Today I have two wines for you from south Okanagan’s Gold Hill Winery; their Gold Hill Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2022 and Charisma Cabernet Merlot 2021. Charisma is their second label. Charisma wines curates charming approachable everyday drinking wines. There were scattered forest fires in the BC interior in 2021, but the winemakers at that time did not notice any smoke taint during the winemaking process. Sometimes smoke taint does not show up immediately, but over time it can appear as the wine evolves in the bottle. I think that I am picking up some smoke taint in the Charisma Cabernet Merlot 2021, but it is not unpleasant. It may actually work well if you are making bbq burgers or other meats. Let me tell you about these wines.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Gold Hill Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (BC $29.99)
Appearance: A bright, clear, medium intensity lemon colour.
Nose: Pronounced aromas of citrus, orange, tropical fruit, and flint or matchstick. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, medium-plus body with a smooth, thicker mouthfeel. Higher acidity gives you some puckering in your mouthfeel. Tropical fruit flavours along with some minerality, grape stem, and flint. The acidity gets a little softer after decanting. No change to the flavours.
Finish: A medium-plus length, finishing with citrus pith, tropical fruit, some grape stem and pepperiness. No change to the finish after decanting.
No meaningful change to this wine after decanting, so open and enjoy at your leisure.
Rating: 
Gold Hill Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2022 has a bright lemon colour with pronounced aromas of citrus, tropical fruit, a touch of orange, and a flinty or matchstick note. It is dry and medium-plus bodied with a smooth, slightly thicker mouthfeel, showing vibrant acidity, tropical fruit flavours, minerality, grape stem, and flint, with the acidity softening slightly after decanting. The medium-plus finish lingers with citrus pith, tropical fruit, grape stem, and a peppery edge.
Charisma Cabernet Merlot 2021 (BC $24.99)
Appearance: A deep, garnet colour.
Nose: Medium-plus intensity aromas of grilled sausage, red fruits, and bbq sauce. The same aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium body, with a soft, light mouthfeel. Sweet, juicy berries, plums and light toast. Also some bbq sauce flavour that gets stronger toward the finish. Add ripe cherries to the flavours after decanting.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with sweet juicy berries, sausage, bbq sauce and a touch of pepperiness. No change to the finish after decanting.
You get some smoke taint with the bbq sauce aroma and flavour for this wine, but it is not overpowering. Would make a good pairing to bbq’d dishes.
Rating: 
– Charisma Cabernet Merlot 2021 shows a deep garnet colour with medium-plus aromas of grilled sausage, red fruits, and smoky bbq sauce. It is dry and medium-bodied with a soft, light mouthfeel, offering sweet, juicy berries, plums, light toast, and a bbq sauce note that builds toward the finish, with ripe cherries emerging after decanting. The medium-plus finish offers sweet berries, sausage, bbq sauce, and a gentle touch of pepper on the palate.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Both wines can be ordered online via the Gold Hill Winery website:
The Charisma Cabernet Merlot 2020 is listed at BC Liquor stores, which may be correct, or could be the 2021 vintage as vintage info is not always updated.
