Hello and Happy Wednesday!

Here in Vancouver our regular rain has returned and it actually feels good!  Vancouver is gorgeous in the sunshine and I trust everyone got outside as often as my family did…

In my wine education news – I have successfully earned my certificate in WSET Level 2.  My results were mailed to me yesterday and I am VERY pleased with my mark.  Whoo hoo!  I celebrated with a bottle of Burrowing Owl 2011 Pinot Gris at Cactus Club Park Royal Village last night.  Lovely…

Now – for the good stuff…

This week I tried Tantalus Vineyards’ Pinot Noir 2010.  I picked it up at the Village VQA Wine Store in Edgemont Village.  Mary, the owner, is an amazing wealth of knowledge and assisted me with my selection.  It was $29.99 which fit perfectly with the other price points of the Pinot Noir’s I have selected for this month.

It was a medium ruby colour and looked quite pretty in the glass.  It had a medium intensity on the nose with aromas of red cherry, red berries, sweet spice and violets.  It was refreshingly dry with a medium plus and medium fine grained tannins that balanced each other nicely.  It was medium bodied and had a quite pronounced flavour intensity.

This wine was nicely complex with just enough going on.  There was a nice long finish to this Pinot Noir that I really enjoyed.  I think this lovely B.C. Pinot Noir from Tantalus Vineyard falls into my “Hell Yes” category.  It is a nice expression of the grape variety enjoying a cooler climate and this comes out in the wine.  I would call this Pinot Noir ‘Very Good’.

Tantalus’s Pinot Noir 2010 can be enjoyed now but has potential for ageing.  This Pinot Noir comes from both German and French plantings:

This wine was produced from 2005 and 2006 Dijon plantings and 1985 Spatburgunder plantings. It was aged in a combination of new and old French barrique for 12 months.

At $29.99 – I consider this wine to be a great addition to your cellar.  It would be beautifully enjoyed with a fresh B.C. salmon dish.  

Here’s to another fantastic wine from another fantastic B.C. winery!
Enjoy!
XO
C