Mac & Fitz Shift's End Red 2014

Photo credit: me

They didn't have the BC wine I wanted when I went into the liquor store tonight. They seemed to be out of a lot of things — I suppose that's normal the week between Christmas and New Year's, it's a thirsty time of year.

I'd seen this Mac & Fitz Shift's End Red before, but since I'd never heard of this Okanagan winery, I was sceptical. It turns out I was fortunate they were sold out of the more expensive bottle I'd gone in for as this 2014 red blend is a perfect, casual weeknight wine. Also, a quick Google search revealed that this is a table wine produced by Cedar Creek, a reputable Okanagan establishment.

It's got a lot of berry notes on the nose (such a pretentious sentence, I know) and a beautiful cherry colour. It's light-bodied and very fruity, which appeals to me as I often like to have a second glass after dinner rather than dessert. It may as well feel like one of my daily servings of fruit, right?

According to the back of the bottle, Mac & Fitz was a fruit packing house nearly 100 years ago in Kelowna, BC. However, like so many fruit growers in the Okanagan Valley, they've moved on to wine grapes rather than peaches, plums, or cherries. I'd like to believe it's the ghosts of those orchard fruit trees that somehow influence the fruit-forward flavours in this mysterious red blend.

I'm unsure exactly what varietals make up Shift's End, but that might be because it changes year to year. This is a good thing, by the way, they aren't being sneaky. It means they're using the grapes that lend the best flavour based on the growing season, and this practice helps keep the price point at a handsome $13.99 at the BCL. And while it's not listed on the bottle, several articles tell me Shift's End is a Bordeaux-style blend comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec — a perfect compliment to the end of a long day (shift).