Meeting Jordan Winery’s Lisa Mattson at the Wine Bloggers’ Conference of North America in Penticton was a real highlight of the weekend. And the after party – fabulous.

At that event, Lisa graciously opened up a vertical tasting of at least 10 vintages of the Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon. Two standouts for me were the 2005 and 2008 – and as we were leaving Lisa thrust this bottle into my hands to help with her ‘I-can’t-take-this-back-over-the-border’ problem.

Happy to oblige – literally, anything I can do to help.

The winner of several prestigious awards including bronze at the San Francisco International Wine Competition 2012 and an 89 from Wine Spectator, this is WSET ‘very good’ wine. Every time I open a bottle of Jordan, I’m transported back to the visit we made to the winery and the beautiful Alexander Valley. This was no exception. The Cabernet Sauvignon is augmented by a 5% blend of Merlot and Petit Verdot – accounting for the blueberry, plum, roundness and perfume.

Clear and bright, opaque ruby with deep legs noted, on the palate this wine is clean and developing with medium plus intense aromas of blueberry, acai, red and black fruit and sweet tobacco as it opened up.

On the palate it is dry with medium acidity, smoothly restrained and slightly dusty tannins, with medium alcohol and flavour profile of blueberry, plus, currant, cassis, ripe blackberry, licorice root, touch of vanilla and black pepper. The finish is long and integrated.

We enjoyed this with friends who have also been to the Jordan Estate along with a tapas style table of goodies. Yes, you can age this for 5-7 years more, but I highly suggest you drink now and often.