WTN: A few British Columbian wines

[Jenise]

2016 40 Knots Chardonnay Vancouver Island
Very simple and slightly artificial in flavor. Like a kit wine.

2013 Gold Hill Cabernet Merlot Okanagan Valley VQA
So we're out camping on Vanc Island and buying wine in small shops where 'just decent' is good enough, and this handily exceeded that expectation, particularly for about $20. Especially when we poured it for a campsite neighbor who had just poured us his own homemade from-concentrate Cabernet that he pitched as being "as good as any $20 bottle". Good varietal character, balanced.

2013 CedarCreek Estate Winery Cabernet Merlot Okanagan Valley VQA
If you could divide this wine in half--the merlot carried the sweet violet nose while the cabernet delivered substance on the palate. Good for 18 bucks, and best available in a small town LCBO.

2014 Misconduct Wine Co. Fumé Blanc Fume Blanc Suspect Series Okanagan Valley
At Lee Ann's. Well made, good minerality and acidity. Doesn't go too far with the oak.

2014 Kanazawa Malbec Okanagan Valley
At Lee Ann's. 100% Malbec from a single vineyard in the Okanagan Valley. Terrific complexity, bold and bright, strikes an interesting point between old and new world styles. A true home run: will definitely search out this producer next time I'm in the Valley.

his own homemade from-concentrate Cabernet that he pitched as being "as good as any $20 bottle".

Still remember an acquaintance's Petite Sirah...with plenty of luscious oak chips and the whole shebang. At least he grew the grapes himself at a hobby farm he owns!

[Jenise]

I know, they ALL think they're that good. Our campground neighbor also had an almost-orange chardonnay that tasted just like overripe gewurz. EEK.

What could be so hard? Mix up some Welch's, add sugar and a little Fleischmann's yeast, stir, leave it on the counter. Maybe a drop or two of Liquid Smoke for that "toasty barrel" effect when it's all done bubblin'.

[Jenise]

There you go. But it's true: making your own wine from kits is a BC pasttime. Every town has numerous stores to help you with your endeavor, all the way through bottling. And all the people who do this claim their wines drink like $20 bottles--and since they don't actually buy $20 bottles, they never find out how wrong they are.

[David M. Bueker]

I will have to look out for that Malbec next time I am in Canada (2018).