Here are two BC wines for your summer enjoyment. Carpe diem as we are already into August! The two wines are from Blue Grouse Estate Winery in Duncan, BC on Vancouver Island. I tasted their Blue Grouse Estate Winery Ortega 2021 and their Blue Grouse Estate Winery Quill Rosé 2021. The Rosé is made from 100% Gamay Noir grapes. Both wine bottles are Eco Series which are lighter and better for the environment. Both wines are also vegan-friendly. Let me tell you about them.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Blue Grouse Estate Winery Ortega 2021 (BC $25.99)
Appearance: A medium-minus intensity bright clear mix of lemon and straw colours.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of lemon and touches of peach and grape stem. With some time in the glass, you can add green fruit aromas as well. I think the aromas bump up to medium intensity with decanting.
Palate: Dry, fuller body, round and smooth, but not mouth-filling. A light acidic prickle. Citrus, in particular grapefruit, peach, stoniness and a touch of lime toward the finish. Higher acidity with decanting, plus green fruit and pine needles, followed by apples and pears toward the finish.
Finish: A medium-length finishing very light in your mouth. Light stone fruit flavour and a touch of orange and pepper at the very end. About the same finish with decanting.
No need to decant this wine, but if you do you will get some additional green fruit flavours.
Rating: 
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A delicate wine. Lighter straw and lemon mixed colour. Dry, fuller-body, round but not mouth-filling, and has a light acidic prickle on the palate. Citrus and stone fruit flavours and stony minerality. Medium length with a light stone fruit finish.
Blue Grouse Estate Winery Quill Rosé 2021 (BC $24.99)
Appearance: A deeper clear rhubarb red colour.
Nose: A medium intensity nose of sweet rhubarb and red fruits along with a touch of candied red fruit. Plus cranberries with air. No change to the aromas with decanting.
Palate: Dryish, fuller bodied, round and smooth with a thicker mouthfeel. Semi-tart flavours of rhubarb and red cherries, plus a touch of cranberries. The flavours are a bit tarter with decanting.
Finish: Medium length finishing lean. Red cherry flavours plus a touch of drying tannins. Add rhubarb to the flavours on the finish after decanting.
Rating: A deeper bright rhubarb colour. Medium intensity nose of sweet rhubarb, red fruits and candied fruit. Slightly off-dry, fuller body with a thicker round mouthfeel and a light acidic prickle. Semi-tart fruit flavours of rhubarb and red fruit, plus a touch of cranberries. Medium length with a lean finish.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Both wines are available through the Blue Grouse Estate Winery website:
Both wines are also available at JAK’s Liquor Stores.
- Ortega 2021
- Quill Rosé 2021
