CedarCreek Estate Winery 2013 Platinum The Last Word

CedarCreek Estate Winery 2013 Platinum The Last Word

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

BC $77.99 (572933)

The first release of The Last Word is cause for excitement. The new flagship red from CedarCreek lands squarely in the mix for best in class for icon labels from the Okanagan. A stylish blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec from the Desert Ridge estate vineyard in Osoyoos, The Last Word was produced by co-fermenting the grapes for a month in stainless steel tanks before extended aging (20 months) in French oak. The resulting smooth, concentrated and nicely integrated blend offers an array of ripe dark fruit, spice and earthy aromas and flavours. The requisite Osoyoos alcohol level is evident — 14.5 percent alcohol declared on the label — but not overpowering. It adds to personality of this powerful and flavourful Bordeaux-style blend without knocking the balance out of alignment. There’s immediate appeal here, but also the stuffing to  age. I plan to cellar a bottle for four to six years to see how this stunning effort will develop in bottle. 314 cases.