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WINE NOTES: Going gaga over B.C. Gewürztraminer

Robert Moyes offers up some interesting late-summer vino choices
18087905_web1_copy_MMA-WineNotesSumacRidge
Sumac Ridge produces B.C.’s best-selling Gewürztraminer.

By Robert Moyes

Monday Magazine wine columnist

If you’re unfamiliar with B.C.’s best-selling Gewürztraminer, it’s time to cough up $16 for a bottle of Sumac Ridge and see what you’ve been missing all these years.

The lush flavour profile has the traditional notes of lychee and rose petal as well as hints of ginger and peach, while the mouthfeel is syrupy and sumptuous. And decent acidity means this food-friendly wine doesn’t seem overly sweet. It’s worth noting that the Globe and Mail’s Beppi Crosariol considers this one of the greatest white wine values in Canada.

Robert Moyes

A tip-off from one of my most reliable LDB sources led me to the Highroller Reserve Shiraz/Cabernet from South Australia. Also priced at $16, Highroller is smooth, velvety, and downright gulpable. Let your palate luxuriate in all those plum, cherry and raspberry flavours, lifted with spice and framed in oak. Very dry and very bold, this is ideal for meat dishes such as lamb or pepper steak.

For an extra $5 you can buy Las Moras Paz Malbec, which is rich, tannic, deeply coloured … and a real pleasure to recommend. Sourced from Argentina’s Pedernal Valley, this is a hedonistic wine with flavours of plum and dark berries accompanied by notes of vanilla and chocolate. Full-bodied, elegant, and delicious, this is a whole lot of Malbec for the money. Will pair well with grilled red meats or hard cheeses.

And let’s end up with South Africa’s esteemed Boschendal Estate Winery, which dates back over 300 years. Their 2017 Chardonnay ($25) is plump and buttery and eager to please. Dominant apple and tropical fruit flavours are balanced with citrus and spice hints, while barrel fermentation adds complexity and a round mouthfeel to this appealing wine. Bold, tasty, and extremely food-friendly, the Boschendal will go well with pork, poultry, and rich fish such as salmon or tuna.

(All prices include tax)