Best of BC Update

The Wine Access 2010 Canadian Wine Awards just came out. Have a look at the Top 25 from the west here.

Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve and Sun Rock series' are always strong performers. Sandhill has been picking up some awards lately. Nk'Mip has done really well at the CWA 2010. I have had Thornhaven's Pinot and Chard-Sauvignon Blanc blend and both are excellent QPRs at under $20, and their Gewürztraminer has won a few awards lately.

quote:

Originally posted by Wine Canuck:
The Wine Access 2010 Canadian Wine Awards just came out. Have a look at the Top 25 from the west here.

Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve and Sun Rock series' are always strong performers. Sandhill has been picking up some awards lately. Nk'Mip has done really well at the CWA 2010. I have had Thornhaven's Pinot and Chard-Sauvignon Blanc blend and both are excellent QPRs at under $20, and their Gewürztraminer has won a few awards lately.

Interesting to see that only the two bigger wineries (Burrowing Owl and Cedar Creek) made their top 25 list. Is my list so out of date?

In spite of their absence from that list, Laughing Stock are still doing great work.

As you know, I'm not a fan of Canadian wines for the most part, but I was really impressed by a bottle of 2005 Burrowing Owl Syrah that a friend opened last month. No idea about other vintages, but this one was pretty tasty.

Having tasted the recent Burrowing Owl lineup, I found the '08 Cab Franc to be showing the best.

IMO Black Hills has really fallen off, and the '08 Nota Bene was one of the worst they've made so far.

I haven't had the '08 Portfolio from Laughing Stock, but have tasted the '08 Blind Trust Red and thought it was alright for the price

Reds I like:

Burrowing Owl: Syrah, Cab Franc
Laughing Stock Portfolio
Cedar Creek Platinum Meritage
Ex Nihilo Night (their Bdx blend)

I'd agree with VanCity that Nota Bene is not even close to a buy.

I'd put all of these at 90-92 points, which is decent for the price point $25-$45.

I'm a fan of most Wild Goose whites, particularly their Gewurtz and Riesling.

Blue Mountain Pinot Noir
Lake Breeze Vineyards Ehrenfelser
Laughing Stock Vineyards
Wild Goose Whites

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Originally posted by on the wine:
We're spending the next week in Vancouver and (mainly) Victoria. I haven't done any travelling within Canada for at least 15 years, so I'm out of touch with what wines are worth seeking out in BC. Anyone care to update my list...?

Burrowing Owl - Meritage or Merlot
Black Hills - Nota Bene
Dirty Laundry - one of their single vineyard Gewurztraminers
Laughing Stock - Portfolio
Cedar Creek - their platinum series

In Victoria make sure you see Larry Arnold at Spinnaker's Spirits and Wines at James Bay Shopping Centre. He and the staff will help you out. Merry (green) Christmas too.

For white, I think the old vine Riesling made by Tantalus is worth mentioning

I would add to the list above already,

(1) Le Vieux Pin
(2) Blackwood Lane
(3) Osoyoos Larose (though not everyone would agree)
(4) Road 13 (Originally Golden Mile Cellars)
(5) Quail's gate
(6) Cedar Creek

quote:

Originally posted by TheEngineer:
I would add to the list above already,

(1) Le Vieux Pin
(2) Blackwood Lane
(3) Osoyoos Larose (though not everyone would agree)
(4) Road 13 (Originally Golden Mile Cellars)
(5) Quail's gate
(6) Cedar Creek

Osoyoos Larose is gradually getting better as the vines mature. Stay away from the early vintages! The price is still close to reasonable, unlike Oculus. The second wine of Osoyoos, Petales d'Osoyoos, is very approachable and very much drinkable but is overpriced.

quote:

Originally posted by Cellar_Fiend:
Blue Mountain Pinot Noir
Lake Breeze Vineyards Ehrenfelser
Laughing Stock Vineyards
Wild Goose Whites

I would add to that list the Blue Mountain Pinot Gris, either the Stripe Label or the regular bottling. In my mind, this is in a league of its own for the varietal in Canada.

quote:

Originally posted by on the wine:
what wines are worth seeking out in BC.

My list is fairly short:

2009 Thornhaven Gewurztraminer
2009 Wild Goose Gewusztraminer Mystic River
2009 Tantalus Riesling
2008 Tantalus Riesling Old Vines
2008 Quail's Gate Pinot Noir Stewart Family Reserve

Those are the only wines that I would go out of my way to seek out personally (other than ice wines).

Burrowing Owl Syrah and Cab Franc are very good, as are Poplar Grove Cab Franc and 2009 Camelot Gewurtraminer. I'm disillusioned with Blue Mountain other than the Striped Label Pinot Noir. I have not tried it, but I understand Tantalus made a very nice sparkling wine in 2010, and some private stores may still have it. That's my C2¢ worth.

I dont drink a lot of BC wine, but a few good ones off the top of my head...

Le Vieux Pin - cab franc 'Equinoxe', merlot 'Apogee', rose 'Vaila'
LaStella - merlot 'Maestoso', pinot grigio 'Vivace'
Blue Mountain - pinot noir 'striped label'
Quails Gate - pinot noir
Tantalus - old vines riesling
La Frenz - riesling

I'm a fan of Quail's Gate Pinot Noir. It was a bottle of their Family Reserve I had while in Jasper back in 2003 that first really turned me on to wine.

Also, OTW. While some of these are available in Ontario, make sure you take advantage of better pricing in BC.

Burrowing Owl Merlot. BC: $30 Ont: $40
Burrowing Owl Chardonnay. BC: $25 Ont: $33
Laughing Stock Portfolio. BC: $40 Ont: $55
Oyoyoos Larose. BC $40 Ont: $45

Ah yes, as mentioned above, the Rieslings from Tantalus are certainly worth seeking out. I've gone through at least a case since summer.

looks like the list is getting long

two i would add are:

Summerhill-sparkling
Bonitas- Merlot and Metlot/shiraz

Thank you for all the input. I find it interesting and somewhat humourous to see how different your suggestions are from my original (and obvious badly out-of-date) list.

Tonight was our first evening in Vancouver. The restaurant we chose for dinner had 2007 Burrowing Owl Cabernet Sauvignon as well as their Chardonnay. We ordered the Cab but I thought it was rather herbacious and lacking in fruit concentration. Reminded me of a Niagara cab! However, it wasn't mentioned by anyone as a wine to seek out, so I won't attach too much significance to this trial.

quote:

Originally posted by on the wine:
Thank you for all the input. I find it interesting and somewhat humourous to see how different your suggestions are from my original (and obvious badly out-of-date) list.

Tonight was our first evening in Vancouver. The restaurant we chose for dinner had 2007 Burrowing Owl Cabernet Sauvignon as well as their Chardonnay. We ordered the Cab but I thought it was rather herbacious and lacking in fruit concentration. Reminded me of a Niagara cab! However, it wasn't mentioned by anyone as a wine to seek out, so I won't attach too much significance to this trial.

I hope you have a great time in Vancouver. One of my favourite cities. Your impressions of the Burrowing Owl Cabernet Sauvignon is pretty spot on. Every vintage I've had has been just like that, and they don't improve with age. As someone else mentioned, their Cabernet Franc on the other hand is a consistent performer and worth seeking out. The Syrah sometimes shines, and in some years disappoints.

I've never had a straight BC cab that I would seek out, it just doesn't grow all that well in the Okanagan. That's why most of the Bdx blends mentioned above are 50% merlot, if not more so.

I have way too much BC wine on hand...
the stars IMHO are Blue Mountain Pinot's especially the striped label.
and almost anything Poplar Grove kicks out with kudos to their Cab franc.
La Frenz does some pleasant Viogniers.

I am surprised nobody has mentioned Fairview cellars yet. "the Bear" is the best BC red I have had, hands down. Only problem is they are hard to find in the LM. Liberty brings them in but they usually go pretty fast since only about 500 cases are made.

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and almost anything Poplar Grove kicks out with kudos to their Cab franc..

Yup, agree.

Where are you staying in Vanq? Dinner is good in an area called Yaletown. Plenty of good food, look for Japanese restaurants called Izakaya's for a different take (current take) on Japanese food. Cioppino’s is just great. Lots of places to eat everywhere.

Mike

if the wineries are closed, you can purchase good BC wines at specialty stores along with the BC gov't stores.

not sure how the roads are up to the okanagan but you should be fine coming from back east.

enjoy your time here!

Thumbs up to the 2009 Thornhaven Gewurztraminer that Seaquam mentioned. Very impressive.

I've also enjoyed the Blue Mountain whites (pinot gris and blanc) in the past.

quote:

Originally posted by TheEngineer:

quote:

and almost anything Poplar Grove kicks out with kudos to their Cab franc..

Yup, agree.

Where are you staying in Vanq? Dinner is good in an area called Yaletown. Plenty of good food, look for Japanese restaurants called Izakaya's for a different take (current take) on Japanese food. Cioppino’s is just great. Lots of places to eat everywhere.

Mike

Speaking of Izakaya, Guu with Garlic was a very loud, wild experience. Good food, and seemingly shy, quiet waitresses who unexpectedly belt out your order to the kitchen staff, who then shout it back in unison. Great!

Heading to Penticton soon. I will report on the latest and greatest.

I want to thank everyone who contributed their thoughts to my quest. In Victoria, I ran into Brian Storer, an Ontario emigre who is currently sommelier at Sooke Harbour House. He had a significant influence on the wines I finally decided to purchase. Those which made it home with me:

2009 Thornhaven Gewurztraminer
2008 Quail's Gate Stewart Family Reserve Piniot Noir
2007 Cedar Creek Platinum Meritage
2006 Fairview Cellars The Bear
2007 Venturi Schulze Brut Naturel
2006 Venturi Schulze Rosato di Collina
2007 Venturi Schulze Pinot Noir
2007 Venturi Schulze Brandenburg No.3

Wines that we drank:

2007 Venturi Schulze Brut Naturel
2008 Blue Mountain Pinot Gris - with scallop appetiser followed by seared tuna
2008 Fairview Cellars Cabernet Franc - with snacks & cheese

Two non-BC wines that I bought at a BC Liquor Stores Signature outlet in West Vancouver:

2007 Chappellet Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Cliff Lede Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon (didn't buy at Vintages but the price was $5 less in BC)