Tastings of BC’s CedarCreek and Sperling Vineyards – among other wines.

Fattoria di Piazzano Colorino 2015 (Tuscany – $35.95): Opaque purple colour; cedary, spicy, earthy, black cherry bouquet with a light floral note; medium-bodied, dry, floral, cherry flavour with a firm tannic structure, beautifully balanced and richly extracted, ending on a savoury note of sweet herbs. (Hold 3–4 years) (91)

Giacomo Mori Chianti 2015 (Tuscany – $22.95): Bright ruby colour; lightly cedary nose of cherries; medium-bodied, dry, well-balanced, spicy cherry flavour, richly extracted with a lingering savoury finish. (89)

Château Maucoil Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2016 ($19.95): Deep purple in colour; cedary, herbal nose of blackberries, white pepper and vanilla oak; medium to full-bodied, dry and savoury blackberry and plum flavours carried on lively acidity. (90)

Henry of Pelham Three of Hearts Rosé 2018 (Ontario – $19.95): Bright palest pink (almost flesh colour); lightly floral, yellow cherry bouquet, dry, sour cherry flavour; well-balanced with a lemony finish. (89)

Franciscan Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (Monterey County, Napa County – $19.95): Pale straw colour; herbaceous, lemon peel nose with a light floral note and a thread of minerality; medium-bodied, dry, lanolin, grapefruit and green plum flavours.  A well-balanced wine that finishes crisply. Good mouth-feel. (89)

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Fumé Blanc 2017 (15% Semillon; $22.95): Bright straw colour; lightly toasty, citrus peel nose; medium to full-bodied, dry, rich mouth-feel with grapefruit and gooseberry flavours. (90)

CedarCreek Estate Gewurztraminer 2018 (Okanagan Valley – $18.99): Pale straw in colour; spicy, lychee and rose petal bouquet; medium-bodied, viscous, grapefruit and lychee flavours. Sustains well on the palate. (88)

CedarCreek Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2018 ($18.99): Pale straw colour; very white Bordeaux in style – lanolin, grapefruit nose with a touch of oak; medium-bodied, crisply dry, lemon and crabapple flavours carried on lively acidity. (90)

CedarCreek Estate Chardonnay 2017 ($18.99): Light straw in colour; toasty, pineapple nose with a touch of smoke; medium to full-bodied, dry, apple and green pineapple flavours. (88.5)

Revel Cabernet/Baco Noir 2017 (Ontario, $16.95): Dense purple-ruby in colour; earthy, tobacco nose of black plum with a light floral note; medium-bodied, dry, plum, prune and redcurrant flavours, finishing on soft tannins. (88)

Chateau Smith Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (Washington State – $24.95): Dense purple colour; cedary, minty, mocha chocolate and vanilla nose; medium to full-bodied, richly extracted minty, plum flavour with an earthy note on the finish. (88.5)

Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, Napa Valley – $29.95): Dense purple colour; cedary, blackcurrant and white pepper nose; medium-bodied, dry, oaky, plummy blackcurrant flavours and nicely resolved tannins. (89)

Tom Gore Reserve Field Blend 2014 (Sonoma County – $29.95): Opaque purple in colour; spicy, dark chocolate, vanilla oak nose with a note of violets; full-bodied, richly extracted black fruit flavours; firmly structured with ripe tannins and fresh acidity. (89)

Sperling Vineyards Old Vine Pinots 2017 (Okanagan Valley): An organic blend of Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc: Pale straw in colour with a mineral-tined, lemon and white peach bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, green apple and green peach flavours with a thread of minerality and a lingering, lemony finish. Ideal seafood wine. Drink now or within the next two years (89)

Sperling Vineyards Chardonnay 2016: Straw coloured and very Burgundian in style, with a spicy. Lightly toasty nose of apple, lemon and green pineapple; medium-bodied, beautifully balanced with crisp apple and lemon flavours and well-integrated oak. Long, elegant finish. Drinking beautifully now but will age nicely for 3–4 years. (92)

Sperling Vineyards Amber Pinot Gris 2017: An “orange” wine made with natural yeasts, no sulphites added and no fining or filtering. As a result, it’s going to look hazy and will throw a deposit. Orange-amber in colour, it has an earthy nose of crushed stones, orange peel and tealeaf complemented by a floral note; light to medium-bodied, flavours of tangerine and crab apple fill the palate. Because the grapes are not destemmed, you will experience a tannic lift on the finish that adds some grip and structure. A wine for the adventurous enthusiast. Drink now. (90)

Sperling Vineyards Market Red 2016: A Pinot Noir & Marechal Foch blend from old vines. Deep ruby in colour with spicy, vanilla and plum nose; medium-bodied, dry, clove and red plum flavours, well-structured with a lively spine of acidity. A cheerful, easy-drinking wine. Drink now through 2020. (88)

Sperling Vineyards Pinot Noir 2017: Light ruby in colour with a tawny note at the rim; spicy, strawberry puree nose; light to medium-bodied, dry, lean and sinewy, strawberry flavour with fresh acidity and a firm finish of ripe tannins. Reminiscent of Volnay. Good length. Drink now through 2020. (90)

Sperling Vineyards Old Vines Foch Reserve 2016: Deep ruby-purple; lightly cedary, spicy, plum bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, plum and cherry flavours with a creamy mouth-feel and a vanilla spike in mid palate from the oak. Fresh and lively in the mouth with a finish of pliant tannins. Drink now or through 2021. (90)