Community Review

Vanessa Vineyard Right Bank 2014

Similkameen Valley, British Columbia BC VQA, Canada

Community Score: 4.7/5
Community Reviews: 3

Price: $39.99

Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 14.9%

Drink: 2014-2020

Bottle size: 750 ml
Winery: Vanessa Vineyard

Deborah Podurgiel rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

Vanessa Vineyard’s Right Bank 2014 is one smoooooth Bordeaux-style red. Right Bank Bordeaux is typically Merlot-dominant as is this one with 77% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. This in itself does not make it a spectacular wine. What does are the type of clones used in the making of this wine, ‘Cinderella’ growing conditions, precise vineyard management and, not in the least, a master-winemaker, who lovingly crafted the wine with precision, and with a little element called luck, is what makes Right Bank 2014 a spectacular Bordeaux-style red.

This vintage saw 1,666 growing degree days in the Similkameen Cawston area which is well above the 10-year average of 1,261 growing degree-days. Harvest came two weeks early with hot days and cool nights providing a Brix level of 30. And yes, the wine is 14.9% abv. As a result, the wine is warming, but not at the sacrifice of texture or flavour. The cuvée for this wine is almost entirely free-run juice with a small amount of pressed juice added back to balance tannins and to provide more backbone. The wine was fermented and barrel-aged for 26 months in new American and French oak barrels that were not quite a dark toast.

Right Bank is deep garnet in the glass with smoky blackberry, dark plum and dark chocolate aromas at first waft. On the palate, the wine is a medium-plus weight, elegant and smooth with mouth-coating black raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, smoky with a lingering soft-spice finish. Tannins are velvety and there is a refreshing acidity on this well-balanced and structured wine. Did I mention it was soooo smooth? Vanessa Vineyards suggests a pairing of an Entrecôte Bordelaise, which would be perfect Bordeaux fare for Right Bank (2014). It would also make a great gift wine or bring one down for Thanksgiving if going stateside to share what beautiful BC wines have to offer. Only 1090 cases were made.

Read Natalie's Full Review

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