Laughing Stock Vineyards 2009 Portfolio - 91-93pts

Laughing Stock Vineyards 2009 Portfolio (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here. Private and VQA stores
Cost: $42
Alcohol: 14.4%
Production: 1990 cases
Date Tasted: October 28th, 2011

Tasting Notes: A stellar example of a Bordeaux inspired Okanagan blend that boasts a dense nose of blackberry and cassis fruit, anise and clove spices followed by an exquisite, powerful, full-bodied palate of similar flavours with added savoury elements of coffee grinds, toasted oak and fresh tobacco leaf.

The final blend of 36% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 14% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot was aged in French oak (60% new) for 19 months prior to bottling resulting in a structured wine with big, coarse tannins and loads of character. The raw youthfulness is begging for another year of bottle aging and should integrate sublimely creating a gorgeous, complex and rounded wine. Pair with a great cut of fatty beef slightly charred on the outside and juicy on the inside. Drink late-2012-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Laughing Stock Vineyards 2008 Blind Trust Red - 89pts

Laughing Stock Vineyards 2008 Blind Trust Red (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here. Select private wine shops
Cost: $28.25
Alcohol: 14.4%
Production: 1120 cases
Date Tasted: September 22nd, 2010

Tasting Notes: The blend of the Blind Trust Red takes a rather dramatic turn in 2008. The Cabernet Sauvignon plummets from 28% down to just 9%. The Cabernet Franc is gone and the Merlot jumps from a "platform" level of 50% to a dominant 78%. The rest of the blend is made up of 13% Malbec. One can only guess that due to lower crop yields in 2008 the winery was forced to reserve all of their best Cabernet for their flagship Bordeaux-inspired wine Portfolio (the 2008 vintage has yet to be released). Regardless, the resulting wine is still a full-bodied, palate-pleaser. A credit to its winemaker David Enns.

The 2008 remains a fruit-forward and powerful wine but it seems more mellow and more restrained than the 2007. Less big tannins and more elegant notes. Dark fruits like plums, blackberry and cassis with vanilla, toasted oak and a just touch of spice. An excellent wine to pair with your favourite grilled meats or hard cheeses. Drink 2010-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Laughing Stock Vineyards 2008 Syrah - 89pts

Laughing Stock Vineyards 2008 Syrah (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Sold out at the winery. Select private wine shops
Cost: $34
Alcohol: 14.3%
Production: 302 cases
Date Tasted: September 22nd, 2010

Tasting Notes: Produced from fruit grown on the Osoyoos East Bench and made in the style of a Northern Rhone blend of Syrah-Viognier (92%,8% respectively) this small lot wine from Laughing Stock Vineyards delivers big, bold fruit flavours that is more in line with a cool-climate Australian offering. Nice aromatics on the nose from the Viognier add complexity to the spectrum of aromas that range from ripe dark cherry to a hint of lush tropical fruit. 40% new French oak was used during elevage. A total of 16 months in barrel has added structure with ripe tannins and a confident, masculine texture. Very tasty. Moderate-plus finish with lingering spice. Drink 2010-2013.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Laughing Stock Vineyards 2006 Blind Trust - 90+pts

Laughing Stock Vineyards 2006 Blind Trust (Naramata Bench) Okanagan, BC

Availability: Direct From Winery (sold out). Private wine stores

Cost: $29-33

Alcohol: 14.3%

Tasting Notes: Deep purple appearance. The nose has white pepper, blackberry, graphite, and tobacco. The palate was young with vegetal, mixed berries, pepper and high tannins. The finish was spicy and long. Overall this was a well balanced and well structured blend with strong tannins and good acid. This wine will age well for 3-5yrs.

Laughing stock has a neat concept for their Blind Trust. They do not advertise the varietal blends for the wine, instead you have to find out what it is under the capping. Unfortunately for this particular bottle it was missing so it is a bit of a mystery still. I would surmise that it is heavy Cabernet Sauvignon(65%?) with Merlot(30%?) and Malbec (5%?). HC

Laughing Stock Vineyards 2007 Portfolio - 91pts

Laughing Stock Vineyards 2007 Portfolio (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: October 15th, 2009. Direct from winery and select private stores.

Cost: $39.90 (Direct from winery)

Date Tasted: September 22nd, 2009

Tasting Notes: Tasted at the Naramata Bench Wineries Association's "Simply Red" event in September, the soon to be released red blend is Laughing Stock Vineyard's signature wine. Presented along with the 2005 and 2006 vintages, the 2007 shows an evolution of craftsmanship by winemaker David Enns. While the 2005 offers bold tannins and the 2006 displays a more fruit-forward approach, the 2007 seems to bring it all together and may be their best vintage yet.

This dark ruby wine offers youthful aromas of cassis, toasty oak and earthy notes on the nose with flavours of dark berries, chocolate, leather, oak spice, tobacco and traces of mint on the palate. Good tannin and acidity structure will keep this wine improving in the bottle for 3-4 years and be drinkable for 8-9 years.

In January 2010, look for Laughing Stock to offer Futures for their 2008 vintage which was a strong growing season but has yet to be barrel tasted "en premieur". - LC

Laughing Stock Vineyards 2007 Blind Trust Red - 88+pts

Laughing Stock Vineyards 2007 Blind Trust Red (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Released July, 2009. Direct from winery and select private stores.

Cost: $29.00 (Direct from winery)

Date Tasted: September 22nd, 2009
Tasting Notes: Each year's blend is a bit different depending on the quality and characteristics of the grapes available to the firm each year and the consumer must "trust" winemaker David Enns to construct the best wine possible. We're in good hands and the result is an excellent wine to be enjoyed with food or as a solid sipper by itself.

This year's blend of 50% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Cabernet Franc creates a fruit-forward and approachable wine with notes of plums, cherries and cassis. The palate offers more dark berries with chocolate and baking spices. A full-bodied wine with solid tannin and acidity structure make it a good candidate to mellow and improve with a another year or two in the bottle. - LC