Hillside Syrah - 6 year Vertical

A few years in the making, and with some help from the winery, I was finally able to hold my 6 year vertical of Hillside Winery's Syrah from BC's Okanagan Valley. A vertical tasting is when you try the same wine from the same winery but of different vintages. A horizontal tasting is when you try the same vintage, region, and grape but from different wineries.

This journey started when I opened their 2008 Syrah for Christmas 2013. The bottle was bought during my first wine tasting trip to the Okanagan and was the first bottle I had personally "aged" so it held some sentimental value.  The wine had aged beautifully and at the time was one of the best BC wines I had ever tasted. It was one of those ah-ha moments in wine for me; I had faint memories of tasting it at the winery and thinking it was young. I looked and called around but I could not find another bottle anywhere.

So it began, I collected the 2009, 2011, 2012, & 2013, from Vancouver VQA shops. Wanting to make room in my wine fridge, I contacted the winery last fall about tracking down the missing 2010 and on a whim asked about the delicious 2008. I was in luck as the 2008 was stocked as part of their library collection and I was graciously allowed to purchase one of the last of the 2010's!

Quick camping trip to the Okanagan = 6 year vertical complete.

My wife and I got together with two other wine savvy couples to celebrate the holidays and a new baby among the group. It was an informal tasting where we tasted the wines in pairs, in descending order and I shared a few notes on the different weather of each vintage.

The 2013 and 2012 were both drinking a little young but had great flavour profiles that will still open up and develop further. They both drink well today, but came off as lighter for Syrah with the 2012 being slightly better balanced. They both displayed black fruits with a nice spiciness, smooth tannin's and good acidity.

The 2011 seemed to be the forgotten bottle as the night progressed and was the last one to be finished. It's not that it was bad, it's a nice wine it just was no ones favorite. The 2010 is drinking fantastic and became most of the groups "benchmark" wines for the night. In comparisons it was always 'this' vs. the 2010. It was not young nor old just sitting in this nice picturesque drinking window. This wine comes in with black raspberries, currants, and the spice has nuances of clove and cardamom with a hint of espresso. It really opened up as the night went on and a shame there aren't many more around.

The 2009 and 2008 were very different wines from the rest of the group, and I can't see the 2010 showing the age of the 2009 in a years time. 2008 & 2009 were both very hot vintages and it really comes across in these wines. These drank as mature wines with lot's of nice tertiary flavours starting to develop.  As you can see from the empty bottle to the right there was a lot of sediment left behind in the 08 & 09. The 09 had a really interesting spicy salami note to it to go along with the other earthy and savoury aromas. Both had riper almost stewed blackberry cherry fruits with raisins, leather and cigar ash notes. A rich textured mouth-feel and a long developed finish of ripe dark fruits with a peppery gaminess.

I have been a little slow getting this blog out as I couldn't find my original tasting notes. The bonus to this is I recently tasted the 2014 and its flavour profile and structure is similar to the 08 & 09 but drinking young for it's potential. Pick one up to drink it in 5-7 years and you will be pleasantly surprised. I know I will be and maybe using it to start another vertical as 2015 was all around a great vintage too!

More info about winery and their wines:       http://hillsidewinery.ca/

(All bottles were stored long term in my wine fridge, and were purchased at retail prices)

Okanagan Wine Weekend

On the first weekend of June my wife and I had a beautiful trip to Vaseux Lake in the Okanagan to celebrate a friends anniversary. We would be staying at the same chalet they got married at which is owned by their friends family, and is usually booked all summer long with rentals. Even with the flood warnings and my back seizing on me Friday morning it was an opportunity you don't let pass. 

DAY 1 - Osoyoos to Oliver

First stop for our small convoy was MOON CURSOR which is on the eastern outskirts of Osoyoos and is worth the extra little drive. I have always loved their wines and I like going there first to calibrate my palate. We walked out with their Dolcetto to have with diner that night; the Malbec and the delicious age-able 2013 Tannat to lay down beside the 2102 already at home.

Next up was the ladies choice of FAUSTINO ESTATE CIDERY just north of Osoyoos. They have a great selection of ciders from their estate grown fruit including a range of sweetness's and some great blends like; Apple/Peach, Apple/Pear, Apple/Quince, plus others like the oaked Apple/Blueberry.

A bit further down the road we found ourselves at ROAD 13. They have a great range of wines in different price ranges. I've always enjoyed their old vine Chenin Blanc, Rose, and their Marsanne. We left with 2 bottles of Marsanne, and a bottle of THE SIMILKAMEEN COLLECTIVE - Roussanne; which has the same owners as Road 13.

A few minutes down the road we hit up HESTER CREEK which was busy and bumping with live music on the patio. The tasting bar was packed and after a few minute wait the Manager ushered the five of us, plus baby and dog to the patio for a private tasting. It was a wonderful experience with a fun energetic host. We walked away with their delicious Italian white Trebbiano and the Cab Franc which is a great varietal expression and one of my favorites.

Just down the hill from there we went to INTERSECTION which turned out to be the big surprise of the day. I have had their wines at tastings but this was the first time for all of us to the winery. It was a wonderful flight of thought provoking wines with a foot in the old world. Knowledgeable engaging staff with all wines reasonably priced for the overall quality. We walked out with the mineral rich Riesling, the barrel fermented Sauv Blanc, and their 2 single vineyard unfiltered Merlot's. The Merlot's are grown right next to each other but one has Alluvial soils (Alluvia) and the other has silicate sand (Silica). Both are mouth watering with long finish's and a great example of how terroir can affect the wine.

Last up for the day was TINHORN CREEK with their super friendly staff and another great lineup. At the door we were served their Pinot Gris and got into a great 10min conversation about the winery, flooding, and local geology. We left with their Oldfield Cab Franc, and a bottle from the last case of their 2011 Pinot Noir.




DAY 2 - Naramata Bench

Day 2 was a little more low key but with some great finds. The first stop was HILLSIDE as I had there wines recently at a trade event and was in need of the 2014 Syrah. In the winter I had done a 6 year vertical of their Syrahs ending with the 2013. The 2014 seems closer in style to the 08 & 09 vintages with many good years ahead of it. We bought the Syrah and my other favorite from there, the Old Vine Gamay Noir.

Next up was TERRAVISTA producers of small-lot specialty white wines. The previous owners of Black Hills have planted two Spanish whites on their estate vineyard, Albarino & Verdejo.  We purchased the crisp and refreshing Albarino in it's 3rd vintage, and their world first blend of Albarino and Verdejo, the Fandango. Also part of their lineup is an old world style Rhone blend, Figaro made with Roussanne, Viognier, and Marsanne that is delicious and age worthy.

LAKE BREEZE was next on the list. I hadn't been in awhile and was disappointed that the no longer had their Pinotage available. We did have a great flight and I was happy to learn they now have a Roussanne, so I had to pick one up to taste it against the one from Similkameen valley. We also grabbed their perfect patio sipper the Sauv Blanc.

A couple of minutes down the road we went to DEEP ROOTS. A family that has been growing in the Okanagan for generations and recently switched to vines. We left with a couple bottles of their Gamay Noir, and if we had hit them earlier in the trip I probably would of bought the Cab Franc and the Malbec as well.

Last stop for our trip was BENCH 1775 we were hoping to try their full range of Malbecs but found out most are only available to their wine club members. Including the intriguing Malbec Nouveau made in the same style as Beaujolais Nouveau with Carbonic Maceration. We bought the White Merlot; which is Merlot grapes made as a white wine, and their newly released Brut Rose bubbly that I highly recommend.  

All and all another great trip to the Okanagan and each time the wines seem to get better and better. I also seem to buy more and more each time I go. If you haven't been yet, book a trip and go explore the different terroirs of this great BC wine region.

For more info on Golden Mile Chalet, or for rental bookings, please see link below:

https://www.vrbo.com/313091