Issue Number 26 – Patio Sippers Part Deux
Ring the bell; it’s time for round 2 of Aromatic White wine insanity. I’ve got some off-dry wines that are a little off of the beaten track.
The first grape is Ehrenfelser (EHR-en-fehl-zuhr) which was created in 1929 by crossing the grapes Riesling and Silvaner. The grape is of German origin and has really caught the interest of a few wineries in BC. Hailing from Kelowna is Summerhill Ehrenfelser, 2007 ($24.99 #440016 Specialty Stores). A real crowd pleaser, this wine has a very aromatic nose with aromas of tropical fruit and white roses. The palate is rich and generous with more tropical as well as stone fruit. The acidity is low and the alcohol is a little high so be sure to serve this wine well chilled. I really like this wine and would strongly recommend it as well as other great Ehrenfelsers from around BC.
Muscat Ottonel is a grape that comes from central Europe and produces wines that are floral, elegant and generally have a bit of sweetness. Staying in BC, we tasted the Hillside Estate Muscat Ottonel, 2009 ($23.99 #434803 Specialty Stores). From the Naramata Bench region of the Okanagan, this wine has beautiful light floral and citrus aromas. The palate is fresh and floral with vibrant acidity. This is a cool Muscat because it’s quite dry. The flavours are there to appreciate, but the finish is crisp and refreshing.
Down in the states some producers play around with a very obscure grape called Symphony. Commercially introduced in 1981, Symphony is a cross between the grapes Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris. Check out Ironstone “Obsession” Symphony, 2009 ($15.74 #355784) for its perfumed nose and fan friendly flavours. The nose also shows some grapefruit and floral characteristics while on the palate there are some lavender and citrus fruit flavours. I like the long finish with this wine as well. I used to sell a ton of this wine when I ran a Thai restaurant up in Whistler, although I actually prefer it as an accompaniment to tropical fruit desserts like grilled pineapple with ice cream.
That’s it for today, but there are still more patio sippers coming to come.
Cheers,
Josh