Robert's Report

Rainy Day Fun

It was a typical overcast day with occasional showers in British Columbia's lower mainland. The best thing to do on such a day is to pick up the camera and head to a winery. Lunch was the first objective on the itinerary and that meant Chaberton's Estate Winery  Bacchus Bistro. Our previous visit was in Feb.Valentines's Dinner at Chaberton

We started the lunch by ordering one of my favourite wines 2015 Reserve Dry Bacchus. The wine did not dissapoint it was sensational. Once again the service was very good and the food excellent. Especially the French Onion Soup. I also had the Roasted Chicken Panini - with swiss cheese, sauerkraut, roasted tomato and garlic aioli - served with mixed greens . Barbara went with the Cucumber & Aruguala Salad - mint, cilantro, and poppy seeds in a preserved lemon vinaigrette topped with Mt. Lehman Chèvre.

With the main course we enjoyed a glass of 2013 Valley Cab VQA; A niceblend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, form the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys.  This savoury red wine has flavours of raspberry, cassis and vanilla.

We skipped dessert to visit the newly renovated tasting room where we met with winery manage Brian Ensor. He direct us through a number of fine wines and dissused a private tasting session. 2014 Reserve Pinot Gris and the Siegerrebe Dessert Wine were very good wines. Chaberton's winemaker is Andrea Lee.

From Chaberton to Backyard Vineyards. Where we were honoured to have winemaker James Cambridge guide us through a wine tasting. Before tasting we had time to admire the new tasting bar. The room is now larger and much brighter. Well done Backyard.

James attend Niagara College. A fully integrated Oenology/Viticulture Program provided the building blocks to get him started toward the ultimate goal of becoming a Winemaker. James graduated at the top of his class. James has worked for a number of great wineries, such as Henry of Pelham, Creekside Estate Winery, Summerhill Estate Winery, Le Vieux Pin, LaStella Estate Winery, and Fort Berens

Our tasting began with the award winning 2015 Pinot Grigio ( excellent) , followed by theNosey Neighbour White another award winning wine.

For the reds A very nice full bodied Syrah with its lingering peper taste another excellent wine. This was folowed by the Gossip silver at the Intervin International Wine Awards. a fine blend 28% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot, 25% Syrah, 22% Cab Franc. filled with a complexity of flavours.

The good times continued with the Cabernet Franc 2013, the Mystery Wine a 2013 Reserve Syrah. Finally a yet to be bottled Crème de la 2014 Reserve Cab Franc. Take a bow James.

Both wineries provided outstanding hospitality and a very fine cellar of amazing BC VQA wines. Thank you!

Robert's Report

 

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