Winemaker’s Cut wines
I received six wines from an Okanagan Valley winery called Winemaker’s Cut.
Here’s an explanation of their name, taken from their website: “Like a director’s cut, an edited version of a film that represents the director’s unique point of view, Winemaker’s CUT is influenced by the winemaker and their unique styling/blending of an Okanagan wine. The grapes that shape CUT wines are hand-harvested at Deadman Lake Vineyard just south of Oliver, BC. With utmost respect to nature, while honoring traditional winemaking methods, sustainable farming, and a zero pesticides policy with low sulphur use, CUT wines develop naturally and express characteristics indicative of this unique Okanagan vineyard.”
Winemaker’s Cut Grüner Veltliner 2019 (Okanagan Valley)
Pale straw colour; minerally, peach pit nose with a light floral note; medium-bodied, dry, white peach flavour with a hint of white pepper. Lively lemony finish. Drink now. (89)
Winemaker’s Cut Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Straw colour; lightly grassy, green bean and green plum bouquet; medium-bodied, crisply dry, gooseberry and green plum flavours; well-balanced and fresh on the palate with a touch of bitterness on the finish for added interest. Drink now. (90)
Winemaker’s Cut Boho Beat 2019
A blend of Riesling, Kerner, Gewurztraminer and Viognier. Pale straw in colour; aromatic, gently spicy nose of nectarine and rose petals; medium-bodied, dry, peach, lychee and cardamom. Well-balanced and lingering on the palate. (89)
Winemaker’s Cut Boho Zen 2019
A blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Merlot. Ruby- with a purple rim; spicy nose of black cherries and dried herbs; medium to full-bodied, dry, sour cherry and plum flavours carried on lively acidity with a tannic uplift on the minty finish. Firmly structured. Drink now or through 2021. (89)
Winemaker’s Cut Syrah 2019
Deep ruby in colour; spicy, black pepper, tobacco and blackberry nose with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, savoury herbal flavours of plum and blackberries; firmly structured and well-balanced with evident but ripe tannins and engaging floral note on the finish. Drinking well now but will reward a year in your cellar. (90–91)
Winemaker’s Cut Syrah 2018
Deep ruby in colour; spicy, cracked black pepper, blackberry nose with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, savoury herbal flavours of plum and blackberries; firmly structured and well-balanced with ripe tannins, racy acidity and a floral lift on the finish. Drinking well now but will hold well for several years. (91)
Winemaker’s Cut Bohemian Cuvée 2018
A blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 10% Syrah, Purple ruby colour; cedary, black fruit bouquet with vanilla oak, black pepper and a floral lift; medium-bodied, dry and savoury with minty, black plum, licorice and herbal flavours. Firmly structured with well-integrated oak and evident but ripe tannins. Can be enjoyed now, but 1–2 years in your cellar will reward your patience. (91–92)
Other wines tasted:
Kew Vineyards Soldier’s Grant 2017 (Niagara Peninsula, $19.95) (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot)
Deep ruby in colour; cedary, lightly spicy nose of plum and blackcurrant with a tobacco note; medium-bodied, dry, raisin-y, plum and blackcurrant flavours with bright acidity. Well-balanced, firmly structured with ripe tannins and good length. Reminiscent of an Amarone.
Culmina wines
Culmina Family Estate Winery No. 010 Margaret’s Bench Chardonnay 2018 ($38; Winter release – winery only)
Bright, straw colour; intense bouquet of peach and mango, wild flowers and toasty oak; medium-bodied, dry, spicy, apple and peach and orange flavours with lively acidity. A beautifully balanced wine with great length and a lovely texture. (92)
Culmina Family Estate Winery No. 011 Stan’s Bench Chardonnay 2018 ($38; Winter release – winery only)
Bright, straw colour; toasty, spicy, apple nose with a mineral note; medium-bodied, dry, ripe peach flavour; well-integrated oak. Lovely mouth-feel and lingering. (91)
Culmina Family Estate Winery Merlot 2016 ($35: available at the winery and select BC stores)
Dense ruby purple in colour; lightly cedary nose of blackberry and blackcurrant with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry, dark chocolate and blackcurrant flavours with well-integrated oak and ripe tannins. Hold 1–2 years. (91–92)
Culmina Family Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2016 ($38: availability: winery or selected BC stores)
Deep purple-ruby in colour; cedary, tobacco leaf and cherry nose with green herb and vanilla oak notes; medium to full-bodied, dry, savoury plum and cherry flavours with a bitter chocolate finish. Firmly structured, lively acidity. Again, needs time. (89–90)
Culmina Family Estate Winery Malbec 2016 ($39: available at the winery and select retail stores)
Dense ruby in colour; cedary, dark chocolate and cherry bouquet with oak spice and a floral top note; medium to full-bodied with flavours of black cherry and pencil lead carried on lively acidity with a firm finish. (89)
Culmina Family Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 ($39, available as above as a Winter release)
Deep ruby in colour; cedary, spicy, cigar box aromas with blackcurrant and elderberry bouquet; medium to full-bodied, richly extracted blackcurrant and plum flavours lifted with oak spice. Ripe, supple tannins and a lovely mouth-feel. Hold two years. (93)
Fess Parker Chardonnay 2018 (Santa Barbara County – $21.95, Vintages #167501, released Nov. 14th)
Bright. Straw colour; toasty, spicy, apple and melon nose; full-bodied, dry, peachy-pineapple flavours with a sweet fruit core mitigated by lemony acidity. (89)
Henry of Pelham Bin 106 “Lost Boys” Limited Edition Baco Noir 2019 (Ontario; $29.95, Vintages #13421, release date Nov. 28th)
Opaque purple colour; cedary, tobacco, blackberry and vanilla oak, bouquet; medium to full-bodied, dry, blackberry jam flavour carried on lively acidity; well-integrated oak. (90)
Cave Mystère Merlot 2018 (Bordeaux; $18.95, Vintages # 7232, release date November 14th)
Deep purple in colour; cedary, plum nose; medium-bodied, black cherry and licorice flavours; firmly structured with ripe tannins and well balanced with acidity. Good value. (89)
Gérard Bertrand Terroir Languedoc Syrah/Grenache 2017 ($16.95, Languedoc; Vintages Essential #413237: $2 off until October 10th)
Deep ruby colour; spicy, earthy nose of red plums; medium-bodied, savoury-herbal flavour of plum and strawberry. Firm finish of ripe tannins. (89)
Gérard Bertrand Grand Terroir Les Aspres 2017 (Côtes du Roussillon, $19.95, Vintages #413245, release date November 28th)
Syrah/Mourvèdre/Grenache blend. Deep ruby in colour; cedary, spicy, slightly smoky nose of plums with a licorice note; medium to full-bodied, dry; rich mouth-feel with plum and blackcurrant flavours. (90)
Alvear Palacio Quemado Vendimia Seleccionada 2018 (Ribera del Guadiana, $13.95.)
A blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha Tintorera. Deep ruby-purple in colour; Smoky, struck-flint nose of black fruits with warm oak notes-and a floral top note; medium-bodied, dry, juicy, plum and red berry flavours. Lovely mouth-feel and a firm finish. (90) Good value.
Jim Barry Barry Brothers Shiraz 2017 (Clare Valley, Australia; $19.95, Vintages #16036, release date November 28th)
Deep purple colour; intense nose of wood spice, blackberry and dried herbs with a lovely note of violets and a touch of vanilla; full-bodied, dry, juicy flavours of blackberry and plum with lively acidity and a firm finish of ripe tannins. (90)
De Montal Bas-Armagnac 2001 ($99.95, Vintages #11426 – release Fall 2020)
Deep coppery-gold colour; intense nutty, honeyed nose of dried apricot, vanilla and white pepper with notes of oak spice. Intense and rich on the palate with billowing flavours of vanilla, dried fruits and butterscotch. Amazing length with flavours that linger forever. (96)
