Fairmont by the Glass

A recent trip to the Fairmont Pacific Rim lobby bar led me to sample the wine list and I must say they have done a nice job. There were some notable local selections on the list like the Laughing Stock Blind Trust Red from the Naramata Bench, and the Fairview Cellars Merlot from Oliver, but keeping true to their namesake there were also some other nice selections from the west coast — mainly Oregon and California. Prices were all a couple dollars higher than a normal restaurant listing, but that is to be expected in a hotel bar.

Since I am quite familiar with the Laughing Stock I opted for a fermented grape powered adventure in a glass and tried the Fairview Cellars Merlot 2007, and the Castle Rock 2007 Columbia Valley Pinot Noir from the Pacific Northwest (Washington/Oregon).

Castle Rock upon some quick research makes wine from a handful of regions up and down the west coast from California to Washington. Interesting.

Here are my Coles Notes on how the wines were. Keep in mind I may have had up to several other glasses of wine prior to this.

• Fairview Cellars 2007 Merlot
  -Structured with medium tannins. Nice and pretty smooth. Like.
• Castle Rock Pinot Noir 2007
  -Leather with big tannins for a Pinot. Over-ripe raspberries on the palate. Like.

All I can think upon writing this well after having written those notes is: “When was the last time I tasted leather?” The bar at the Fairmont Pacific Rim is well worth checking out on a weekend night. The place is alive with the sound of a very expensive piano and all-in-all feels like a place to meet and make things happen, as a hotel lobby should be. A great by the glass list doesn’t hurt either. Cheers!