liquid assets —by Larry Arnold Kettle Valley Winery is celebrating twenty years of making wine at their family farm winery on the Naramata Bench. EAT picks Kettle as our Winery of the Month and the Kettle Valley Starboard NV as our Wine of the Month. (see the review under Dessert Wine)
RED WINE Bleasdale The Library Reserve 2005 Australia $22.00-24.00 It is not often you come across a new release from Australia with some age on it. Generally speaking they are released early and consumed just as quickly. Bleasdale Vineyards is Australia’s second oldest family owned winery established in 1850. Fullbodied and concentrated, this Cabernet-Malbec-Merlot-Petit Verdot blend virtually oozes with hedonistic layers of blackberries, violets, spice and eucalyptus flavours. Very ripe with soft tannins and subtle oak nuances. Delicious! Fort Berens Meritage 2009 BC $30.00-35.00 Fort Berens is Lillooet’s first winery! Strategically located on the highway to Cache Creek, Kamloops and all points north, this little winery is worth a stop and a sip. The wines are good. The Meritage is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Medium-bodied with rich bramble, vanilla and cassis flavours, a patina of finegrained tannins and a long elegant finish. Worth the stop. Chateau Feret-Lambert Bordeaux Superieur 2009 France $22.00-25.00 I think it would be fair to say that this dense, brooding claret is not typical of the genre. For one, it is big and concentrated, more a heavy weight then a welter weight and at 14% alcohol, packs a punch. Predominately Merlot (90%) with a dollop of Cabernet Sauvignon, this Bordelais behemoth is redolent with ripe raspberry, cedar and earth flavours, with a firm tannic finish. A keeper that is delicious now but will reward a few years of patience and at this price definitely worth picking up a case or two. Delas St. Espirt Cotes Du Rhone 2009 France $18.00-20.00 Soft and juicy with delicious raspberry, cherry and earth flavours, medium to full bodied with a blush of fine grained tannins and a long tasty finish. Joie PTG 2009 BC $26.00-30.00 Located on the Naramata Bench, just outside of Penticton, Joie Farm gets better with every vintage. Blessed with great fruit and solid winemaking skills, Joie specializes in cranking out spins on European classics. Passetoutgrain (PTG) is a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir made in Burgundy. Joie’s PTG is a blend of 63% Pinot Noir and 37% Gamay from the Naramata Bench. It is very pale in colour but don’t let this fool you, PTG is loaded with strawberry and spice aromas. The palate has some weight and a silky texture with ripe red berry, spice and warm earth flavours. Nicely balanced with good fruit, acidity and a blush of nicely integrated tannins. Another good wine from Joie.
WHITE WINE Cedar Creek Riesling 2010 BC $19.00-21.00 Bright and lively, with heady floral and apricot aromas and concentrated peach and apple flavours. Off dry and beautifully balanced with a nip of tangy acidity. This is new winemaker Darryl Coopers first vintage with Cedar Creek and from what I have tasted so far we have much to look forward to.
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EAT MAGAZINE NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2011
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