I've been laying pretty low, of course, but did manage to escape the house for 2 weeks in a self-contained, COVID friendly, 25 foot RV. It's about the only type of travelling possible now. We stuck to BC - lucky us! - and had fun Fall hiking in the mountains (Yoho, Glacier and Mt Revelstoke National Parks) and toured the Okanagan wine country for a few days too. Reservations are required at most places now, and about 10-15% are closed altogether, but we did manage to have some successful walk in visits (about 50-60% of the time) on weekdays. The wineries that stood out were Orofino, in the Silmilkameen Valley, mainly for its great rieslings, but all their wines were well made and great QPR. Spearhead had some pinots which were good - not great but very solid - and a nice riesling and chardonnay. La Frenz didn't have a lot of wine left, but what we did taste was well made. Liquidity was a nice visit too, with good wines across the board. Many of the smaller wineries were running out of many of their bottlings, which is great news for them. It was definitely a little surreal in wine country, but they were making things work and everyone took the COVID issues very seriously, which was great to see. There was a good amount of smoke in the air while we were there - local fires as well as fires from the northwestern US states - and I really hope smoke taint won't be an issue in this region too. They were just starting to pick for sparkling and some whites when we were there (early Oct). Fingers crossed...2020 sucks.
- 2012 Balthasar Ress Hattenheimer Nußbrunnen Riesling Erstes Gewächs - Germany, Rheingau (2020-10-18)
A very impressive GG. Mainly apples and pears with some lime on the nose and also the palate. This medium-full bodied wine is quite concentrated, with a lovely oily/creamy texture and a just barely off dry, long finish. The minerality is wonderfully intense and hides the fruit a bit, but it was drinking very well indeed, although it should last quite a while. (A) - 2011 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Murto Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills (2020-10-14)
I was really looking forward to this, but something was off, and it wasn't quite clear what was wrong. I brought it from the winery, so it wasn't cooked at any time, so perhaps it was slightly corked. Acidic with a nasty, bacterial-ish finish. Tried it over two days and it was worse the second day and became oxidized more quickly than usual. NR (flawed) - 2015 Newton Johnson Chardonnay Family Vineyards - South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (2020-10-11)
An interesting, 'new wave' style of chardonnay, easy on the oak, and with stonefruits, flint and nougat and a hint of butterscotch on the medium bodied palate. The healthy acidity gives the wine more intensity than the fruit delivers. This wine is more about elegance and balance than power. (A-) - 2010 Walla Walla Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon Sagemoor Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (2020-10-10)
Similar impressions as my previous bottle three years ago. Ripe and rich, but not over the top. Full bodied, with nice blackfruits and cedar on a plush palate and nice ripe tannins. Probably at plateau, but in no danger of going downhill for at least several years. (A-) - 2004 Nicolas Joly Savennières Roche aux Moines Clos de la Bergerie - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières Roche aux Moines (2020-09-19)
It's always interesting (and a little scary) when you open a Joly wine. The bright golden yellow color was concerting, but no oxidation on the nose. Using traditional fruit descriptors for this wine is difficult. It's more about texture, bitter/sweet profiles and minerality than fruit per se. There was a hint of butterscotch on both the nose and palate and earthy pear notes too, but it was mainly about the battle between the ripeness of the fruit and the botrytis versus the very bone dry finish, a very long finish. Nice concentration too. Fascinating and very on, especially after some time in a decanter. Give it time! I don't see this hitting a plateau soon. I loved it. (A) - 2001 Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (2020-09-15)
Katnook has been sold and their vineyards will now likely feed into other brands now. Another old Aussie winery bites the dust. My last bottle of this wine, bought many years ago on sale. Even though the back label suggested a 8-12 year lifespan, after 19 years it is still going strong, though likely at plateau. Classic Coonawarra cabernet nose, with ripe blackfruit and oak notes. The medium to full bodied palate is quite smooth, with few remaining tannins. There is still a healthy concentration of fruit, again almost all blackfruits with the oak still giving off tar, vanilla and leather notes; no green notes at all. Not the most complex wine, but still a tasty, old school Coonawarra cabernet. I'd drink up fairly soon. (A-) - 2010 Boekenhoutskloof Sémillon - South Africa, Coastal Region, Franschhoek Valley (2020-09-13)
Had this several days ago. Lots of yellow fruits and flowers on the nose, with a hint of oak and butterscotch as well. Similar flavours and straw on the medium bodied palate as well. An interesting and different semillon, more like a SA chenin blanc than a Hunter Valley semillon style, as it is rich, oaked version. A- - 2010 Schloss Johannisberg Riesling Rotlack Kabinett Feinherb - Germany, Rheingau (2020-09-13)
Hazy notes from a couple of days ago. This was much drier than I expected, but it was a pleasant surprise. Citrus and some stonefruit appreared on the medium bodied, dry palate; crispy acids make it refreshing. No rush to drink. (B+/A-) - 2005 Cuvée du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Sixtine - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2020-09-08)
Now starting to brown in color, but it still has lots of verve. This had a gamy, showy nose and palate, with lots of plums, game, earth, leather and garrigue on the medium to full bodied palate. Still some ripe tannins left to give it structure. Not too ripe or hot at all, drinking quite well now. Lots of sediment, so decanting is recommended. (A-) - 2016 Pedro Parra y Familia Cinsault Imaginador - Chile, Itata Valley (2020-09-06)
I tried this over the last couple of nights. Mainly red fruits, especially bing cherries and plums, as well as some earthy flavours, a slight ash note and a hint of menthol on this medium bodied, interesting, refreshing wine. (A-) - 2014 KWV The Mentors Canvas - South Africa, Coastal Region (2020-09-02)
An interesting and unusual blend of mainly Southern France and Spanish varieties. Medium to full bodied, ripe but not not too ripe or high in alcohol, with a mix of red and black fruit, leather, tar (from the oak) and healthy but ripe tannins. Drinking well, but should last a few years easily. Reasonable QPR at the sale price of around $24 USD. (B+)
