Bloom Tasting

Last Thursday I was given the opportunity to taste some of the new BC Spring releases. The trade tasting was titled Bloom and included a beautiful setup housed in the downtown Marriot hotel.

Each tasting table elegantly showcased their newest members, along with perfectly arranged goodie tables interspersed among them. Luscious strawberries, the size of my head, drenched in dark chocolate...I could go on all day about the food but for the sake of time, I better not. It's the wines that we care about!

I have to say, I was pretty diligent about keeping an accurate record of the wines I tried at this particular tasting. Let's just say my attendance was conditional on my commitment to spill my sensory guts, so to speak, haha.

I've decided that the most logical way to organize my thoughts is to go by winery.

Township 7- I'm starting with this one perhaps because I'm a little biased. I'm scheduled to meet their winemaker Brad Cooper in exactly 30 min. from now regarding a harvest/vit/cellarhand position. More on that later....

Let's begin with the whites shall we...
1. The '08 Un-oaked Chardonnay. This wine, as I have tried on several other occasions has become my unoaked Chard of choice (that and Grey Monk's unoaked Chard I really enjoy). The thing that I guess I really dig about this particular Chardonnay is that you can actually taste the grape. What a refreshing observation! Who knew Chardonnay could actually explode with lively fruit flavors?

When this grape is not completely suffocated by overwhelming oak, it does take on a very lovely and delicate profile, producing a wine that doesn't require the pulling of splinters from your mouth, Chateau 2X4 is one way to describe those woody butter bombs. Yes, as you can probably gather, I am sightly more partial to unoaked Chards but let me further clarify that I do enjoy a nicely balanced Chardonnay that has spent some time in either a French or American barrel. (The Meyer Family Winery in BC does a fantastic oaked Chard, the creamy mouthfeel and buttery nuances are well balanced by the high acid and stonefruit flavors in the wine and it works beautifully.)

When serious about entering the confines of the wine world, open exploration is essential and with that the realization that there is a time and place for everything is key! As I reiterate yet again, do not turn your nose up at any wine regardless of style, variety, or location. Didn't your mother ever read you Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham? Not obeying would be a mortal sin you know.

This Chardonnay is intensely aromatic, exploding with lively citrus notes which are complimented by a zing of green apple, pear and honey that on my palate seemed to be infused with a touch of lemon. This wine doesn't need a time or place, it's an exception to the rule, and can be enjoyed when and whenever.

2. The '08 Sauvignon Blanc is a tasty treat. On the nose you can expect the characteristic fruits of lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit which seem to make their way to your palate. It is crisp and refreshing with a hint of wet stone and live acidity. A fantastic, easy drinking spring or summer wine. Pair it with a soft, creamy chevre and you'll be pleasantly surprised!

3. 7 Blanc is a blended white which contains Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat. There is something very intriguing about this wine. I found that as I continued to sniff and swirl, the sensory profile of the wine would continue to evolve in my glass. My initial observation on the nose was grapefruit and mandarin oranges, followed by a sweet hint of mango and pineapple. Then you find the disguised nuances or secondary aromas of canned mushrooms, herbs and earth. There is a subtle yet definite "funkiness" to this wine that leaves you dumb founded and wanting more. I asked Brad Cooper the winemaker the other day what that was about. He agreed with me and proudly attributed it to a mix of wild yeasts that were used in the fermentation. It's incredibly complex, concentrated and yummy. Great with an oil or cream based mushroom pasta!

4. The '06 Merlot is essentially a glass of cedar seasoned plums and blackberries. You will find hints of coco and spice and a smooth rounded finish that lingers for what seems like forever. It has spent 22 months in French oak without the intervention of being forced through a filter. It's full bodied and truly delicious.

5. The '06 Syrah offers a bouquet of prunes, plums, black cherries, seasoned with cracked black pepper. Ripe black fruit, a hint of spice and smoke sweep your tongue. This wine has spent some time in both French and American oak and is also unfiltered. The tannins have had time to relax so don't fret, this wine can and should be enjoyed now. Pair this with a juicy cut of beef or lamb.

6. The '07 Merlot Cabernet blend offers vivid nuances of cassis (blackcurrant), coco, vanilla, leather and cedar which can be attributed to the oak aging. Your palate explodes with flavors of cherries and blackberry pie! The Cabernet Sauvignon offers a structured backbone and the juicy Merlot provides a soft and meaty flesh. A perfect combination with a well marbled steak and a dollop of whipped blue cheese butter on top.

Oh I can now update you the Township 7 interview. So I met with the winemaker of Township 7 and was offered a harvest/cellar hand position in the Okanagan this summer as well as a viticulture position at their Langley sister winery/vineyard immediately. Ooh and I have another new job at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel as of last week. That makes 3...I hope I havn't bitten off more that I can chew!

Onto the next- Stoneboat Vineyards

1. '09 Pinot Gris- The nose on this wine is exuberant with citrus while the palate is dominated by lush tropical fruit and peach flavors. There is sufficient acid that uplifts this wine and we don't have the common issue of a flabby P Gris. It's quite the opposite in fact, with vibrant fruit and crisp minerality. It's complex and a true testament to the warm growing season of '09.

2. '07 Pinotage- This wine is beautifully deep in color as well as spice. It is gracious in the aromas of chocolate, cedar and plums. The palate is coaxed by the very soft mouthfeel, followed by an explosion of bold black fruit and a touch of vanilla and coco. This wine is elegant and sumptuous and will leave you wanting more. Unfortunately Pinotage is not a commonly grown grape in BC. (South Africa's national grape), so be sure to savor it when you have the opportunity, every drop is exquisite and very hard to come by.

3. The '08 Pinot Noir is one of my utmost favorite Pinots in BC. I think the reason why I'm so fond of it is because it demonstrates a very close rendition of an old-world style Pinot. I taste a Burgundian earthiness in this wine which is complimented by the flavors of luscious forest berries. There is a fine balance between the taste of terroir and the vibrant fruit this vine is consequently able to produce. I give it a 89 on Ash's wine rating scale :)

More to come...I'm off to the "Eat Vancouver" Food and Cooking Festival for some good eats and great wine!
Stay tuned for more on "Bloom", ciao for now.