“In this series we bring you our #FavouriteThings Holiday Gift Suggestions which we personally recommend”
You definitely want to add some cheer to your gift giving and these Phantom Creek Estate wine collections are just the thing! What a fabulous gift for the wine lover on your list. Of course we highly recommend you think about gifting yourself for the holidays. So whether its a special gift or to share here are our suggestions.
Holiday Estate Reds Collection
WINEMAKER NOTES
A cooler April in 2019 was quickly followed by warm conditions in May and June resulting in perfectly timed bud break in the vineyards. Summer brought more warmth to the valley but temperatures were average and this allowed the vines to fully develop. Harvest started with warm and dry conditions and the early ripening varieties were harvested on schedule. However, by the end of September, a slight change in weather conditions brought cooler temperatures and small amounts of rainfall to the valley. October was warm and had minimal rainfall allowing for more flavour development and acidity retention in the grapes. Harvest 2019 was challenging and required extremely precise vineyard management, however the result of all that hard work is well balanced wines with vibrant fruit characters and freshness.
$150.00 available online
2019 Cabernet Franc
To create a classic South Okanagan Cabernet Franc, we selected blocks of fruit that displayed great varietal expression from our estate vineyards on the Black Sage Bench and Golden Mile Bench. Our 2019 Estate Cabernet Franc is full bodied and delivers ripe raspberry and blackberry bramble notes with a lingering sagebrtush finish. This wine will age effortlessly. Drink now or age up to 5-8 years.
VINEYARD NOTES
This wine comes from our Estate vineyards located on the Black Sage Bench and Golden Mile Bench. Our vineyards on the Black Sage Bench produce finessed, elegant wines while the southerly aspect of our Golden Mile Bench vineyard allow the vines to bask in the early morning sun. On gravelly soils, wines from this vineyard are known for being mineral-driven, well structured, with a balanced ripeness and fresh acidity.
Vintage: 2019
Maturation: 18 months in French oak, 30% new
Aging Potential: 5-8 years
Varieties: Cabernet Franc 90%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%
2019 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon excels in the sunbathed South Okanagan. Marked by desert heat, long summer days provide the rare conditions to make exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. For this wine, we selected specific blocks of fruit that displayed great varietal expression from our Estate vineyards across the South Okanagan. Intriguing notes of black currants, lilac and tobacco mingle together with a subtle hint of raspberries and cocoa powder. On the palate, this wine showcases fresh dark fruit flavours, classic terroir driven sage notes and cedar box that are lifted by a hint of black pepper and herbs. Soft tannins and a seamless oak integration provide a superb mouthfeel and plush finish.
VINEYARD NOTES
This wine comes from two historic vineyards located on the Black Sage Bench and Golden Mile Bench. Our vineyards on the Black Sage Bench are steeply sloped, and Southwestern-facing, receiving complete exposure to the sun, yet enjoying a more gradual growing season due to its higher elevation, producing richly concentrated and aromatic wines. Our Kobau vineyard on the Golden Mile produces exceptional wines that balance ripeness with fresh acidity. The unique minerality in the wines grown from this vineyard are due to its complex, gravelly soils paired with early morning sunshine and afternoon shade cast by Mount Kobau.
Vintage: 2019
Maturation: 18 months in French oak, 26% new
Aging Potential: 5-10 years
Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon 90%, Cabernet Franc 10%
2019 Estate Merlot
To create a classic South Okanagan Merlot, we selected blocks of fruit that displayed great varietal expression from our estate vineyards on the Black Sage and Golden Mile Bench. Our 2019 Merlot is fresh and vibrant with elegant soft tannins and bright acidity. The nose showcases aromas of dried red berry fruit, notes of eucalyptus, with subtle hints of cocoa and graphite. On the palate, a fresh fruit core of cherry, raspberry, and red currant mingle with minty herbaceous notes and white pepper.
VINEYARD NOTES
This wine comes from our Estate vineyards located on the Black Sage Bench and Golden Mile Bench. Our vineyards on the Black Sage Bench produce finessed, elegant wines while the southerly aspect of our Golden Mile Bench vineyard allow the vines to bask in the early morning sun. On gravelly soils, wines from this vineyard are known for being mineral-driven, well structured, with a balanced ripeness and fresh acidity.
Vintage: 2019
Maturation: 18 months in French oak, 23% new
Aging Potential: 5-8 years
Varieties: Merlot 100%
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
Enjoy three different single varietal red wines from our estate series collection. Plus a voucher for a complimentary seated tasting experience for two at our estate. Free shipping!
$150.00 available online
Holiday Estate Whites Collection
WINEMAKER NOTES
The 2020 growing season was slow to start, with slightly higher than average rainfall and mild temperatures throughout the spring. Hot and dry conditions, typical of the South Okanagan climate prevailed from late Spring until harvest and were ideal for berry and tannin development. Harvest was completed before a sudden cold snap occurred towards mid October, ending the season quite abruptly for the region. 2020 had a less than average harvest volume due to small berry size, however, smaller berries resulted in more concentrated fruit flavours.
$125.00 available online
2020 Riesling
This Riesling comes from a hot and well exposed site on the Black Sage Bench. Guided by Olivier Humbrech, MW – this wine is unmistakably Alsatian in style. Matured for 19 months in Austrian white oak fudres for added weight and richness. The nose is flinty and phenolic with notes of caramelized apple, vanilla, and lime zest. The palate displays world-class acidity, green and yellow citrus, lemongrass, watermelon, petrol, and sweet spices.
Vintage: 2020
Maturation: 19 months in Austrian oak.
2020 Viognier
From a small 2.9 acre block at Kobau Vineyard on the Golden Mile bench, this elegant, complex Viognier benefits from retained freshness due to the vineyard’s cooler afternoons. The nose exhibits delightful floral notes of honeysuckle and neroli followed by citrus zest, tropical fruit, and pineapple. The palate has a smooth and supple mouth feel with delicious melon, mandarin, peach, and sweet spice mingling together for a noticeably long finish.
VINEYARD NOTES
The southerly aspect of the Kobau vineyard on the Golden Mile Bench allow the vines to bask in the early morning sun. On gravelly soils, wines from this vineyard are known for being mineral-driven, well structured, with a balanced ripeness and fresh acidity.
Vintage: 2020
Maturation: 9 months in 58% Austrian Oak , 42% in new French Oak
Aging Potential: 3 years
Varieties: 100% Viognier
2020 Pinot Gris
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast: “The aromas are vibrant, with notes of marmalade, dried ginger, honey and herb. The palate is bone dry and broad in feel, with the oak aging giving it a lightly creamy feel. It’s both intellectually fascinating and hedonistically enjoyable.”
Examples of great pairings: Seafood Salad, Smoked Salmon, Oysters, Pasta with Cream or Mushroom Sauce, Baked White Fish in Butter Sauce, Soft-ripened cheese, Chicken Sandwich, Prawns, Scallops
Wine notes courtesy of BC Liquor Stores website.
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
Enjoy three different single varietal white wines from our estate series collection. Plus receive a voucher for a complimentary seated tasting experience for two at our estate. Free shipping!
$125.00 available online
Phantom Creek Estates
With the aim of setting the benchmark in Canadian viticulture and winemaking, Phantom Creek’s estate vineyards are now in transition to organic and biodynamic farming practices. We’ve got a foot firmly rooted in the past with our vision to the future.
Viticulture
Our winemaking truly begins in the vineyard. We farm our estate grapes with the aim of expressing the character of each vineyard in the final wine. And then we get out of the way.
Harvest
From sampling each individual block to meticulously hand-harvesting each cluster, our goal is to ensure fruit is brought into the winery at optimal ripeness. We pick earlier than most, a crucial step to retaining freshness and achieving balance once bottled.
Winery
Our red wines are first hand sorted, then optically sorted; each berry must meet our standards before it’s pressed and fermented in Rousseau oak casks and small French oak barriques. Our whites are pressed whole cluster, wild fermented in custom Stockinger oak casks. Our goal with every one of our wines is to achieve optimal texture, layers of complexity, and integration with oak.
Wine notes, except as noted, courtesy of the winery. Collection images: Phantom Creek Estates, bottle shots and feature image: MyVanCity. I received complimentary wine to facilitate this feature.
