With summer stretching into September and hopefully beyond, we recently took a couple summer sippers from Cedar Creek Winery for a whirl, the 2011 Riesling and 2011 Pinot Noir Rosé.
The 2011 Riesling, a 2012 All Canadian Wine Championships Gold Medal Winner, is all citrus and minerals, and in a very good way. There’s a zippy acidity that’ll almost make you pucker – this isn’t the flabby, sweet-ish Riesling some new world producers are bottling. But that’s no surprise to Canadian drinkers as the Okanagan Valley is quickly gaining a name for itself as a growing area for fantastic Rieslings.
The Wine Diva recommends this with fish tacos, and that has my mouth watering already.
The 2011 Pinot Noir Rosé is a blend of all nine of the estate’s Pinot Noir blocks. In the glass, it’s an approachable, pretty candy pink. On the nose, it’s a field of ripe summer strawberries. In the mouth, there’s a silkiness that’s not not complex or overly serious, and the strawberries keep on coming. There’s a hint of sweetness. This rosé is a crowd-pleaser and the perfect accompaniment to a hot summer day or an easy evening with friends. If you’re going to push some food onto plates to go with it, some west coast smoked salmon would do in a pinch. This rosé also won a Gold Medal at the 2012 All Canadian Wine Championships, and a Best of Varietal award at the 2012 Okanagan Spring Wine Festival.
Both the Riesling and Rosé are priced right at a couple bucks under a twenty, and we recommend trying both at least once. Though the rosé is already sold out at the winery so hurry up if you want to get a bottle before they’re gone.
Keep up with the goings on at the winery on the Cedar Creek Winery Blog.
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