Two Hands Wines 2013 Gnarly Dudes Shiraz (Barossa Valley) South Australia - AustraliaAvailability: BCLDB stores, Costco (Washington State)Cost: $40 (BC), $25 (WA)Alcohol: 14.2%Date Tasted: December 3rd, 2014Tasting Notes: Dense, intense and... well, gnarly. Blackberry purée, maraschino cherry, menthol, mild cured meats, spicy dark chocolate, hot tar and sweet vanilla oak aromas grace the quaff-able nose. A wine for folks who crave a chewy, tannic palate with dense, dark red fruit, Christmas cake spice and mouth watering acidity - classic Barossa Shiraz. Drink 2014-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2012 Old Vines Foch Reserve (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $40
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 1200 cases
Date Tasted: November 20th, 2014
Tasting Notes: With a wine made from fruit harvested from 48 year old Marechal Foch vines, you might expect a unique, even exotic experience, and here, Quails' Gate delivers, yet, it's a familiar uniqueness. Think BC Cabernet Franc mixed with the ambiance of a camp site (smoke, singed wood, BBQ meats, mulled wine, burnt marshmallows, the works).
The creamy, jammy palate offers good continuity from the palate with an emphasis on the berry and spicy plum fruit flavours which carry through to the long, balanced finish. Older vines generally produce more concentrated fruit (tough, less of it) and this wine oozes concentration. That stated, mannered tannins and acidity suggest this wine would be best appreciated in its youth or within the next 2-3 years. Drink now-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2012 Merlot (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $24.99
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 3177 cases
Date Tasted: November 19th, 2014
Tasting Notes: A quality, fruit-forward Merlot from West Kelowna's iconic Quails' Gate Winery that expresses a cool, masculine style on the nose with blackberry, cassis, menthol and vanilla-spice aromas.
The masculine style carries through to the palate where similar flavours are complimented with meaty, firm tannins and wild berry acidity. Cocoa nibs and herbs'n'spice notes linger on the moderate finish . Ready to go now and will hold for several more years with some further development expected. Drink 2014-2018.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2013 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $40
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 1115 cases
Date Tasted: November 18th, 2014
Tasting Notes: Intense, robust and round, this is a Chardonnay for folks who want to taste the expensive French oak barrels the wine was fermented and aged in and where it developed added richness on the plump palate and yeasty characters from a secondary, malolactic fermentation (a process that softens the naturally high acid in Chardonnay).
Beyond the winemaking techniques is beautiful and opulent orchard fruit and candied apple aromas and flavours with a long finish of lingering, steely citrus peel and Christmas spice notes. Drink now-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Pascual Toso 2012 Limited Edition Malbec (Maipú District) Mendoza - Argentina
Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $18.99
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: November 16th, 2014
Tasting Notes: At first sniff, you can appreciate the increased boldness and depth of aromas when compared to its easy-going $15 cousin, though, its unclear what is exclusive or in short supply with this Limited Edition release. Based on the overall intensity and the layers of berry, spice, smoke, oak (light) and cured meat characters, its smooth, smoky tannins and its well balanced acidity, one could guess this wine is the result of a vineyard block and/or barrel selection and a longer élevage in oak which helps to justify the higher price-tag.
At $19 it is still excellent value and well-worth exploring - perhaps, side-by-side with the standard Malbec. Pair with roast beef or a spicy pork dish. Drink now-2016.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
