I love discovering wineries that cellar their wines prior to release and Gold Hill is one such winery.
Gold Hill Winery is owned by brothers, Sant and Gurbachan Gill. Sant and Gurbachan come from a long line of farmers. In the 1980’s they immigrated to the Okanagan from the Indus Valley in Punjab, India. They came to the Okanagan to join their family who were already farming in the area. In 1995 the brothers decided to purchase 24 acres of land on the Golden Mile Bench. The land was originally planted with fruit trees and over the years the Gills converted it to vine. In 2009 they took the next step and produced 400 cases of wine under the Gold Hill label. Their first release won them the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for their 2009 Cabernet Franc.
Today the Gill family owns 65 acres of vineyard, which includes the original 24 acres on the Golden Mile Bench and now 32 acres in Osoyoos. In addition to making their own wines, the Gills supply many well known Okanagan wineries with their estate grown grapes.
Gold Hill currently has several older vintages available for purchase. These wines can be enjoyed now but, with careful cellaring, will age gracefully for years to come.
2015 Cabernet Franc $34.99
This wine is made from 100% Cabernet Franc sourced entirely from the Gold Hill Estate Vineyard in Oliver. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, it was further aged in the bottles prior to release.
After six hours in the decanter there are aromas of green beans, blackcurrants, blackberries, bramble, plum jam and baking spice. This is a dry, full bodied wine with high acidity and medium tannins. The palate is concentrated, offering good intensity with notes of herbaceous, green peppers, baking spice, blackcurrants, blackberries, prunes, dried figs and a long finish.
The 2015 Gold Hill Cabernet Franc makes a delicious pairing for Peking duck, drizzled with hoisin sauce and wrapped in a soft bao bun with julienne cucumber, carrots and green onion.
2014 Syrah $34.99
This wine is a blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier. All the grapes were sourced from the Gold Hill Estate Vineyard and the wine was aged for 18 months in French Oak barrels.
After four hours in the decanter there are aromas of black pepper, new leather, blackberries and black cherries with a hint of vanilla. This is a dry wine that is medium+ in body, with high acidity and medium tannins. The palate is savory and herbaceous. There are flavours of black pepper, thyme, salty, black liquourice, blackberries, Italian prune plums and baking spice with a long finish.
2013 Merlot $34.99
This wine is produced from 100% Merlot sourced from the Gold Hill Estate Vineyard and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels.
After six hours in the decanter there are aromas of liquorice, black cherry, marzipan, black plums and ripe blackberries. This is a dry, full bodied wine with medium acidity and medium+ tannins. The palate offers concentrated and juicy fruit flavours of black cherries, black plums, blackberries, vanilla and clove with a medium finish.