2015 Nyarai Viognier – **** – $22.95 – When I talk about wines that drink “dangerously easy” I am talking about a wine that tastes so good your guests will finish the first glass before you can put the bottle down. This is one of those bottles. Aromas and flavours of bright, crisp golden delicious apple, peaches, and a hint of wildflower. If you really close your wine … and take a minute to savour (instead of gulp) you can picture yourself standing in a prairie field in the middle of summer. There is a bit of a contradiction on the mid palate as there is a slight creaminess that caresses the palate and helps fill your whole mouth with the peach and apple flavours but the bright crisp acidity pulls the rug out from under all that fruit and leaves your palate holding the bouquet of wildflowers until you take your next sip.
2012 Nyarai Cadence – ****+ – $22.95 – Cab Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are all in the bottle. Even with the addition of Syrah the Bordeaux varietals are what dominate this bottle. The aromas are perfectly ripe Raspberry, Cranberry, Blackberry and there is the odd Blueberry in the basket. This wine is fruit driven from start to finish, but when I was on to my second glass the tannin started to take hold on the palate. This wine does need to be decanted. Don’t let the first glass fool you this could spend a few years in your cellar and have the tannin soften greatly. This wine is medium bodied but dips it toes into the pool of full bodied. The fact that this wine isn’t too heavy means that it will make a perfect match to your Roasts, but if you wanted to really get creative on the table try pairing this with duck or Coq au Vin. This is a beautiful bottle from the hot 2012 Vintage and there isn’t much of this wine made so if you’re looking for a bottle that offers great value pick this one up.