WEEKEND WINE PICKS
Nk’mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay 2017, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley
$28.99* I 91/100
UPC: 836909011416 Winemaker Justin Hall is stretching his legs with the Nk’mip white wine program, and it’s the flagship Chardonnay leading the way. The nose and palate are a mix of bright peach and honey with a tighter, mineral underside and a balanced, penetrating textural finish — next world Chardonnay.
Tightrope Winery Syrah 2016, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley $36.95* I 90/100
UPC: 626990244387
Tasted again at the Judgement of B.C., where it finished first overall, this Naramata Syrah is the perfect reflection of moderate mid-valley temperatures and a co-ferment with six to seven per cent Viognier. The style is fresh and more critical, balanced. It was fermented in small lots after a five-day cold soak, collecting colour without alcohol and barrel-aged for 10 months, in mostly French oak. The nose is floral with violets spilling onto its black cherry, blueberry tobacco fruit. The finish is silky, ripe, savoury and best of all, elegant.
Cedarcreek Platinum Block 3 Riesling 2017, Okanagan Valley $29.99* I 91/100
UPC: 778913800306 Historically, the Platinum Block Riesling gets two picks. In 2017 there were three in a ‘Platinum’ attempt to create a complexity of flavours and acidities in the wine. It worked. The style is tight and lean with bright minerality and a fresh, linear palate. Look for peach, orange, ginger nose and a delicious, floral, mouth-watering finish — everything is in balance here with a clean, mineral undercurrent to add a dash of complexity. Drink or hold. There is no rush.
Meyer Family Vineyards Chardonnay Tribute Series Donovan Tildesley Old Main Road Vineyard 2016, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley $30.50* I 92/100
UPC: 808755006236
Meyer Family wines, made by winemaker Chris Carson, continue to impress, and this Tribute Series label honouring Donovan Tildesley, an accomplished blind Paralympic swimmer, charmed the judges. Expect a tight, nutty, lemon acidity laced throughout this flinty, reductive-styled Chardonnay. Concentrated, but elegant, this hums with stony minerality and bright acidity that prolongs the finish.
La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir 2016, Monterey County, Central Coast, California
$35 I 90/100
UPC: 049331010968 Attractive earthy loam, black plum nose that spills onto the palate. More plummy fruit and very silky tannins make this a delicious drop. The finish is long and persistent with a spicy, umami note. The grapes are cold-soaked for three days at 9°C and then punched down three times a day during the ferment and racked directly to barrel for nine months in 21 per cent new French oak with no post-fermentation maceration. The rocky, windswept site is the perfect home for cool-climate Pinot. Grilled salmon or duck confit makes an excellent match. Private wine shops only.