Wine Guy: In with the new (wines)

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No wine resolutions this year. For 2024 it’s all about continual goal-setting, ideally using those SMART-goal metrics to maintain motivation and progress.

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That said, it’s always smart to keep things fresh — and a continuing personal goal remains to always keep looking out for the new. To embrace change and look for novel experiences.

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When it comes to wine this means seeking out new bottles to try:

The Wick 2021 Zoom Zoom, B.C. ($18.95, available through the winery and at local private wine stores)

The cool and quirky label first caught my attention from the shelf, and further inspection revealed a wine from a new local winery: Cannon Estate Winery, which is near Mount Lehman in Abbotsford.

Their Wick series of wines embraces the budding winery’s ambition to find success making premium wines in the Fraser Valley, with no turning back since “the Wick is lit.”

Though this vintage of Zoom Zoom — a vivacious, fruity yet tart blend of Riesling and Pinot Blanc — is made from grapes sourced from the Okanagan Valley given the estate’s young vines, it’s certainly worth watching the continuing development of this burgeoning venture.

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Bottom line: B, aromatic and fruity lip-smacker.

Mouton Cadet x Mathilde 2022 Bordeaux Rosé, France ($21.99, No. 370359)

It’s always the right time of year for a new bottle of rosé. No need to wait for warmer weather, this cheery pink brightens the day thanks to ample aromas of red berry, candied fruit and citrus.

A wine collaboration between the storied wine brand Mouton Cadet and Baron Philippe de Rothschild’s great-granddaughter Mathilde, this rosé is made from 100 per cent organically grown Merlot grapes sourced from various parcels throughout the Right Bank of Bordeaux.

Pouring a bright coral pink, after the aforementioned aromas a fruity and fresh, straightforward mid-palate builds before concluding with a citrusy kiss. 

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Bottom line: B, try with curry or crab cakes.

Herdade do Rocim 2021 Fresh From Amphora, Portugal ($29.99 for 1 L, No. 427693)

What’s old is new again. Fermenting and aging wine in earthen vessels is nothing new, indeed amphorae have thousands of years of tradition and provided the first real means of storing and transporting wine. It’s just that technologies like stainless steel and oak barrels became much more widespread in wineries around the world.

However, amphorae are making a comeback — particularly for wines focused on a more natural or minimalist bent. “Fresh from Amphora” is the tag from this new bottle to hit shelves, which hails from Portugal’s Alentejano region.

Savoury and slightly spicy, this lithe and lively traditional red blend is great with grilled pork or salmon.

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Bottom line: B+, one litre of fresh red wine fun.

The Swirl: The Perfect Pairing — Wine & Dine

From 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, at All Saints Parish Hall (821 Fairfax St.), the Rotary Club of Coquitlam is hosting The Perfect Pairing — Wine & Dine.

This is their second annual wine-pairing dinner, and the evening features seven different B.C. wines, each paired with a complementary dish.

The event is a fundraiser supporting food sustainability in the Tri-Cities’ area through the work of the SHARE Food Bank and Starfish Pack Programs.

Tickets are $125 per guest (must be 19-plus) and are available at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-perfect-pairing-wine-dine-tickets-462665172987.

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