Saturdays tend to be our errand days.  This is even more true since we are borrowing a truck, and our month of vehicular freedom is coming to an lamentable end.  We crammed in breakfast, cleaning, a trip to our storage locker, Ikea, and of course, wine tasting.  I got a tip that the people at Kensington Square Wine Store were pouring Road 13 today.  Since I was eager to try them out, and with the kind understanding of my fiance, we managed to squeeze it in.

I was fortunate enough to meet up with Joseph Luckhurst (the owners’ son and Winery liaison) who filled me in a bit on the winery and the wines.  The winery recently underwent a re-branding from the previous label of Golden Mile Cellars to Road 13 which reflects both the change of ownership from Peter and Helga Serwo, to Pam and Mick Luckhurst and the enviable location on the bench behind the Black Sage area.

The location is prime with arguably the best sun exposure around which gives the grapes the ripeness that affords them excellent reviews on their Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons.  By sampling some of these fine wines, my senses were sent on a holiday of summer memories.  Here is my ‘travel journal’:

© road 13 2008. all rights reserved

The whites:

The Riesling was all lemon and stonefruit; like a refreshing sip of tart roadside lemonade.  The Chardonnay held memories of a caramel apple because of their unabashed use of oak which structured this wine with ease.  I didn’t get a chance to try their Jackpot Chardonnay, but Joe’s sumptuous description instantly put it on my list.

On to the reds:

Get out your silverware, because the Road 13 Syrah drinks like a delicious meal of maple smoked salmon.  The peppery flavours and strong fruit make this a uniquely satisfying wine.  Joe tells me that this wine has some delicate viognier blended in to add those delicious top notes.  Every good meal needs a dessert and the Pinot Noir’s bouquet instantly filled my nose with ripples of butterscotch and a dark cherry on top.

I left with two souveniers of my saturday excursion under my arms: the syrah and the pinot noir.  Being so eager to crack open the pinot noir, I whipped up a sambuca spiked rose over pasta and mushrooms and my senses were instantly transported back to the Okanagan.  Once I procure wheels to transport the rest of me to the Okanagan, you can be sure that Road 13 will be one of my stops.