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: Old Vines Foch Reserve, 2014
Winery: Quail's Gate, West Kelowna
Why drink it? Vintages of this wine go back almost a decade. You can find the 2015 now, but treat yourself to the 2014 if you can. This Maréchel Foch begins with 60-year-old vines; the older the vines, the more complex the wine, and this is no exception. A deep dark burgundy, with an “inky” overtone makes a beautiful swirl in the glass. On the nose, a wonderful vibrant mix of clove, vanilla, espresso bean, black cherries…and then a sip leads you to an intense experience of deep red fruits, earthiness (think mushrooms), and, as the winery aptly describes, a long velvety finish.
Price: $47 (may vary by vintage)
Pair with: If you buy a younger vintage, cellar it for a few years, then bring it out with a winter meal of braised meat, brisket, or grilled venison surrounded by harvest veggies that have been slowly roasted with garlic and rosemary, and sage.
Classic CanCon music pairing: My Foolish Heart, Holly Cole
Have a wine you'd like to suggest? Contact us at [email protected], and we will put you in touch with our wine writer.