Roche Wines 2019 Nuances 750ml

Nuances is a great name for this wine that is full of intrigue and winemaking savoir-faire. The blend is 58/24/18/ merlot, cabernet franc, and cabernet sauvignon, something like the golden ratio in my estimation if you are looking to make a great red blend in BC. The fruit comes off two vineyards, Kozier and Suncrest, situated respectively in warm Naramata and hot Oliver. It’s fermented in stainless steel before spending 12 months in French oak barrels, but only 10 percent was new. The final blend was done before bottling to balance the wine, and it is perfect. Look for a ripe red full of delicious red and black fruit counterbalanced by a savoury underside. It is a gem you can drink now or hold for a decade, given how pure and plentiful the fruit is. If you are into elegance, nuance and understatement, this is a good wine for you. Super value too.

Score: 91 points -- Anthony Gismondi, Gismondi On Wine, April 2021