2011 Gray Monk Ehrenfelser

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Pop quiz: How did Gray Monk Estate Winery get their name?

Read on to find out, wine friends!

Gray Monk Estate Winery is located in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Established in 1972 by George and Trudy Heiss, Gray Monk has grown to be one of the most reliable wineries in BC for consistent quality. Don’t take it from  me — you’ll hear this from wine lovers soon enough.

Photo by Valerie Stride 2012

Photo by Valerie Stride 2012

With over 100 acres of land, Gray Monk makes wines on the spectrum from well known varietals to rare cultivars. I first visited the Estate Winery in May 2012, and fell in love with their wines from the moment I tried their fleet. I particularly enjoyed their Pinot Auxerrois, Riesling, and Merlot. Their Kerner was fantabulous, too. However, their Ehrenfelser holds a very, very special place in my heart.

You won’t believe it UNTIL you try it, but this 12.1% abv wine is chalked full of goodies. Mildly off dry, with high acidity and carrying good body, Gray Monk’s 2011 Ehrenfelser is … wait for it … stunning.

I asked Trudy Heiss what inspired the Heiss family to grow and produce Ehrenfelser – a cultivar rarely seen in British Columbia, and turn it into one of their best selling wines? Trudy kindly responded with:

The Ehrenfelser was one of several varieties that came from the Becker Project in the mid-seventies. Since these grape plants were so new back then, we didn’t really know which varieties would be successful. The Ehrenfelser grew very well and the flavour of the finished wine was so big and bold, it made a name for itself. We almost lost them all when we used them for ice-wine production but luckily most of the plants survived.

Fuji apple, citrus (lemon & lime juice), gooseberry, sweet white grapefruit, juicy Bosc pear, floral notes (Rose), and herbaceousness (summer grass) will all make your tastebuds swim. Intensely aromatic and fruit forward, this youthful wine is:
a) a perfect spring sipper
b) a perfect summer sipper
c) a perfect…*pause* I’m sure your inferring skills are kicking in now.

Ahem –

Now, back to our regularly scheduled blog post.

Ehrenfelser is a German varietal that was crossed in 1929. A “crossing” is created by making two vitis vinifera vines have babies. It is said that Riesling and Silvaner are the parents, although there has been debates on Silvaner being the father. A rare grape to see grown anywhere in the world today, this fruity white grape is one you should try (in wine form, of course) before it disappears completely. British Columbia seems to be one of the few places in the world with a number of plantings. Food pairings include onion tarts with goat cheese or lighter meats with fruit glaze (ie. pork chops with pear sauce).

Still interested in how Gray Monk was named? Direct from their website here:

Our name comes from one of the first grape varieties we produced – Pinot Gris.
In Austria and Hungary, this grape is called ‘Grauar Mönch’ hence the translation to ‘Gray Monk’.
The grape has a very distinctive blue-gray colored berry.

Now you know!

Cheers!

2011 Kanazawa Nomu

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Kanazawa Wines, out of Oliver, BC, released their first vintage in 2010 with only a red and sparkling wine. In a mere two vintages since then, Richard Kanazawa has grown his wine label to include a blended white (Nomu) and also a fantastic dessert wine called “Diamond Flower” made from 100% late harvest Pinot Blanc.

Used with permission by Richard Kanazawa.

Used with permission from Richard Kanazawa.

I first met Richard while he was doing a pouring at Broadway Wine Shop in the Kitsilano area of Vancouver. He was pouring everything but the sparkling, and so I had the amazing opportunity to give his wines a taste. Richard worked at a number of BC wineries prior to starting his own label including Domaine de Chaberton, Blasted Church, and Red Rooster. Having learned this tidbit of information, I knew that Richard’s wines were going to show a lot of potential. Richard also spent time in Australia, where he was on some personal adventures to increase his love of wine and winemaking. You can read more about his journey here.

I asked Richard what initially inspired him about making Nomu. His response:

When I worked in Australia, I had a hand in producing many styles of Viognier and Semillon. During my time there (Australia) I liked performing blending trials on the two varieties for fun. The result of blending Viognier and Semillon overseas inspired me to produce this blend for my own label.

A balanced blend of 70% Viognier (pronounced Vee-yon-YAY) and 30% Semillon (Sem-mee-YON), the 2011 Kanazawa Nomu has a most intriguing colour. It is the palest green straw colour I have ever seen, and it almost resembles water. I could get used to this water!

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Photo by Valerie Stride

A light intensity and youthful wine, the Nomu is brimming with pear, Golden Delicious apple, daisies, and a hint of green grape on the nose. This dry, high acid wine has an interesting minerality on the palate of stone and chalk. Crisp apples, pear, chamomile, and white peach all provide an interesting combination of flavours to tickle your tastebuds. Due to its light bodied nature, this wine would pair perfectly with baby greens, mild cheeses & butter crisp crackers, sushi, or light fish. Spicy Thai dishes also make a good match for mainly Viognier-based wines.

As a side note, Viognier is one of the most difficult grapes to deal with. It is one of those heartbreak grapes, similar to Pinot Noir, that needs to have just the right amount of growing time. It cannot be picked too early nor too late. (Sauvignon Blanc is another cultivar that also acts in this fashion.) If this grape is picked too early, unripe and unfavourable flavours take hold, and if it is picked too late, the resulting wine will actually be dull and oily. Because Viognier prides itself on its intense perfume characteristics, being dull and oily are not good qualities to carry in the bottle. Now planted more widely around the world than ever before, this Rhone-originating varietal is likely to gain more and more respect as the wine world continues to evolve. Go ahead, try it out. Check out Kanazawa’s Nomu 2011 and see what beauty Viognier and Semillon has to offer your wine-loving heart.

Available at a large number of private liquor stores across the GVRD. Click here to find the closest store near you.

Cheers!

2011 Pepperwood Grove Old Vines Zinfandel

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Made in California, this 2011 vintage red is a bottle of… well… delicious adult grape juice. That’s right. None for the children.

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It was one of the juiciest and fruitiest wines I’ve had in a while. It wasn’t multi-faceted and it didn’t have a layered complexity. It was, as I’ve said, some really good grape juice for adults.

At 14% abv and $13.99 a bottle, this is the perfect choice for a night in watching a movie, or for bringing to a party. A most intense purple colour, the nose bursts with black cherry, black pepper, earth, dirt, and the sweetness of caramel.

In the mouth, this dry, high acid wine has minimal tannin structure, so it’s velvety smooth. As it’s medium bodied (think 2% milk), it also handles a medium intensity on the palate. Again, loads of cherries, peppery earth, cloves, and dark plum will all shine through.

Pepperwood Grove is:

Embracing a traditional négociant model of winemaking, Pepperwood Grove winemakers Greg Kitchens and Gloria Mercado-Martin search the world’s best growing regions for fruit that will produce the perfect blend of quality and value. Using “pair it with Pepperwood” as their guiding principle, they craft crowd-pleasing reds and whites that can be readily enjoyed at nearly every occasion and pair easily with a wide variety of cuisines. (About.)

Pepperwood Grove has been making wine for the last 20 years. Focused on creating versatile wines that appeal to a wide audience, Kitchens and Mercado-Martin appear to be successful with their vision. For the price point, this wine is one that should be tried. In addition to the Old Vine Zinfandel, Pepperwood Grove is also mIMG_1017aking Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Grigio.

Interested in trying an inexpensive fruit-forward and fun wine? I’d totally recommend Pepperwood Grove Old Vine Zinfandel. Paired perfectly with steak, sauteed mushrooms, and a carmelized pecan arugula salad.

Available at Liberty Wine Merchants.

Cheers!

2010 & 2011 Camelot Vineyards Estate Winery Riesling (VQA)

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I had the pleasure of meeting Rob and Denise of Camelot Vineyards Estate Winery back in late October 2012. The weather was dull and dreary, but Rob and Denise’s welcoming personalities made the atmosphere so much warmer.

The vineyard and winery, located on East Kelowna Road, is part of Kelowna’s “Fab Five” wineries. The Fab Five are within kilometers of each other, and are an alluring, boutique-style group of wineries that provide tourists and residents alike with the opportunity to see what the Kelowna area has to offer in terms of wine and hospitality.

Rows of Riesling at Camelot Vineyards

Rows of Riesling at Camelot Vineyards

A Medieval-themed tasting room is what you will find at Camelot Vineyards Estate Winery. I’m bias, so telling you it is one of the coolest tasting rooms doesn’t matter. Their website states it best:

Along with a six foot suit of armour, assorted shields, swords and jousting gloves, there is a replica of the round table from King Arthur’s court. Outside there is an added feature of a sword in the stone and a patio area where a glass of wine can be enjoyed whilst absorbing the incredible scenery. (The Camelot Story)

Told you so.

Having the pleasure of owning a number of bottles of their wine, I had the thrill of doing a mini-vertical tasting of their 2010 and 2011 estate Riesling at home with some friends. Two completely different beasts, these two vintages were each unique and varietally representative.

2010   The cellar at Camelot Vineyards Estate Winery
Pale gold with long legs, this 10.2% abv wine’s bouquet was filled with petrol and citrus bursts. Lemon-lime nuances, unripe white peaches, and a forceful (but pleasing) minerality jumped from the glass. Dry and medium bodied, this vintage of Riesling had perfectly tart acid. Crisp, clean, and with a surprisingly long length, notes of lemon, green grape, and a lighter petrol were present in the mouth. The wine was the slightest bit oily, which added a nice texture to the final product. Drink now through 2014.

2011
The 2011 vintage surprised all of my guests, and surprised me as well! An utterly different wine altogether, it was so intriguing to see how these vines expressed themselves two years in a row. This vintage was clear, and pale lemon in colour. Lighter all around, including in bouquet intensity, this wine boasted a flinty minerality, limestone, and chalk. Apple blossom, lemon,

Camelot Vineyards 2011 Riesling

Camelot Vineyards 2011 Riesling

grape, peach, and a hint of green mango danced around. This vintage is off-dry, still high in acid, but is lighter in body, intensity, and length on the palate. Lemon, ripe lime, tropical fruits, pear, and a tiny hint of diesel rounded out this refreshing Riesling. Drink now through 2014 as well.

Camelot Vineyards Estate Winery produces mostly white wines, but they have a few reds, too. Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Merlot are all made, and in very small batches at ~1,300 cases per year on average.

If you’re interested in attending their yearly traditional Medieval Fair in August, keep checking their website for more information. Their Medieval Fair allows “for a unique chance to relive the Middle Ages. There will be sword fights, artisans, archery and general revelry” (Events). For a few photos of the winery and festival, click here.

Cheers!

2008 Little Straw Vineyards “La Petite Paille” Pinot Noir

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The Pinot Noir wines found in British Columbia have a range of styles. Wineries are producing Pinot Noir that can be filled with a handful of ripe red berries to a funky-nosed style similar to what Casablanca Valley in Chile produces. While this is interesting to observe among the wines of BC, I find it difficult during a blind tasting to pin down this varietal! As such, I find that BC doesn’t have its own styling. When I taste a wine, I want to taste where it’s from. When I taste a German Riesling, I know it’s a German Riesling. For example, I typically taste the petrol and gasoline notes that I love so much. I love Pinot…a lot. I guess what I’m rambling on about is that I want to take pride in what BC’s Pinot Noir can offer, and the inconsistencies in bouquet and palate characteristics make it difficult for me to say, “Yes, folks of the world, this is BC Pinot Noir.”

I know. I know. Maybe I’m pulling at straws here. Pinot Noir is known as “the heartbreak grape.” Additionally, diversity is always a wonderful thing. There are other factors that need to be examined. For example, soil types always influence the grape and the characteristics that show themselves in the final product. Winemaking styles differ from winemaker to winemaker, and that also contributes to how a wine expresses itself.

Let me ask you this, then… Do you as a wine lover enjoy that familiarity, or do you thrive off of difference?  I’d really like to hear what you think!

Little Straw Vineyards

Little Straw Vineyards

On that note, I recently opened a bottle of Little Straw Vineyards Pinot Noir from the 2008 vintage. I purchased it straight from the winery in May 2012, and I will never, and I mean never forget the moment I tasted it in the tasting room. I was really into Pinot Noir at the time, and most of the wines I was purchasing were of this varietal. So, of course, it doesn’t really have to be stated why I bought a bottle of this. But here’s the thing – this Pinot Noir stood out to me in a way that most BC Pinot Noir never had. It showed classic characteristics of Pinot Noir, but it also showed its terroir in a fantastically fabulous way.

Little Straw Vineyards is located on Mount Boucherie just outside of Kelowna. They are a family-run winery that opened in 1996, and are well-known for the production of their “Tapestry” blendOkanogan2012May_118 of five very interesting white varietals, namely, Riesling, Auxerrois, Gewurztraminer, Siegerrebe, and Schonburger.

One of the wonderful things about this little vineyard and winery is that they participate in giving back to their community. In October 2012, they donated over $5,000 in tasting fees, collected between January and August, to the Westside Community Foodbank. Insert kudos here.

An amazing value at $21.90 per bottle, the 2008 Pinot Noir called “La Petite Paille” stopped me dead in my tracks. Again.

Photo by Valerie Stride

Photo by Valerie Stride

Clear, pale garnet, with very fast legs, this medium intensity wine was still developing in the bottle. Boasting with delightful cherries and a side of raspberries, this earthy, dusty Pinot was still impressing me in February 2013. The beautiful bouquet continued with savoury notes, a hint of cracked pepper, and a floral sweetness of vanilla-rose.

Soft, rounded tannins set the stage for an interesting palatable experience. Medium bodied and 13% alcohol, La Petite Paille was tart on the back of the tongue with a kick of minerality from those old volcanic soils that surround the vineyard. Strawberries, raspberries, tart cherries, and spicy earth all pushed the long dusty finish. Well balanced, this wine is drinking now, but I’m sure in another year’s time it will still be kicking. This wine also won Bronze at the 2012 NW Wine Summit and the 2012 Canadian Wine Awards. Need I say more?

Bottled in March 2011, and only 172 cases produced, this is a real gem that you do not want to miss out on, folks. Go grab a bottle at your local wine shop, and taste what BC Pinot Noir has to offer. You can thank me later.

Cheers!

Niagara Bench Wine Tour Part V – Vineland Estates Winery

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The Demystified Vine is back after a short hiatus. I have been studying my wine-loving butt off for my Sommelier certification. It is all done now, and I am ready to roll again! Thank you for your patience!

The last stop: Vineland Estate Winery

Vineland Estates

Vineland Estates

Located on Moyer Rd. in Vinelands, we rushed off from our tasting at Tawse to make it to Vinelands before they closed. When we got there, I had told the ladies behind the tasting bar that they should have been expecting us as relayed by Brian Schmidt. We all had a chuckle because they had wondered when we were all going to arrive, and they had just been discussing that we might not make it! It was the snow, obviously. Oh, and probably all of the great wines and food we had been trying. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to try as many wines as I would have liked, because of timing. They were closing shortly, and we did have a long snowy drive back into Toronto. However, the wines I did taste were fabulous, and I was so pleased to see a single varietal Pinot Meunier and Fume Blanc being produced!

Vineland Estates opened its doors in 1983, and is run by a brother duo: Allan (President) and Brian (Winemaker since 1991). They are third generation wine industry professionals. Vineland Estates has consistently won numerous medals ranging from bronze to gold. Their winery also features an extra-special little thing: a bed and breakfast! If you’re feeling like the fully-rounded experience of a winery tour of the Niagara Bench, be sure to check out their quaint accommodations for the ultimate in the Niagara countryside.

Brian Schmidt, born in Kelowna, calls his winemaking style “minimalist by nature”. I think that a winemaker needs absolute confidence in his abilities in order to pull off minimalism with ease. Understanding the terroir one is working with, the varietals being used, and knowing the various winemaking techniques inside-out with such success year after year is impressive. I was quite pleased with all of the wines that I tasted, and look forward to trying more in the future!

Let’s begin with their 2011 Chenin Blanc. This wine is predominantly Chenin, but it includes 13% Riesling. A medium-intensity wine, this off dry beauty was filled with lemon tart notes, honeysuckle, and was beautifully balanced with acid and sugars. A pleasing wine with a clean finish.

The beautiful Christmas decor inside the tasting room and wine shop

The beautiful Christmas decor inside the tasting room and wine shop

The 2011 Gewurztraminer was a real treat. I personally adore Gew wines, and this was a fun wine with an interesting mix of violet, rose, and tropical fruits. I thought it was the closest Canadian wine to an Alsatian Gewurztraminer that I have ever tasted. Considering our climatic and terroir differences, this little finding was quite pleasing. The finish was filled with chalky lemon, and lingered on and on and on…

The only winery in Canada that I knew, up until that day, to be making a Fume Blanc, was Clos du Soleil out of the Similkameen Valley in Keremeos, BC. I was so excited to try out Vineland Estates’ Fume Blanc for the simple fact that I love Fume Blancs, and I wanted to do some comparing and contrasting. Vineland Estates’ Fume Blanc is part of their Reserve line of wines, and it is a unique and handsome beast. The vintage is 2007, and it is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, and the abv is 12.5%. Tropical fruit, butterscotch, herbaceous notes, and tart lemons pleased my nose and palate. This wine was high acid, and had the most interesting long finish filled with smoke and flint. Yum.

I always enjoy a good rose that includes Pinot “Dusty” Meunier, but one won’t often find a single varietal wine from this grape. “Dusty” is typically used in blending, and rarely sees itself stand alone. Not at Vineland Estates! Brian did everyone a service by making and sharing this fantastic wine; good on you, Brian! The 2011 Pinot Meunier is a close relative of Pinot Noir, and so it holds some similar qualities to its “brother”. This wine was earthy and dusty. Its lighter body brought on red cherries and dark fruits which communed in the glass. A gravelly finish completed the tasting experience. I also bought a bottle of this. How could I resist?

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Lastly, I tried two Cabernet Francs. I thought their 2011 Cabernet Franc was just delightful. A bold expression of Cabernet Franc, and yet completely approachable. I enjoyed the dance of red and black fruit, with a light smokiness from the oaking on the palate. Cherries and cloves, oh my! Such an interesting complexity for a lighter bodied wine! While I would have preferred to purchase another bottle of liquid Cabernet Franc gold while I was at Vineland Estates, alas, I could not. Their 2010 Cabernet Franc Reserve was off the charts delicious! I’m not sure if it was the touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and hint of Merlot that did it, but my tasting notes which are currently beside me say, “Wow!” Smooth cherried earth, a good tannic structure, and a long finish brimming with both tart and spiced fruits, cloves, and pepper…Need I say more?

Thanks for joining me on my Niagara Bench wine tour journey!

Cheers!

Niagara Bench Wine Tour Part IV – Tawse Winery

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Next stop: Tawse Winery

I was very excited to visit Tawse, because during the 2012 International Wine Fest in Vancouver, my favourite wine of the night was their 2010 Sketches Riesling. It won Gold at the 2012 Canadian Wine Awards, and Tawse won Winery of the Year in 2012 for the third year running. I willingly admit, I was looking forward to seeing what this winery had to offer. After all, until recently, there was NO way of getting Ontario wines out to BC – unless you flew or drove, bought some, and brought it back.

Tawse was certified organic and biodynamic in 2010, although they have been practicing these farming techniques for a very long time. As posted on their website, their philosophy states:

We use organic and biodynamic farming techniques to ensure the health of our vines and the vitality of our soils.  Biodynamic farming is an approach that sees the vineyard as its own self-sustaining ecological entity  It’s based on traditional agricultural practices such as planting and harvesting at certain points in the lunar calendar.  Much of our fruit is sourced from old growth, low yield vines, giving our wines great depth, richness and character.

I had set up an appointment at the winery through Daniel Lafleur – their National Sales Manager – and although Dieter wasn’t there by the time the group made it in due to the snow, we were taken good care of by Ken. We tried a wide range of Rieslings and Pinot Noirs — all of which were beautifully unique and distinct.

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Looking into the tasting room.

As it turned out, that wine tour turned into a “Riesling” day. At Tawse, we were able to try 4 of their 6 listed Rieslings. Their 2011 Wismer Foxcroft Single Block Riesling was a wine to savour! Notes of candied apples, pink grapefruit, petrol, and citrus juices combined to accentuate the hint of petillance that graced the glass. It was tart, but not offensively so. With only 1330 bottles made, one would be foolish not to scoop up a bottle.

The 2011 Quarry Road  Estate Riesling carried more petrol notes than the Wismer Foxcroft, which I enjoyed. It was mouth-wateringly tart at mid-palate, and bursts of sour peaches and green apple were vividly present. The minerality in this Riesling was tongue-catching; distinct and chalky, as the website states, “limestone minerality is detected”.

Our friendly host, Ken!

Our friendly host, Ken!

Onto the 2011 Tawse Riesling, this wine leans more towards a typical new world Riesling. Its off-dry style complements the lemon-lime notes and mineral nuances. The fruit in this Riesling was combined from a number of different sites, whereas the above two were from select areas of land owned by Tawse. Easy drinking and approachable, this Riesling is good to enjoy at any time of year or day (past noon, of course!)

Last, but not least, the 2010 Sketches of Niagara Riesling was poured into the glass. Save the best for last, right? The flavour profiles in this Riesling are well-developed. Bursting with notes of lemon juice, pear, grapefruit, tart apple, and a minerality that produces a long length, this was joy in a glass. Of course I bought some!

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Barrels and barrels and barrels, oh my!

Next was a flight of Pinot Noir. I personally adore Pinot Noir, and I wish more people enjoyed it. It is one of the most finicky varietals to grow, and it also is one of the most faceted varietals which, depending on its development, can show anything from youthful bright fruits to mushroom and gamey notes.

Tawse’s 2009 Laidlaw Vineyard Pinot Noir showed classic notes of cherries and raspberries, but there was something internally different about the bouquet, which I couldn’t entirely put my finger on. I deciphered it to be an aromatic note of roses. Strange, I know. The palate was dry, with notes of sour cherries, firm acid, light in body, and with a graceful mineral finish.

2009 Quarry Road Estate Pinot Noir was next on the line-up. A lovely representation of red fruits, medium tannins, and high acid, this Pinot Noir was earthy, and had essences of cherry cordial, with a salty-like mineral finish. Just gorgeous.

Onto Cherry Avenue – the street where the winery is located. The 2009 Cherry Avenue Estate Pinot Noir combines sweet red cherries, blushing, ripe raspberries, black cherry, and currant on the bouquet. The palate reveals cherried earth, hints of mushroom, and a dusty minerality. Holy Moses, that was good.

The private tasting room for wine club members.

The private tasting room for wine club members.

In addition to the lovely Riesling and Pinot Noir that my group indulged in, we were pleased to sample Tawse’s 2011 Quarry Road Estate Gewurztraminer which boasted of allspice and tropical fruit with a long finish. Their 2011 Sketches of Niagara Rose was a glass of raspberries, cherries, and bubblegum with medium acid. I bought a bottle; it was juicy! Lastly, their 2009 “Spark” (a sparkling Chardonnay) was done using the traditional method and spent 30 months on lees. With high acid, its tartness balanced out the apple and chalky minerality in the glass. The bouquet was soft and flowery with hints of yellow apple and white pear. If you’re a fan of sweeter wines and IF can get your pretty paws on a bottle, why not try their 2010 Cabernet Franc Icewine? You can thank me later.

Thank you to Tawse Winery, and to Ken, our lovely host, for a phenomenal tasting experience and your kind hospitality.

Cheers!