For the past several days, I’ve walked along the Steveston boardwalk near my home, enjoying the warm sun, the views of the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island, and the sights of daffodils blooming. Although it’s not the vernal equinox yet, Spring is definitely in the air! And today’s selections are perfect "spring" wines to savour as the rest of Canada is under winter’s snowy conditions.
Now is a good time to enjoy a gentle well-balanced wine, like the Louis Latour 2018 Ardèche Chardonnay ($20.99; 88 points). Louis Latour has been making Chardonnays in Burgundy since 1797. In 1979, the firm expanded their production and chose the Ardèche Valley in the Rhone region with its clay and limestone soils to produce Chardonnay. Aged in French oak barrels and undergoing complete malolactic fermentation, it's a fresh and easy-to-drink affordable Chardonnay.
The Latour Ardèche displays a lemon-gold hue and a citrus and tree-fruit aroma with a toasty vanilla backdrop. On the palate there are flavours of lemons, apples and toasted almonds with a medium body, a creamy texture, mellow acidity, and a lovely butterscotch finish. It’s great to sip while on the patio enjoying the warm February sunshine and it partners well with oysters, tempura prawns, or chicken Caesar salad.
Spring means more outdoor living and cooking with the barbecue. That spells red wine time! And a perfect red for the occasion is the Spier Seaward 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.99 on sale; 91 points.)
Spier is a family owned organic certified farm in Stellenbosch South Africa with a wine heritage going back more than 300 years. Today, Spier combines tradition and innovative sustainable practices ensuring a future that is resilient, healthy, and thriving for generations to come.
Grapes are handpicked near the Atlantic Ocean, hence the name, Seaward. After fermentation, the wine is aged in French and American oak casks.
Dark garnet in colour, the bouquet of cassis leaps out of the glass along with cigar box and the signature dusty scent of South African Cabs. Expect lots of ripe black currant and blackberry flavours with a forest floor and vanilla background. Well balanced with moderate tannins, refreshing acidity, and a long finish. It’s drinking nicely with three years of aging but it will develop more with a year or two of cellar-ing. An elegant good buy! Whether it’s rib-eye steaks or burgers, the Seaward Cab delivers lots of enjoyment.
Our final wine is Road 13 2019 Seventy-Four K from the southern Okanagan ($23.99 on sale; 88 points). The cryptic name refers to the length in kilometres of the vineyards (74,000 km)! Six varieties are sourced from the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys. Merlot is the backbone of the blend providing fruitiness, with decreasing amounts of Malbec, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Mourvedre adding complexity and structure. The components were fermented separately, aged in 20 per cent new French oak, and left 10 months in the bottle before being released in June 2020.
The wine displays an attractive dark purple colour in the glass with a ruby rim. Its aroma and flavour is black cherry and plum with vanilla, chocolate, and blueberry notes. There’s medium tannins and fresh acidity. Enjoying it with Beef Wellington made the wine stand out even more! Of course it’s a good partner with any grilled ‘meat’ dish from the barbecue, including ribs, chops, steaks, burgers, or grilled Portobello mushrooms. The Seventy-four K is patio ready!
Today’s recommended mains can be found at BC Liquor Stores.
