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90POINTS
16½/20
Howling Bluff Sin Cera 2020
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWe haven't seen this wine in a decade, but it appears to be at another level in 2020. Merlot and petit verdot make for a slick, silky blend tempered by their mid-valley positioning on the Narmata Bench. The chocolate and sweet notes are gone, replaced with a more sophisticated mix of savoury ripe red and black fruit streaked with licorice and dried herbs. The finish is long and lingering with quite a bit of that desert scrub. This wine needs three to five years to expand fully, but it would be OK with some lamb or wild boar now. It is also a bit of a bargain and fine quality. Summa Quies Sin Cera, a saying from the Latin meaning 'without wax,' refers to how Romans made pots. Sometimes, they sealed the base with wax, claiming they were watertight, but the wax melted or wore away in time, making the pot useless for liquids. Pots not finished with wax were inscribed 'sine cera' to prove that they were sound. At some point, the word 'sincere' evolved from this origin.Tasted: 27 July 2023Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:| BC | $30.43 | 750ml | winery online/direct, select private retailers, restaurants |
Bona Vini Wines Co.
Blend: Merlot - Petit VerdotCSPC: 845420UPC: 626990392682
