Red Rooster is a label that many people might be familiar with from BC. They offer affordable bottles with great quality. They have a large portfolio but across the board the wines are solid.
2014 Gewurztraminer Reserve – ****+ – $19.00 – There is all kinds of tropical fruit in this bottle. Lychee and Passion fruit with nice Rose Petal balanced in the glass. The finish has nice balanced acidity to it.
2015 Riesling – **** – $14.75 – There is a white flower note on the nose of this wine layered over bright citrus notes. The acidity is perfectly balanced, bright, vibrant and palate cleansing. This wine is off-dry but that acidity keeps the sweetness in check.
2014 Pinot Noir Reserve – ****+ – $21.75 – There is a lot of damp earth and mossy forest floor on the nose of this wine. This wine is liquid velvet with Red and Black Cherry. But then, the flavours get heavy, licorice and woodsmoke bring up the finish on this wine and the heavier licorice and earth flavours linger. There is nice acidity to this wine and it is just fantastic.
One clear highlight in the Red Rooster porfolio are their Golden Eggs. (no actually, these wines are called Golden Egg). On the tasting bar they currently have the 2011 and 2012 vintages of this Rhone-Style Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah wines available for tasting.
2011 – ****½ – $43.50 – There is a slight violet aroma on the nose but the rest of the nose is meaty. There is nice black currant, raspberry, plum over this meaty smoky note. However the wine sits medium heavy on the palate. There is a nice spicy note on the finish and the way this wine ends lingers on the palate for a long time.
2012 – ****½ – $43.50 – Half of this wine was fermented in a concrete egg… so the name is apt. This wine is all fruit and dangerously easy to drink. There is so much black currant, plum, blackberry and licorice it’s hard to keep track off the symphony of flavour on your palate. Enjoy the fruit while it’s in your mouth because as the wine leaves this wine moves to have a nice peppery note on the finish.
2013 Reserve Meritage – ****+ – $21.75There is a distinct note of pencil shaving on top of strawberry, cherry and raspberry on the nose. There is a lot of bright red fruit that is perfectly ripe, but not jammy. This wine walks on a tight rope with the fruit. Everything is perfectly ripe without being jammy. There is nice tannin and acidity to this wine and while it’s drinking great right now it is worth holding onto a bottle or two to see how it will develop in the cellar.
2013 Reserve Syrah – ****+ – $26.00 I love BC Syrah. I haven’t had much experience with it, but this wine may have been the nail in the coffin for me wanting to grab a bottle climb to the top of a mountain and scream out loud for everyone to hear that these wines are special and oustanding. Smoke, licorice, black currant ,cloves, blackberry … this wine is dark and heavy on the palate but leaves with nice acidity.
