Painted Rock samples
Saturday, April 24th: Participated in a webinar tasting put on by Painted Rock Estate Winery’s owner John Skinner and Académie du Vin. Painted Rock (25 acres) is located picturesquely above Skaha Lake in the Okanagan. I was sent four small sample 100 mL bottles of the 2018 Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah and the winery’s flagship blend, Red Icon. The consulting oenologue is Alain Sutre from Bordeaux. These are some of the best wines from British Columbia, especially the Syrah 2018, which reminded me of a Cornas from the Northern Rhône. These reds are deeply coloured, dense and concentrated, with lovely floral notes, rich and muscular on the palate with great structure. A most enjoyable tasting.
Other wines tasted:
Domaine de Côtes Rémont Chénas 2018 (Beaujolais)
Purple-ruby in colour; lightly floral, plum and cherry nose with a touch of oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, spicy cherry and cranberry flavour; fruity and juicy. A beautifully balanced Chénas. (90)
Seña 2018 (Aconcogua Valley, Chile, $199.95)
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 15% Carmenère, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. Dense purple in colour; a bouquet of blackcurrant, tobacco leaf and leather with smoky, oak spice; full-bodied, dry, ripe plum and blackcurrant flavours; firmly structured, lively acidity with ripe tannins and a savoury finish. (91)
Viñedo Chadwick 2018 (Puente Alto, Maipo Valley, Chile, $499.95)
Cabernet Sauvignon with 3% Petit Verdot. Deep purple in colour; cedary, blackcurrant, tobacco leaf with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, creamy blackcurrant and black plum flavours; beautifully balanced with powdery, ripe tannins and fresh acidity, finishing with a note of dark chocolate. A delicious glass of wine! (94)
