This is the third year that we have been fortunate to taste Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Vineyard’s new wines. Before we go to the tasting notes for the four Blue Grouse wines here are winemaker Bailey Williamson’s harvest notes and information on the winery’s 10-year anniversary celebration.
2021 Harvest
“Our growing degree days were higher than historical in the Cowichan valley which contributed to the great quality of fruit, so we are excited about the wines for this vintage. The picking was condensed due to impending rain events in September and early ripeness. Some of the challenges included finding enough people to be part of our picking crews, as there was a shortage in labour this season. But our leaner vineyard team was able to work efficiently and pick all 30 tons of grapes before the rain set in.”
Bailey Williamson, Winemaker
10 Year Celebration
This summer the team at Blue Grouse Estate Winery commemorates ten incredible years since Paul, Cristina and Paula Brunner purchased the property from the Kiltz family, who owned and operated the winery from 1989 to 2012.
Over the past decade, many things have evolved at this Island winery including a beautiful, modernized tasting room, vineyard expansions, and a celebrated visitor experience. To mark #TheBlueGrouchDecade, special offers are available this summer including celebratory glasses of sparkling wine for only $10, a special flat shipping fee of $10 for online purchases, as well as, a “bubble bar” pop-up on the mezzanine in August. To keep up with all the offers, sign up for the newsletter or simply reserve a tasting and join the party.
Blue Grouse Quill Pinot Gris
Available by the glass at all Tap and Barrel locations
The Pinot Gris grapes came from three Cowichan Valley vineyards, each with a different soil type, combining to deliver a unique terroir-driven wine. The growers all have had long-standing relationships with Blue Grouse and deliver fruit consistent with our quality requirements.
This wine was fermented in three separate stainless-steel tanks. One tank went through malolactic fermentation naturally, whereas the other two did not. The three tanks were blended prior to bottling resulting in a lush, focused wine with a perfect balance.
ALC 12.0% / PH 3.2 / TA 6.6 / RS 3.3
Aromas of caramel, apple and a hint of oak. Vibrant flavours of fresh green apple, Meyer lemon, butterscotch, toast, and pears with a hint of minerality. A rich and creamy mouthfeel with a medium finish. This is an exceptional BC PG. 92 Points
Blue Grouse Ortega 2020 ($25.99)
Ortega is a cross between Siegerrebe and Müller-Thurgau (itself a cross between Riesling and Madeleine Royale). Most of the grapes come from vines at least 25 years old, fully mature and at the peak of their production.
However, young plantings from 2014 are starting to add fresh full clusters to the vintage. The vines are grown in Fairbridge soils that vary from fractured silt-loam to gravel and sand. The grapes are 100% organically farmed using cover crop rotations, minimal irrigation, full leaf stripping and crop thinning to hit peak phenolic ripeness. The grapes were hand-harvested with a yield of 3.81 tonnes per acre.
ALC 11.8% / PH 3.4 / TA 4.7 / RS 0.3
This is a beautifully fruity wine. Lovely subtle aromas of white flowers and peach. Light-bodied, savoury, and low acidity, with flavours of Mandarin orange, caramel, and white peach with a medium finish. 90 Points
Also, great with oysters or rockfish with a beurre blanc.
Blue Grouse Quill Pinot Noir 2019 ($28.99)
The two Pinot Noirs (37.5% Okanagan – Oliver / 62.5% Cowichan Valley) were fermented and allowed to develop separately before blending. Each was left on skins for four days, had
no yeast added, and experienced only a small addition of nutrients. Fermentation was completed in ten days. After pressing, the wine was moved into two-year-old French oak barrels to complete malolactic fermentation, which was followed by twelve months of aging in French and American oak.
Alcohol 12.5% | pH 3.7| TA 6.7 | RS 0.7
The Pinot is a delicious ruby colour. Lovely aromas of red cherries, cranberries and violets. Vibrant flavours of black cherries, forest floor and a light touch of citrus and baking spices. Medium bodied, with high acidity than the previous release and silky smooth tannin. An excellent BC Pinot for under $30. 92 Points
It is a perfect accompaniment to a rack of lamb, wild sockeye salmon or hearty pasta dishes.
Blue Grouse Quill Rosé 2019 ($24.99)
Blue Grouse has had a longtime partnership with the growers supplying our Gamay Noir grapes. They are located in the northern part of the Cowichan Valley. The soil classification is Cowichan, which is mainly sediments described as silty loam. The 2021 season was one of the warmest in the Cowichan Valley and the Gamay grapes did not mind.
The Gamay Noir continues to be the workhorse for our rosé. It was destemmed, crushed into the tank and left on skins for 24 hours before pressing. It was with that slightly higher acidity in mind, that we stopped fermentation to maintain a little more sweetness to achieve a better balance. After fermentation, the wine was settled, racked, and aged for another three months on fine fermentation lees.
Alcohol 11.5% | pH 3.3| TA 7.8 | RS 4.1
The rosé is a vibrant reddish-pink with aromas of strawberry and citrus. Fresh and lively on the palate and bursting with the flavour of strawberry, orange and pink grapefruit with a touch of minerality. The perfect Beaujolais Rosé. 90 points.
Lovely sipping wine on a warm summer day. For the adventurous, pair it with cedar-planked salmon or a watermelon and goat cheese salad.
For the complete portfolio of wines please see the Blue Grouse Estate Winery website. For information on wines released in previous years see 2021 and 2020.