Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery in Abbotsford continues to produce top-quality limited-production wines. The two wines I tasted, their Magnolias Rosé 2021 and The Connaught Syrah 2020, continue with this tradition. Let me tell you about them.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery Magnolias Rosé 2021 (for Club Members only)
The magnolias label celebrates the blooms of this tree in spring in the Mount Lehman area. This wine is made from Cabernet Foch grapes coming from the Okanagan Valley. Only 90 cases of this wine are produced.
Appearance: A bright, clear deep salmony orange colour.
Nose: Medium-intensity aromas of tart red fruits, plus a hint of citrus and grape stem. With swirling you will also get strawberry scents. Sweeter aromas with decanting, primarily of strawberries and now you can add a touch of rhubarb.
Palate: This wine is dry, fuller-bodied with a round mouthfeel. There is some viscosity which I like. Bright acidity. Tart red fruits and red cherries, plus some strawberry leaf. With swirling you start to get light strawberry flavours as well. The wine tastes slightly off-dry after decanting. Again strawberry flavours become more pronounced and you can add a touch of rhubarb.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with tart fruits, red cherries transitioning to strawberries. Swirling reduces the tartness a bit and gives you a bit sweeter red fruit finish. More strawberries and now a touch of strawberry leaf with decanting.
No need to decant this wine. It tastes great as soon as it’s opened.
Rating: 
– 
A refreshing rosé wine with bright red fruit, primarily strawberries, aromas and flavours. Fuller-bodied with a round mouthfeel. Medium plus length. Try this with grilled or baked salmon.
Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery The Connaught 2020, Similkameen Valley (BC ~$40)
The label for shows The Connaught, an electric car that ran on the BC Electric Railway. From the back label, Seaside Pearl noted that there were over 500 electric cars that ran on the BC Electric railway but only four are left; one of them being The Connaught, which was restored by the Fraser Valley Heritage Rail Society. This car transported HRH Prince Arthur, The Duke of Connaught and Stratheam, Governor General of Canada and his family during the Royal visit in 1912.
The Syrah grapes for this wine come from the Similkameen Valley, which is known for its strong west-to-east breezes blowing through the valley. This gives the grape a different, bolder firmer character than Syrah grown in the Okanagan Valley in my opinion.
Appearance: A deep clear mix of ruby and garnet colours.
Nose: Quite pronounced aromas of cedar and nutmeg, together with black fruit, blackberries, sweet spices and black pepper. No change with decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium-plus body that lightens up with air. Smooth and round, but not quite mouth-filling. Ripe tannins that get strong toward the finish. Bright acidity. Nutmeg, black cherries and blackberries on the palate, along with nutmeg spice and cedar. Maybe a hint of black pepper with swirling. No major change with decanting, other than the cedar flavour may be a bit stronger.
Finish: A medium-length finishing with a light mouthfeel, light tannins, and tart acidity. Cedar, cinnamon, blackberries and black cherries, plus touches of cedar and vanilla. A bigger mouthfeel on the finish and stronger drying tannins with decanting.
This wine has staying power. Decanting does not change it much. I’d recommend buying and cellaring this wine for 3-4 years before opening it so that the strong cedar and nutmeg aromas and flavours tone down more and give you more of the fruit aromas and flavours.
Rating: – A deeply coloured Syrah with strong cedar and nutmeg aromas and flavours, along with black fruits and blackberries. Fuller bodied with a round thicker mouthfeel. Quite smooth on the palate. Medium length.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
If you are interested in the Magnolias Rosé, join the Seaside Pearl Wine Club. Besides this wine, you get access to all their other wines, some of which can be for members only as well as other perks. The Connaught Syrah 2019 is available at the winery’s website and at select Save On Foods stores. I was told that The Connaught Syrah 2020 should be posted on the website shortly.
