WEEKEND WINE PICKS
Fort Berens Reserve Riesling 2017, Lillooet $22.99 | 89/100
UPC: 626990248958
This new reserve Riesling is sourced entirely from Fort Berens’ estate vineyard in Lillooet. After whole cluster pressing, it was cool fermented for seven weeks in stainless steel before spending nine months in bottle before release. Juicy, potent pear flesh, mandarin, lime, on a full rich palate, one shaped by limy sherbet to a snappy finish. Off-dry and frisky, it comes with perfect balance and a modicum of complexity. Well done; a lovely solo sipper.
Bartier Bros. Chardonnay Cerqueira Vineyard 2016, Okanagan Valley $19.99 | 89/100
UPC: 628055147169
The Cerqueira Vineyard is located on the Black Sage Terrace just southeast of the town of Oliver. Wine maker Michael Bartier hand-harvested his Chardonnay on Sept. 27 from the sparse granite glacial till with widely occurring calcium sulphate precipitates; think minerality. There is no wood here, but five months in stainless steel in contact with its lees adds texture and length to this stylish Chardonnay. Look for a band of fruit scents including apple, peach and pineapple with just enough flinty, smoky, leesy notes to keep pulling you back to the wine. The is new Okanagan.
Rodney Strong Chardonnay Chalk Hill 2016, Chalk Hill, Russian River, Sonoma County, California $26.95 | 90/100
UPC: 087512923256
The in-house high-end Chardonnay program is permeating the breadth of Rodney Strong Chardonnays leading with less obvious oak and fruit replaced by more texture and complexity. The light, volcanic, white ash soil of the Chalk Hills appellation is at the centre of this bright, juicy, mineral, pear/apple, Meyer lemon, fruit-flavoured Chardonnay with creamy, mineral, nutty, wet stone undertones. Crab, halibut, mahi mahi, whole roasted chicken, and French Brie all work here.
Santa Carolina Reserva Pinot Noir Leyda Estate 2017, Valle de Leyda, Valle de San Antonio, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
$10.99 | 87/100
UPC: 7804350599626
We thought this was a good buy at $13.99, but it’s a steal at $10.99. Spice, ripe fruit and soft textures that deliver well beyond this Pinot’s price point. The fruit comes off the cool hillsides of the Coastal Mountain Range and one quarter is fermented in open vats. Floral, dill, cedar, raspberry previews red cherries, rhubarb and pepper. Good freshness in a round, mouth filling, affordable, party Pinot. Back up the truck.
Van Westen Vineyards V 2015, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley $35 | 88/100
UPC: 626990120803
The V, or Roman numeral five, is a blend of five Naramata grapes from two vineyards within two kilometres of the winery. The 49/17/16/9/9/ mix of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot comes together in a sweet, spicy, floral black-fruited red that finishes long and warm with savoury balsamic notes. It’s the seventh release of this label, and while it’s intense, it’s lost a bit of its sophistication in what was a very warm growing season where the alcohol tends to dominate. Wait five years, or enjoy now with ar are steak or leg of lamb. Winery direct or private wine shops.