WTN: Some BC whites

I've been drinking down some of my BC wines lately... to drink, perchance to Daydreamer?

• 2022 Daydreamer Riesling - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley (2024-06-12)
  This was a lovely riesling, and like the 2022 Daydreamer pinot gris, a fairly hands off style of winemaking. This had a blend of citrus and stonefruit flavours, medium concentration and a finish that blended sweet fruit and a wave of ripe acidity, which made you wonder if this was a dry or just off dry finish. Really nice! (A-)
• 2022 Daydreamer Pinot Gris - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley (2024-06-12)
  This was an unadorned wine, very pure in style with little input from the winemaker. It was just a little too sweet for my liking, but I appreciated the restrained effort. (B/B+)
• 2020 Roche Chardonnay - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley (2024-06-03)
  Had a few days ago. Didn't take notes, but I remember a solid chardonnay, a medium bodied wine that had a great balance of oak, fruit and acid. Everything in place, although it also didn't have anything that put it in the 'excellent' category. (B+)
• 2021 Lariana Cellars Viognier - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA (2024-06-01)
  Saw Jenise's note on this, and grabbed the last 2021 bottle of this wine on the shelf. I typically hate New World viogniers, so I very rarely buy them - this is the only viognier I had in my cellar! But both the previous notes on CT were bang on: this was a very nice wine with none of the usual nasty features of this grape (e.g., over-ripe, perfumy fruit, heavy palate). Crisp and clean, not heavy, but a fairly powerful, medium bodied, balanced palate with ripe stonefruit and ginger. The best BC viognier I have tried. (A-)

[Jenise]

I relate on viogniers. Now that my Larianas are gone, all that's left is a Guigal La Doriane.

[David M. Bueker]

That Riesling sounds lovely.

The DayDreamer Riesling sounds good, John. Might be time to consider a Riesling lunch theme (I expect to see one or two at the next lunch). Have you tried the Synchromesh Rieslings? Quite good.

[Jenise]

We just did reisling in April. It's not time yet, Bill!

True, and we do have a number of other themes we should get back to. I think of Rieslings in summer, which isn't really logical as they are just as good to drink all year around.

We have a mystery white theme and then a mystery red - any thoughts/suggestions after that? Cahors? Madirans?

Pleased to see BC get a mention. Will be there in July.

[Jenise]

True, and we do have a number of other themes we should get back to. I think of Rieslings in summer, which isn't really logical as they are just as good to drink all year around.

We have a mystery white theme and then a mystery red - any thoughts/suggestions after that? Cahors? Madirans?

Actually, most high quality whites are good to drink year round. Sure, there are relatively inexpensive summer sippers that are best highly chilled on hot days, but that's not all or even most whites. Once upon a time our drinking was about 80/20 red/white on an annual basis. Nowadays, it's more like 50/50 or even 40/60. We eat lighter than we used to, for one. But also we just appreciate lighter, brighter wines and we're spending more on them too. Once upon a time, a $50 white was a rare thing for us but now it's fairly normal.

My white wine consumption has also increased significantly over the last few years. Reds often taste too heavy and with too much alcohol. Not all reds, of course, but lightness and low alcohol are important features now.

[Jenise]

And it's not just us, John. It's a trend, and why everyone's planting Sauvignon Blanc like mad. They've figured out that there's a market for high end whites beyond chardonnay.

Btw, I just discovered that there's one more Lariana Viognier in my outside fridge. I thought they were all gone but that's a happy discovery.