Late in the summer I had the opportunity to taste through the current lineup of wines from Laughing Stock. I have always been a big fan of Portfolio, and Pinot Gris is something that is always something to look forward to from BC. So here are my thoughts.
2017 Laughing Stock Portfolio – ****+ – This blend of 48% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot. This is a perennial favourite in my house – and definitely a benchmark for what BC reds can deliver. The bottle is brimming with cassis, cherry, strawberry, plum, vanilla, and subtle cedar campfire notes. This is a bottle of wine that is built to spend some time in a cellar for the next 7-10 years with ease – but the tannin is already soft and very well integrated – so if you decide to open this now the fruit flavours are ready to rock with just a bit of time in a decanter. I really enjoy this wine.
2019 Laughing Stock Pinot Gris – **** – The texture on this wine is incredible – it’s also bone dry. I have to admit – the juicy fruit on the nose had me anticipating a bit of sweetness on the finish. This Okanagan Pinot Gris is bottled sunshine. Fantastic notes of fresh cut, juicy nectarine on the nose and palate. And there is a vibrant mineral note through the mid palate that goes right to the finish. The texture is broad and the fruit flavours open up massively on the mid palate.
