No Laughing Matter

By / Wine + Drinks / January 21st, 2015 / 3

It’s been twelve years since Laughing Stock Vineyards on the Naramata Bench in British Columbia launched its inaugural vintage (2003) and now with ten vintages in bottle under their belt it’s interesting to look back at their wines to see where they came from.

But even more importantly is where they are going. I sat down with owners David and Cynthia Enns to taste a ten-year vertical of their flagship wine, Portfolio (a true 5-grape Bordeaux-style blend), their latest vintage of Portfoilio and Blind Trust (their second wine); they also shared a few great stories along the way.

You’ll have to visit them for the stories, as for the wine, here are two recent vintages and a look back at another.

Laughing Stock 2012 Portfolio ($45.00)

45% Merlot / 25% Cabernet Sauvignon / 22% Cabernet Franc / 7% Malbec / 1% Petit Verdot
Big and bold with black cherry, raspberry, blackberry, dark chocolate and vanilla all of which follows right onto the palate with a generosity of tannins. Lush, sexy and simply gorgeous; has great ageing potential for a decade or more.

Laughing Stock 2012 Blind Trust ($30.00)

The make-up is blindly hidden under the capsule; lovely rich dark fruit, silky smooth with black pepper, vanilla, blueberry, plum, nice spice and well-balanced acidity on the finish.

Laughing Stock 2010 Portfolio (Sold Out)

42% Cabernet Sauvignon /32% Merlot / 18% Malbec / 6% Cabernet Franc / 2% Petit Verdot
Mocha-cherry, plum with a touch of floral on the nose; palate shows both depth and complexity with an array of flavours: cherry, chocolate, blackberry, cassis, vanilla, smoke and cinnamon. The only wine in 10 years dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and has more Malbec than Franc.

For more wine suggestions, see our other #WineWednesday posts.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael is an award-winning journalist: Promoting the Promoters Award Cuvée 2010 and Ontario Wine Awards Journalist of the Year 2012.  He is also a national and international wine judge - Ontario Wine Awards, All Canadian Wine Championships; Best of Riesling — Germany; Essencia do Vinho — "Top Wines of Portugal".  He is currently the President of the Wine Writers Circle of Canada and the wine columnist for Ottawa Life and Grand magazine as well as regular contributor to Tidings, and Grapevine ... his reviews have also appeared in the LCBO Vintages magazine. Michael has also added a YouTube channel to his activities where he reviews bottles of great Ontario wine on a weekly basis. In whatever he does, it is Michael’s desire to educate, inspire and encourage others to grow their own love and enthusiasm for wine – and to realize that it is their palate that ultimately makes the decision.

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