Blasted Church 2009 Hatfield’s Fuse

I’ve enjoyed the last couple of vintages of this blend, which this year (PDF) is 53.5% Gewürztraminer, 17.1% Optima, 14.2% Pinot Blanc, 8.2% Chardonnany, 4.0% Ehrenfelser, 1.5% Pinot Gris, 1.0% Riesling, and 0.5% Sauvignon Blanc.

Pale-ish silver appearance with, pineapple, apple, and floral qualities on the nose. Medium body with nice acidity balancing complex tropical and Okanagan fruit and, as the winemaker notes, an appealing spicy finish, ever so slightly off dry. 13.3% alcohol; under $20 from BC Liquor. This has become a nice consistent product; I recommend it for summer drinking. I’m pairing it with the Seitan Medallions in Mixed-Mushrooom Gravy from Vegan Soul Kitchen. See Blasted Church Vineyards.

Lang Vineyards 2006 Farm Winery Reserve Riesling

Visited Lang Vineyards a couple of years ago and really liked their Riesling. This one is a medium-deep yellow-gold. Nice apricot-earthy nose. Medium body off-dry with low-medium acidity and nice stone fruit and honey notes. This is the kind of Riesling I like and is more reminiscent of some of the German wines, as well as the few Washington State Rieslings I’ve tried. 12.5% alcohol. Recommended, particularly at the price: about $17 at BC Liquor.

Dirty Laundry 2007 Chardonnay Unoaked

Like many people, I guess, I went through a Chardonnay kick a few years back. The excessive oaking eventually got to me. Now, it seems, there is a trend towards producing unoaked Chardonnays.

This one is pale clear silver, with a light citrus-pinapple grassy nose. Nice subtle palate of Okanagan fruit, apple-lemon, and a distinctive liquorice note on the nice long finish. Very nice! 13.4% alcohol. CAD$22.90 at Crosstown. See Dirty Laundy Vineyard, which is becoming one of my British Columbia favourites.

Dirty Laundry 2009 Woo Woo Vines Gewürztraminer

I tried their Madam’s Vines Gewürztraminer a couple of months back and liked it; had another bottle yesterday to compare with this. Woo Woo (I’d like to know the stories behind these names) is slightly less expensive at $21.70. Pale green-gold with a light rose-apple nose. A bit more subtle and muted than the Madam’s Vines; medium body with crisp acidity, slightly off dry, and smooth perfume, melon, and honey notes. 13.5% alcohol. See Dirty Laundry Vineyard.

Joie Farm Muscat 2009

I’ve enjoyed this varietal from Joie in the past; in fact it was the first wine I ever tried from Joie. I’ve since enjoyed their Noble Blend and Rieslings, particularly the 2007 Riesling.

This is very clear, almost indistinguishable from water but with a slight silver tinge. Light nose of sage and grapefruit. Light bodied with a nice acidity and a strong lime quality, again with sage—quite different from past years, and quite unlike anything I’ve tasted before, but enjoyable. 10.5% alcohol. $27.10 at Kitsilano Wine Cellar.

Kalala 2008 Pinot Gris

Kalala produced one of my favourite BC Rieslings in 2008 (I wrote about it on my old blog; will taste it again soon and report back here).

This is a pale-to-medium straw colour with a very light fruity nose. Dry light-to-medium bodied wine with green apple and grapefruit notes; the apple dominates with a bit of a dull quality but the acidity kicks in to rescue the overall impression with a good length but a lingering leather-ish quality. Enjoyable, but overall not up to the quality I recall from their Riesling. Perhaps it’s partly that I don’t drink much of this varietal. 13.3% alcohol. $20.45 at Crosstown.

Blue Mountain Pinot Blanc 2008

A few people have raved to me about this vineyard.

This Pinot Blanc is a medium gold-green. Pineapple-citrus nose with a hint of sage (as in interior sage brush). Medium body and dry with apple and lemon dominating; nicely balanced flavours—I think I detect a hint of oak—and acidity with a good long finish. 13% alcohol. Recommended. $21.60 at Crosstown. See Blue Mountain Winery.