April 07/05 - B.C.'s Best From A to Z

The wines are organised by winery and within each set the reviews are sorted by grape variety ― that means the chardonnay will appear before the pinot noir and the pinot noir before the traminer. We have chosen a cut off level of a minimum 87 points to focus on the best wines.

Alpha Order All B.C. Wines 87 Pts or Higher Tasted Since October,1 2004

Wine Black Hills Nota Bene Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Cabernet Franc 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $31.95
UPC 8336665001026
Score 88/100
Remarks    Year four of Nota Bene is the best yet from the tiny South Okanagan winery but it remains a work in progress. The nose is a mix of black pepper, sausage, sweaty saddle leather, resiny, rootsy, leafy, roasted bell pepper aromas. The entry is rich, smooth and alcoholic and tannins are ripe. The flavours are similar in nature with smoky vanilla, green bean, oive, cassis and resin with black cherry, stewed tomato and roasted peppers. Tasted 3 times this year, it has improved in bottle but it's still herbaceous and somewhat short.

Wine Burrowing Owl Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $26.90
UPC 626990004455
Score 90/100
Remarks    Very deep cherry colour. Black olive, cassis, spicy, peppery, tobacco, roasted bell pepper, saddle leather aromas with smoky oak vanilla and garrigue notes. Moderately rich round and supple with balanced tannins. Good cassis, black berry, vanilla, chocolate, peppery, minty, smoky, black olive flavours and a touch of roasted bell pepper. Suave, supple style with good balance and intensity and a few tannins to shed. A 3-7 year wine, very good effort.

Wine Burrowing Owl Chardonnay 2003, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $23.00
UPC 626990004431
Score 88/100
Remarks    Spicy vanilla, honey, mango, peach and baked apple aromas with some citrus notes. Ripe, round, dry and slightly hot with a dry, mineral, oily texture. Citrus, peach, creamy lees, vanilla, buttery baked apple flavours. Very ripe with some good length but showing some alcohol in the finish.

Wine Burrowing Owl Meritage Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot 2002, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $34.90
UPC 626990004462
Score 90/100
Remarks    A blend of 40/40/20 cabernet franc, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Mocha, minty, black cherry, tea, black berry jam aromas mixed with tobacco, leather, cranberry and peppery orange peel notes. Rich, round, warm and dry with supple, ripe tannins. Big spicy, mocha, peppery, minty, tobacco, clove, smoky black olive flavours with a cassis, coffee vanilla pudding finish. Quite suave with good intensity, should age well over the next 4-6 years. Impressive ― 1000 cases made in a new Pomerol-like style. Reminiscent of Vieux Chateau Certan but hotter.

Wine Burrowing Owl Pinot Noir 2003, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $24.90
UPC 626990004486
Score 88/100
Remarks    Compost, leaf, black cherry, minty, maraschino, vanilla, cola licorice aromas and quite hot. Dry, rich, somewhat tannic and tight palate. Good rootsy, black cherry, minty, vanilla, leafy forest floor and rhubarb flavours. Elegant styling but too hot and compost-y at this point with some dry, tight tannins on the finish. Needs a year or two to settle down.

Wine Burrowing Owl Syrah 2003, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $24.90
UPC 626990004493
Score 91/100
Remarks    Very dark cherry colour. Big smoky, dried lychee, sausage meat aromas with peppery, licorice root, blackberry jam notes. Rich, round, fat and ripe with blackberry jam, smoky, peppery, vanilla, dried lychee, mineral, gamey flavours with a long, minty, smoky meat finish. Hot (alcoholic) but still a fine effort with a Northern focus. This young brute needs 2-4 years.

Wine Calliope Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $19.90
UPC 626990020639
Score 87/100
Remarks    Peppery, resiny, smoky oak, black olive, earthy aromas with a touch of cassis. Dry, round, moderately elegant style with very smoky oak vanilla, cedar, earthy, resiny, cassis flavours and a very dry, somewhat acidic finish. Almost ripe but lacks a bit of mid-palate concentration and fruit to really sing. Solid and improving.

Wine Calona Vineyards Pinot Blanc Artist Series Reserve 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $13.49
UPC 058976340019
Score 87/100
Remarks    Floral, mineral, pear, slightly leesy aromas with a touch of butter. Soft, round, ripe style with buttery, mineral, citrus, peach and apple skin flavours. Simple, fresh style that should go well with any local seafood or for sipping.

Wine CedarCreek Cabernet Sauvignon Platinum Reserve 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $39.99
UPC 778913062513
Score 91/100
Remarks    Dark cherry colour. Lots of spicy, peppery, cedar, tobacco leaf mixed with resiny, smoky vanilla aromas cassis and olive. Lovely round, ripe supple textures with fine grained tannins. Fresh cassis, coriander and pepper entry with spicy, cherry, smoky oak and vanilla flavours. Long and warm but well balanced with good finesse. Young, showing some oak, will improve over the next 3-5 years. Newer Bordelais style ― this is very fine, well crafted cabernet sauvignon. Bravo B.C.

Wine CedarCreek Chardonnay Platinum Reserve 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $28.99
UPC 778913062049
Score 89/100
Remarks    Slightly closed nosed with light creamy vanilla, lees, mineral, baked apple and citrus aromas. Dry, round, elegant style with strong mineral, citrus, creamy vanilla, lees, green apple skin flavours with spicy, buttered apple and butterscotch finish. Understated and a bit skinnier than previous efforts but still quite fine. It will need a year or so in bottle to emerge. A classy wine that should be excellent with food.

Wine CedarCreek Dry Riesling 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $14.99
UPC 778913023026
Score 87/100
Remarks    Honey, green apple, green peach, spicy clover aromas. Round, elegant, full bodied and slightly sweet with good ripe citrus, red apple, peach and mineral flavours with an oily, warm honey finish. Very attractive consumer style wine for sipping or spicy food. Well done and good value.

Wine CedarCreek Ehrenfelser 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $14.99
UPC 778913023064
Score 87/100
Remarks    Floral, spicy, orange, mineral, canned grapefruit aromas. Fresh, clean, round, fairly dry entry with lots of mineral, grapefruit rind, spicy, peach, clover flavours and a green apple skin citrus rind finish. Attractive sipper or with spicy food. Kudos to winemaker Tom DiBello for rescuing this much maligned variety and revealing its depth ands promise.

Wine CedarCreek Ehrenfelser 2004, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $14.99
UPC 778913023064
Score 88/100
Remarks    Floral, orange blossom, mineral, red apple nose with some perfumed, apricot notes. Soft, round, elegant and fresh with mineral, grapefruit, green apple, nectarine and rose petal flavours. A touch sweet and warm but has good acidity and balance and very true to type. Try as a sipper, with duck or with Indian food.

Wine Gehringer Brothers Riesling Ice Wine 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $47.99
UPC 623871030039
Score 92/100
Remarks    Floral, citrus rind, mineral, red apple skin aromas with a touch of peach. Rich, intense, slightly fat palate with nice acidity and elegance. Lots of orange citrus, ripe red apple, mineral, juicy mango, honey flavours with a long candied citrus, green apple, peach finish. The nose is a bit muted but the palate and fruit flavours are excellent. Try in a year or so.

Wine Gray Monk Pinot Gris 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $14.99
UPC 778829113200
Score 87/100
Remarks    Ripe pear, apple, mineral, nutty earth aromas with some honey. Nice round, rich, soft, elegant and ripe palate with citrus, baked pear, mineral, red apple and quince flavours. Very ripe style with a touch of sweetness and smoke greens but great ripeness. Great consumer style. Well done.

Wine Hawthorne Mountain Cabernet Franc 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $15.95
UPC 624738030209
Score 89/100
Remarks    Quite a pleasant surprise for such an ordinary looking bottle and label. Look for mocha, spicy, smoky, compost, cherry, raspberry aromas with black olive and cigar tobacco. Round, dry, smooth and soft with very smoky oak, spicy, tobacco and fresh black raspberry flavours streaked with pepper and black olive. Nice fruit and varietal expression with the requisite oaky finish that will attract a crowd. Great value.

Wine Hawthorne Mountain Merlot 2001, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $18.95
UPC 624738007010
Score 87/100
Remarks    Unusual gamey, black cherry jam, peppery, licorice nose with some vanilla pudding and smoky notes. Rich, dry, tannic entry with very spicy, clove, smoky oak mixed with coriander, black cherry, and plum fruit. Good intensity but finish is a bit green and herbal. Has the potential to improve over the next few years.

Wine Henry of Pelham Meritage Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot 2002, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada
Price $15.90
UPC 779376100910
Score 87/100
Remarks    Dill, spicy, tomato leaf, peppery, smoky meat aromas. Soft, round, elegant entry with light tannins. Minty, chalky, mocha, peppery, cassis flavours with some green olive and spice on the finish. There is fine extract, structure and balance to offset the green tinges in the finish.

Wine Herder Chardonnay 2003, Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $16.90
UPC 814372000014
Score 87/100
Remarks    Spicy, toasty lees, buttery oak aromas with some honey and green apple. Ripe, round and rich with very buttery, smoky vanilla, nutty, leesy, citrus flavours. Quite warm finish with a sense of sweetness and very smoky butterscotch. A good first effort. Look for this label to improve as they back off the oak.

Wine Herder Pinot Gris Bellamy Vineyards 2003, Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $14.90
UPC 814372000021
Score 87/100
Remarks    Mineral, butter, spicy lees nose with pear and baked apple aromas. Round, dry, rich and warm with buttery vanilla, lees, spicy mineral, baked pear and citrus flavours. Good intensity and ripeness if a bit oaky.

Wine Inniskillin Okanagan Cabernet Sauvignon Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $19.99
UPC 620654011100
Score 88/100
Remarks    Coffee, cassis jam, roasted pepper, smoky vanilla, clove and saddle leather aromas. Big, rich, concentrated palate but hot and tannic. Ripe blackberry jam, cassis, smoky, huge oak vanilla flavours. Great fruit but somewhat over extracted and tannic. Needs a few years to round out but good effort.

Wine Inniskillin Okanagan Meritage Olympic Series Merlot - Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $17.95
UPC 620654012336
Score 87/100
Remarks    Smoky, mocha, vanilla, cassis, peppery, spicy cherry aromas. Dry, smooth, round and quite supple with smoky oak vanilla, peppery, spicy coffee, black cherry jam and pudding flavours. Finish is somewhat hot and tannic and a bit oaky but balanced. Needs a year or two to soften out.

Wine Inniskillin Okanagan Meritage Red Dark Horse Estate Vineyard Merlot - Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $24.99
UPC 620654597031
Score 88/100
Remarks    Fine black cherry jam, blackberry, spicy, smoky coffee notes streaked with peppery, black olive and mint aromas. Rich, round, elegant and dry with some grainy astringent tannins. More blackberry, peppery, spicy, cassis, smoky vanilla, mocha, olive flavours. Quite young, needs 2-3 years to smooth out but there is fine intensity and balance.

Wine Inniskillin Okanagan Riesling Icewine Dark Horse Vineyard 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $60.00
UPC 620654558445
Score 91/100
Remarks    It's been several years since we've tasted the Inniskillin Riesling Icewine ― presumably they don't need any help selling these $120 per bottle wines. As it happens the wine was a major hit at the Canadian Wine Awards and is progressing just fine since that August tasting. Look for a lifted aromatic nose of pineapple and citrus and peach with a buttery almost shortbread cookie finish. Very rich and weighty ― all Inniskillin.

Wine Inniskillin Okanagan Vidal Icewine Dark Horse Vineyard 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $60.00
UPC 620654558452
Score 89/100
Remarks    Quite fat 0n nose of peach marmalade and the ever present plastic pail aromas. Rich and viscous on entry with more sweet orange and peach fruit. Very rich finish with burnt caramel and citrus rind flavours. Solid effort in a very warm vintage. Drink now and over the next two to three years. Serve with fresh fruit.

Wine Inniskillin Okanagan Zinfandel Bear Cub Vineyard 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $21.95
UPC 620654010516
Score 88/100
Remarks    We have tasted B.C.'s first commercial zinfandel a few times and it remains consist. Look for a warm (alcoholic) nose with chocolate, smoky vanilla, big black cherry jam and spicy, licorice aromas. Rich, ripe and fairly elegant yet dry with light tannins. More spicy, vanilla, peppery, black cherry, saddle leather flavours. Quite dry and somewhat tannic on the finish with noticeable alcohol. There appears to be enough fruit to hang in while the rest of the wine settles down over the next two or three years.

Wine Jackson-Triggs Meritage Proprietors' Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Cabernet Franc 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $24.95
UPC 063657007785
Score 91/100
Remarks    Huge smoky oak, vanilla, black pepper, chocolate pudding, spicy, clove aromas with very ripe blackberry jam streaks. Rich, ripe, concentrated, tannic and extracted with a ton of cassis jam, blackberry, black pepper, sweet vanilla pudding, clove and black olive flavours and a hot finish. A big, oaky style but with great ripeness and intensity. Tone down the oak and extraction and this will be in the running alongside many great blends from around the world.

Wine Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Riesling Icewine Proprietors' Grand Reserve 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $59.99
UPC 063657005781
Score 93/100
Remarks    The PGR shows more yellow colour than the PR. The nose is an intense mix of mineral, plasticene, baked apple and quince aromas with a touch of citrus peel and apricot. Again it is richer and a bit riper (versus the PR) with lots of acidity and still balanced. More mineral, citrus rind, green apple skin, peach and baked pear flavours marked the palate with a slightly bitter rind and butter finish. Ready to drink.

Wine Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Riesling Icewine Proprietors' Grand Reserve 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $69.99
UPC
Score 93/100
Remarks    This is one of the best icewines yet from JT and it should turn heads everywhere. It's all riesling from its fragrant, open, floral peachy/apricot nose to the rich honeyed fruit flavours of pear and apple and orange. Rich long sweet, powerful but with a sense of elegance. Very fine. Enjoy it now.

Wine Jackson-Triggs Riesling Icewine Proprietors' Reserve 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $52.99
UPC 063657005750
Score 92/100
Remarks    Intense mineral, baked apple, mineral, citrus rind aromas with a touch of plastic/vinyl curtain and underlying canned peach notes. Very rich, viscous, sweet, intense palate with moderate acidity. Good apricot, mineral, dried peach, red apple, marmalade flavours with a touch of citrus and plastic. Fine acidity and balance on the finish. A solid icewine.

Wine Jackson-Triggs Unoaked Chardonnay Proprietors' Reserve 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $11.99
UPC 63657012383
Score 87/100
Remarks    Fresh apple, muskmelon, mineral, citrus rind, floral aromas. Very round, smooth, fresh entry but fairly sweet and oily. Nice melon, baked apple, mineral, buttery citrus flavours. A bit rind-y and bitter on the finish but very solid, attractive consumer style wine at an affordable price.

Wine La Frenz Alexandria 2003, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $18.00
UPC 626990013413
Score 88/100
Remarks    Mineral, honey, floral, spicy, peach skin aromas with a touch of sausage. Ripe, round, elegant and a touch sweet with floral spicy muscat, mineral, peach/pear and honey flavours. Attractive, easy-drinking style wine that is super fresh and clean. Totally B.C.

Wine La Frenz Merlot 2002, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $23.00
UPC 626990013655
Score 88/100
Remarks    Spicy, vanilla Christmas pudding aromas with some smoky, pepper, black cherry jam streaks. Somewhat chunky entry with ripe round tannins. The entry is warm with smoky, toasted oak vanilla, spicy, cedar-y, peppery flavours with a dried herb, tobacco leaf, dried cherry finish. Well made if a bit oaky and quite young. This needs time to become even better knit in the glass.

Wine La Frenz Semillon 2003, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $17.00
UPC 626990013624
Score 88/100
Remarks    Green melon, fig, hay, smoky mineral aromas with a touch of kiwi. Dry, round, warm and rich with a touch of sweetness. The flavours mix canned grapefruit, mineral, gooseberry with grassy honey tones. Fresh, ripe and quite fat but there is a fine finish with excellent acidity.

Wine La Frenz Viognier 2003, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $18.00
UPC 626990013617
Score 89/100
Remarks    Impressive floral, honey, light smoky, sausage nose with a creamy citrus undertone. Rich, ripe, round and slightly fat with mineral, honey, buttery citrus, creamsicle flavours mixed with baked apple and peach notes. Very well made, ripe and long. This is an excellent effort and another good grape that is taking hold in B.C.

Wine Lang Vineyards Riesling Select Late Harvest 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $19.50
UPC
Score 88/100
Remarks    Mineral, green apple skin, floral, honey, ginger aromas. Ripe, round, elegant and fairly sweet with good acidity. Lots of green apple, lime, honey, mango, mineral flavours with some clover and spice. Good intensity and fruit; drink over the next few years while it's fresh.

Wine Little Straw Vineyards Auxerrois Icewine 2001, British Columbia, Canada
Price $29.90
UPC 626990028482
Score 88/100
Remarks    Apricot, mineral, floral, plastic pail aromas with some dried pear notes. Round, soft, elegant style with reasonable acidity and sweetness. Honey, mineral, earthy, apricot skin flavours with some butterscotch and plastic. Sound, attractive, early drinking style but could use a bit more acidity.

Wine Mission Hill Chardonnay Estate 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $29.99
UPC 776545993021
Score 89/100
Remarks    Honey, floral, spicy, mineral, lime and orange rind, vanilla aromas with a bit of fruit cocktail. Dry, round, crisp palate but balanced with mineral, fruit cocktail, vanilla, nutty lees, honey, green apple flavours with a touch of nectarine and perfume. Nice intensity but definitely more of a food style - not fat or big but stylish.

Wine Mission Hill Chardonnay Reserve 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $17.95
UPC 776545991058
Score 87/100
Remarks    Peach, green apple, fruit salad, mineral, honey, floral aromas with a slightly smoky note. Dry, crisp, tight style with elegance. Vanilla, dry lees, mineral, lime rind, green apple skin flavours with a floral, peach pit note. Nice elegance but very French in style.

Wine Mission Hill Five Vineyards Dry Riesling 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $12.99
UPC 776545995070
Score 87/100
Remarks    Lovely fresh green apple, peach notes with attractive floral/honey, clover aromas. Round, elegant, fairly dry style with mineral, green apple skin, nectarine, honey, floral flavours and a touch of lime rind. Nice acidity and balance in a dryer style for food. This is the kind of riesling we've been waiting for and it comes with screw cap to boot. Load up for summer. Great value.

Wine Mission Hill Oculus Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc - P.Verdot 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $39.99
UPC 776545981110
Score 88/100
Remarks    Big cassis, black pepper and spicy, saddle leather notes mix with tobacco, orange rind and vanilla pudding aromas. This is a rich, warm, youthful tannic red that will need time to blend its substantial cassis, olive, pepper, orange rind and herbal/leaf flavours. The style is lean and reserved but we know it will grow in the bottle much like the 2001 a wine whose mark we have recently upgraded based on its showing with an additional year in bottle. The blend is 50/30/15/5 merlot / cabernet sauvignon / cabernet franc and petit verdot.

Wine Mission Hill Riesling Ice Wine Reserve 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $59.99
UPC 776545995599
Score 89/100
Remarks    There's a sense of elegance at Mission Hill that pervades the icewine and in the case of the '03 reserve riesling that translate into a clean fresh nose of apricot mixed with citrus rind that follows through on the palate. More lime and honey greets the mid-palate with some burnt sugar in the finish. Solid mid-weight icewine built for dessert.

Wine Mission Hill S.L.C. Merlot 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $29.99
UPC 776545995575
Score 92/100
Remarks    The latest edition to B.C.'s roster of elite wines is Mission Hill S.L.C. Merlot 2002. Mission Hill's picture perfect winery has garnered a lifetime of accolades for its architecture but now they have a wine with similar impressive structure. Spice, smoky garrigue and licorice root aromas mix easily with black cherry pudding, vanilla, black olive and coriander. The merlot is perfectly ripe with concentrated fruit and supple tannins. Restrained spicy, black cherry jam and chocolate pudding flavours laced with mint, olive, resin and coriander finish long and stylishly. This is the best wine John Simes has made in B.C. and his vineyards are only beginning to fill out.

Wine Mission Hill S.L.C. Riesling Icewine 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $79.99
UPC 776545995353
Score 92/100
Remarks    Night harvested at minus 12 degrees Celsius has done the trick here. We definitely prefer the freshness here and the slightly lighter weight on the mid-palate. It's sweet enough to attract all yet there is a luscious edge and an acidity lift at the back end that makes this more drinkable. Look for bright apricot fruit and peach skin flavours throughout. Built for dessert but you could serve it solo.

Wine Mission Hill S.L.C. Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Sauvignon Blanc - Sémillon 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $29.99
UPC 776545995582
Score 89/100
Remarks    Restrained grassy, mineral, grapefruit mixed with green fig, clover and smoky mineral aromas with a hint of honey and vanilla lees. It's made in an elegant dry style with grassy, vanilla, creamy fig, grapefruit rind flavours with a light kiwi, smoky mineral finish. Fine crispness on the finish. Think Graves meeting the Loire in British Columbia. A fine first effort, especially given the smoke and fires that wreaked havoc in Okanagan vineyards.

Wine Mission Hill S.L.C. Syrah 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $29.99
UPC 776545988010
Score 88/100
Remarks    Spicy vanilla, mocha, blackberry, black cherry, smoky garrigue and chocolate pudding aromas. Round, dry, slightly tannic, tight entry with boysenberry, licorice, vanilla pudding, mocha, black cherry, peppery sausage flavours. Dry, slightly elevated acidity with a smoky, peppery finish. Fine fruit and French in style but appears to lack mid-palate concentration at this point which could be a function of young vines. Solid effort.

Wine Mission Hill Syrah Estate Bottled 2001, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $29.90
UPC 776545988010
Score 87/100
Remarks    Very spicy, sausage, big black pepper licorice resiny nose with a wisp of blackberry and black cherry in the background. Very dry on entry with a touch of acid showing through. Spicy, peppery, resiny, blackberry, licorice root flavours with a smoky note. All the elements are here for a great wine but it lacks the extract and fruit to carry it through to the finish. Needs a few years yet or grilled meat to tame its dry edge.

Wine Mission Hill Vidal Ice Wine Reserve 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $49.99
UPC 776545995605
Score 90/100
Remarks    We definitely prefer the freshness here and the slightly lighter weight on the mid-palate. It's sweet enough to attract all yet there is a luscious edge and an acidity lift at the back end that makes this more drinkable. Look for bright apricot fruit and peach skin flavours throughout. Built for dessert or simply serve solo.

Wine Nk'Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay 2002, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $24.99
UPC 836909011416
Score 88/100
Remarks    Open inviting honey, spicy lees nose mixed with butterscotch, mineral, ripe melon and vanilla cream aromas. Round, full and fresh entry with lots of buttery, spicy cinnamon, vanilla, lees and melon flavours. The finish is long oaky and persistent. Fine effort.

Wine Nk'Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay 2003, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $24.99
UPC 836909011416
Score 87/100
Remarks    Big buttered popcorn, vanilla, honey, diacetyl nose with some earthy, mineral, peach notes. Rich round, slightly fat and dry with some warmth. Smoky charred vanilla oak, buttery, mineral, honey, melon flavours. Well balanced if a very oaky, smoky style. For drinking now.

Wine Nk'Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Meritage Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot 2002, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $29.99
UPC 836909010600
Score 88/100
Remarks    Spicy, cedar-y, smoky oak, black pepper, clove, black olive and black cherry nose. Rich, round, dry and slightly tannic but nicely balanced. Lots of smoky oak vanilla, caramel, peppery, clove, mineral, black cherry, cassis flavours with some smoky cedar on the finish. A bit dry and quite young at this point, should improve over the next 2-4 years. A good first release only 400 cases made.

Wine Nk'Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Riesling Icewine 2003, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $59.99
UPC 836909010594
Score 89/100
Remarks    Quite mineral, baked apple, vinyl curtain, citrus rind aromas with a slightly reduced character. Rich, fat, warm and fairly viscous in the mouth. Its tasty ripe apricot, pear, mineral, baked citrus and vinyl flavours are balanced by the acidity but it finishes a bit hot and muted. A bit more brightness would help to lift the wine out of the ordinary.

Wine Nk'Mip Cellars Pinot Blanc 2003, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $14.49
UPC 836909000045
Score 87/100
Remarks    Citrus/lime peel, slate, green peach, mineral, butter aromas mark. On the palate there is a touch of oiliness in the textures and plenty of green apple skin, butter and citrus rind flavours. The finish is crisp with a lightly bitter citrus rind aftertaste. Sound.

Wine Nk'Mip Cellars Pinot Noir 2002, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $14.49
UPC 836909000014
Score 87/100
Remarks    Tasted several times now and it remains consistent. Look for a spicy, rhubarb, strawberry nose mixed with light compost aromas and some peppery notes. It is soft, smooth round and inviting on entry with balanced ripe strawberry fruit streaked with leafy, spicy, vanilla, compost flavours. The finish is reminiscent of rhubarb and licorice finish. Very sound with good varietal definition. Great value.

Wine Oak Bay Vineyard Northern Gewürztraminer 2004, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $12.99
UPC 625259202045
Score 87/100
Remarks    Fresh floral, peach, mineral, spicy nose with a touch of lychee. Round, elegant style with some sweetness but balanced acidity. Spicy, mineral, perfumy, peach, melon flavours. Not big and fat, has some finesse and length despite some obvious residual sugar. Well done, good value. Love the screw cap.

Wine Osoyoos Larose Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Malbec - Cab Franc - Petit Verdot 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $35.00
UPC 87610001554
Score 88/100
Remarks    The second edition of Osoyoos Larose is bigger than the first and while elegant it is Bordelais dry. Look for smoky, peppery, meaty, black cherry fruit aromas with spicy, clove, violet, cassis undertones and a touch of mushroom. It is rich and concentrated yet dry and fairly firm with good balance. On the palate it mixes spicy, cassis and peppery, smoky vanilla, tobacco and black cherry flavours. Very Bordelais in style with barley any Okanagan presence. Will need a full 5-7 years most likely to fully mature. More of a collector's wine that a ready to go restaurant wine.

Wine Poplar Grove Reserve Merlot - Cabernet Franc 2001, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $34.90
UPC
Score 88/100
Remarks    The blend is 80/20 merlot/cabernet franc. Look for a peppery, spicy, licorice root nose streaked with earthy, clove, mocha and light blackberry notes. It's dry and round on the palate with moderate tannins and fine concentration. Black pepper, chocolate, licorice, and vanilla flavours mix with a smoky, spicy earthy finish. Good intensity if a bit hot and chunky. It still needs a couple of years but not too long. Better with food.

Wine Quails' Gate Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $35.00
UPC 778856202229
Score 91/100
Remarks    Tasted several times this year and there is no mistaking the big smoky, sweet cola vanilla, peppery nose mixed with spicy, black olive, black berry, earthy, tobacco aromas. Rich, round, dry and supple with roasted pepper, black cherry, spicy, smoky vanilla cola, spicy prune flavours. Quite warm on the finish with a touch of acidity. A good mid-term drinking wine. The big American oak sheen will be attractive to many consumers.

Wine Quails' Gate Chardonnay Family Reserve 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $24.99
UPC 778856202014
Score 87/100
Remarks    Big buttery, smoky oak nose with vanilla, nut and honey aromas. Fat, round, soft entry with buttery, vanilla, hazelnut, spicy lees and honey flavours. Quite warm and oaky with some balance but lacks fruit and freshness overall. There is segment of the market still drinking this style chardonnay but we are looking for more vibrant fruit and acidity.

Wine Quails' Gate Fume Blanc Family Reserve 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $22.95
UPC 778856203042
Score 88/100
Remarks    Ripe grapefruit, citrus rind, mineral, grassy, vanilla, green apple and melon aromas. Rich, ripe, round and oily with some heat. Big fig, grassy, grapefruit, melon rind flavours with a very buttery, vanilla, slightly bitter finish. Good intensity but it needs a time to settle down and let all the parts melt together. It has bright future.

Wine Quails' Gate Gewürztraminer Limited Release 2004, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $14.99
UPC 77856104066
Score 87/100
Remarks    Spicy, floral, orange blossom, mineral aromas with a bit of almond and peach. Soft, round, sweeter style with mineral, citrus peel, spicy sausage, and baked apple flavours. The finish has decent acidity but this is more of an off-dry sipper for the patio than a main stream dinner wine.

Wine Quails' Gate Merlot Family Reserve 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $40.00
UPC 778856202236
Score 91/100
Remarks    Super spicy, vanilla, clove nose with notes of coffee and pudding. Rich, round, ripe smooth tannins with big alcohol and lifted fruit flaovurs. On the palate look for big smoky oak, coffee, vanilla flavours with streaks of licorice and cedar. A very warm year has left this a bit over ripe but it's well worth cellaring to see how it develops over the next few years.

Wine Quails' Gate O.V.F. Reserve Old Vines Foch 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $19.99
UPC 778856202212
Score 88/100
Remarks    Very spicy, peppery, smoky oak, vanilla, prune and coffee aromas. Smooth, soft, round and dry on the palate with lots of smoky, spicy, gamey, coffee, black cherry flavours. Well balanced and fun to drink if you like those gamey foch notes.

Wine Quails' Gate Riesling Family Reserve 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $22.95
UPC 778856203028
Score 88/100
Remarks    Look for a rich honey, peach and leesy nose streaked with mineral and creamy, orange aromas. Its round and rich on entry with a slightly oily texture. Lots of orange peel, mineral, light lees, creamy, green apple and quince flavours. Quite dry but well balanced and intense, more in the Alsace style. Well done.

Wine Quails' Gate Riesling Icewine 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $54.99
UPC 778856303070
Score 90/100
Remarks    Fabulous mineral, ripe peach, ripe red apple, citrus aromas. Rich, elegant, sweet with fair acidity. Nice citrus, baked pear, ripe peach, citrus, apricot skin flavours. Love the elegance and flavour intensity even if it finishes a bit soft. Drink while young and fresh.

Wine Sandhill Cabernet Franc Burrowing Owl Vineyard 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $17.49
UPC 058976320318
Score 89/100
Remarks    Finally a ripe cabernet franc. Look for spicy tobacco leaf, leather, cherry jam, smoky, cedar and cranberry aromas mixed with compost and some toasty vanilla. Medium bodied, round, ripe and fairly supple style with very smoky, spicy, cherry, raspberry, cedar, vanilla flavours and typical strong cigar, rootsy vanilla finish. A bit young but well balanced and well made. It even has some St. Émilion similarities. Try now or over the next 2 years.

Wine Sandhill Cabernet Merlot Burrowing Owl Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $17.49
UPC 058976320264
Score 88/100
Remarks    Rich spicy, dill/caraway, coffee, smoky, peppery aromas with some tobacco mint and cherry notes. Fine dry, elegant, structure with some grainy tannins. On the palate more pepper, spicy, coffee, cedar, tobacco and cherry vanilla flavours mix with some gamey/resin notes on the finish. A touch warm (alcoholic) but has good ripeness and structure a la nouveau Bordeaux. Well done.

Wine Sandhill Cabernet Sauvignon - Syrah Burrowing Owl Vineyard Small Lots Program Cabernet Sauvignon - Syrah 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $25.99
UPC 058976320745
Score 87/100
Remarks    Smoky ok and vanilla mixed with mocha, tomato leaf, saddle leather, prune and olive aromas. Dry, round, rich and slightly tannic with big smoky vanilla, cedar, licorice, roasted tomato and spicy blackberry, resin flavours. Lots of flavour intensity but very oaky and alcoholic and there are still some tannins to shed.

Wine Sandhill Chardonnay Burrowing Owl Vineyard 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $16.49
UPC 058976350285
Score 87/100
Remarks    Honey, spicy lees, butter, melon, vanilla, green apple skin aromas. Ripe, round, soft, slightly oily palate with buttery, spicy lees, melon, baked apple and honey flavours. Very ripe style with a fair bit of oak but has good fruit. Quite a warm finish with a touch of sweetness but very attractive consumer style.

Wine Sandhill Gewurztraminer Seven Mountain Vineyard 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $15.99
UPC 058976370788
Score 87/100
Remarks    Mineral, spicy sausage rose petal nose streaked with marzipan and peach pit aromas. Very dry, round, warm entry with good acidity but somewhat austere style. Big mineral, perfumed, spicy, red apple, citrus rind flavours and a dried lychee finish. Alsace style without quite the weight but better acidity. Solid food wine style.

Wine Sandhill One Phantom Creek Vineyard Small Lots Program Cabernet Sauvignon - Petit Verdot - Malbec 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $28.99
UPC 058976320653
Score 88/100
Remarks    The '02 Small Lots One is a 95/5/3 blend of cabernet sauvignon/petite verdot and malbec grown at Phantom Creek Vineyard just off Black Sage Road south of Oliver. Look for a huge spicy, smoky nose with coffee pudding, tobacco, caraway and peppery blackberry fruit aromas. Rich, hot and fat it has a supple mid-palate with big coffee, cedar, tobacco, mocha, black cherry, cedar and stewed plum flavours. A monster, alcoholic red that will appeal to hose who love big rich powerful reds.

Wine Sandhill Small Lots Program Petit Verdot Phantom Creek Vineyard 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $25.99
UPC 058976320752
Score 89/100
Remarks    Dense black cherry colour. Peppery, cardamom, resiny, cassis, violet, chocolate, smoky vanilla aromas with some gamey, saddle leather notes. Rich, round, dry and smooth with good acidity and ripe tannins. Nice smoky vanilla, coffee, cassis, black cherry, tea, resiny, sage flavours with a sweet vanilla pudding finish. Fine effort, drink now or keep for 2-3 years. 188 cases made in this the t release. Might be even better as a "spicing agent" in a Meritage blend especially if it reduces the cabernet sauvignon content.

Wine Sandhill Small Lots Program Sangiovese Burrowing Owl Vineyard 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $25.99
UPC 058976320684
Score 87/100
Remarks    Howard Soon has had a good year. We love the spicy, peppery, licorice root nose and the streaks of black cherry, sweet vanilla aromas mixed with light, leafy barnyard notes. Quite supple with very light tannins. Big cherry, almond, peppery, vanilla, smoky cola, earthy mushroom flavours. A touch alcoholic but with fine intensity. Needs a year or so to round out. This decent sangiovese. Only 618 cases produced.

Wine Sandhill Three Small Lots Program Burrowing Owl Vineyard Sangiovese - Barbera - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $28.99
UPC 058976320707
Score 87/100
Remarks    Butterscotch vanilla pudding, espresso, black cherry jam, kirsch, smoky pepper aromas. Ripe, round, smooth and quite dry on entry with massive smoky, coffee, peppery, vanilla, black licorice and cherry flavours. Quite alcoholic and dry on the finish with big oak. Let's hope the oak recedes over the next few months and let's the fruit really shine thorough.

Wine Sandhill Two Burrowing Owl Vineyard Small Lots Program Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Dunkelfelder 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $28.99
UPC 058976290666
Score 87/100
Remarks    Smoky espresso, black cherry, licorice, crushed leaf, tobacco, minty, spicy nose but a bit hot. Rich, ripe, round and slightly tannic. Big smoky oak, coffee, cranberry, resiny, licorice, tobacco, roasted tomato flavours with a bit of cooked prune. Good intensity if somewhat alcoholic. Needs 2-3 years.

Wine See Ya Later Ranch Chardonnay 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $18.99
UPC 624738011062
Score 88/100
Remarks    Remarkably consistent is the best way to describe the SYL Chardonnay. Typically the nose is toasted and laced with a mineral, honey, vanilla peach scent. On the palate it is rich but dry and round with more honey vanilla all streaked with mineral. A warm year and a rich wine. Well done and fairly priced.

Wine See Ya Later Ranch Ping Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc - Merlot 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $21.99
UPC 624738010614
Score 91/100
Remarks    Spicy, peppery, waxy, green bean, olive and black cherry aromas with a big streak of coffee vanilla and cardamom. Rich, ripe, round and supple with big spicy vanilla oak, black cherry jam, chocolate pudding, licorice flavours and a peppery, tobacco finish. Somewhat alcoholic but ripe and long with pretty good balance and ripeness. Somewhat reminiscent of the mocha chocolate pudding coffee JT style.

Wine Soaring Eagle Merlot Limited Edition 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $19.40
UPC 626990031512
Score 87/100
Remarks    Bright spicy vanilla, smoky cedar nose with streaks of black cherry and shoe polish. Soft, round, supple style with black cherry, spicy, vanilla flavours mixed with smoky resin, peppery mint with a touch of heat on the finish and light, dry tannins. Good effort.

Wine Sumac Ridge Brut Méthode Classique Pinot Blanc - Pinot Noir - Chardonnay N/V, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $19.99
UPC 778876011436
Score 87/100
Remarks    New to us at least is the Sumac non-vintage Brut. A touch foamy mousse previews a nutty, almond, citrus, mineral nose with toasted floral aromas. Fairly crisp and dry with very toasty, nutty, warm citrus, mineral flavours and a slightly bitter, warm, green apple finish. A bit thin but sound.

Wine Sumac Ridge Gewürztraminer Icewine 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $29.99
UPC 778876010934
Score 91/100
Remarks    This has a gorgeous spicy 'gewurz' nose with litchi fruit and mango undertones. The entry is rich and smooth with plenty of residual sugar throughout its bright, honey and pineapple/tropical fruit flavours with distinct floral notes. Fine balance, weight and length extended throughout its long spicy finish.

Wine Sumac Ridge Merlot Black Sage Vineyard 2001, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $18.99
UPC 778876030536
Score 88/100
Remarks    Big smoky, oak, vanilla, spicy, pudding, cherry jam. Soft, round, forward style with supple tannins. Big sweet vanilla, smoky, spicy, coffee flavours. Balanced and round but lacks some fruit and very oaky style.

Wine The Fort Wine Co. Iced Apple N/V, Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $21.95
UPC 626990011101
Score 90/100
Remarks    Attractive spicy cardamom cinnamon baked apple pear nose with honey -- like a dessert fresh out of the oven. Soft textures and spicy, honey, baked pear and apple flavours. It reminds us of baked apple in phyllo pastry with vanilla/cardamom ice cream. Not for everyone but if like your dessert in the bottle this is it. Very well made and holding well with good acidity.

Wine Tinhorn Creek Chardonnay 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $15.50
UPC 624802981017
Score 87/100
Remarks    Peach, melon, spicy garlic lees, buttery, mineral aromas. Soft, round, slightly oily texture but fairly dry and a bit warm. Lots of buttery, melon, honey, vanilla, garlic lees flavours with a mineral, citrus finish. A bit soft but has good fruit and balance for drinking over the next 6-9 months.

Wine Tinhorn Creek Oldfield's Collection Merlot 2002, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $28.00
UPC 624802011127
Score 89/100
Remarks    This is the second release under screw cap for the Collection series and it's the whole production this time. Look for a spicy, cardamom, smoky, dill and black cherry nose with vanilla aromas and a touch of saddle leather and licorice. Rich, round, concentrated and dry with very grainy but ripe tannins. Intense smoky, chocolate, peppery, black plum, mocha, tobacco flavours with an olive and orange note in the finish. Young, big and ripe and much better at this stage than the 2001. Needs 3-5 years of ageing and there are no cork concerns. Expected release: Fall 2005.

Wine Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Kerner Icewine 2003, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price $19.95
UPC 624802034072
Score 89/100
Remarks    Typically floral the '03 kerner has richer undertones of baked apples and peaches. The entry is round and sweet with soft acidity but it's not cloying. The finish is peaches and apples with a small streak of mineral. It's not too big and hence ready to sip now. Good value. Tinhorn suggests fresh fruits, cheese or a lighter pastry to accompany it or in small amounts