Canada’s first Carménère wine comes from the Okanagan Valley’s Black Hills Estate Winery in Oliver, located just north of Osoyoos and south of the Naramata Bench.  The vines were planted in 1999 and the wine produced there has acquired a bit of a cult’ish following.

I bought this bottle in a case along with two wine-geeky friends and have waited a while to enjoy it.

With its purple tinged, black cherry core moving to a ruby rim and showing off even, delicate legs, this wine offers some nicely intense and developing aromas of red and black berries, spice, leaf and tobacco.         Look at the alcohol on this wine – an elegant 12.5%.

The palate is dry with seriously elegant alcohol at only 12.5% abv.  The medium plus acidity shelters some smooth, dusty tannins, a medium body and flavours of ripe Bing cherries, Damson plums, white peppery spice, cedar bough, green leaf and green pepper with tobacco and leather notes.

WSET Very Good quality, this is drinking beautifully but could be kept for a few more years.  Balanced with no overwhelming components, this is delicious wine.