2023 was a little challenging for BC wineries with reduced yields (~34 to 56 percent loss) coming from a winter cold snap. Harvest was a little later as the growing season was a bit cooler, with a dry Fall. How did that affect the wines in the Okanagan? I have a small sample size of two wines to review for you from Gold Hill Winery. In particular, I am reviewing their Charisma Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir Rosé 2023. The Charisma labels I think are the nicest looking labels of all BC wines. What do you think?
I noticed that my tasting notes are quite different from the tasting notes on the back label of the wine bottles. The wines really changed over the last two years. Check it out.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Charisma Pinot Gris 2023 (BC $19.99)
Winery description, “This fresh, fruity and delicate Pinot Gris is made with fruit sourced from our Oliver Mirror Lake Vineyard. Formed from glacial melt, this kettle lake stays cool in the heat of our Oliver summers, with passing breezes causing evaporative cooling. The resulting charming wine has flavours and aromas from ripe orchard fruits of apple and pear, with an underlying graham crust and creamy flan. Easy-drinking to enjoy on its own on the patio or paired with fresh tapas.”
Appearance: A clear, deep golden colour in the glass.
Nose: Medium-plus aromas of toast, pineapple, apple, and some stoniness. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry with a smooth, thicker mouthfeel. Light acidic prickle to start that fades and is replaced by light pepperiness. Flavours of toast, pineapple, and honey. The acidic prickle lasts longer on your tongue after decanting.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with roasted pineapple, honey, and pepperiness. The toasty flavour becomes more evident on the finish after decanting.
A very intense, flavourful Pinot Gris with deep flavours. It is showing aging in the bottle and is much different compared to the original tasting notes from the winery.
Rating: 
– 
Charisma Pinot Gris 2023 shows a clear, deep golden colour with medium-plus aromas of toast, pineapple, apple, and a touch of stoniness. Dry on the palate, it has a smooth, thicker mouthfeel with an initial acidic prickle that fades into light pepperiness, showing flavours of toast, pineapple, and honey. The medium-plus finish lingers with roasted pineapple, honey, pepperiness, and a toasty note after decanting toward the end.
Charisma Pinot Noir Rosé 2023 (BC $21.99)
Winery description, “Sourced from our highest altitude vineyard in the Central Okanagan, this wine shows classic characteristics of cool-climate production. This structural offering is bright with crisp, electric minerality paired with ripe strawberries, red charry and notes of gun flint. Our vibrant Pinot Noir Rosé is best paired with pan-seared trout, grilled vegetables, or Cobb salad.”
Appearance: A deep, bright orange-amber colour.
Nose: Medium intensity, developing aromas of red fruits, dried stone fruits, and touches of oak, toast, and sweet spices. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: Fruity or off-dry, with a smooth, soft, thicker mouthfeel. Lower acidity and tannins. Medium-plus intensity dried stone fruits, red fruits, and light oak flavours. The wine bumps up to medium body after decanting. No other changes.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing off-dry or fruity, dried stone fruits, and light pepperiness. Thick mouthfeel to the end. No change to the finish after decanting.
This wine, right now, reminds me of an Amontillado sherry. The aromas and flavours have really evolved for this wine. No need to decant.
Rating: – Charisma Pinot Noir Rosé 2023 has a deep, bright orange-amber colour with medium intensity aromas of red fruits and dried stone fruits, supported by touches of oak, toast, and sweet spices. Fruity to off-dry on the palate, it shows a smooth, soft, thicker mouthfeel with medium-plus flavours of dried stone fruits, red fruits, and light oak, and a slightly fuller body with air. The medium-plus finish remains fruity, ending with dried stone fruits, and light pepperiness.
I am not sure why there is such a discrepancy between the winery tasting notes, which are written before bottling, and my tasting notes, two years later, other than the wines really evolved in the bottle over those two years or the storage area may be a little warm causing the wines to age a little more quickly. This is an interesting puzzle. These are wines to drink now.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
You can buy both wines from the Gold Hill Winery website:
The Charisma Pinot Noir Rosé 2023 is available at BC Liquor stores. At the time of this writing, eight bottles of the Charisma Pinot Gris 2023 are available at the Abbotsford Everything Wine store.
