My Favourite Drops of 2016 Part 2: Orange and Reds

By VITA Daily

Last week I began showcasing my most memorable wine drops of 2016. Starting with bubbles and whites, I offered up 5 wines that made an impact on my year. It can be hard to define exactly why a wine stands out, especially when thousands of bottles cross my wine-centric universe (I love my job!). It could be the moment, it could be the story behind the wine, it could just melt your mind with unrivalled quality or value or flavour…but for whatever reason, something weird and wonderful etched each of these wines into my memory. Every time I discover a newly adored wine, doors fly open into different worlds of flavour and possibility. And instead of quenching my thirst, it fuels my hunger for more and more vino. So have fun with your bottles, keep your mind and taste buds open, and never stop searching for that perfect wine! Here are my 5 favourite red (and orange) drops of 2016. —Laura Starr

• Laughing Stock – Amphora ‘VR’ (Viognier/Rousanne) 2015 – Okanagan Valley,

  By VITA Daily

  Orange is the new red, and this wine won my love at Vancouver’s Top Drop wine fest this last fall. Amphora is a throwback to an ancient style of winemaking dating back thousands of years, and this weirdly wonderful orange wine (white wine that is given some time to soak with the skins, adding flavour, tannins, and a golden orange hue) will melt your heart, too. This wine has serious body, and hits your mouth in sexy, waxy waves. Warm, roasted apple flavours follow, with toasted spices that grip your mouth and never let go. This is a white wine for red wine lovers!

• La Rioja Alta ‘904’ Gran Reserva (Tempranillo) 2005 – Rioja, Spain

  By VITA Daily

  I can hear my Italian Nana turning in her grave, but in 2016, I learned that I am a Rioja girl. This wine will wake you up. Bright, sour cherries on the palate, with a herbaceous hint of dill pickle chips on the nose (if you didn’t know, dill pickle chips are unique to Canada, so this characteristic resonates with me). It has structure and complexity and it evolves and settles as you drink it. This wine does things I didn’t know a wine could do. Find it, and try it. And then, find more.

• Castello Banfi – Brunello di Montalcino (Sangiovese) 2010 – Tuscany, Italy

  By VITA Daily

  Now to pay Nana some heed. This Brunello is the epitome of why I love Italian vino. Big, gusto character is the epicenter of this wine (just like Nana), yet it is still approachable, and easy loving. Dark cherries on the nose, elegant spices and wood in the background, and complex structure balance out this beautiful Sangiovese. This wine will show you why Italians do it better.

• Montes ‘Taita’ Marchique Vineyard Red (Cabernet Sauvignon blend) 2015 – Co

  By VITA Daily

  This is a Cabernet blend that leaves you wondering, expressly because as the highest achievement of Montes winery, this bottle is a special blend of undisclosed varietals chosen directly from the Montes winemakers. This wine is intense, and hard to get your hands on. Dark berries mark the nose, with savoury aromas of chocolate and toasty truffle. It is big, it is complex, and it will last for years. Learn what new world wines can offer with this tasty indulgence.

• Bacheldor Pinot Noir “Trois Terroirs” – Burgundy, Oregon, Niagara

  By VITA Daily

  And lastly I want to drop here this amazing concept, Trois Terroirs, by Thomas Bacheldor. A Canadian native, Bacheldor grows Pinot Noir (and Chardonnay) in the same style of winemaking, across three different regions: Burgundy, FR, Oregon, US, and Niagara, CA. I was so lucky to get to sample these wines against each other, and when the grapes and the production are the same, with the only change being location, I was afforded the opportunity to really taste true terroir. His Niagara Pinot Noir is a must try!