Blind tasting reviews are a fun game to play with restaurant sommeliers and wine nerds across town. I pour a glass from a mystery bottle and ask them to review it blind. By not knowing what the wine is or who represents it, hopefully, an honest-no-bs-review is achieved.
Come inside and read the review of our next contestant…
^ Erin Chambers, manager of Vij's
Wine reviewed by Erin Chambers, manager of Vij’s. Erin grew up in Vancouver and has been at Vij’s for four years, where she also runs the wine education program for servers. She has a diploma from the International Sommelier Guild and is currently pursuing her Wine and Spirit Education Trust Diploma. She’s no stranger to the fruits of the vine.
Hecht & Bannier Saint Chinian AOC 2009
ABV: 13.5%
Category: Mainly Syrah (Grenache, Mourvèdre)
Country/Region: Saint Chinian AOC, Languedoc Roussillon, France
Winemaker: hechtbannier.com
Appearance: High intensity ruby with a hint of purple and a pale ruby rim.
Nose: Clean with medium-plus intensity of blackberries, red licorice, black pepper, violets and leather.
Palate: Dry with medium-plus structural elements including body, acidity, alcohol and soft tannins. Medium flavour intensity of blackberries, sweet oak, black pepper and violets. Medium length.
Assessment of quality: Good quality wine. Well balanced between the fruit concentration and the tannic structure, although it shows more complexity on the nose than the palate. Drink now or will hold two to three years. A straightforward, quaffable wine.
Further comments upon revealing the wine: Reasonable value for quality. Has typicity of the syrah varietal. Will benefit from decanting. It needs food – preferably something rich and fatty such as braised lamb or cassoulet.
Availability: Available at BC Liquor Stores.
Pricing: $30
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Great review of a hot wine from one of the city’s hot young sommeliers.