For Canada’s 150th birthday this year, Castanet is featuring an Okanagan wine each week, celebrating the bottles of our Valley and the diversity of the Canadian wine industry, including suggested food pairings and Canadian music artist to listen to while enjoying a glass. For current availability, consult the winery.
Wine: Cabernet Merlot, 2014
Winery: Cedar Creek, Kelowna
Why drink it? More Cabernet-Merlot blends are coming to the BC wine marketplace. The blend in this bottle is primarily Merlot with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, with very light touches of Malbec and Syrah. The Cabs give it backbone and structure, the Merlot a dark-berry chocolate essence. It’s an intriguing red with layers of aromas – dark plums, black cherries, a bit of spice – and flavours of raspberry coulis alongside cocoa nibs, and raw vanilla bean. A complex red, it will make you stand up and take notice on the first sip, then sit down and relax for the rest of the bottle.
Price: $19
Pair with: The winery suggests duck breast. Other game meat that’s been slowly roasted would be divine as well. Cook up some short ribs braising them in a mixture that includes some of this wine. A tart filled with plums and raspberries would do for dessert.
Classic cancon music pairing: I Wouldn’t Want to Lose Your Love, April Wine