Here are two fruit-forward BC red wines for you to enjoy. you may want to consider Da Silva Vineyards and Winery. Their Vinhedo Merlot 2020 and Pinot Noir 2021. The Da Silva family immigrated from Portugal to Canada, have over 65 years of farming experience in the South Okanagan, and started their winery in 2006. They note that this intrinsic understanding of farming and their vineyards that sets them apart when crafting their wines. Let me tell you about these two wines.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Da Silva Vineyards and Winery Vinhedo Merlot 2020 (BC $37.99)
The grapes come from two different vineyards around Penticton were crushed and fermented in 1/2 ton open top fermenters then aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels for 20 months. This wine is closed by screw cap. 227 cases were produced.
Appearance: A deep, dull garnet colour with a touch of ruby in the glass. Almost opaque to the rim. Teardrops were evident on the side of the glass after swirling.
Nose: Medium intensity, lively youthful aromas of juicy purple berries, plums, cinnamon and cedar. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry with a lighter body, smooth and medium roundness. Not quite mouth-filling. Fruity tasting with juicy berries and red plums. I also picked up a hint of candied red cherries and pepperiness. Light acidity and tannins. The wine felt a bit softer and was more mouth-filling after decanting. You can add touches of cinnamon and floral violets on the palate.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with juicy berry flavour, plus touches of cedar, floral, candied cherries, and vanilla. Medium-intensity tannins on the finish. No change to the flavours after decanting, but the tannins may be a tad stronger and more drying. I also picked up some pepperiness on the finish.
A youthful wine with juicy berry fruit aromas and flavours. Could do with a bit more tannic structure, but easily enjoyable as-is. No need to decant.
Rating: 
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A deep, dull garnet colour with a touch of ruby in the glass. Lively youthful aromas of juicy purple berries, plums, cinnamon and cedar. This wine is dry with a lighter body, smooth and medium roundness. Fruity tasting with juicy berries and red plums, plus hints of candied red cherries and pepperiness. Medium-plus length.
Da Silva Vineyards and Winery Vinhedo Pinot Noir 2021 (BC $44.99)
The grapes come from two different vineyards around Penticton, were crushed and fermented in 1/2 ton open top fermenters then aged in French and Hungarian oak barrels for 18 months. This wine uses an aggregate cork closure. 350 cases were produced.
Appearance: A clear, translucent medium-intensity garnet with some brick colouring. Teardrops on the sides of the glass after swirling.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of red fruit, cinnamon, red cherries, and touches of toast, cedar, and dark chocolate with air. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium-minus body, with a soft, lean mouthfeel. Also not quite mouth-filling like the Merlot. Red fruit, sweet spices, and light touches of toast and cedar. There is also some minerality on the palate. The tannins start light but get stronger with swirling. Medium acidity. I also picked up butteriness on the palate. With decanting you can add red cherries and candied red cherries flavours. The tannins were also stronger after decanting.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with red fruit and toast flavours, along with touches of oak, cedar and vanilla. The wine had a bit of hotness on the finish. Mouthwatering acidity on the finish and medium-minus drying tannins. No changes to the finish after decanting, other than adding some cherry flavour.
This wine gets bigger with decanting. It has enticing red fruit and cedar aromas and flavours. I enjoyed the wine undecanted and decanted. So have this wine at your leisure.
This wine paired really well with a light cheddar cheese. The cheese brought out the fruit and cedar flavours of the wine and the wine enhanced the creaminess of the cheese.
Rating: A clear, translucent medium-intensity garnet with some brick colouring. Medium-minus intensity aromas of red fruit, cinnamon, red cherries, and touches of toast, cedar, and dark chocolate with air. Dry, medium-minus body, with a soft, lean mouthfeel. Red fruit, sweet spices, and light touches of toast and cedar. Medium-plus length.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
- Da Silva Vineyards and Winery Vinhedo Merlot 2020
- Da Silva Vineyards and Winery Vinhedo Pinot Noir 2021
