Club Foody Wine Review – West Coast Wines – Part I – September 7th, 2016

As wine aficionados, living on the West Coast gives us a great selection of internationally recognized wines to choose from. Right here in British Columbia, the Okanagan region offers a wide variety of wines from renowned vineyards. Travelling south of the border, Washington State delivers some magnificent wines that are getting serious attention. Further South, Oregon’s excellent wines are also sharing the spotlight. Of course the next state down is California and as you know, it’s home to the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara wine regions, and they produce some incredible beauties!

 

The wine harvest usually starts in late July until the end of September/early October. Considering this I thought it would be appropriate to share a few wines with you that I’ve selected from 4 different regions that are exquisite in their own way. This two-part series features wines from the West Coast and the amazing tasting experiences offered by these great wines. In today’s review, I selected two interesting reds that I’m sure you will appreciate.

 

The first wine I’ve selected is Red Rooster Cabernet Merlot 2014 from the Okanagan Valley region made with an interesting combination of grapes; predominantly Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with the addition of Mourvèdre, Malbec and Grenache. This medium-bodied wine has a fascinating aroma of plum, black cherry and blueberry with a hint of oak on the nose. This red blend is slightly fruity on the palate with notes of cassis and spice. Its tannins are soft so this is not a wine to age. This is a good pairing for most any beef or pork dish with earthy grilled vegetables. You can find this wine at your wine/liqueur store for around $16.99.

 

Although I usually like to pick a red and a white wine in one review, I couldn’t resist sharing my next selection with you. L’École Nº 41 Merlot 2013, Columbia Valley Walla Walla – Washington is a nicely balanced full-bodied red. The cherry and raspberry with a touch of herbs brings an attractive aroma to the nose. Strong flavors of blackberry, cherry, raspberry and a delicate touch of white pepper on the palate give a smooth finish. This delectable wine can be purchased at around $26.00US. Because of its medium tannins and fairly low acidity, L’École Nº 41 Merlot is a good companion for a wide range of dishes such as eggplant parmigiana, boeuf bourguignon and burgers, just to name a few.

 

These two lovely red wines are great to enjoy at either a casual or formal dinner. They can also be paired with appetizers but for a greater gastronomic experience, pair these with desserts such as dark semi-sweet chocolate or truffles. Cheers!
 
Francine Lizotte
Wine & Restaurant Aficionado