Fort Berens Estate Winery 2013 Riesling (Lillooet) Fraser Canyon - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $18
Alcohol: 12.5%
Production: 610 cases
Date Tasted: April 23rd, 2014
Tasting Notes: Most impressive. Subtle, at first, especially if served too cold. Awakens after a breather in the glass and a chance to warm-up to room temperature, revealing a hidden opulence of warm, inviting orchard fruit aromas and cool, mineral and green apple peel notes. The palate offers off-dry levels of residual sugar (13g/l), yet, finishes almost dry thanks to equal counterbalance of green apple and citrus acidity. Zesty fruit flavours and stonefruit minerality linger on past the mouth watering affects of the crisp acid. Yum.
Fort Berens is carving out a nice niche for themselves as producers of one of BC's most consistent and affordable, terroir-driven Rieslings. $18 is a steal for wine that ticks most, if not all of the boxes that Riesling fanatics look for when choosing their next bottle of what Jancis Robertson calls "indisputably the greatest white wine grape in the world...". Now, Chardonnay lovers may argue that point, but what they wouldn't dispute is that Riesling sourced from Fort Berens' own Lillooet vineyard is both unique and very tasty and well worth the under $20 price tag.
Enjoy this wine in its youth or experiment with putting 1-2 away for a long sleep and see if any aged Riesling characters like honey nectar flavours or petroleum aromas appear over time, though, the winery's still youthful vineyard may not yet support lengthy ageing (perhaps, the one box this wine doesn't yet 'tick'). Drink 2014-2017+?
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Gris (Lillooet) Fraser Canyon - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA storesCost: $18Alcohol: 13.5%Production: 520 casesDate Tasted: April 22nd, 2014Tasting Notes: The Fort Berens Pinot Gris, now sourced from 100% Lillooet-grown fruit, packs a punch! The nose makes an immediate impact with intense, raw aromas of citrus and melon fruit followed by gnarly grass and herbaceous notes - very Sauvignon Blanc-esque. The palate is equally boisterous with similar flavours and a powerful wave of citrus acidity, which is surprisingly well-balanced given its intensity. The finish is impressively long with hints of herbs, lemon peel and minerals lingering through to the next sip. Invigorating. Enjoy this wine in its youth. Drink now-2015.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Church and State Wines 2011 Merlot (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19.90
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 1350 cases
Date Tasted: April 20th, 2014
Tasting Notes: Quite an intense nose for a moderately priced BC Merlot with loads of blackberry and black currant puree aromas and some savoury notes like coffee grinds, spice and cedar adding depth. Lots of oak on the dry palate follows where dark fruit flavours are perceptible but play second fiddle to the toasty and earthy flavours. Mouth feel is vibrant and intense with meaty tannins and bright acidity. The finish, although a tad bitter, is moderately long and offers the distinct taste of Christmas cake in all its spicy-candied fruit glory. Drink 2014-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Church and State Wines 2010 Coyote Bowl Series Petit Verdot Malbec (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $34.90
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 160 cases
Date Tasted: April 19th, 2014
Tasting Notes: Feminine and complex, the nose of this Petit Verdot and Malbec blend opens with lovely aniseed, charred oak, vanilla bean, black cherry fruit and sweet pipe smoke aromas. The dry palate comes across much more masculine with bell pepper and mineral flavours added to the mix of dark fruit, spice and toasted oak characters. Smooth tannins structure the flavours well through to the long, balanced finish where white pepper lingers.
Sadly, this spicy wine is sold out at the winery, though, you may be able to source it restaurants or private wine shops. If you do, it's ready to go now and should improve further over the next 2-3 years. Drink 2014-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2011 Red Icon (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $55
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: April 16th, 2014
Tasting Notes: The ever changing components of Painted Rock's flagship wine, Red Icon, sees the 2011 vintage favour Malbec (30%) for the first time while the rest of the classic Bordeaux blending partners come in at 27% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot and just 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is a slightly more playful nose with sweet berry fruit highlights supported by gorgeous perfume, vanilla and floral aromas - very feminine and joyful.
The palate, as expected, is complex and offers a great combination of both powerful and delicate flavours - a trademark of the wine's lineage. Dark and red fruits, savoury and sweet flavours all wrapped in the loving embrace of ultra-fine tannins and effortless acidity.
More approachable in its youth than previous vintages, the 2011 is ready to go now (with proper decanting, of course) and will likely improve as its predecessors have proved, with another 2-3 years of bottle age. Drink 2014-2019+.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Also see:
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2010 Red Icon
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2009 Red Icon
