Enough of chocolate and fine wine…NEVER

For example 2 wines that go great with chocolate and do not judge you.

Cedar Knoll Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

A flavourful large bodied cab with layers of dark plums, leather and a slight hint of eucalyptus.

Its finish takes quite a while and will impress you with well structured tannins and a silky smooth feel… This 2007 Napa cab is a definite treasure.

Another non judgemental wine is from our backyard, the Naramata Bench.

Kettle Valley Wineries Old Main Red

A tasty blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and 5% Petite Verdot and Malbec.

Full bodied and rich with dark fruits and chocolate and a mild spice that lingers on your palate and dares you to have more. This 2008 vintage is at its drinking prime, but if properly cared for could produce a long-term addition to your cellar, only to improve.
Although this is a big bodied wine it is very versatile with food and would go (does go) so good with roast lamb, ribs and big steaks. I would put this wine up against some of the big boys and this one would win.
A great B.C. wine!

Next week a few wines from Chile. A taste of what the Playhouse International Wine Festival will be showcasing. A show well worth going to.

Cheers
James and the 1er Cru at Coal Harbour Liquor store.

Some of the best kept secrets out there are the quality of our own wines from the interior.

Many of our wineries are fantastic but to small to have a huge impact on your shopping. Here are 2 of my choices that I think exemplify our home grown quality.

Perpetua, chardonnay

• From Mission Hill Family Estate
• It is a single vineyard wine and is fermented in new French oak for 10 months and stirred by hand every 2 weeks.
• The finished product is rich and creamy with nice toasty notes on you palate with butter and smoke making it one of the best chardonnay’s out there.
• Mission Hill can impress when they want to and with the Perpetua they have certainly impressed me.

For our red this week I have chosen a new entry into the B.C. home grown market.
Painted Rock is only into its second vintage now and has created something even more special for us since its first release.

• Painted Rock Icon
• Estate grown
• It is a blend of Merlot at 30%, Cab Franc at 25%
• Malbec at 25% and Petit Verdot at 20%

It was aged in new French oak for 18 months and gives you a huge bodied red with fantastically ripe and concentrated fruit, with a deep deep red almost black in colour appearance. The ripe fruits explode on your palate but it does not resemble an Australian fruit bomb in any way. A true representation of what good wine making is all about.

Cheers
James and the 1er cru at Coal Harbour Liquor Store