Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom the Black Sage Bench's Cerqueira Vineyard, this Merlot (tipped with 2.7% syrah) was destemmed and fermented in stainless over 3 weeks, prior to moving into neutral 225L French barrels for 13 months. Juicy black plum, wild cassis, thorns, and tart black cherries flood the mouth, bright with acidity that lifts the near 14% palate. There's a cool stoniness that streams through this wine, bound by long, soft tannins, and finishing with a tart snap. I appreciate this merlot is bright and light on its feet, and not weighted down by rich oak and over-extraction, like many of its southern Okanagan contemporaries.Tasted: 15 October 2020Tasted by: Prices:
BC
$22.99
750ml
BCLS
AB
$21.99
750ml
private wine shops
Producer: Bartier Bros.Distributors: Stile Brands Grape: MerlotCSPC: 225706UPC: 628055147114
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSeven months down the road from our last tasting, this Cerqueira Vineyard Merlot continues to impress as it unfolds. It’s grown on the Black Sage Terrace, southeast of the Oliver town centre. The gentle sloping, west-facing vineyard contains a mix of dense loam topsoil over gravels with calcium carbonate covered granite, quartz, and basalt cobbles. I love the density of this red and the creamy, silky textures that spring from spending fourteen weeks in neutral French oak barrels. On the palate, it is slightly more expansive at this point, and the savoury, desert blue fruits are singing a salty mineral chorus. The Bartier reds like about five years in bottle before they reach their zenith, but the balance would suggest it can go a decade and beyond. Perfect now with your favourite steak cuts. Super value. Real wine.Tasted: 13 June 2020Tasted by: Prices:
BC
$22.99
750ml
BCLS
AB
$21.99
750ml
private wine shops
Producer: Bartier Bros.Distributors: Stile Brands Grape: MerlotCSPC: 225706UPC: 628055147114
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Bartier Merlot comes off the estate Cerqueira Vineyard along the Black Sage Terrace, south of Oliver. The vineyard has a gentle west-facing slope of dense loam topsoil above gravel with calcium carbonate covered granite, quartz, and basalt cobbles throughout the profile. The density of this merlot is always impressive. Creamy and silky, the difference is in the ageing, namely fourteen weeks in neutral French oak barrels. The wood encourages a healthy oxygen exchange without any oak interfering with the naturally dry, savoury, desert blue fruits. Love the mineral notes and salt that cleans up the finish. These wines like about five years in bottle before they reach their zenith, but the balance would suggest it can go a decade and beyond. Perfect now with your favourite steak cuts. Super value. Real wine.Tasted: 21 December 2019Tasted by: Prices:
BC
$22.99
750ml
BCLS
AB
$21.99
750ml
private wine shops
Producer: Bartier Bros.Distributors: Stile Brands Grape: MerlotCSPC: 225706UPC: 628055147114