Prestigious Regional Trophy goes to C.C. Jentsch’s acclaimed Syrah.

Prestigious Regional Trophy goes to 

C.C. Jentsch’s acclaimed Syrah.

The 2013 vintage continues totake home top honors for Syrah.

 For immediate release: Oliver, BC (October 6, 2015)  The honors keep rolling in for the 2013 Syrah from C.C. Jentsch Cellars in Oliver, British Columbia. This time the Syrah has won the 2015 North American Red Regional Trophy at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards. Co-chaired by highly respected wine experts Jeannie Cho Lee, MW and Steven Spurrier, the competition was created by the publication Decanter Asia. As the counterpart to Decanter Magazine’s World Wine Awards, it reflects the growing importance of the Asian markets in the world of wine and for the British Columbian wine industry.  This marks the third occasion in four months that C.C. Jentsch’s 2013 Syrah has been singled out as the best of its kind. After taking a Platinum Award at the Wine Align National Wine Awards in July, the Syrah also bested the international competition in a benchmark tasting dubbed “The Judgement of BC” which also included Decanter Asia Wine Awards cochair Steven Spurrier. Owners Chris and Betty Jentsch are thrilled at the recognition their Syrah has achieved along with the growing acclaim of wine maker Amber Pratt. “Amber’s style and focus on elegance is across our whole portfolio,” says Chris Jentsch. “She’s not afraid to change things up when she needs to but sticks with the goal of crafting wines with finesse.” The 2013 Syrah was made only using Syrah grapes, unlike the inaugural 2012 Syrah in which a very small portion of Viognier was added to Syrah to enhance its aromatics. A technique widely used with Syrah in Australia and France’s northern Rhone Valley, Pratt found no need for this with the 2013 vintage. Chris Jentsch is quick to heap the praise for the wines’ successes on the whole winery team which includes Jose, Dennis, David in the vineyard and Michael and Gord in the wine shop. As the sole owners of the vineyard on the Golden Mile Bench where much of the Syrah was grown, the Jentsch family also deserves credit for their own success. “The Golden Mile is great place to grow grapes,” says Chris. “We love it here.”  About C.C. Jentsch Cellars Growing up in the Okanagan, Chris Jentsch continued the fruit-growing tradition of his family by growing apples and cherries before planting his first grapevines in 1999. The current 63–acre vineyard on the Golden Mile Bench was planted beginning in 2005. After the 2010 Testalinden Creek debris flow destroyed his house, Chris began to get into the wine industry. He converted his packinghouse, which had been spared from the debris flow by mere inches, into a winery and began making wine in the 2012 vintage. Winemaker Amber Pratt, also a native of BC, joined Chris soon after right in time to work on the 2013 vintage. 

Media Contact: Chris Jentsch (250) 498-7873 or jentsch@eastlink.ca  

C.C. Jentsch Cellars 4522 Hwy 97, Oliver, BC 778-439-2091 

http://www.ccjentschcellars.com/ Twitter - @CCJentschCellar info@ccjentschcellars.com

What is a bordeaux style blend??

Bordeaux style blend seems to be all of the rage these days, but what does it mean?? The term “Bordeaux

style” is typically used to refer to a wine, not directly to grapes, it implies something about the grapes used to make the wine. In the actual Bordeaux region of France, red wines are blended from the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petite Verdot grapes. (Bordeaux-style whites are blended from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle.)

of these kinds of wines are made all over the world, and outside of Bordeaux, they’re often referred to as “Bordeaux-style.” But it’s not a regulated term, so whether and how it’s used will vary from vintner to vintner. Typically, it describes a proprietary blend, most often one that’s based on Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. Most Bordeaux-style blends use only the approved grapes of the Bordeaux region, but some invoke the “spirit” of blends and add in Zinfandel, Syrah or other grapes.

Some people also refer to Bordeaux-style reds as “claret,” an old term that goes back to the wine trade in England. Others use the term “Meritage” (which rhymes with “heritage”), a trademarked name for registered wines that are blended from Bordeaux grape varieties. Across the Okanagan valley you see both terms use, there are at least 20 vines valley wines that can be classified as Bordeaux blends and yes some call themselves Meritage. 

C.C. Jentsch Cellars has its own Bordeaux blend called “The Chase”. The name "The Chase was coined as a statement for the quest for excellence, but I think it has more to do with the chase betwwen the rabbitt and the tiger on the label, each representing the owners Betty and Chris. In its first release, the wine received recognition both abroad and at home, receiving a bronze medal at Decanter 2014 and best of Varietal at this year’s Okanagan Spring Wine Festival. Tasting notes for “The Chase” are below. If your favorite liquor store does not carry it, make sure you ask for it to be brought in.

The Chase 2012

Cabernet Franc 11%, Cabernet Sauvignon 34%, Malbec 7.5%, Merlot 35%, Petit Verdot 12.5%

This deep ruby Bordeaux-style blend has toasty vanilla and mocha aromas intermingling with brighter notes of blackcurrant and raspberry. The palate carries red and black fruit flavours with a hint of Christmas cake and classic white pepper, all wrapped up in a mouth-watering savouriness.

PACIFIC RIM WINE COMPETITION, CALIFORNIA – BRONZE, BC BEST OF VARIETAL COMPETITION, OKANAGAN – FINALIST

Decanter UK 2014- Bronze

Alcohol 13.0% Acid 7.4g/L Residual Sugar 0.9 g/L

C.C. Jentsch Cellars, The Accolades Continue….

Being a new winery is hard work and a labor of love. The best rewards come in the form of recognition and appreciation from consumers who enjoy the wine, and from people and organization in the industry. With its first release (2012) C.C. Jentsch Cellars has achieved an impressive 11 medals. The latest announcement came yesterday from the National Wine Awards of Canada 2014 held in Toronto. Both the Syrah 2012 and the Viognier 2012 received a Silver medal.

Awards & Accolades

National Wine Awards of Canada 2014

·         Silver-Syrah 2012

·         Silver-Viognier 2014

Decanter World Win Awards 2014

·         Silver-Syrah 2012

·         Bronze-The Chase 2012

·         Bronze-Viognier 2012

Pacific Rim International Wine Competition 2014

·         Silver-Syrah 2012

·         Bronze-Chase 2012

·         Bronze-Viognier 2012

International Wine & Spirits Competition 2014

·         Bronze-Syrah 2012

·         Commended-Gewurztraminer 2012

BC Best of Varietal Awards 2014

·         Finalist-The Chase 2012