528 THE ADVOCATE
VOL. 79 PART 4 JULY 2021
SUMAC RIDGE STELLER’S JAY BRUT 2016
BC VQA Okanagan Valley #264789 $22.99
With this wine, Harry McWatters started the traditionally made sparkling
wine production that is now popular in our province. It is produced in the
same fashion as Champagne or Spanish Cava, with a secondary fermentation
in the bottle. This is a fairly traditional cuvée of Chardonnay (thirtyeight
per cent), Pinot Blanc (thirty-four per cent) and Pinot Noir
(twenty-eight per cent), aged two years on the lees, followed by riddling,
disgorgement, dosage and final bottling. It has a fine and persistent mousse
with aromas of green apple, pear and peach, and yeasty notes of baked
bread. The palate has the same tree fruit plus apple strudel and toasted
nuts, and it has a clean and lifted finish. In my opinion, bubbly will go with
almost any food, so there is a wide range of options. Just check what is in
the fridge. It goes very well with ceviche, sushi, sashimi or gravlax—also
with raw oysters if you wish to be traditional. Other options are Chinese cuisine
or other Asian or South Asian cuisine. Finally, it pairs well with fruit
like fresh strawberries or with hard cheeses.
TIME SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018
BC VQA Okanagan Valley #28082 $22.99
From a vineyard in Okanagan Falls, and barrel-aged after fermentation in
steel, this is much in a French style. It is a mix of citrus and steel. The aromas
are dominated by gooseberry mixed with apple and wet stone, and the
flavours are green peach, slightly unripe mango, lemon curd and green
apricot. It has a long, clean finish with lots of minerality. We had it with a
smoked tuna tartare with garlic aoli and rice chips, and it paired well. Other
food ideas include richer white fish like halibut, chicken with a creamy
mushroom glaze or soft cheeses. You can order in person or online from the
winery or at BC VQA and other private wine stores.
TIME MERLOT 2018
BC VQA Okanagan Valley #144541 $22.99
This is a very full wine from its colour through to the palate. The grapes were
handpicked, and it was fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak
for 18 months. On the nose are aromas of black cherry, black plum, blackberry
with a mix of leather, coffee bean and vanilla. The full palate has
flavours of the same dark fruit and some blueberry, with smoky black tea
and a splash of vanilla. It has a long finish with full but rich tannins. Like the
Bordeaux where Merlot finds its hoe, this will age well for several more
years. It is a food wine for beef, ribs, roast chicken or a burger on the grill.