What qualities do you look for in a cellar-worthy wine?
Poplar Grove has been producing age-worthy wines since their first vintage was released in 1997. Over the last several months they have released new vintages of their Legacy, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. All of these wines are currently available at BC Liquor Stores.
The 2016 Legacy comes from what appears to be emerging as an outstanding vintage in the Okanagan. This wine has intensity, complexity and length, along with adequate tannins and acidity; all things I look for in an age-worthy wine.
The 2016 vintage is a blend of 33% Cabernet Franc, 25% Malbec, 15% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Petit Verdot. All the grapes are estate grown and handpicked prior to being subjected to a rigorous sorting process. The wine was then fermented with extended maceration, followed by aging in French barriques for 21 months. The final blend was assembled and then matured in bottle for two years prior to release.
2016 Legacy $60.99
After several hours in the decanter, this Bordeaux blend displays rich and dense aromas of cassis, ripe red plums, fig, baking spice, vanilla and Spanish cedar. It is a dry, medium+ bodied wine with medium+ acidity and fine, medium tannins. The palate is floral with notes of blackcurrant, ripe blackberries, sweet black cherries, antique leather and tobacco with a long, herbaceous and savory finish.
The 2016 Legacy pairs well with prime rib dinner or a ribeye steak.
Poplar Grove is currently selling both the 2015 and the 2016 vintages for $60.99 each, which would make for a fantastic vertical tasting!
2017 Merlot $30.99
This wine is a blend of 85% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc.
Grapes were hand-picked and sorted prior to crushing and cold-soaking for four days. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks with pump-overs two times a day. After alcoholic fermentation, the caps were submerged for further maceration for 14 days. Malolactic fermentation occurred in barrel, and finished in the spring of 2018. The wine was aged in French oak barrels (25% new) for 21 months.
After several hours in the decanter there are aromas of sour cherry pie filling, vanilla, strawberry, blackcurrant and cedar. This is a dry, medium+ bodied wine with medium+ acidity and medium+, velvety but grippy tannins. The palate offers sour cherries, cranberries, black Italian prune plums and dried herbs with a lingering finish.
This Merlot was a great match for mature cheeses, especially cave aged gruyère.
2017 Cabernet Franc $37.99
This wine is a blend of 87% Cabernet Franc, 8% Malbec, 3% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Grapes were hand-picked and sorted in the vineyard. They were then crushed separately and cold soaked for two days prior to fermentation. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrel and was complete by the spring of 2018. Each of the varietals for this wine were aged separately in French oak (25% new) for 21 months prior to blending and bottling. This wine was aged in bottle for 12 months before being released.
After three hours in the decanter there are aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, black liquorice, cedar and vanilla. This is a dry, full bodied wine with with medium+ acidity and high tannins. The palate offers blackcurrant, blackberries, black cherry, dried herbs, salty, black liquorice and vanilla with a lingering finish.
This wine is one for the cellar – to drink now, give it a good six-to-twelve hour decant.
Poplar Grove Winery
425 Middle Bench Rd N
Penticton, BC V2A 8S5