Wine Tasting

November 7, 2011

Single Winery Tasting

Kettle Valley Winery

Hosts:

Ian & Steph

Comments:

The theme of this event was a single winery tasting. Kettle Valley Winery was chosen because they have a variety of good wines to select from and they are one of the Smith's favourite wineries.

Kettle Valley Winery is located on the Naramata Bench
This year they are having their 20th anniversary – there were 2 wineries in the Naramata when they started, now there are 22
They have 50 acres planted, mostly in the Naramata, but buy as much as they grow, producing 10,000 cases/year
They make 26 different labeled wines
They were the WinePress BC Winery of the year in 2009
Wine maker/owners are Bob Ferguson & Tim Watts

Kettle Valley doesn't produce a sparkling wine which is why we chose Blue Mountain Brut Rosé as the welcome bubbly to start the evening.

All of the wines were scored by each taster and the averages are reported below.

As usual, appetizers were chosen to match the wines (and some actually did)!

Wines:

Glass Marker	Vintage	Winery/Label	Winery Price	Score
na	2004	Blue Mountain Brut Rose	$39.00	87
1	2009	Kettle Valley Gewurztraminer	$22.00	89
2	2010	Kettle Valley Viognier	$26.00	89
3	2008	Kettle Valley Pinot Noir	$26.00	91
4	2007	Kettle Valley Merlot	$26.00	91
5	2004	Kettle Valley Old Main Red	$38.00	93

Notes (selected from either the Winemaker or reviews available on the internet):

Blue Mountain Brut Rosé

The Rosé Brut has a fine mousse, with fresh strawberry notes on the nose and across the palate, with a crisp fruit finish.

Gewurztraminer

This wine leaps from the glass with a dramatic aroma of spice and grapefruit, repeating that power on the palate. The finish is dry.

Viognier

Full-bodied and satisfying, this wine has flavours of apricot, pineapple and citrus.

Pinot Noir

Involved aromas of underbrush, minerality and rich, dark fruit provide segue for a focused wash of palate-pleasing red currant and cranberry augmented by sweet, ripe mulberry and wisps of savoury herbs.

Merlot

This is a brooding, intense expression of the variety, with flavours of black currants.

Old Main Red

This is the winery’s flagship Bordeaux blend; a big, complex red with chewy, ripe tannins and with flavours of plum, cassis, chocolate and tobacco.