Last year, before we moved to Kelowna, I would get together each week for plein air painting followed by a wine tasting with my friend, Keith. We usually tasted two wines, and Coravined them both - which could be a challenge as our only caveat was that the wine should retail under $20.

Now that I live in the Okanagan, we trade photos of our plein air paints that we complete independently (for feedback) but only recently began wine tasting again - and, again, with the caveat that the wines should be $20 or under.

Basically we pick a wine to taste in advance and then we both buy a bottle of the same wine. Unfortunately that means no blind tasting but we have had to adapt. We connect on Zoom and then crack our respective bottles, pour, and then go through a WSET 3 tasting note. After appearance and nose, we discuss, and then we taste and evaluate and then discuss again. It's a great way to keep our noses and palates in shape!

The first week we did this, we tried a 2018 Oops Spicy Splendor Carménère from Chile (currently on sale for $13 at BCLS). I do enjoy a nice Carménère and, despite the name, this one did not disappoint.

Appearance - Clear, medium, ruby

Nose - Clean, medium intensity - cherry, blueberry (a lot), black currant, pepper, bell pepper, leather

Palate - Dry, medium acidity, medium minus tannins, high alcohol, medium plus intensity, medium finish, medium plus body with fruity flavours of blueberry, cherry, black currant, vanilla, leather, tobacco and spiciness

Overall - The Carménère was fairly balanced, had OK length, intense flavours and was fairly complex. I rated the wine as Good. It could probably stand a couple of years at least in the cellar as it is only a 2018, it has some acidity, and there are a lot of fruit flavours to draw from. I enjoyed this wine a lot and would buy again, especially at the price. My friend felt the same way. My wife, on the other hand, did not enjoy this. More for me!

The following week we tried a Georges du Boeuf Beaujolais ($15). I remember drinking this wine when I first started to venture out from drinking my own homemade wine. That was quite a few years ago and I recall buying this wine regularly. Then, for some reason, I stopped.

Appearance - Clear, deep, purple

Nose - Clean, medium plus intensity, violets, red liquorice, cinnamon, grape, bubble gum, blueberry

Palate - Dry, medium plus acidity, medium minus tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, medium intensity, medium minus finish, similar flavours as the nose

Overall - This light wine was fairly intense and complex with an OK balance and a relatively short finish. I would drink this now - most Beaujolais wine fits into this category unless you have a cru wine like Morgon or Fleury. The grape for this wine is Gamay Noir and makes a good accompaniment to many dishes due to its lightness - a great wine to order if everyone has a different kind of meal at a restaurant and you don't want to order a (more expensive) Pinot Noir. The interesting flavours such as red liquorice, cinnamons and bubble gum are due to the carbonic maceration when this wine is fermented. I would rate this between Adequate and Good. Drink now!

The third week, we stuck with French wine. This one is a current favourite value wine - a 2016 Ventoux Chateau Pesquié Terrasses from the Southern Rhone ($20).

Appearance - Clear, medium, ruby.

Nose - Clean, medium intensity, blueberry, plum, blackberry, smoked meat, pepper, forest floor, charred wood.

Palate - Dry, high alcohol, medium acidity, medium minus tannin, medium intensity, medium plus finish, medium plus body, blackberry, blueberry, smoke, charred wood, cedar, leather, tobacco.

Overall - This 60% Grenache 40% Syrah wine has some nice secondary and tertiary characteristics. It is ready to drink and, due to the rather low tannins, I would drink within the year. It was a tasty wine by itself but really came into its own when I had a cracker and cheese with it. A very nice food wine that punches a bit above its price point. This wine is fairly balanced, has medium length, is intense in flavour and is wonderfully complex. I would rate this wine between Good and Very Good.

The final wine to look at today is a fresh 2019 Leyda Rosé from the west coast of Chile made from Pinot Noir ($16).

Appearance - Clear, medium, salmon colour

Nose - Clean, medium plus intensity, grapefruit, strawberry, cranberry, gooseberry (the kind you find here), lavender

Palate - Dry, medium plus acidity, medium plus alcohol, medium body, medium plus intensity, grapefruit, strawberry, candied fruits, pepper, raspberry, tanginess

Overall - I love a good Rosé, especially this time of year. It goes with so many things but is also wonderful to slurp on the patio. The Leyda did not disappoint. It was fruity but also nice and dry. It was a very balanced wine with a long finish, intense flavours and was fairly complex. I would drink this wine now (as you should with almost all Rosés) and rated this wine as Very Good. There are some very nice Rosé's currently in the Okanagan but I can't think of any as nice as this one at this price point.

I am very happy to be regularly tasting with my friend again. A thoughtful tasting really does make you appreciate the wine so much more as it is sometimes difficult to critically examine a wine when you are just having a glass on the patio. I look forward to our weekly tastings and I am sure we will continue these well into the future.

Cheers!