Wine Tasting - Cool vs. Warm climate

For my recent tasting I tried to show some of the differences between cool climate and warm climate wines. In general warmer climate wines are fuller body, with more tannin, more alcohol, but with less acidity than their cooler counterparts. Even the flavour profile can change depending on the climate. For example cool climate whites usually have citrus and green fruit profiles; as you get warmer you get into stone fruits, and eventually tropical fruits with some hotter climates. There are a few factors that may bend these rules like altitude, bodies of water, and some wine making techniques.

I paired the same grape from different climates and we mostly tasted in pairs except for the triplet of Pinots.


1. PORCUPINE RIDGE WESTERN CAPE - SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015- South Africa - $14.99 BCL

South Africa makes a range of nice wines and with Africa in the name you think hot, but the Benguela current coming up from Antarctica and the southerly wind known as the Cape Doctor give this region a varied range of climate.

This western cape wine has ripe nectarine, papaya, and pineapple on the nose with a little subtle tropical fruit on the palate finishing with a hint of minerality. Dry with medium body and acidity but a little hot in alcohol,

2. MARISCO THE NED MARLBOROUGH - SAUVIGNON BLANC 2016 - New Zealand - $15.49 BCL

New Zealand is the new world bench mark for Sauvignon Blanc. They are pronounced fruity wines with high crisp acidity. Most never see oak and is always a reliable go to refreshing sipper.

The Ned has pronounced notes of grapefruit, lime, and green apple with a little bit of greenness in there as well. Very crisp mouthwatering acidity well balanced and a great example of a New Zealand Sauv Blanc at a decent price.

3. MUD HOUSE CENTRAL OTAGO - PINOT NOIR 2015 - New Zealand - $19.49 BCL

France is king in cool climate Pinot, but not with my budget. New Zealand is known for some great new world Pinot Noir's. This one is from the south island's famous Central Otago region which also happens to be the worlds most southerly wine region.

This one showed light fresh cherry, cranberry, dried herbs and well integrated oak notes. Dry, high acidity with light body and a nice smooth mouth feel

4. PARKER STATION CENTRAL COAST - PINOT NOIR 2015 - California - $21.99 BC

The Central Coast runs south from San Jose down the coast to Santa Barbara, and is where the film Sideways was based around. California Pinot can be all over the map but shows well when from cooler sites and usually oaked with riper fruits.

On the nose this one had ripe raspberry, cherry, a hint of clove and a good dose of vanilla from the oak. The palate lingers with raspberry cherry jam and toasted coconut husks. Fuller bodied with less acidity than the New Zealand one and was the least favorite of the 3 Pinot's in the line up.

5. TABALI GRAN RESERVA PEDREGOSO LIMARI - PINOT NOIR 2015 - Chile - $19.99 BCL

Limari Valley is around 300KM's north of Santiago and benefits from the cool breezes coming in off the ocean. It is a source of some great cool climate Chardonnay, Syrah, and more recently Pinot Noir's. If you look there is definitely some good value Pinot in Chile.

This one was a bit earthy with some pomegranate, wild raspberry, cherries and a touch of vanilla. Well balanced with soft tannin's and mouth watering acidity. This one was voted the favorite of the three Pinot's 

6. STAG'S HOLLOW - TEMPRANILLO 2013 - British Columbia - $25.99 BCL

Tempranillo grows all over Spain and Portugal, but is rarely found beyond those borders. A few in BC have embraced it and are making some great cool climate examples. The two that I tend to go to are this Stags Hollow and the one from Moon Cursor in Osoyoos.

This delicious wine has ripe plum, cherry, raspberry, and a whiff of a tobacco pipe stored in a cedar box. Like a lot of the Spanish wines this one saw 15 months in American oak. It was dry with high acidity, medium body, notes of red fruits and a hint of savoriness.  

7. CAMPO VIEJO  RIOJA RESERVA 2011 - TEMPRANILLO - Spain - $17.49 BCL

Rioja is the true heartland of Tempranillo and it makes everything from rose to light fruity reds, and aged wines that will last decades. Reserva means it has been aged a minimum of 3 years with at least one of those in oak. Gran Reserva is aged 5 years with 2 of those in oak.

This entry level Reserva had juicy cherry, plum, black pepper spice, with some vanilla and toasted coconut noted from the oak.  Nice balance with smooth tannin's and decent depth on the palate. 

8, CHAPOUTIER MEYSONNIERS CROZES HERMITAGE 2014 - SYRAH - France - $26.49 BCL

Crozes-Hermitage is the largest region in the Northern Rhone in France, and is considered value compared to the smaller highly revered Hermitage. But for this price point we will only read of such wines. The only red grape permitted in these regions is Syrah.

This entry level Crozes-Hermitage has notes of sour cherry, dark fruits, some earthiness, tobacco, and black pepper. Rich concentrated wine with nice nuanced complexities; a mere glimpse into what's possible with the superior wines of this appellation.  

9. CHRIS RINGLAND CR BAROSSA 2012 - SHIRAZ - Australia - $23.49 BCL

Australia makes some of the best warm-hot climate Shiraz/Syrah, and one of the best is the Barossa Valley. It is also home to some of the oldest vines still in production at over 170 years old.

This wine had riper fruits of blackberry, cherry, fuller body and nice milk chocolate vanilla mocha and some jammy fruits on the palate. It was a easy pick for most that this was the warm climate one due to the riper fruits.

The wines all showed as I hoped and everyone learned a bit about how climate can affect wine. Thanks for reading and comment below if you get to try any of these wines.

Happy Sipping