For a great example of elegant restraint in oak, making for a flavourful, easy-to-like chardonnay from the Okanagan, you don’t have to look much further than Quails’ Gate chardonnay. There is a Family Reserve available as well, but for now, go ahead and try the estate bottling, balanced, bursting with flavours of grapefruit, some stone fruits, and a lovely trace of tarragon. At $20, a bargain of a chardonnay. And for the grilled meat course (or tofu if you must), maybe something marinated in soy sauce and fresh black pepper, Quails’ Gate Old Vines Foch Reserve, $40, is an intriguing, unique wine; jammy, rich, great structure. You may even want to decant it for a couple of hours, to encourage some of the berry and plum notes to really sing. Watch out though; this wine can be addictive.
