Reserve Meritage

An impressive blend of 74% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon (including some of the oldest Cabernet vines in the Okanagan Valley (circa 1986), and 2% Malbec, from Noble Ridge’s Home Vineyard overlooking Peach Cliff at the southern limit of Okanagan Falls, BC. The nose shows a beautiful bouquet of dark berries, plum, sweet spices, and graphite. Full bodied with great structure, impressive texture with fine grained tannins, there’s a wonderful balance of fruit and savory elements in this fine Meritage, highlighting the great assemblage the winemaker achieved in their blend. Enjoy with braised bison tenderloin or osso buco with grilled sweet potatoes.

The blend is 74% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Malbec. The wine was fermented warm and aged 14 months in barrel – 70% French, 30% American and, with 27% being new oak. The wine begins with aromas of cherry, blueberry and cassis. On the palate, there are flavours of black currant, plum and blueberry. The polished texture and the seamless balance are typical of the 2020 vintage.

One of BC’s exceptional Meritage blends made with 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Sauvignon. Generous, elegant, balanced, finessed and satisfying. All the structural elements are harmoniously balanced. The firm mouth coating velvety tannins make this wine a perfect match for beef or game meats. Great cellaring potential up to 8-10 years.

Dark berry fruit with spice and dark chocolate dominate the nose and palate. Medium full-bodied and concentrated with ripe chalky tannins. A long dark berry and chocolate finish round out the package.

One of BC’s best Meritage blends. This wine is generous and elegant. Beautiful fruit with a silky journey through the finish. Long length. Drink now or 10+ yrs.

Meritage here is nearly three quarters to one quarter merlot and cabernet sauvignon with a couple of points each cabernet franc and malbec. The leader brings the grip and the verdant while complimentary assistance adds texture and west coast styled layering. Big and laden with warm cocoa in a comforting if dense red blend that needs winter, braised beef and time. Last tasted June 2020. Not quite dominant but essentially a merlot from Okanagan Falls in that 73 per cent would nearly qualify in a place like Napa Valley. The cabernet sauvignon (23) and bits of franc plus malbec add up to classic Meritage in big-boned Noble Ridge clothing. Perpetuates the style that has come to be consistently obvious through the portfolio, of fruit fully ripened, extracted and concentration. There is more elegance here and more of an appreciation for the subtleties that really tie a blending session together. The mastery here has made a well-rounded and lovely to drink Meritage. Drink 2021-2026.

It’s been 20 years since Jim and Leslie D’Andrea acquired this property around the corner from famed Wild Goose Vineyards, and they’ve grown the vineyard from 3 acres to 35 acres. Harvest for their Right Bank Bordeaux expression began Oct. 16, and the blend by winemaker Benoit Gauthier is Merlot-dominant (73%) with Cabernet Sauvignon (23%) — both of which were first planted in 1986 — joined by Cabernet Franc (2%) and Malbec (2%). There’s a faint tribute to Saint-Émilion in its Old World grace with notes of Montmorency cherry, cassis, pencil shavings, earthiness and saddle leather. Suave tannins and juicy cherries create a beautiful balance and a lingering finish. Suggested pairings include grilled lamb, portobello mushrooms, blue cheese and desserts featuring dark chocolate. This grabbed a gold medal at the 2021 Cascadia International Wine Competition.

Stylish, concentrated, and full-bodied, Noble Ridge's Meritage blend has been gaining gravitas with every vintage. Appealing aromas of plums and cassis, floral and herbal fragrance plus toasty oak prepare the palate for a deeply fruited palate with mouthcoating ripe and full tannins. Best of all is a earthy, savoury, dusty character that marks this indelibly as an Okanagan red. A lavish amount of Cabernet Sauvignon (37%) adds distinct pedigree and structure to easy-going Merlot (60%), but it's still showing young and tight so give it a good airing in a decanter now, or age for a few more harmonizing years

This is 77% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, two per cent each of Cabernet Franc and Malbec. This wine, which was aged 14 months in French and American oak, was double-decanted. It has aromas of black currant, black cherry and chocolate, which are echoed on the palate along with notes of chocolate and tobacco.