Pentâge Winery 2008 Gewurztraminer

Paul Gardner and Julie Rennie’s boutique Pentâge Winery rests on 35 acres along Penticton’s Skaha Lake.  Production is limited to only 5000 cases a year, and their small-lot releases sell out quickly.  Their newest vineyard, monikered ‘The Dirty Dozen’ was planted three years ago – and wine watchers (me!) are eagerly awaiting the first wines from the Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, Malbec, Mourvedre, Grenache and Tempranillo planted there.

Their current releases (9 whites and 7 reds annually) are from their first vineyard, planted in 1997.  And what lovely wines are being handcrafted from these 10 year old vines.  The perfumed aromas of the 2008 Gewurztraminer ($18) skyrocket out of the glass – lush lychee and grapefruit notes lead to a palate of ripe sweet apricot, citrus and mineral, a full, rounded mouthfeel and a lengthy finish.  Though there is a lot of fruit sweetness here, the wine finishes dry and crisp – delish.

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