2017 BC Red Blends on Blueback
Vancouver Island
Tasted Saturday, April 29, 2023 by Canoehead with 143 views
Introduction
A blind tasting of 2017 BC Meritage blends plus one value-priced 2020 Cab-Merlot blend thrown into the mix. T&F were the consummate generous hosts. Vino Loco was the wine wrangler and ebullient emcee. Sixteen tasters in total. Three flights of four wines each. Preference ranking conducted at the end of each flight.
Flight 1 - Blind Flight One (4 Notes)
Flight 2 - Blind Flight Two (4 Notes)
Flight 3 - Blind Flight Three (4 Notes)
Closing
Overall quality was high with some blends being almost indistinguishable from each other. Which speaks to the quaity of the fruit and the quaility of the winemaking in the region. Only one faulty wine in the dozen poured - Young & Wyse Black Sheep. The other "black sheep" was the 2020 Jackson-Triggs thrown in the mix by the host. It was a crowd favourite in the first flight. Your author is a bit perplexed but you can't argue with the preferences of the crowd. here's my overall rankings factoring in later revisits and QPR:
1) Noble Ridge - not only showed well but you can't beat the price, J-T aside, this was "only" $39
2) Lariana - even better upon revisits later
3) La Frenz - also a young'un but improved through the night
4) Liber - poor QPR relatively speaking but it had me at the nose - I would have guessed Napa Mountain fruit
5) Sandhill - I liked the old world nature of this and the fact Istopped buying these small lot bottlings because I hadn't been wowed in years
6) Red Icon - pretty good but seems to be shutting down
7) Nota Bene - I expected more from this flagship
8) Laughing Stock - yeah, it is not well-balanced or approachable as much as it has been in the past
9) Jackson Triggs - Factory Jam - it's only here because of its low, low price and the Young & Wyse was broken
10) One Faith - poorly made Meritage trying to be Napa royalty- bad QPR
11) Poplar Grove - we've both given up on the Legacy if not the winery in total with the exception I do buy the Pinot Gris when it's available in restaurants for the white palates around the table
12) Young & Wyse - yikes and yeesh, more like Yucch and Whoops
2017 Sandhill Two Small Lots Program Sandhill Estate Vineyard
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
part of a blind tasting of 2017 BC Meritage blends. Brick Garnet. Nose of savoury but subtle dark red fruits with notes of tobacco. Stewed and dried dark red berries. A bit herbaceaous and olive and espresso. Medium weight. Balanced and reminiscent of Old World Bordeaux. Medium plus finish. First of three flights. Ranked 3rd by group; 1st by me. Classic but aging quickly. Decant and drink up.
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2017 La Frenz Grand Total Reserve
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley
part of a blind tasting of 2017 BC Meritage blends. Bright garnet. Fresh, crushed cherries and blueberries. Fresh homemade cherry jam but not sweet, more tart on the palate. Medium plus weight. Balanced, refreshing but still grippy tannins. Medium plus finish. Poured in first of three flights. Ranked 2nd by group; 2nd by me. This opened up even more and had a broader palate two hours plus later. I would decant this for an hour plus before serving.
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2017 Poplar Grove Winery The Legacy
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
part of a blind tasting of 2017 BC Meritage blends. Dark Ruby. Massive red cherry/berry aromatics - very promising. However on the palate this was all sweetened cherry jelly with alcohol heat masking any nuances or depth. Medium plus weight. Lacked any chance of balance with the alcohol and tenacious tannins still leaving their grip on the medium finish. Poured in the first of three flights. Ranked 4th by group; 3rd by me.
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2020 Jackson-Triggs Cabernet-Merlot Reserve Okanagan Valley VQA
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
part of a blind tasting of 2017 BC Meritage blends. This was the value-priced (CAD14.99) disruptive red blend added by the host. Obviously a younger vintage as well. Admittedly, I was the outlier in the large tasting group because for many this wine won its flight and was considered a top wine of the night. Purple with watery miniscus. Fresh, unwrapped wine gums on the nose. Factory jam on the tongue. This is a mass produced red blend that has been stabilised and possibly chaptalized. There was a residual sweetness to this wine. Medium weight. Short finish. Poured in the first of three flights. Ranked 1st by group; 4th by me. If there wasn't the fault-filled Young & Wyse, this would have been my last pick for the entire tasting. But hey, different strokes for different folks.
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