Top Wines To Welcome Lunar New Year 2022

We must say, we are very much looking forward to ushering in a new Lunar New Year with some pretty incredible wines! Below, six grr-eat picks to start the Year of the Tiger off right, and ripe! —Vita Daily

Dalmore Principal Collection Port Wood Reserve: This majestic and refined single malt ($125 at BCLS) is bursting with flavours of rich plums, orange, coffee and sweet cherry. The Dalmore Port Wood Reserve starts its journey in the finest American white oak ex-bourbon casks, and is then split equally, with half of the whisky remaining in the American white oak and the remainder transferred to aged Tawny Port pipes from W & J Graham’s vineyard in Portugal. They are then married back together to harmonize the flavours before bottling. Purposefully retained at 46.5% ABV to complement the enticing warm flavours of the port and the classic taste of The Dalmore, the result is a whisky that is indulgent, smooth and complex.

Seña 2018: This very thoughtful Seña ($200 at BCLS) shows unique aromas of warm earth, mushrooms and conifer, turning to dark berries and black olives. The palate is more glamorous, with ultra-fine tannins that envelop the palate and, much like a tiger, shows power and vibrancy at the end. It’s a very intellectual wine that harkens back to the 2015. Blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 15% Carmenere, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. According to the winemaker, “Seña 2018 is a truly captivating wine that accomplishes a unique balance between power and elegance. I believe we are beholding one of the greatest vintages ever crafted in the 25 years of Seña’s history.” We’ll drink to that!

Louis Latour Cru Corton Grand Cru Chateau: “Grancey” was the name of the last owners of the chateau situated on the road of Corton, before the Latour family bought it in 1891. This wine ($212 at specialty stores), produced by Maison Louis Latour, is unique and exclusive. It is a blend of four areas of Domaine Latour Corton Grand Cru: Bressandes, Perrières, Grèves and Clos du Roi, the proportions of which vary depending on the vintage. The average age of the vines is more than 40 years. After aging individually, only the best barrels are assembled to create the Château Corton Grancey. It is a wine that is produced only if the grapes are of a perfect maturity, vintages judged inferior are systematically declassified.

Penfolds Bin 389 Magnum Lunar New Year (Tiger) 2019: Bin 389 was often referred to as Baby Grange, in part because components of the wine mature in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. First made in 1960 by the legendary Max Schubert, this was the wine that helped forge Penfold‘s reputation with red wine drinkers, by combining the structure of cabernet sauvignon with the richness of shiraz. Exemplifying the judicious balance of fruit and oak, Bin 389 highlights the generous mid palate Penfolds is known for. This special magnum bottle ($189 at BCLS) celebrates the Year of the Tiger.

Caymus-Suisun Grand Durif 2018: This midnight purple-coloured Petite Sirah from Caymus ($70 at specialty stores) opens with a fragrant lilac, blueberry and acai berry bouquet with a hint of plum—yum! On the palate, this wine is medium-plus bodied, balanced and very smooth. The flavour profile? A tasty milk chocolate and stewed red plum blend with notes of blueberry. The finish is dry and its moderate tannins build up, linger and last. Pairing this very good Petite Sirah with a steak, stuffed veal or lamb lollipops.

Mission Hill Family Estate Oculus: Last but not least, something local. An “oculus” was first used by the Romans in buildings like the Pantheon—a window in a dome or wall to the outside. Mission Hill’s oculus provides the only natural light into the Okanagan winery’s underground barrel cellar, blasted out of volcanic rock that is otherwise hidden from the world. This complex Oculus Bordeaux-style wine ($185 winery direct) is the result of meticulous selection in the vineyard estate with grapes that have been specifically nurtured for this rare wine.