Tag Archives: Okanagan valley

Noble Ridge, Reserve Meritage, 2012, Okanagan Valley, Canada

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Noble Ridge, Reserve Meritage, 2012, Okanagan Valley, Canada

Noble Ridge, Reserve Meritage, 2012, Okanagan Valley, Canada

The Okanagan Valley in Canada produces some stunning wines and this dry red blend Reserve Meritage, 2012 from Noble Ridge is no exception.

At 13 years old the tannins are well integrated and soft. Flavours of plum, blackberry with a light smokiness and tobacco and oak notes in the back ground make this a rather good wine, esp at 13 years old. Its like buying a second hand VW and thinking, well everything is still working, excellent. At about CAD35 its good value too.

 

See Ya Later Ranch, Pinot Noir, 2022, Okanagan Valley, Canada

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See Ya Later Ranch, Pinot Noir, 2022, Okanagan Valley, Canada

 

Another well made Canadian Pinot Noir. Yep the winery may have a slightly “unusual” name but they can make good Pinot Noir. Red current, strawberry and notes of vanilla, leather with a slight earthiness in the background. Well integrated, soft tannins make this a solid dry red wine to be sipped, rather than just guzzled.

The major upside is the price at about CAD20 a bottle. At that price its worth getting in by the case. Its like getting a top spec BMW and only being charged for the basic model.

Tender Hope, Coral Syrah, 2018, Okanagan Valley, Canada

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Tender Hope, Coral Syrah, 2018, Okanagan Valley, Canada

Tender Hope, Coral Syrah, 2018, Okanagan Valley, Canada

 

Canadian wine has come of age and the Okanagan Valley and Tender Hope vineyard is testimony to this. A smooth, dry red wine that feels at home in a high end restaurant.  There’s black fruits galore with sweet spice, oak and firm tannins. We had this with a BBQ and it was a perfect fit. At CAD30 a bottle is good value too.

 

50th Parallel, Pinot Noir, 2013, Okanagan Valley, Canada

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50th Parallel, Pinot Noir, 2013, Okanagan Valley, Canada
50th Parallel, Pinot Noir, 2013, Okanagan Valley, Canada

 

Another great Canadian Pinot Noir, juicy but light, this Pinot Noir is silky and smooth. With Blackberry and chocolate coming to the fore there is a note of truffe and spice that pokes though. At about CAD50 a bottle its not bad value and one to buy again.

 

Black Sage, Viognier, 2017, Okanagan Valley, Canada

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Black Sage, Viognier, 2017, Okanagan Valley, Canada

Black Sage, Viognier, 2017, Okanagan Valley, Canada

 

Can you get a bad bottle of Canadian wine? Probably but not this one because this is excellent.  A little heavier in texture to most white wines this has plenty to taste, apple,  melon, hints of citrus and honey. It’s dry and with balanced acidity works well with fish or chicken dishes. At £15 a bottle it’s reasonable value too.

Black Sage Vineyard, Viognier, 2017, Okanagan Valley, Canada

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Black Sage Vineyard, Viognier, 2017, Okanagan Valley, Canada

Black Sage Vineyard, Viognier, 2017, Okanagan Valley, Canada

Canadian wine is generally excellent and a lot of the time exceptional, which this Viognier from Black Sage Vineyard in the Okanagan Valley, Canada is. This us a dry, crisp wine. The aromas are clean minerals, citrus and hints of peach these follow through into the taste with lime.

This is a clean wine that has subtle flavours that are delightful, playful and long enough for you to say ooohhh.

Mission Hill, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011, Okanagan Valley, Canada

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Mission Hill in the Okanagan Valley, Canada is a premium winery by any standard and this Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a classy wine. Its not a full on, ball breaking Cab Sauv though.

At 9 years old this has aged well, the aromas and flavours a restrained, more than subtle, like a rock climber scaling a cliff face and each hand or foot exactly where it should be. There’s pepper, herbal, blackcurrant and an underlying smokey note on the nose and additional sour cherry, plum and black olive with hints of an earthy undertone. Its a mid bodied wine, pretty smooth but with tannins in there and very dry. Its best drunk now as I can see the flavours and aromas weaken over time.

At £15 a bottle its good value

Mission Hill, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011, Okanagan Valley, Canada

Mission Hill, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011, Okanagan Valley, Canada

Burrowing Owl, Cabernet Franc, 2012, Okanagan Valley, Canada

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Burrowing Owl in the Okanagan Valley have a reputation of excellent wines and this Cab Franc underlines this.

Like many Cab Francs is dry, fairly acidic with a decent hit of tannins and a little jammy in taste.

This is a bold wine with aromas and flavours of blackberry, black cherry, plums and chocolate undernotes. Spice, tobacco, oak and earthy flavours make this an interesting wine, very good on its own, possibly excellent with food, esp lamb kebabs and BBQ ribs.

As with most canadian wines its not cheap at approx £30 a bottle.

Burrowing Owl, Cabernet Franc, 2012, Okanagan Valley, Canada

Burrowing Owl, Cabernet Franc, 2012, Okanagan Valley, Canada

Quails Gate, Chardonnay 2013, Okanagan Valley, Canada

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Rich in colour and aroma. The texture is heavy, thick but works with the richness that is first apparent on the first smell. Aroma and flavours of ripe citrus and oak overtones make this quite heavy in comparison to most commercial Chardonnays out there. That said it’s perfect with a roast turkey and all the trimmings.

At £35 a bottle it’s not cheap, is it worth it? Maybe but I think it’s worth trying and making your own mind up.

Quails Gate, Chardonnay 2013, Okanagan valley, Canada

Quails Gate, Chardonnay 2013, Okanagan valley, Canada