SOWF #9: Robin Ridge

After Clos du Soleil we drove into downtown Keremeos to find the Thai restaurant that had been recommended to us by a few different people. Benja Thai delivered, and we had some good Thai soup and curry for lunch. It could have been even spicier for our taste, but everything was very flavorful. This is a great place to stop for food when touring the Similkameen valley.

After lunch we decided we were running out of steam, so we made one final stop before heading up the 3A back to Penticton. Our overall impression of Robin Ridge was average, but to be fair this was the end of a long day and right after a big spicy meal. Apart from the wines listed below, they also produce Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and something called "Robin's Return".

• Gewurztraminer 2011 ($19)

Combines intense tropical papaya and pineapple with ripe melon, grapefruit, baking spice and floral notes. Just off-dry with crisp balanced acidity and fresh lemon, grapefruit, mandarin orange, peach and a hint of honey

88 points. Dry, slightly musty but nice.

• Flamingo 2011 ($18)

Pale pink in colour with intense aromas of stone fruit, ripe golden apples, honey, lemon sherbet and subtle floral notes. The palate is off-dry, balanced with fresh acidity and with flavours of juicy citrus fruits, strawberry, peach, apple and flowers. Pair with a warm summer breeze.

88 points. This is made with the Coronation grape, which I had to look up. It is a labrusca (table grape) hybrid, not vinifera, actually developed in Summerland in the 1970s. It is similar to Concord, but can withstand the cooler Canadian climate better. I thought the wine was pretty good but there was some faint chemical taste that I wrote down as "windex". Either the glass may have been contaminated with some detergent that wasn't completely rinsed out, or my taste buds had given up after fifty tastings, or possibly this is what a Coronation wine tastes like. Probably not the last one, so a retaste may be in order here.

• Gamay 2010 ($23)

Intense and welcoming aromas of plum, cherry, ripe strawberry and complex floral and meaty notes. The palate has a velvet texture and is elegant yet powerful with ripe red fruits, roasted herbs and great length. The juicy acidity and complexity will leave the palate insisting for more.

88 points. A fairly full-bodied Gamay, heavy on the oak.

• Reserve Merlot 2009 ($25)

A big brooding wine, deep ruby in colour with intense ripe blackberry, blueberry and plum with toasty toasty vanillin oak and subtle violet notes. The palate is full bodied and structured with sun sweetened brambly berries, grilled herbs, cinnamon, charcuterie and dark chocolate.

88 points. Astringent, full flavour, nice.


And that was the end of our first day of wine tasting.