Question: What is the buzz on Vendange 2020 for Champagne?
Answer: Despite climate change resulting in a very early harvest it is quite bullish. Vendange was extended but generally started some 2 weeks earlier than average. Pinot noir & meunier seemed to develop unusually quickly – more so than chardonnay. The buzz is that even though the maximum yields were limited it could be three years in a row of really top quality. Doubt it will challenge the wonderful trio of 1988, 1989, and 1990 or the Dom Perignon 5 year consecutive run of 2002-2006 inclusive. Fan of aging 2008 & 2012 vintage. Will be interesting to follow the development of 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Hope other Branches are making the effort to get together virtually during these difficult Covid-19 pandemic times. The Robertsons and Larry Burr are doing a stellar job with continuing activities for the Vancouver Branch. They organized another virtual wine tasting on October 26, 2020 with a theme of “bubbles around the world”. Each member had the opportunity to speak about the background and impressions of their own sparkling wine with some running commentary contributed by your scribe. The result was a good social interaction of members with some informative wine education.
As we all should know the first sparkling wine is credited back in 1531 to the monks in Limoux (an appellation since 2003 in the Aude department of Languedoc-Roussillon, France) using an Ancestral Method for Blanquette de Limoux. It was over 100 years later that we have the first Champagne (and Dom Perignon at the Abbey of Hautvilliers) with the classic Traditional Method or methode champenoise. Later on and currently popular as metodo Italiano with a quicker turn around time with lower prices is the Charmat Method in tank. These days there is a plethora of sparkling wines produced from local grapes around the world. It was interesting to hear at this event about 13 Sparkling wines from 9 different regions with 3 each from the Okanagan Valley in BC and 3 from Champagne all in different styles. The wines and the IWFS memebers attending:
Not their usual blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay & Pinot Blanc but 100% Pinot Noir. Small production of 556 cases released for $35 after being aged more than 4 years “en tirage”. Impressive showing as was suggested by the late great pioneer Harry McWatters as “a luscious blend of richness and elegance with extreme fruitiness and vibrant freshness” – even now. Confirms the potential for quality aged bubbles in British Columbia – as well as so many other emerging areas!
Question: Which Beaujolais age well and what are the best vintages to buy?
Answer: Cru Beaujolais are having a revival helped by climate change plus new investment by Burgundian producers. The 10 crus have some interesting diverse mixed soils ranging from granite, red sandstone to blue clay & volcanic rock. It is generally believed Moulin-a-Vent ages the longest (remember drinking a memorable 1947 with Mommessin) but closely followed by Morgon and Julienas. For a while the fruity early drinking styles of Fleurie & Brouilly and others were en vogue but it is turning back to giving all these undervalued wines some bottle age. My recommendation on best vintages for cellaring are 2018 & 2015 (range 5-25 years) followed by 2016 & 2014 (go say 3-15 years). 2017, 2013, and 2012 are also delicious drinking more forwardly but would easily still hold for 10 years.
The British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards this
year were announced in an excellent virtual video prepared by the
Okanagan Wine Festivals Society on October 15, 2020. This is an
important historical wine competition started by the Lieutenant Governor
of BC at Government House as The Awards for Excellence in BC Wine but
this was only the third one in this new format.
The Press Release issued gave some of the details as follows: In
2018, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, with
support from the Government House Foundation, and the Okanagan Wine
Festivals Society announced a new partnership to celebrate BC wines with
the creation of the British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards.
“We look forward to building on this important relationship each year”,
says Okanagan Wine Festivals Society General Manager, Elan Morris, “and
we were thrilled to have Her Honour, Janet Austin, be a part of the
virtual awards ceremony and announce the 2020 BC Lieutenant Governor’s
Wine of the Year.”
“As this competition continues to grow, we are seeing not only the
number of entries increase but more importantly the caliber of wines
entered continues to get better each year,” says Okanagan Wine Festivals
Society Judging Chair, Julian Scholefield. “Our expert panel of judges
certainly had their work cut out for them! We look forward to
celebrating the list of 2020 winning wines that showcase the excellence
our region has to offer and to growing the competition even more in
2021.”
“I am delighted the partnership between the Office of the Lieutenant
Governor and the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society has continued to
flourish, giving us the opportunity to recognize the best of BC wines,”
says the Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British
Columbia, “The wine industry thrives on creativity, curiosity and
craftsmanship. It also requires courage and tenacity in the face of many
challenges and uncertainties. This year had an added layer of
complexity due to Covid-19, but the incredible showing of the 2020 Wine
Awards indicates BC wine will continue stronger than ever in the time
ahead.”
The competition, presented by Valley First, TricorBraun, Westland
Insurance and ContainerWorld, was open to all licensed BC wineries
including those that produce fruit wines and mead. Bronze, Silver, and
Gold medals were awarded. Only the top one per cent of medal winners
received platinum medals, with one wine receiving the 2020 BC Lieutenant
Governor’s Award for Wine of the Year.
The
judging was orginally scheduled for late August but because of Covid-19
pandemic concerns were postponed to late September. The important
decision was made to go ahead. They were held in Kelowna at Manteo
Resort with outstanding safety protocols strictly in place. Lots of
masks, physical distancing, gloves, and avoidng multi-touching of
glasses and bottles. Successfully orchestrated in careful difficult
circumstances. Less mingling than usual and no close face to face
discussions. Still it all worked out well and the results are
impressive.
This year’s wine entries faced an esteemed panel of judges (including your less esteemed scribe) from across Canada.
Brad Royale – Calgary
DJ Kearney – Vancouver
Emily Walker – Summerland
Gurvinder Bhatia – Edmonton
Iain Philip – Vancouver
Justin Yamasaki, Vancouver
Kurtis Kolt – Vancouver
Matthew Landry – Vancouver
Mark Filatow – Kelowna
Michaela Morris – Vancouver
Rhys Pender – Kelowna
Sebastien Le Goff – Vancouver
Sid Cross – Vancouver
Veronique Rivest – Gatineau
After tasting over 740 wines, the judges awarded a record number of
medals to 107 BC wineries on October 15 during a virtual award ceremony.
Rafe Mair was also honoured with the annual Harry McWatters Founders
Award. The award was given posthumously to Mair in recognition of his
leadership in the creation of estate winery licenses in 1979. While
there were many people who helped promote the idea of smaller estate
wineries, it was Mair in his capacity as Minister of Consumer and
Corporate Affairs who brought the legislation forward to the Bennet
provincial government.
The 2020 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine of the Year Award went to Upper Bench Estate Winery’s 2019 Riesling.
The top wines that received platinum medals were:
Lake Breeze Vineyards Riesling 2017 Tantalus Vineyards Old Vines Riesling 2017 O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars Riesling 2019 Arrowleaf Cellars Pinot Noir 2018 SpearHead Winery Pinot Noir Saddle Block 2018 SpearHead Winery Pinot Noir Cuvée 2018 Mission Hill Family Estate Perpetua 2018 – Chardonnay Therapy Vineyards Chardonnay 2018 Terravista Vineyards Albariño 2019 Deep Roots Winery Parentage Red 2018 – Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, & Cab Franc Nk’Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Syrah 2017 Laughing Stock Vineyards Syrah 2017 Moraine Estate Winery Syrah 2018 Three Sisters Winery Syrah 2018 Deep Roots Winery Syrah 2018
The top wine was a deserving fresh Riesling from the 2019 vintage of Upper Bench Estate Winery. You will see from the 16 highest scored wines listed above that this variety is strong in BC with 4 (or 25%) of the platinum medals. Only Syrah was more dominant with 5. Pinot Noir also excelled with 3. Therefore from among the many varieties and blends judged 75% of thr top wines came from only those three varieties. Check these varieties out and all the worthy full list of winners found at www.thewinefestivals.com.
Question: Are there adjoining USA states that share the use of the same specific winegrowing regions called AVAs – American Viticultural Areas?
Answer: Yes. Oregon & Washington State. Both states share the AVAs of Columbia Gorge, Columbia Valley, and Walla Walla Valley. Fun educational idea to put a tasting together comparing the differences and the similarities of their wines.
