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Column: Delicious wines from the Okanagan and Lazio Italy

Last week I was recommending TIME Wines from the Okanagan: the 2018 Viognier, 2016 Syrah, and 2017 Fourth Dimension. Here’s another one to uncork, the TIME 2017 Meritage ($34.99 at Ironwood Save-On).
Okanagan wines
A sunny taste of the southern Okanagan and two delizioso flavours of Italy’s Lazio region!

Last week I was recommending TIME Wines from the Okanagan: the 2018 Viognier, 2016 Syrah, and 2017 Fourth Dimension. Here’s another one to uncork, the TIME 2017 Meritage ($34.99 at Ironwood Save-On). It’s a blend of four grapes that are permitted in red Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The grapes were grown in the southern part of the Okanagan Valley, on the Black Sage Bench in Oliver and aged for 15 months in small French oak barrels.

TIME Winery’s late owner, Harry McWatters pioneered Meritage in BC. Because it’s illegal to call the BC version of the blend a “Red Bordeaux”, a new name had to be coined. It was decided that because the red would have “merit” as a premium wine that could “age” and improve with time, they would call it “Meritage”, which rhymes with heritage.

This is an elegant wine, which enjoys a bouquet of violets along with cassis. On the palate there’s black cherry, blackberry, plum and a trace of cigar box. Smooth tannins round the wine out. Enjoy with Beef Wellington or one of the six recipes on the winosity website such as Saucy Mongolian Beef Stirfry.

With the passing of Harry McWatters, the family has sold the company that produced TIME Winery, McWatters Collection, and Evolve brands to a BC couple, Ron and Shelley Mayert under their new company, Five Vines Cellars. Christa-Lee McWatters stays on as General Manager and her sister Darrien remains Operations Manager. And Winemaker Lynzee Schatz runs the winemaking progam and Chef A.K. Campbell oversees their restaurant at TIME.

Earlier this summer I recommended a trio of Italian wines from the Lazio (Rome) region. One of my favourites was the Casale del Giglio 2018 Cesanese ($24 at Brighouse BCLS), a fruit driven smooth red with instant appeal.

I recently sampled another premium red from Casale del Giglio, a 2016 Mater Matuta ($56.99 SKU 263954 Spec.). Named after the Roman goddess of dawn, it’s produced from 85% Syrah and 15% Petit Verdot. The Mater Matuta has a deep dark red colour and there’s a floral violet and black fruit nose, with a whiff of earthiness and spice. In the mouth the red reveals a ripe blackberry and cherry flavour, coffee, and chocolate with lots of depth, moderate tannins, savoury roasted meat, toasted oak, and some spice. Complex, elegant and ready to drink. Delicious with a T bone steak Tuscan style with rosemary and garlic.

Switching to a white, I also enjoyed the Casale Del Giglio 2019 Faro Della Guardia Biancolella ($36.99 SKU 207558 Spec.)

It’s produced from the Biancolella grape. Although native to Campania near Naples, it grows on the island of Ponza, the largest island in the Pontine Islands Archipelago in the Tyrrehenian Sea southwest of Rome. Faro Della Guardia refers to the lighthouse where the vineyards are located next to the sea.

The Biancolella is a refreshing dry but fruity white with some herbal qualities. There’s gooseberry with some nettle character as well, a mineral taste of the volcanic soil and the sea spray, and it lingers with a long lemony finale.

The crisp acidity balances the fruit and herbs and refreshes your palate to want another taste. Serve with a Sardinian recipe, clams or prawns with linguine and lemon, basil, pecorino and mascarpone, or a Roman dish of rabbit with artichokes.

These two Casal del Giglio wines are spec items and are purchased in six packs through the agency that imports them worldwinesynergy.com

Eric Hanson is a life-long Richmond resident, retired teacher and wine educator. Eric has also taught wine appreciation courses in Richmond and throughout Metro Vancouver for many years. He continues to be a journalistic ambassador for the enchanting world of wine through his weekly column.