Clear, very deep plum red. Aromas of dates, raisins, raspberries, black liquorice, and a touch of allspice. Despite its age, the flavours are still fresh with plum fruit and some Merlot herbal accents. Lovely balance; tannins are still there but starting to say goodbye. Will withstand another couple of years.
She’s so French, wearing her flirty medium-garnet dress and perfume of sweet berries and rich leather. On the palate, she is a classic claret, beautifully balanced with crushed berries and a touch of smoke from her Gauloises. Like the best French women, sophisticated and will plateau beautifully for a number of years.
Having undergone its usual aging and blending regime, Mount Gay’s newest offering is then aged a second time in charred bourbon barrels. The charred bourbon is evident in the rum’s definite smokiness, but master blender Allen Smith ensures that, in the end, it’s still most definitely rum. Vanilla, caramel, marmalade, cloves, nutmeg, and charred oak on the nose. Big and peppery, with smoky dried orange peel, caramel, vanilla bean and a hint of sweet bourbon. A nice mixer, to be sure, but try as you would a whisky — neat with a few drops of water.
A blend of 30% Gewürztraminer, 23% Pinot Gris, 18% Chardonnay, 15% Riesling, 9% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Viognier. Stone fruit and orchard notes of ripe peach, nectarine and tropical flavours before an off-dry palate with tropical hints and a fruit-salad finish.
This extremely limited rum is crafted by local legends RL Seale & Co Ltd, the last Bajan-owned rum producer on the island. Aged 3 years in former bourbon casks before mellowing in port wood for an additional 6, this aromatic spirit expresses dark cherries, tobacco, hay and an alluring funk (for those that dig a romp in the barnyard). Leather, vanilla pastry cream, cassis and oak lead the unctuous palate.
Deep amber colour with a nose of toffee and dried peach; elegant, aromatic flavours of dried fig and lemon with a nutty finish. The flavour goes until you tell it to stop.
The only Trebbiano grown in the Okanagan Valley come from vines that are 50 years old, so, quite a privilege to taste this wine. It bursts with tropical island fruits — pineapple, papaya and guava — with peach and citrus accents. It’s crisp and inviting on the palate with range of tropical fruits and high-energy acidity that keeps it popping through the finish.