Seven Stones

We got a good feeling about Seven Stones as soon as we were welcomed by their friendly Golden Retriever. Inside the wine shop, proprietress Vivianne Hanson poured our samples and chatted with us about her wines.

They planted their vineyard in 2000 and started the winery in 2003. Vivianne was proud to tell us that they source some of the grapes for the Stags Hollow Renaissance line.

The 2006 Chardonnay ($24.99) has a lot of mineral and earthy notes. It was a bit sharp for our tastes, but may do better with food. Apparently, as Vivianne mentioned to us, the stylish YEW restaurant + bar at the Vancouver Four Seasons carries it.

The 2007 Pinot Rose ($18.99) was earthy and quite delicious. The Pinot Noir ($27.99) was light with strawberry notes.

It was the 2005 Cabernet Merlot ($29.99) that really impressed me. The wine smelled so good you almost forgot you were supposed to be tasting it. It was velvety on the tongue, had a clean finish and would be great with or without food. I enjoyed a bottle a few months later and the complexity of the wine really came out in the glass.

The 2006 Syrah ($34.99) is hard to get your hands on. I was lucky to sneak a bottle away before its May 11, 2008 release date. It definitely has that cigar box smell and a big, smoky flavour. I thought this one deserved some cellar time, and since I don’t have the space (or patience) for a proper cellar I gave the bottle to my Dad for Father’s Day. On a subsequent visit to Seven Stones, I mentioned to winemaker George Hanson that a bottle of his Syrah was in my father’s cellar. He asked, jokingly “does your father want to sell it back to me?” Only 65 cases were made and it sold out quickly.

At a visit later in the summer I was not surprised to see that everything I’d tasted (except the Pinot Noir) had sold out. But there were some new releases, and they were top notch. The 2006 Cabernet Franc ($24.99) is a smooth, spicy treat. It really opens up in the glass if you have the patience to let it breathe.

George told us the 2006 Meritage ($31.99) is the best wine he’s ever made. I’m not going to argue with the man. It is mainly a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot but with a touch of Cab Franc. It was easy to enjoy when I tasted it and if I have the will power to save the bottle I bought, I’m sure it will improve with age.

Details:

Seven Stones Winery
(250) 499-2144
1143 HWY #3
Cawston, BC
Tasting room open May 1st to October 31st, 11:00am to 6:00pm daily (except Tuesdays).
www.sevenstones.ca

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