Summerhill Cipes – Blanc de Noir – 2008
Summerhill is one of the more beautiful wineries to visit and drink in the views from a patio overlooking Okanagan Lake.
Also, there is the pyramid cellar on site with all its all its mystique.
I sat on the patio on a gorgeous summer day with a bottle of Blanc de Noir, a charcuterie tray and my lovely wife at my side. How can anyone be objective about a sparkling wine served under such conditions? This wine is 100% organic Pinot Noir made in the method Champenoise.
It has wonderful structure and a good fruit presence of red apple and hints of red cherry and raspberry on the front palate. It has a creamy texture and sneaks in those flavors of toast and brioche that make me think of the classic Champagnes of Epernay. The finish lingers with a fresh crisp acidity.
I think I could easily mistake this for an old world sparkling at a much higher price point so there is very good value here even when you take away the patio and the lake and the lovely wife!
Many joke that the wines always taste better in BC than when you take them back to Alberta but I can tell you this wine tasted spectacularly in Calgary too.
