Wine Vintages and Reviews
Now since we are into our 8th vintage release of our wines, we wanted to share with you tasting notes on previous vintages so you can see how they are developing. Generally speaking, our white wines are meant to be drank within two years of release, thus we are profiling just our red wines that have greater aging potential.
Select a wine below to see tasting notes from both our winemaking team and from collectors like yourself who may be cellaring a few past vintages (or simply can't get to them in your crawl-space wine cellar!). As well, our Wine Maturation Chart is also a guide for cellaring our wines. While monitoring your wines, we always suggest that if you have several bottles, try a bottle once in a while to see how it's developing according to your own palate and preferences.
Portfolio
Laughing Stock Vineyards - Library Vertical Staff Tasting
Still a young wine, the 2006 vintage of Portfolio is fuller and rounder than older vintages. Big dark fruit and black berry, dark chocolate, it will be interesting to see how this wine continues to develop. Drink now til 2015.
Laughing Stock Vineyards - Library Vertical Staff Tasting
Our gold medal winner in the Canadian Wine Awards, the 2005 vintage has a slightly smoky nose, deep and dark fruit with a bit of leather notes. This was the first year of including Petit Verdot and Malbec from our estate vineyard in addition to the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Still the staff favourite with great structure and backbone. Drink now til 2015.
Laughing Stock Vineyards - Library Vertical Staff Tasting
A more feminine vintage from a cooler growing year, we are liking the 2004 with a bit of age on it. Eucalyptus and mint nose and still great acidity and balance, it will still age beautifully. Drink now til 2015.
Laughing Stock Vineyards - Library Vertical Staff Tasting
Our inaugural release of just 500 cases of Portfolio was in 2003, a very hot year in the Okanagan which we refer to as the year of the fires'. Our vineyard was unscathed from smoke and hit huge ripeness. Even after 7 years, there is still a ton of fruit, glossette raisins, molasses and licorice notes. Even with the higher alcohol levels, the fruit has not diminished yet, but has become more reduced with time. Drink now til 2012.
November 12, 2008John McEwen, Vancouver BC
Very nice tobacco, leather and cedar notes. Soft and round, has mellowed out nicely with good balance and long finish. Almost plumy after the leather taste. Probably at its peak right now and will start to lose fruit from here. (And by the way, threw a ton of crud. editors note: gotta love unfiltered reds!) GREAT!
Blind Trust Red
Laughing Stock Vineyards David's Birthday Dinner
Pretty nose of dark cherry and leather. Velvet dark cherry chocolate and roses. Just coming into its own and will age beautifully for a while yet. Drink now til 2016.
Laughing Stock - Mother's Day
Dark cherry with smooth tannins. The dark cherry fruit is still very prevalent in this Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc blend. A bit of age has added some dried fruit, plum and leather notes. As it opened, the acidity pushed forward with a slight bitter finish. Ageing well and Drink now til 2012.
Cabernet Franc
Laughing Stock Vineyards David's Birthday Dinner
If you still have some of this small cap release of just 100 cases, be assured it is still age-worthy. Stunning nose with dense blackberry reduction, mint and eucalyptus. Clean and still fresh with solid acid, which gives it backbone to lay down for a few more years. We prefer this wine now with a bit of age as it is softening and acid levels have diminished since release, but dark fruit tones still shine through. Drink now til 2014.
Pinot Noir
Laughing Stock Vineyards David's Birthday Dinner
Not sure if you have any left in your own cellar as there were only 75 cases produced. Toasty nose with dried cranberry and hint of caramel. Fruit forward with notes of strawberry jam and white pepper. Nice mouthfeel and good acid profile and so will work well with food. We were surprised how well this wine is aging and retaining fruit characters. Drink now til 2012.