2013 Featherstone Cuvée Joy – $34.95 – Vintages 310334 (Dec 2018) – **** – I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for this wine. I have said it once, and I’ll say it again – Joy is one of the most underrated wines in the province, and everyone should be drinking it. Here are my arguments to why – It’s very reasonably priced, it tastes better than most entry level Champagnes. It is sealed with a crown cap, so you don’t need to worry about corked bottles. It’s a Blanc de Blanc so you can get your Chardonnay fix. The new label is shiny, and let’s face it – we all like shiny things. The aromas are fresh bread, lemon, and golden delicious apple. The flavours match the nose and everything is wrapped up with crisp acidity. Expect to find a few bottles of this in my home to be enjoyed with great company.
2015 Burrowing Owl Meritage – Vintages 343038 – $57.95 – ****+ – This leans towards new world sensibilities while looking to the old world. There is a lot going on in this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot – the fruit brims with juicy ripeness but is still restrained. Flavours bring cassis, raspberry, and cherry. The fruit flavours are caressed by nice smoke – and a vanilla note from barrels is front and centre right now. That being said – while the tannin is soft and approachable right now I would count on setting this down in a cellar for 5-15 years.
