As I’ve been learning about BC wines this month, I’ve been skeptical that they would be able to produce red wines of substance due to the northerly latitude.

This bottle, Mt Boucherie Summit, was recommended highly by Taylorwood as a quintessential example of the BC capability to produce a powerful full bodied red wine from Merlot, Cab Franc, and Cab Sauv grapes. I figured it would be a good sample to see what BC is capable of.

While not mind blowing or life changing, I am impressed and encouraged by the potential to ripen these classic varietals this far to the north. Much of this is due to the long summer days and temperate effects of the huge lake Okanagon. With a little more global warming they could really be on to something in the next 50 years.

Mt Boucherie has vineyards in both the Okanagon Falls subregion of the Okanagon Valley region and the Similkameen Valley, all of which they own and maintain themselves.  The Gidda family has been in the BC wine business for over 40 years, and are the largest family owned and operated outfit in BC.

Their winery and tasting room is located in Kelowna and I will definitely be making a stop to visit someday.

a. Anheiser Busch is to St Louis

b. E&J Gallo is to California

c. Opus One is to Napa

d. Jack Daniels is to Tennessee

e. Antinori is to Chianti

Leonetti is the name of all Washington wines that is most closely associated with the industry to which it belongs. They continually produce quality wines that have a very high demand.  Most of their wines are only available via a mailing list.  I’ll go ahead and say that their 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon was the best wine I’ve ever had, but we’re talking about the Merlot tonight.  Leonetti produced nearly 3,000 cases of this vintage Merlot, and it’s listed at a $60 retail.

What I thought: Smokey and hot with some nice fruit, this is a really good Merlot that didn’t give me that soft mouth feel that I seem to find in so many Merlots.

According to Leonetti: The wines nose consists of bright floral aromatics, elderberry, red and black crème fruits and spicy yet subdued notes of balsam, pencil shavings, and pine. The palate is broad and fat with a soft, long, yet lively finish that brings back merlot lovers to this wine again and again.

Back to the question. I’d say that someone could make an argument for f. all of the above, but the best answer is c.