The first British fizz to land on our shores. This is a tiny, hands-on, traditional method (Méthode Britannique) sparkling house, making small amounts of very high-quality fizz. Salt, wet chalk, lemon pith and subtle earthiness rings on the intense nose and palate. Quite the bite with crunchy, citrus-spun acids, but charms with honest exuberance. Lively and bright, with a puff of smoke lingering. Well done — looking forward to much more Brit fizz. 65/35 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir from 2009 and 2010 is blended and finished with a 10 g/l dosage.
François Lurton has a knack for making inexpensive wines around the world that taste just great. His latest offering from the Languedoc-Roussillon is Janeil Cabernet Sauvignon 2011. The wine is deep ruby-purple in colour with a bouquet of cedar, blackcurrant and bramble berry. The taste is savoury, herbal and dry with a floral note.
A special bottling that sees oak for 12 years. The nose shows sweet vanilla, oak-inspired spices, caramel, toffee, dried fruits and subtle peat smoke. It’s like velvet on the palate, so smooth and rich with smoky/creamy dried fruits, toasted vanilla and toffee flavours that linger on the finish.
Lifted dark berry notes up front, with a red- and black-fruited palate driven by persistent acidity and hints of black pepper and cedar notes. Layered and elegant with dark edges around toasty notes and approachable tannins before a lengthy end. A textbook Okanagan Cab Franc.
A Cru Bourgeois at a great price. Deep ruby colour with an engaging bouquet of currants, cedar and a light floral note. Fresh and lively on the palate with a firm tannic structure. Will reward cellaring for 3 to 5 years.
This cool-climate Pinot Grigio proffers delicate floral and ripe green apple character, good mineral grip and crisply refreshing acidity. Not overstated, with refined simplicity making it easy to pair with a variety of lighter seafood, white meat and cream-based pasta dishes.
Pondview’s first Appassimento wine is a blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The drying period of 120 days has produced a dark ruby colour and a huge bouquet of plum, cherry jam, anise, vanilla, After Eight chocolate and herbs. This carries over to the palate where additional raspberry, blackberry and raisins join the mix. Excellent length with a glycerin-laden sweet texture and enough underlying structure to age for 5 to 6 years.