spicy on the nose.
Dark chocolate, medium weight, smoky, smoked meat, black cherry, a hint of greeness, tangy acidity, fairly soft and smooth, mouthfilling.
Cherry on the drying finish.
Juno Cape Maidens Rose 2008
WO Western Cape
A blend of Pinotage and Merlot. The label doesn't indicate what grapes were used and different web sites claim different blends.
Light pink/orange in the glass.
Some earthiness on the nose.
Medium weight, cherry, strawberry, a hint of honey, a bitter streak, spicy, refreshing and very clean.
Mouthwatering finish.
Screwcap closure.
Ganton and Larsen Prospect Winery Pinot Noir 2008
Okanagan Valley
Fairly dark cherry red in the glass.
Creamy, cherry, earthy on the nose.
Medium weight, good tangy acidity, raspberry, strawberry, red licorice, creamy, clean and refreshing.
Mouthwatering, lightly tart on the finish.
Sandhill Small Lots Syrah 2008
Phantom Creek vineyard
Okanagan Valley
Decanted at the table.
Dark purple, bordering on black, in the glass.
Tarry, spicy, blueberry, dried fruits, roasted meat on the nose.
Very thick, creamy in the mouth, spicy, peppery, tangy acidity, blueberry, blackberry, wild mushroom, incredibly rich.
My biggest complaint was the heat, from the 14.9 per cent alcohol level. Fortunately, that calmed down somewhat with time and with food.
Not much on the finish.
Sumac Ridge Private Reserve Rose 2006
Okanagan Valley
A rather odd mix of Gamay with Ehrenfelser and Muscatel. From a half litre carafe.
Deep orange/rust in the glass.
Light apple, spice on the nose.
Full in the mouth, good weight, very fresh, plum, apple, raspberry, light acidity, a hint of honey with a lght bitter-earthy streak.
Mouthwatering with some bitterness on the finish.
Tantalus Pinot Noir 2008
Okanagan Valley
Light red in the glass.
Smoky, earthy, creamy, vanilla, cherry and floral on the rch nose.
Cherry, raspberry, smoky, a bitter-earthy bite, good tangy acidity, vanilla, medium weight, creamy, toasty, chocolate, anise.
With time, the acidity spiked, but the wine was still delicious.
Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Franc 2008
Okanagan Valley
Dark red in the glass.
Spicy, rich berry fruit and forest floor in the autum on the nose.
Medium weight, light but persistent tannins, floral, spicy, black cherry, raspberry, tobacco, quite rich, chewy.
On the second day, the wine was much softer, quite chewy and tarry. Very impressive.
Drying, spicy and tarry on the finish.
Possibly the best wine I had in Vancouver and a steal at $17.99 in the provincial liquour stores. If points matter to you, James Suckling gave this a 92. Back up the truck.
Screwcap closure.
Township 7 Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Okanagan Valley
Light yellow in the glass.
Gooseberry, citrus, very fresh on the nose.
Fairly weighty in the mouth, gooseberry, lemon, lime, spicy, good acidity, rich, very refreshing, mouthwatering. Capturing spring in a bottle.
