Join our wine writer, Allison Markin, every week for a wine review complete with food and music pairings. Featuring Okanagan and Canadian wines, with an occasional international bottle, Castanet celebrates the bottles of our Valley and the diversity of the Canadian wine industry and influences from around the world. For current availability and pricing, consult the winery. Unless indicated, international selections are generally available at government liquor stores or private wine shops.
Wine: Oldfield Reserve Cabernet Franc, 2014
Winery: Tinhorn Creek, Oliver
Why drink it? The 2015 vintage of Tinhorn’s Reserve cab franc is more likely what you will find available, and it just won a gold medal at the All Canadian Wine Championships. But this is a wine that can wait a few years, and the 2014 is a prime example of why you should be patient to let the wine soften just a bit. A dense red colour in the glass, with spice notes of anise (black liquorice, if you will), and vanilla mixed with deep red fruits on the nose. On both the 2014 and ’15 vintages, flavours of cocoa nib, cassis, figs, and dark plum. Aging will lessen the very present tannins.
Price: $32
Pair with: Feeling fancy? Figs stuffed with bleu cheese. Bacon-wrapped roasted fall veggies (carrots, parsnips, baby potatoes) next to the last grilled steak or gigantic portobello mushroom “steaks” of summer. Also good with a hearty tomato sauce and meatballs over pasta.
Music pairing: I’ll Fly Away, Alison Krauss
Have a wine to suggest? Email Allison at [email protected].