Osoyoos Larose is the first BC winery that was formed in 1998 by a French company, Groupe Taillan of Bordeaux and Constellation Brands Canada together to create a world-class Canadian wine from classic red Bordeaux varietals. The Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin is their flagship wine built to age, but they also have a second-tier wine, Pétales d’Osoyoos. I’ve reviewed the Pétales d’Osoyoos before on mywinepal.com, but this is the first time that I formally have a chance to review the Le Grand Vin and was quite excited to receive this bottle.
My Review of the Osoyoos LaRose Le Grand Vin 2016
Osoyoos LaRose Le Grand Vin 2016 (BC $47.99) – a blend of 62.5% Merlot, 7.7% Cabernet Franc, 12.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.8% Petit Verdot, and 5.5% Malbec. The grapes were hand-sorted, destemmed and crushed at the winery. Fermentation occurred in custom-made cone-shaped tanks. Each lot was tasted daily to adapt the skin contact time to the vintage and wine feature. Short pump-overs were done regularly each day to extract only fine tannins. The wine was then aged for 12 months in a 60/40 split of new and one-year-old French oak barrels.
This wine has a deep dull garnet colour. It is about 85% opaque with uniform opacity from rim to the core. It has a medium intensity deep aromas of ripe plums, Old World oak / cedar, nutmeg and black pepper. As you swirl the wine for 5-10 minutes you can add blackberries, chocolate, raspberries and cinnamon aromas as well. With a longer decant this wine becomes much more aromatic. Lots of plums, cassis, sweet spices and hints of capsicum and cocoa. This wine is dry, very smooth with a medium-plus body but light mouthfeel. It starts off feeling semi-round but as you swirl the wine for a few minutes the wine gets rounder and bigger. It is almost like tasting 2 different wines. The wine continues to be big and round with longer decanting. It has flavours of plums, cassis, and ripe black fruits to start, but again with some swirling, you get the addition of chocolate, ripe raspberries, toast and some smokiness. Extended decanting gives you stronger fruit flavours and continues to be very smooth on the palate. The tannins start off quite light and build toward the finish. Again upon first opening, the finish is not overly tannic or grippy, but after 5-10 minutes the tannins get much stronger. Cassis, sweet and tart black fruit and peppery flavours on the finish, then after 10 minutes of swirling you also get some chocolate and floral flavours. Overall I would say that the tannins are fine and elegant. Giving this wine even a few minutes to decant is a great idea as it will make the wine bigger, rounder, and the fruit flavours and aromas stronger.
Rating: 
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A big, yet elegant wine, full of plum, cassis and sweet spices. Enjoy it best with a short decant so that it can give you its best expression.
How Do I Buy This Wine?
You may purchase the wine from the winery by signing up to be a Club Member, otherwise, it is available through government and private liquor stores. Everything Wine, SAQ in Quebec and BC Liquor stores carry their wine. There may be other private stores as well. It is best to ask your local private store.
