It is Spring and I was fortunate to attend the Heart of Wine Country Spring Release Tasting covering wines from Okanagan Falls and Skaha Lake. This is the first stand-up and walk-around trade tasting that I had since the COVID shutdown 2 years ago. It was quite an experience to see people to talk about their wines, meet friends I have not seen in 2 years, plus taste some excellent BC wine. Here are a few of the wines that I enjoyed. I did not get a chance to visit a few tables, as they were very busy, but did want to visit them as well.
You can probably enjoy these wines below with your Easter dinner.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Crescent Hill Winery Okanagan Girl Oaked Chardonnay 2018 – Bright lemon colour. Light crisp apple and a hint of toast on the nose. Nice and smooth. Some cinnamon and apple flavour. Lower acid, nice and round. Butterscotch toward the finish. 
Liquidity Wines Chardonnay 2019 – A bright lemon colour. Whole cluster pressed, partially oaked. Very light apple aroma. Dry, soft and smooth, with sweet spices, apple, and oak flavours. Medium length. A classical style. 
–
Nighthawk Vineyards Gewurztraminer 2017 – A light yellow-green. A lovely lychee and rose petal nose. Off-dry, light-body, more lean than round. Lychee, roses and some grape stem flavours. Medium length.
Meyer Family Vineyards McLean Creek Road Vineyard Chardonnay 2020 – Bright medium lemon colour. Toast, butterscotch apple and a touch of lemon aromas. Dry, medium-plus body, and smooth. Toasty apple flavour followed by butterscotch on the finish. A classical oaked Chardonnay, not too heavy.
Noble Ridge Reserve Pinot Grigio 2021– (not yet released) 3 separate pickings with 3 different strains of yeast for complexity. Light straw colour. Light aromatics of peach and other stone fruit. Smooth, dry, peach, apricot flavours. Medium acidity with a thicker viscous feel. –
Noble Ridge The One 2016 – a sparkling wine made with 69% Chardonnay and 31% Pinot Noir. Méthode traditionnelle with 42 months lees ageing. Medium bright lemon colour. Nice lemon aroma plus crisp freshly cut apple. High acidity. Crisp, small, creamy bubble. Dry, medium-plus body, with crab apple and some bruised apple flavours. Medium length.
Play Estate Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2020 – 50% wild fermentation with maturation in 70% stainless steel and 30% French oak. Light bright lemon colour. Light aromas; floral, vanilla, and apple. Dry, low acidity, nice and smooth mouthfeel. Red apple flavour. Medium length. –
Wild Goose Vineyards Autumn Gold 2021 – A blend of Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Blanc, with a little Chardonnay added for this vintage. Medium bright lemon colour. Some cinnamon, rose petals, and peach on the nose. Medium body, off-dry, quite smooth. Lower acidity. Roses, lychee, apple, and sweet spices flavours. Medium-plus length. A nice patio sipper.
Black Market Omerta 2021 – A rosé made from Cabernet Franc. Light colour. Medium strawberry aroma and some rhubarb. Nice red fruit, strawberries. Medium-plus acidity. Slightly off-dry. Nice roundness.
Pentage Winery Rosé 2020 – a field blend of 10 different grape varieties. Lighter bright tart red cherry colour. Light red cherry and red apple aromas. Light body, slightly off-dry. Red fruits and rhubarb flavours. A touch of tannins and tartness on the finish. –
Liquidity Wines Greta and the Dress of Life Cabernet Franc 2019 – A very different label compared to the rest of Liquidity’s labels. It really stands out. Artwork by Bruce Pashak. Medium, very translucent garnet colour. Very aromatic; red apples and red cherries, sweet spices and capsicum. Sweet aromas. Dry, lighter body, more on the lean side. Nice red fruit and cinnamon spice flavours. Light tannins and medium acidity. Very good quality. – 
Liquidity Wines Dividend 2019 – A blend of 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Cabernet Franc, fermented separately and aged in French oak, then blended together. A deeper garnet colour, but translucent. Lighter aromas of oak, red fruit, red cherry, and a hint of sweet spices. Dry, light-body, lean mouthfeel. Capsicum, plums, red cherries and other red fruits, plus some vanilla and cinnamon flavours. Medium length. Light tannins, but enough for structure. –
Blasted Church Vineyards Nectar of the Gods 2018 – Deep, dull, almost opaque garnet colour. Lighter aromas of dark fruit, cassis, toast and smoky notes, and cinnamon. Dry, medium body, smooth and round, but not mouth-filling. Black fruit, black pepper, and a hint of capsicum and a touch of cinnamon. Gets peppery toward the finish. Tannins firm up on the finish, but not overly drying.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
These wines are all available by ordering directly from each winery online. You may also find these wines at Everything Wine, Save On Foods, and other private wine shops, but you need to ask.
