In my previous article, Lunessence Winery Winemaker’s Cut and More, I introduced you to one of our newer wineries Lunessence Winery & Vineyard. They sent me 9 wines in total to try. I wrote about 5 of their wines in the first article, and now the remaining 4 wines here for you to enjoy.
I am amazed that there is quite often something to learn about a winery, or grape, that you didn’t already know. Take for instance the Oraniensteiner grape. I have been tasting BC wines for many years and just now did I hear about Oraniensteiner. Besides Lunessence, Sonoran Estate Winery grows this grape. It’s original intent was for sparkling wine but we are using it in still wines. Read on to find out more about this grape, and the other wines offered by Lunessence.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Lunessence Pinot Blanc – Oraniensteiner 2016 ($22) – Grapes were grown on the Naramata bench and hand-picked. Oraniensteiner is a German varietal that was developed in 1985 to produce sparkling wines. It is a cross between Riesling and Silvaner. Medium minus lemon colour. The wine does show some tiny bubbles along the sides of the glass. Medium intensity nose with aromas of lychee, green fruit, tropical fruit, and a hint of floral. With air, you get some apple, more green fruit, some herbaceousness and stone fruit. The wine is between dry and off-dry, round with above average acidity. Medium plus body and flavour intensity. It has a round, thick mouth feel. You get a slight acidic prickle on your tongue. Flavours of tart green fruit, citrus, in particular grapefruit, and tropical fruit flavours. With decanting you get apple and lychee on the palate, more green fruit and stone fruit, and less citrus. The wine has a medium plus length, finishing with mouth-watering acidity, some pepperiness and bitterness, and flavours of green fruits.
Rating: 
A pleasant sip with a mix of tropical, green and stone fruit aromas and flavours.
Lunessence Blanc de Noirs 2016 ($18) – a rose blend of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Pinot Noir. The grapes underwent natural fermentation then aged on lees for 4 months and then another 4 months in stainless steel before bottling. Very pale Chum salmon colour. It has a light nose, with aromas of candied cherries, red fruit and hints of baby powder. With decanting you also get some bramble. The wine is dry, with medium plus acidity; angular, not round on the palate. A light acidic prickle on the tongue. The fruit flavours are very light so that it is hard to describe them, but I think I was able to discern strawberries, red cherries and stone fruit. Medium length, finishing with light tart red fruit flavours, some pepperiness and bitterness.
Rating: 
– Very light aromas and flavours for this rose. Mainly red cherries on the nose and palate.
Lunessence Crescendo MMXV 2015 ($30) – this wine is to be released in July 2017. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. The wine went through full malolactic fermentation. It was aged 6 months in Slovakian and French oak barrels, then 6 more months in stainless steel tanks. This is the first vintage of their Lunessence signature blend. The wine is unfined and unfiltered, and decanting is recommended by the winery. This wine is deep garnet in colour, and still has translucency regardless that it is unfined and unfiltered. It has medium plus intensity, with youthful aromas of ripe cassis, flowers, in particular roses, and hints of milk chocolate and cedar. With decanting the cedar note is more prominent and you also get nutmeg spice. The wine is dry with medium plus body and flavour intensity. Medium tannins give this wine tannic structure to support the fruit. The wine is roundish with medium mouth feel. Flavours of cassis, black fruit, plum, red cherry, and hints of raspberry and perfume. With decanting you get some red fruits, as well as more perfume and now some cedar. The wine has a medium plus length, finishing with mouth-watering acidity, firm tannins, some bitterness, pepperiness and a mix of black fruits. This wine is very good, and can probably age quite easily 4-5 years.
Rating: 
With decanting, the Cabernet Franc in this wine comes out to play. The wine has a lot of interesting aromas and flavours to enjoy.
Lunessence Essence Late Harvest Special Select 2015 ($26) – A blend of Pinot Blanc, Oraniensteiner, and Gewurztraminer. This Late Harvest wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks. The winery notes that some of the grapes were affected by noble rot. The wine is medium lemon; bright in the glass. Medium intensity aromas of Mandarin orange, McIntosh apple, peaches and a whiff of sweet spices. It is medium sweet, but not cloying; just right. Light mouth feel; slightly thick and feels slick in your mouth. Medium acidity, enough to balance the sugar, but not make it overly tart. Flavours of stone fruit, in particular peaches, as well as touches of apple, lime and honey (from the noble rot). Medium length, finishes dry, with some pepperiness and continues with stone fruits.
Rating: An enjoyable honeyed stone fruit flavour Late Harvest wine. Not too sweet, and nicely balanced by its acidity.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
The wines can be purchased online, or by visiting the winery at 5716 Gartrell Rd. Summerland, BC. Everything Wine also does carry some of their wines.
Why did I use the word “encore” in the title of this article? Because it was the second half of my article on the winery? Yes, in part. But there is something more musical. Check out the first article to find out!
