Monk’s Blend, 2021

BC VQA Okanagan Valley

Winemaking: Harvested mid-October from long-standing growers for Gray Monk from the south Okanagan Valley. A blend of 73% Syrah and 27% Cabernet Sauvignon. Using traditional red wine making techniques, each varietal was aged separately, using both subtle oak integration in stainless steel tanks, or in 70% American and 30% French oak, mostly 2 to 3-year-old barrels, for 8 months. The wines were later blended just before bottling.

Characteristics: A bright purple ruby colour with a beautiful bouquet of blue plum, black cherry, and delicate notes of oak, vanilla, and spice. This medium-bodied red wine has soft silky tannins and juicy ripe fruit flavours of dark plum, blueberry, and cherry, which also linger on the finish with an added note of sweet spice and black tea.

Food Pairings: Serve with aged Gouda or Cheddar cheese; grilled steak with red wine reduction; grilled London Broils; pepper steaks; rack of lamb; marinated leg of lamb; wild game meats; beef or lamb stews; shepherd’s pie; steak and kidney pie; roasted beet hummus with pita chips.

Serving Temperature: Serve at a cool room temperature of 17 and 18˚C. Enjoy now through 2025.