Pentage Wines

Both the winery name and that of its flagship red blend are supposedly inspired by pente, the Greek word for five, since the initial planting of reds in the vineyard was limited to the five varieties in this blend. Who knows where Pentâge winemaker and co-owner Paul Gardner, who was born in Singapore, learned Greek? But before his life on a vineyard, he was a marine engineer, no doubt sailing with a few Greek seamen.

He has made a successful transition to wine grower and vintner with this boutique winery established in 2003 near Penticton. Gardner and spouse Julie Rennie sell all the wine directly and will not be opening a tasting room until they finish the massive cellar blasted into bedrock, with a winery on top.

Ruby red in colour, the wine’s aromas are – as Gardner admits in his notes – “somewhat aloof” when the bottle is opened but “come to life” with decanting. I chose to taste this in a superb “breathable” glass made by Eisch Glaskultur of Germany and available in any shop that has good stemware. Wines open up in minutes, just as if they had been decanted.

The 2004 Pentâge opened to show notes of cassis and chocolate, with subtle cherry. On the palate, there are flavours of cassis and mocha with an attractively rustic note of minerals. The tannins are fine-grained but firm. The wine is medium-bodied, with a polished elegance. 89 points.

Reviewed February 22, 2008 by John Schreiner.