I enjoy Okanagan wines so when I saw this one at Harper’s Landing as part of my Wine Meetup group. Dark in color with a mild nose. There is no hint whatsoever of what’s to come. On the mid pallet the wine displays some mild red berry fruits and some some cab franc noted backed quickly by big bold firm tannins, strong peppery notes and some acidity. The wine has a long finish that lives on in the mouth for quite a bit with some nice dryness and complexity. This is a typical Okanagan wine. A little more ageing might give you more of a chance to enjoy the fruit as the tannins die down. I would give this wine a solid 90. Make sure you are pairing it with something hearty or not a chance your tasting anything other than the wine. Yummmmmmmm. The wine is not available at the LCBO but is $50 at the winery.
From the winery’s web site:
2009 Quatrain
A Quatrain is a poem or stanza that is always composed of four lines. QUATRAIN is a similarly composed of four grape varieties:
Merlot 35%, Syrah 30%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20%, Cabernet Franc 15%, all in perfect harmony.
The grapes were selected from the best blocks within our estates in Osoyoos and Oliver. They were hand harvested, hand sorted, and gravity filled in small lots to French oak fermenters. After extended maceration, the free run wine and a portion of lightly basket pressed wine was aged separately in a selection of 100% French oak barrels for 15 months.
The 2009 Quatrain is full bodied, yet soft and approachable with fine tannins and a round, fruit forward palate. Merlot and Syrah blend seamlessly and are from the finest parcels along the Black Sage and Osoyoos benches. Notes of plum, dark cherry, blueberries and pepper fill the glass, along with subtle hints of licorice, clove, tobacco and vanilla. This well-structured wine displays fine tannins and bright acidity to frame its exotic spice and ripe fruit notes.
Winemakers Notes
2009 Quatrain
35% Merlot, 30% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc.
Hand harvested from Oliver & Osoyoos vineyards in October 2009
Fermentation & extended maceration in small French Oak Fermenters
Aged in French oak barrels for 15 months Alcohol: 13.5% | Dry
Total Acidity: 5.9 g/l
Bottled on September 29, 2011
