Dunham and Froese 2005 Night Hawk Merlot - 86pts

Dunham & Froese Estate Winery 2005 Night Hawk Merlot (Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: VQA Stores. Fraser Valley: The Wine Emporium

Cost: $21.95

Alcohol: 14%

Date Tasted: October 19th, 2009

Tasting Notes: Dunham & Froese Estate Winery is a newcomer to the Southern Okanagan wine scene. They are a small boutique producer with a limited production of wines thus far. As I have never tried their wines before I decided my first foray into the Dunham & Froese flight should start with their first vintage, 2005, and be what I believe to be BC's signature red varietal, Merlot.

Being only minimally filtered, this wine requires decanting to allow the wine to settle and open-up. The first impression is the wine's dark-ruby colour followed by a lovely nose of dark berries and bitter chocolate. On the palate you get flavours of cassis, plum, coffee grinds, with just a touch of cigar box spice and well-structured, smooth tannins with medium acidity. A pleasing and balanced finish completes the experience.

As first vintages go, this is a solid wine which suggests greater things to come. I look forward to trying the more recent vintages of their Merlot.

On a side note, you can follow the winery's blog here. - LC

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