Over the weekend, Kasia and I shared a meal with Barrett and Heather, some good friends of ours. I don’t think that there is a better time to bring something special out of the cellar than an evening with those close to you. All four of us have been longtime fans of Quails’ Gate, and their Foch in particular. So what could be more appropriate than a bottle of 2003 Quails’ Gate Old Vines Foch Reserve?
I have had this particular bottle in my cellar for a few years, waiting for the right moment to enjoy it. Recently, I have been taking a look at the recommended times to keep various wines, and found out that the Foch is only about a five year wine. After some careful scientific testing, I am happy to report that eight years was definitely not three too many for this bottle.
Upon pouring this wine, the first thing you notice is the colour. Ruby on the edges and deep purple-red in the centre, it appears as a liquid gemstone. Immediately after pouring it, the various scents begin to waft out of the glass. An amazing combination of black raspberries and blackberries, licorice root, earth and a hint of leather combine to have you repeatedly burying your nose in the glass.
These scents carry you into the taste, with the dark berry aromas transitioning to flavours of red fruits with a hint of chocolate. 
The body is soft and silky with a long and smooth finish. The only fault I could find with this wine is that the bottle of it disappeared much too quickly.
This is a perfect example of how a few years can make a very good wine into a great one. The wine softens and the flavours develop, making it a whole new experience. You would have to be pretty lucky to encounter a bottle of the 2003 these days, but I suspect that the 2007 Old Vines Foch Reserve may have similar aging potential.
Synopsis:
Availability: Rare
Price: Unknown
D’s Rating: 4.5/5
Notes: A great and slightly unusual wine, I recommend keeping the 2007 for similar results.
As I mentioned earlier, the 2003 disappeared very quickly. We immediately decided to have a go at a bottle of the 2008 for the sake of comparison. Now, I know that young wines are supposed to be tasted before old ones, but these were exigent circumstances.
Like it’s older sibling, the 2008 Quails’ Gate Old Vines Foch Reserve is a deep purple-red colour, with a enticing nose of licorice root and fruit. In this vintage, it is not quite as open and the fruit is not as dark, with more red berries than black on the nose.
The body is darker and slightly rougher, with red current mixing with whiffs of tobacco and oak. The finish is dry and a little short.
Although not a great wine, this vintage is by no means bad, but it cannot possibly compare to the 2003 and is definitely overshadowed by the 2007. Drink this one now and enjoy it, while keeping a few bottles of the 2007 for a couple of years down the road. At least, that’s what I’ll be doing.
Synopsis:
Availability: Good (current vintage)
Price: High ~$40
D’s Rating: 3.5/5
Notes: A decent vintage, but not a keeper. If you’ve never tried Foch you can’t go wrong trying this if you can’t find the 2007.
dustonthebottle 