Local Wineries in the Fraser Valley

Howdy all...

it was a rough week for yours truly and, as I have the most loving wife in the world, we ended up taking a day-trip through the Langley area & doing some tastings.

Wow were we impressed. A beautiful day filled with sunshine, good wines & unexpected joy. Thank you, my love.

TOWNSHIP 7

RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2007

• a bit bite-y, with fresh bright acids & light citrus

SEMILLON 2007

• a very Riesling nose of young stonefruit, brisk palate, lean

BLANC BLEND 2007 **BUY THIS AT $20

• beautiful nose of wild flowers & exotic fruit (papaya, kumquat, pineapple)
• incredibly well balanced acids and flavors of pineapple, lush apricots
• this was the only wine we bought here - a steal @ $20 !

SYRAH 2006

• nose is of the terroir; smoke, leather, a bit of "merde-de-poulet"
• the acids were a touch sharp but it had a beautiful body with long length in the palate

MERLOT 2006

• nose had alot of blackberry with light smokey-cherries
• big tannins, well balanced acids but a bit hot in the alcohol (it was 13.5% but I felt every %)
• it had a neat palate of bruised plums, black roses & a touch of pepper
• this is the only other wine I think I would really like to go back and buy - ($20ish) - but I would buy it to put it down for 12-24 months

MERITAGE 2006

• soft nose of rich, red berries
• long rich soft palate, but a bit flabby.... notes coming through of soft raspberries, black cherries. To me, it just lacked distinction.

DOMAINE DE CHABERTON

SYLVANER 2007

• nose of ripe pear & honeysuckle
• well balanced soft acids & palate of pear, apricot & grass - incredible value for $13

SIEGGERIEBE 2008 **BUY THIS AT $20

• nose of pink roses, grapefruit & clover honey
• 1 sweetness with very well balanced acids and a lovely palate of rich-lush stonefruit a papaya at the end

BAACHUS 2008 **BUY THIS AT $20

• an incredibly soft yet intense nose of apricots, gala apples & dandelions
• fully intense palate of pineapples, crabapples and a whole bouquet of flowers

BLUFF 2007 (merlot, zweigelt, one other I can't remember)

• interesting nose of cherry cola
• dry crisp acids & moderate tannins with a soft palate of spartan apples, early summer cherries & slightly green plums

SYRAH 2006

• a nose of red & black peppercorns, but also bell peppers
• soft acids & long tannins; palate of blackberries, leather and a hint of bergamot

ORETEGA 1998

• nose of rich Anjou pear and rich summer "mid-west" flowers
• complex mouth with developed/balanced acids. long luxurious mouth of melons, gala apples & a touch of tangerine zest

VISTA D'ORO

PINOT NOIR 2008

• moderate nose of peppery blackberries & mild leathers
• crisp acidic palate, moderate body of crabapples & cherries
• I found this very Gamay Noir style - I wanted to serve it cool (15C)

PINOT NOIR 2007 **BUY THIS IF YOU CAN FIND IT @ $22

• now this was my kind of Pinot! a completely different nose... currants were predominant
• palate also had strawberries & some really good funky barnyard (oh DJ - is this "merde-de-poulet" I taste? lol)

PINOT NOIR 2009

• we got to taste this from the barrel and oooohhh my but it tastes frikin phenomenal
• big bright cherry nose
• soft acids & rich tannins with a palate of blueberries & saskatoons
• this will be one to buy!

SYRAH 2008

• crisp nose with white pepper
• a huge long palate that included licorice of all things!

Of course, anyone who has visited these places will be able to tell you what was the star of the day... Vista D'Oro.

Patrick & Lee were stellar as they guided Thyra & I not only through their wines, but their winery as well. They were even considerate enough to sample my LimonBaci and say a few kind words... we finished a tour and tasting that lasted over 90 minutes with the D'Oro: a lushly rich port styled wine (and walnuts).... honestly one of the finest examples of port-style I have ever had. Those who know my father know that's saying alot!

D'Oro is $50/bottle, and is an incredible buy at that price. I cannot think of buying such quality anywhere else for twice the money.... difficult to find for three times the money. Yes, I'm serious. If you are serious about port - try this. If you can find similar quality under $150/bottle I want to know because I can't remember such a wine. We have bought one bottle, and I imagine that we will replace that bottle each and every time we finish it, which will be often.

Visit Vista D'Oro, and the other wineries of the Fraser Valley... there is a richness right outside our doors!

Cin-cin! Slainte!