Tagged : Naramata

in Wine & Food
New-Poplar-Grove-Winery-Building- 1

Poplar Grove Winery

Poplar Grove is one of the Okanagan’s best bet wineries. Now located on the slopes of Munson Mountain adjacent to the Penticton sign, at the start of the Naramata Bench, they command one of the most fabulous views in the Okanagan.

A fantastic Bordeaux Blend — The Legacy — is their flagship wine, but equally impressive are their Cab Franc, Syrah, and Pinot Gris. They are also related to Poplar Grove Cheese, which is now a separate business, but can sometimes still be found in the tasting room. This is a winery that really can’t do wrong and an absolute must visit in the Okanagan.

Poplar Grove Winery
425 Middle Bench Road North
Penticton, BC  V2A 8S5
[t] 250.493.9463
[w] poplargrove.ca 

MAP

Tastings:

April Sat & Sun 10am-5pm
May to Oct 7 days a week 10am-6pm
Nov Sat & Sun 10am-5pm

in Wine & Food

Howling Bluff Winery Sin Cera

2008 Vintage
Tasted: February 2011

I love Naramata Bench wines, and this Meritage blend of Merlot, Cab Franc, and Malbec does not disappoint! It is both reflective of the Bench terroir, and unique in its boldness. In a few words I would say the Sin Cera wine is rustic and complex with a big presence. While it is a “big red,” it is well balanced and seems to have a never ending amount of flavours trapped inside the bottle. I enjoyed this wine like the last Cuban cigar I had. It’s something to sit back and appreciate, and while it did go well with the steak dinner, I would almost rather drink it on it’s own to try and appreciate some of its subtleties.

Blackberry, pepper, cloves, and anise meet nice big tannins, a little wood, and a lingering finish. At $29 this one is a very good buy and a great value amongst some of its higher priced Naramata Bench counterparts. Drink, cellar, or maybe just drink.

Available at VQA stores, fine wine shops, and directly from Howling Bluff Winery.

 

in Wine & Food
Poplar-Grove-Legacy

Poplar Grove Legacy

2004 Vintage
 Tasted: February 2011

Poplar Grove is one of the perennial top-tier Okanagan wineries hailing from the Naramata Bench, with the Legacy Bordeaux blend being their flagship red wine. This particular take is 65% Merlot, 20% Cab Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Malbec, and delivers a punch of fruit leather on the nose to go with its dark rust colour.

Blackberry, raspberry and hints of black pepper dominate the palate with a healthy dose of  tannins. Good fruit + acid = good aging potential, and this one will likely drink well for another 5-10 years to come. To finish it all off the Legacy has a lingering long finish and is easily one of the Okanagan’s best.

For me this is a special date night wine, or a wine to go with a great meal and share with good friends. Lamb or steak would be a great choice for pairing, but you could just as easily appreciate this without food. The Legacy is aptly named, and is a truly superlative, easy drinking red wine. $50 at the winery — treat yourself.

in Wine & Food

Laughing Stock Portfolio

2007 Vintage
 Tasted: December 2010
 This is one of the Okanagan’s most exceptional wines. A classic Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. Laughing Stock continues to make wondrous wines on the Naramata Bench. Portfolio, and it’s little sibling the Blind Trust Red, are two of my personal favourites from the Okanagan Valley. Portfolio is something that both the novice and experienced wine drinker can appreciate. It has enough fruit and refinement to make it easy to drink without being overly jammy, and it has the back-end complexity of the brooding flavours like dark chocolate, leather, tobacco, etc. at around $40 from the winery and anywhere from $45-$50 in Vancouver it’s more of a special occasion wine, but I have no qualms about recommending this one.

 

in Wine & Food

Nichol Vineyard Syrah

2008 Vintage

Tasted: December 2010

On first taste there is this burst of ripe cherry followed by a deeper more complex flavour of dark chocolate, leather, plum, and even a little hint of deli meat in there somewhere. This one is elegant without being too outlandish, and could be shelved or drank anytime from now until likely 5-10 years. In short, this is an excellent wine from the Naramata Bench, and as history goes, Canada’s first commercially planted Syrah. I’m just going to go ahead and say that this one is an all-around keeper. The Nichol Syrah is a true testament to the quality of BC wines. Simply delicious.

 

in Wine & Food

Nichol Vineyard Pinot Gris

2009 Vintage
Tasted: December 2010
This is one of the more unique Pinot Gris wines in the Okanagan Valley. Skin contact with the grapes gives it a light orange and coppery colour, and the texture is somewhat buttery. It has acid, but it’s not overwhelming, and the taste is reminiscent of nectarine or peach with some nice mineral sparks to it. My friend Sam says white nectarine, but I can’t remember what that actually tastes like. Overall it’s a nice, easy drinking mellow white wine. For those who don’t like an overly acidic white wine, and want something unique, this is the one. $20 at the winery, but also available in a specialty wine shop near you.