It was great to see that the organizers of the All Canadian Wine Championships 2021 persevered through the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here is the link to all the results. Congratulations to the winners of the “Best Red and White Wines of the Year” – Dark Horse Vineyard and Wine Goose Vineyards.
BC wineries represented 56% of the wines entered and won 4 Trophies/29 Dbl Gold/81 Gold/75 Silver /88 Bronze.
With 759 BC wines entered I wasn’t able to try all the wines!
However, here are some of the Gold and Silver medal winners I have tried, along with their tasting notes!
Double Gold Medal Winner
Castoro de Oro Heart of Gold
This vibrant white blend takes its name from the song made famous by Canadian Rock Icon, Neil Young. The wine is a blend of Pinot Blanc, Vidal, Siegfried and Viognier.
The wine starts with aromatic aromas of ripe fruit. The flavours are an explosion of fresh fruit salad including pineapple, red apple, apricot, honeydew melon and more. A smooth rich mouthfeel with a touch of bitterness on the finish to refresh the palate. 89 points.
Gold Medal Winners
Four Shadows Dry Riesling 2020 ($23.99)
344 cases produced. 11.5% Alcohol, pH 2.9 TA 8.0 g/L, RS 5.6 g/L.
One of the first Rieslings of the 2020 vintage and this one is FABULOUS.
A lovely pale straw colour. On the nose, there are aromas of jasmine, tropical fruit and green apple.
The palate has flavours of lime zest, green apple, honeydew melon, green kiwi, pineapple with a touch of minerality leading to a crisp, lingering finish. 93 Points
Even better than the great 2019 vintage.
Paired perfectly with pan-fried sole and Tuscan baked vegetables.
Gehringer Brothers Private Reserve Dry Riesling 2020 ($13.99)
The 2020 BC Rieslings are fantastic. The low yields have imparted vibrant fruit flavours to the wines.
The Private Reserve Dry Riesling is a result of a specially selected site and exceptional vineyard care. The reduced crop load and intensive leaf canopy management have yielded a positive difference in taste.
Apple blossom and stone fruit aroma. A rich fruit-forward wine with perfectly balanced acidity and rounded mouthfeel with flavours of apple, white peach, tropical fruit, honeycomb, a wet stone mineral backbone and a slightly bitter sour lime finish. A perfect crisp sipper on a hot summer day. 91 Points.
La Frenz Muscat Liqueur NV
Modelled after fortified muscats of the Rutherglen region in Australia but not as high a viscosity as the Southern gems! Aromas of dried apricots and steeped Earl Grey tea with a hint of vanilla. On the palate flavours of butterscotch, buttery dried fruit panettone, cinnamon and the nectar-like notes unique to the Muscat grape varietal. 92 Points
The Liqueur Muscat is produced in a Solera system, meaning the average age of the blend progressively becomes older. The wine is aged in neutral oak barrels and is a blend of three Muscat varietals, the dominant one being the Schönberger grape.
Silver Medal Winners
Dirty Laundry Hush Rosé 2020
The challenge of making DVL Hush Rosé
It’s our biggest-selling wine, and it’s also the hardest and most time-consuming to make. We do double the work for half the yield on this wine. After we do two press cycles a day per type of grape, we let the Pinot Gris grapes soak for 24 hours to pull some delicate colour from the skins. Our production times slow way down, but this wine is worth the time investment for sure.
We ferment the juices at relatively cool temperatures, preserving aromatics, and then we rack off into stainless steel, where the wine settles until we blend. Blending is key to our Rosé, and definitely is the highlight of cellar work after each Christmas. This year’s vintage reflects the cooler growing season of 2020.
Mason Spink, Winemaker
Alcohol 12.8 %, pH 3.57 , TA 5.1 , RS 6.5
For the 2020 vintage, the Hush Rosé is comprised of several varieties, mainly Pinot Gris and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Aromas of red delicious apple, lemon, lime and a hint of cinnamon. On the palate, ripe red peach, watermelon, strawberry and red grapefruit flavours and a hint of sweetness on the finish. 91 Points
Dirty Laundry Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($27.99)
90% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Similkameen and Okanagan Valley, 10% Merlot from the Okanagan Valley. Grapes are picked at optimum ripeness levels and fermented separately to feature the unique attributes of each grape. The wine spent 12 months in neutral oak with 75% French and 25% American oak.
Alcohol 14 %, pH 3.74 , TA 5.7, RS 2.09
A beautiful deep ruby red colour. Aromas of raspberry, cherry and chocolate. On the palate black plum, blackberries, cherries and leather and a hint of dark chocolate and pepper. Smooth tannins giving way to a luscious long finish. 91 Points
Pairs well with BBQ NY strip steak, burgers and game meat.
Seaside Pearl Lover’s Lane Cabernet Franc 2018 ($31)
The grapes are sourced from the Herrera Family vineyard in Keremeos.
13.6% Alcohol. A pale garnet colour. The medium-bodied wine has aromas of black currant and ripe raspberry with a hint of smoke when first opened. Airing reveals nuances of allspice and sage. High acidity with flavours of blackberry, black cherry, ripe raspberry, black currant and dark chocolate complemented by tobacco, earthy undertones and soft smoky oak. 92 Points
Noble Ridge King’s Ransom Meritage 2017
De-stemmed and crushed. Fermentation between 25 °C and 28 °C. 24 months in French and American barrels: 75% French, 25% American; 75% new oak.
57% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.7% Alcohol, pH 3.84, TA 6.5 g/L, RS 3.1 g/L.
The King’s Ransom Meritage is the pinnacle of the Noble Ridge collection. The full-bodied Meritage has rich aromas of black fruit, leather and cigar. On the palate, blackberry, black cherry, Montreal smoked meat, dark chocolate, black pepper and oak. Deep and textured, the velvet tannins carry through to a long dry finish. This is a superb wine. 94 Points.
Paired perfectly with Indonesian pork tenderloin and sliced baked potatoes. If you love to cook, here is the link to the tenderloin recipe.
Four Shadows Sparkling Riesling 2020 ($24.99)
100 cases produced. 11.7% Alcohol, pH 2.9 TA 8.0 g/L, RS 8.6 g/L.
Tropical fruit aromas. Flavours of pineapple, kiwi, mango and green apple. The high acidity and residual sugar balance perfectly with plenty of lively bubbles. The perfect sparkler for the patio or with seafood. 90 Points.
Peak Cellars Gewürztraminer 2020 ($24)
Alcohol 13.4% / pH 3.28 / TA 5.65 g/L / RS 6.15 g/L
Alsace dry style with a rich, almost creamy body and acidity to balance the aromatics. Light straw coloured. The first breath from the glass is like a walk in an alpine meadow with freshly blooming wildflowers and classic aromas of lychee, kiwi, and gooseberry.
Meyer lemon, passionfruit, lychee, ginger and apricot flood the palate with a marzipan finish. Medium acidity and a medium finish. 90 points
Pairs well with soft blue cheeses and spicy Asian dishes, like curry, sweet and sour and more. This style of Gew is enjoyable young, and ages with grace.
TIME Merlot 2018 ($27.99)
The grapes were hand-picked, crushed and destemmed. Fermented in stainless steel tanks. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels.
Alcohol 14.2% | pH 3.80 | TA 5.3 | RS 2
The young Merlot shows the aromas of cherries with savoury notes. This is a medium-bodied wine with flavours of red berry, plum, chocolate, toasty oak and sagebrush. The rich mouthfeel leads to a long finish. 89 Points
The Merlot paired deliciously with smoked ribs.