Lt. Gov. Buys B.C. Wine

The awards -- championed by Lt.-Gov. Iona Campagnolo -- will be used as a buying guide to help stock the cellars of Government House along with some of the top-rated runners-up.

The wines will also be included on a list of gifts that the lieutenant-governor may present to visiting dignitaries.

All B.C. wineries were invited to submit their wines for tasting by a panel of wine industry professionals. Criteria for submissions were that wines be 100 per cent B.C.-grown and produced.

For the record, the winning labels as judged by five local reviewers were: Sumac Ridge Steller's Jay 1999 ($21.99 will be released May 1), Sumac Ridge White Meritage 2001 ($19.99 currently in the market), CedarCreek Estate Platinum Reserve Chardonnay 2001 ($27.99 currently in the market), Red Rooster Gewurztraminer 2002 ($13.90 currently in the market), Quails' Gate Family Reserve Pinot Noir 2001 ($35. currently in the market but very limited supply), Jackson Triggs Proprietors' Grand Reserve Meritage 2001 ($24.95 release date expected late May), Jackson Triggs Proprietors' Grand Reserve Shiraz 2001 ($22.95 release late May) and the Jackson Triggs Vintners Proprietors' Reserve Riesling Icewine 2001 ($52.99 expected release date Fall 2003).

In keeping with the celebrating excellence theme, I would like to add six more wines complete with notes to the list and you should be able to find most of them in government liquor stores, VQA wine shops or direct from the winery.

I can't remember the last time I tasted six B.C wines that scored so highly. Here they are:

The Inniskillin Okanagan Chardonnay Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2001 has a lovely true chardonnay nose with ripe peach and apple undertones. Its big round and soft on entry with more ripe fruit flavours; yet refined and almost delicate in the finish. Elegant styling with butter, vanilla and citrus fruit highlighted by a drizzle of butterscotch in the finish. Very appealing and excellent value.

Identical in quality is the CedarCreek Chardonnay Estate Select 2001. It opens with a lovely mineral peach fruit nose and just a hint of lees and butter. This is fresh cool climate chardonnay with more mineral peach flavours and streaks of buttered popcorn in the finish. The fresh, clean B.C. style of chardonnay would be great match with grilled snapper and fruit salsa.

The pinot taste off begins with the Inniskillin Okanagan Pinot Noir Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2001. The colour is light but the nose is an intriguing mix of licorice root and tar nuances that lay over top of black cherry and vanilla aromas. Smoked tea and black cherry fruit flavours dominate with just a dusting of dry tannins in the finish. Balanced and elegant and will undoubtedly improve during the next year. Well done.

There's bit more oomph in the CedarCreek Pinot Noir Platinum Reserve 2000 as evidenced by the big smoky, cherry, vanilla, coffee aromas that jump out of the glass. Round and soft on entry with sweet vanilla and more bright, cherry kirsch fruit. It has an attractive New World style but the smoke and cream and mocha tend to obscure the pinot fruit character. Well made and may even improve as some of the smoke and oak dissipates over the next year.

The final two wines bear the Meritage moniker used to denote wines made from two or more of the classic Bordeaux varieties. In cool-climate B.C. that usually means blends with a higher percentage of merlot.

Inniskillin Okanagan Meritage Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2000 is a blend is 50/30/20 merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. It has fine colour and a big, herbal, cassis fruit nose heavily streaked with spice, smoke and pepper. Firm black cherry fruit flavours on entry with more smoky, spicy orange peel flavours in the finish. Elegant and lean with some dryness in the finish.

The CedarCreek Meritage Estate Select 2000 is a 55/41/4 blend of merlot/cabernet sauvignon/cabernet franc. It has a smoky, pepper, resiny shoe leather nose with more spicy, vanilla and ripe black cherry fruit. The textures are smooth, round with a peppery olive finish. Fine ripeness here and quite a rich aftertaste. Bravo.

WEEKEND WINE TASTING:

B.C. Estate Wineries: CedarCreek and Inniskillin Okanagan Valley.

Wine: Inniskillin Okanagan Chardonnay Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2001

Price: $15.95

UPC: 6206546321

Score: 15/20

Elegant styling with butter vanilla and citrus fruit.

Wine: CedarCreek Chardonnay Estate Select 2001

Price: $20.09

UPC: 77891305104

Score: 15/20

Comments: Delicious mineral/ peach flavours

Wine: Inniskillin Okanagan Pinot Noir Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2001

Price: $16.99

UPC: 62065453084

Score: 15/20

Comments: Lovely pure fruit and flavours.

Wine: CedarCreek Pinot Noir Platinum Reserve 2000

Price: $35.09*

UPC: 7789106002

Score: 16/20

Comments: Smoky coffee New World pinot

Wine: Inniskillin Okanagan Meritage Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2000

Price: $24.99

UPC: 62065455839

Score: 15/20

Comments: Smoky cassis and peppered orange peel..

Wine: Cedar Creek Meritage 2000

Price: $30.09

UPC: 77891305006

Score: 16/20

Comments: Tasty spicy, vanilla and black cherry fruit