Township 7 wines
Monday, November 24th: Tasted the following Township 7 wines from BC:
Township 7 Cabernet Merlot 2022 (Provenance Series; Okanagan Valley)
Deep ruby in colour; cedary, spicy, vanilla and black fruits on the nose; medium to full-bodied, dry, savoury blackcurrant and black plum flavours; well-integrated oak and evident but ripe tannins. Great length. (92)
Township 7 Sparkling Wine Blanc de Blancs (Okanagan Valley)
Pale straw in colour with an active mousse of tiny bubbles; toasty, apple and citrus peel nose; medium-bodied, crisply dry; elegant, apple and green peach flavours with a long finish. (92)
Township 7 Sirius 2017 (Fraser Valley; Chardonnay and Pinot Noir)
Pale straw with an active mousse of tiny bubbles; toasty, leesy, apple and pear bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, lemony, apple and tangerine flavours with a lingering citrus finish. (93)
Township 7 Sirius 2017 (Late Disgorged)
Pale straw in colour; active mousse of tiny bubbles; toasty, leesy, apple flavour; rich and full on the palate with beguiling lemon and biscuity flavours. Beautifully balanced and great length. A triumph! (94)
Then came the Foreign Affair wines!
The Foreign Affair whites, rosés, and sparkling
The Foreign Affair Sussreserve Riesling 2024 (Vinemount Ridge, Niagara)
Straw colour with a lime tint; honeyed grapefruit bouquet; light-bodied, off-dry, grapefruit and lemon flavours with a honeyed note; well-balanced and firmly structured with a thread of minerality. (90)
The Foreign Affair Chardonnay 2024 (Niagara Peninsula)
Straw colour with green hue; toasty, spicy, vanilla and apple nose with a reductive note; medium-bodied, mouth-filling, dry, apple flavour with a suggestion of caramel; well-integrated oak and lively acidity. Can be opened now but an extra year in bottle will allow the oak to be less expressive. (90)
The Foreign Affair Rosé 2029 (Pinot Noir; Niagara Peninsula)
Pale pink in colour; lightly floral, cherry bouquet; medium-bodied, firmly structured, cherry flavour; firmly structured but elegant, with good length. Drink now and through 2026. (89)
The Foreign Affair Dream 2023 (Niagara Peninsula)
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Bright ruby in colour; cedary, plum and currants on the nose; medium-bodied, dry, savoury, blackcurrant and plum flavours with a floral top note; firmly structured finishing on firm but ripe tannins. Can be opened now but will reward 1–2 years of cellaring. (90)
The Foreign Affair Conspiracy 2023 (Niagara Peninsula)
Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc. Deep ruby in colour; cedary bouquet of plum and blackcurrant; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted flavours of blackcurrant and redcurrant and oak spice with a touch of mint on the finish. (89–91)
The Foreign Affair Temptress 2023 (Vinemount Ridge)
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Deep ruby in colour; cedary, spicy, black fruit nose with vanilla oak notes; medium to full-bodied, dry, richly extracted flavours of black plum, blackcurrant and blackberry with evident but ripe tannins. (90–91)
The Foreign Affair Cabernet Franc 2023 (Niagara Peninsula)
Ruby colour; lightly floral, plum bouquet with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry, well-balanced, savoury flavours of plum and blueberry; firmly structured; finishing on a note of white pepper. Great length. (91)
The Foreign Affair Syrah 2023 (Lincoln Lakeshore)
Deep ruby-purple in colour; cedary, mulberry nose with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry; richly extracted blackberry flavour with hints of black pepper; firmly structured and beautifully balanced. (92–93)
The Foreign Affair Cabernet Merlot 2022 (Niagara Peninsula)
Ruby-purple in colour; spicy, cedary, blackcurrant and plum bouquet; medium to full-bodied, dry, richly extracted blackcurrant and black plum flavours; well-balanced and firmly structured with cocoa powder tannins. (92)
The Foreign Affair Apologetic Red 2019 (Crispino Vineyard, Vinemount Ridge)
68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Cabernet Franc. Deep purple-ruby in colour; spicy, black fruit nose; full-bodied, dry, savoury black fruit flavours with a note of toasted herbs; well-balanced with lively acidity and evident but ripe tannins and a peppery finish. (91–92)