Do you like white wines with skin contact? These “natural” style wines are becoming more common. I have two wines from Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery and their Modest Wines line. One is “the elder vicar 2019” which is a blend of Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Riesling co-fermented, while the other is “no. 4 orange 2020” from Pinot Gris grapes harvest from the Similkameen Valley and fermented on native yeasts.
If you are from Vancouver no. 4 orange means something to you (which you can research), but for the winery, they are making 4 orange wines, over 4 years, using 4 noble Alsatian white grapes. Last year, 2019, they used Gewurztraminer. This vintage, 2020, they used Pinot Gris. The next two noble Alsatian white grapes for them to use are Riesling and Muscat. The Elder Vicar 2019 is about a conflict between Father Pandosy, the vicar, and Isadore Boucherie, in Kelowna/Westbank. I don’t know the reason for the conflict, but Isadore won. The labels for these wines are quite unique in my opinion, showing images related to the topic of the wine.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Modest Wines the elder vicar 2019 (BC $21.99)
Appearance: A medium intensity pear skin colour.
Nose: A medium intensity nose with prominent pears plus hints of orange and sweet spices. It also has an interesting spearmint/mint/curry spice aroma as well that continues to the palate. The same aromas with decanting plus marzipan.
Palate: Very slightly off-dry, round, with a medium acidic prickle. A thicker mouthfeel. Medium plus intensity flavours of ripe pears and apricots. There are also some tart flavours mixed with the ripe fruit flavours. The flavours were so interesting with decanting. Besides the flavours previously mentioned, you can add marzipan, lemon, rose water, and lychee. I think the Gewurztraminer was making it’s presence felt.
Finish: A medium-plus length with pears and pear skin flavour. Light pepperiness. I was picking up some stony minerality on the finish with decanting.
Geek alert. This is an excellent wine and I think giving it a decant makes the difference.
Rating: 
An exciting aromatic blend. Upon opening you get pears with a hint of orange and sweet spices. Dry, medium plus body with a round, thicker mouthfeel. Juicy pears and apricot, some tart fruit and nice acidic prickle. Decanting adds a wide variety of flavours; marzipan, lemon, rose water, and lychee.
Modest Wines no. 4 orange 2020 (BC $24.99)
Appearance: A clear bright medium intensity rhubarb red colour.
Nose: A very light intensity nose with aromas of red cherries and red fruits and a hint of candied cherries. The light aromas continue with decanting. Same aromas, plus a touch of rhubarb.
Palate: A dry, lean wine, with a light mouthfeel. It has roundness to start but the tannins kick in quite quickly. The tannins are quite strong and drying. Light red cherries, red fruits, and raspberry flavours, plus some minerality. The tannins and related texture are more evident than the fruit flavours. You still get the red cherries and red fruit flavours with decanting, and you can add blackberry leaf. The tannins do lighten up, which I appreciate.
Finish: A medium length with a very drying finish. Light red cherries and red fruits, plus red apple skin flavours. No change to flavours with decanting other than the lightening of tannins.
Another geeky wine. I prefer the decanted version as the tannins are substantially toned down.
Rating: 
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An interesting wine that is more tannins than fruit flavours upon first opening. Decanting softens the tannins, but they are still quite evident. Very light red fruit aromas and flavours. Dry and lean with a light mouthfeel.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Modest Wines can be purchased through the Mt. Boucherie website. I have checked the BC Liquor Stores and a few private wine shop websites, but have not seen this line of wines listed yet; it could be that the wines are still new to the market. Keep checking with your local bottle shop.
