Celebrate with a festive sparkling wine and red wine for Maple Leaf.
Today is Canada Day! To celebrate the Confederation’s 155th birthday, I’ve chosen three Canadian wines that fit the bill for toasting our nation
Nothing says ‘celebration’ more than pouring sparkling wine. And Haywire on the Okanagan Crush Pad makes two impressive sparklers. The 2017 Bub ($32.99; 91 points, outstanding) is made from 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay grapes grown at Oliver and Summerland, then for secondary fermentation on lees concrete and stainless steel before bottling in November 2017 is fermented in tanks. , Discontinued in January 2019, no sugar was added to the supplements.
It reminds me of sparkling Chablis, if there really is one. Bub is bone dry with aromas of bread dough, a mild bubbling, an electric acidity, and a lemony flavor with a lemony finish that doesn’t linger. I enjoyed it with kettle chips/crunchies, then bacon wrapped scallops, and finally with Miyagi oysters on the half shell. Citrus flavor and crisp acidity cleaned up salt and shellfish flavors. But with raw oysters, the wine tastes creamy with a rounded chocolate flavor. yum!
I kept the wine refrigerated for 24 hours before opening it but this lost its delicate aroma and flavor. Leaving it at room temperature for 15 minutes enhanced the nose, taste, and enjoyment of this hard but delicious bub! Save-On Ironwood as well as Everything Wine is available in South Surrey and North Vancouver.
For an excellent demonstration of how aging can change a sparkling wine’s character, pop the Crown Cap from Haywire 2014 Vintage Bub ($49.99; 92 points, outstanding).
Equal parts of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes grown at Oliver and Summerland were bottled in November 2014 for secondary fermentation that produces bubbles. After five years of age, the special cuvée were separated and additional bottle aging began.
While the 2017 Bub reminded me of sparkling Chablis, the 2014 vintage Bub was more like a sparkling white burgundy. It has a deep brown color and reveals a rich nose and flavor, baked apple pie, lemon and quince and a deliciously dry but soft finish. Enjoying it with oysters on the half shell enhances the flavor of the oysters in a delightful way!
Switching to a maple leaf color, Okanagan is a lovely red from Narrative’s brand of crush pads, 2018 Narratives 2018 Non-Fiction ($29.99, 90 points, outstanding).
This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot from an Osoyoos organic vineyard, which has seen ten months of aging in concrete. Why is it called non-fiction? Perhaps that’s because there’s no oak aging, which masks some of the fruitiness that terroir and grapes naturally take for granted.
A deep garnet hue in the glass envelops you sense of smell, with black cherry, boysenberry, plum, and vanilla aromas. Ripe raspberry, tobacco, with gentle tannins on the palate, a smooth texture, freshness and a rich long finish from the concrete.
It was the perfect match for a roast shoulder of pork marinated in garlic, onion and citrus for 24 hours. Barbecued burgers, lamb souvlaki, or sockeye salmon would be great partners with narrative non-fiction. The non-fiction and 2014 vintage Bub are available at both the winery and online.
Here for you, Canada and for you, the Okanagan Crush Pad!
