|
|
Wine Recommendation
CedarCreek Estate Winery
2005 Estate Select Pinot Gris(Okanagan Valley)
Pinot Gris is perhaps the default white for the anything-but-Chardonnay crowd, one reason why this variety has become the second most widely-planted white in British Columbia. Somewhat earlier to ripen than Chardonnay, it grows well in most British Columbia regions – although the different terroirs produce huge variations, from lush and fruity in the Okanagan to crisply tart on Vancouver Island. Pinot Gris consumers need to decide which winery’s style suits their tastes and their cuisine.
CedarCreek’s style is consistent. Winemaker Tom Di Bello gets most of the grapes from CedarCreek’s north Okanagan vineyards – the one at the winery and the Greata Ranch vineyard on the west shore of Okanagan Lake. Cooler than the south Okanagan, these vineyards always deliver grapes with vibrantly fresh flavours. Di Bello does a cool ferment, largely in stainless steel. But he likes to include a touch of oak aging to complex the wine with toasty and spicy notes.
This wine begins with citrus aromas. The flavours include citrus, peaches and pears, with a touch of anise on the finish. Medium-bodied, the wine is refreshingly fruity and crisp. 87 points.
Reviewed October 23, 2006 by John Schreiner.
Other reviewed wines from CedarCreek Estate Winery
.jpg)
The Wine
Winery: CedarCreek Estate Winery |
The Reviewer
John Schreiner
John Schreiner has been covering the wines of British Columbia for the past 30 years and has written 10 books on the wines of Canada and BC. He has judged at major competitions and is currently a panel member for the Lieutenant Governor’s Awards of Excellence in Wine. Both as a judge and as a wine critic, he approaches each wine not to find fault, but to find excellence. That he now finds the latter more often than the former testifies to the dramatic improvement shown by BC winemaking in the past decade. |