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Anthony Gismondi on Wine

WHITES   90/100 CedarCreek Chardonnay Platinum Reserve 2003 Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada Creamy lees, vanilla, green apple, floral, light citrus aromas with a touch of mango.

WHITES

 

90/100 CedarCreek Chardonnay Platinum Reserve 2003

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Creamy lees, vanilla, green apple, floral, light citrus aromas with a touch of mango. Dry, fresh, round and elegant with green apple skin, mineral, spicy lees, vanilla, citrus rind flavours. Nice elegance and freshness, should improve over the next 1-3 years.

Tasted: 2005-11-01 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $28.99 (750 ml) speculative - Medallion Wines

CSPC: 607218;   UPC: 778913063046

Distributor: Hobbs & Co. Wine Merchants Inc.; Medallion Wine Marketing

 

89/100 Mission Hill S.L.C. Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2004

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Open spicy, grapefruit juice, green apple, green melon, clover, floral nose with some smoky, vanilla streaks. Ripe, round, dry and elegant with kiwi, grapefruit rind, green melon, smoky, spicy gooseberry flavours with a touch of lees and vanilla. Well balanced, crisper style with very good fruit characters. Should improve over the next year or two.

Tasted: 2005-11-24 by AG-ST

Prices: AB $26.00 (750 ml) fine wine boutiques; BC $29.99 (750 ml) Winery, Mark Anthony Wine Marts, Private Wine Shops

UPC: 776545995681

Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants; Mission Hill Winery

 

89/100 Township 7 Reserve Chardonnay 2004

Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Green apple, floral, popcorn nose with honey, grapefruit, cinnamon and lees aromas all in the crisp, round, elegant style. Somewhat buttery with popcorn, baked apple, citrus, mineral, floral, green apple skin flavours with a nutty, garlic lees, chalky, vanilla finish. Very solid if a bit oaky now. Should improve over the next year as the oak dissipates.

Tasted: 2006-02-17 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $24.90 (750 ml) winery direct, VQA and private wine shops

CSPC: 034579;   UPC: 626990024590

Distributor: Winery Direct

 

88/100 Blasted Church Revered Series Chardonnay 2004

Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Green apple, grassy, citrus, melon nose with some matchstick and buttery lees notes. Dry, crisp, round entry but slightly skinny. Green apple skin, lees, green melon, buttery, citrus peel flavours. New fresh style and perfect for seafood. Good effort.

Tasted: 2006-02-07 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $25.99 (750 ml) winery direct and private wine shops

CSPC: 734822;   UPC: 626990014195

Distributor: Free House Wine & Spirits Ltd.

 

88/100 CedarCreek Chardonnay Estate Select 2004

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Winemaker Tom Di Bello has released an attractive, buttery melon and honeysuckle white with fine mid-palate richness and creamy butterscotch notes in the finish. There's also enough acidity, freshness and complexity to hold your interest. A solid value B.C. chardonnay.

Tasted: 2005-12-13 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $19.99 (750 ml) specialty listing

CSPC: 607200;   UPC: 778913051043

Distributor: Hobbs & Co. Wine Merchants Inc.; Medallion Wine Marketing

 

88/100 Fork in the Road Oliver Block 212 White 2003

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

A new concept wine from Mission Hill. Look for earthy, mineral, lemon butter, melon aromas with a grassy note. Crisp, round, elegant palate with buttery, lemon meringue, green apple, floral, mineral flavours. A touch oily with crisp acidity and a chalky finish. Should have broad appeal. The blend is 66 per cent chardonnay mixed with 22 sémillon, 11 pinot gris and 5 viognier. To be released in April from the winery and Mark Anthony wine shops and possible select private wine shops.

Tasted: 2006-02-09 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $25.00 (750 ml) winery direct, Mark Anthony stores and private wine shops

UPC: 776545997050

Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants; Mission Hill Winery

 

88/100 Golden Mile Road Chardonnay Black Arts Luckhurst Family Vineyards 2004

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Green apple skin, toasty lees, light garlic, creamy, floral, vanilla aromas. Rich, round, dry palate with a dry mineral quality. Lime rind, vanilla, green apple, spicy lees, grapefruit flavours with a nutty, buttery vanilla citrus finish. A bit tight and warm, needs about 6 months or so in bottle to smooth out. Good effort.

Tasted: 2005-11-19 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $34.90 (750 ml) winery direct and private wine shops

UPC: 626990038122

Distributor: Christopher Stewart; Winery Direct

 

88/100 Inniskillin Okanagan Chardonnay Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2004

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Bright, fresh green apple, lime rind, spicy, floral, creamy lees aromas. Fresh, round, crisp, baked green apple, citrus rind, mineral, creamy lees with a touch of guava. Nice cooler fruit and clean with verve. Good for food or sipping. excellent effort.

Tasted: 2005-11-19 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $18.99 (750 ml) specialty

CSPC: 632109;   UPC: 620654632107

Distributor: Vincor International

 

88/100 Jackson-Triggs Chardonnay Sun Rock Vineyard 2004

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Spicy lees, mango, orange blossom, smoky vanilla aromas with a baked apple note. Ripe, round, fresh and tasty with orange, vanilla, creamy spicy lees, citrus and pineapple flavours with a smoky, resiny vanilla note. A bit warm but has very good fruit.

Tasted: 2005-11-01 by AG

Prices: BC $22.99 (750 ml) VQA stores / private wine shops

CSPC: 433375;   UPC: 063657013267

Distributor: Vincor International

 

88/100 Jackson-Triggs Viognier Proprietors' Reserve 2004

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Floral, spicy, ginger, creamy citrus, apple skin and mineral aromas. Soft, round, full and ripe with toasty, spicy, citrus, honey, apricot flavours and a bit of bitter ginger zing on the finish. Well balanced overall and should be a perfect fit with spicy Thai dishes.

Tasted: 2005-11-15 by AG

Prices: BC $14.99 (750 ml) specialty

CSPC: 593129;   UPC: 063657005705

Distributor: Vincor International

 

88/100 Jackson-Triggs Meritage Blanc Proprietors' Grand Reserve 2004

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Grapefruit, grassy, nutty, leesy, vanilla aromas with some floral, cinnamon and canned asparagus notes underneath. Round, elegant, ripe palate with creamy, vanilla, canned grapefruit, kiwi, melon, fig, mineral flavours. A touch soft with some sweetness at the end but good balance. Attractive consumer style.

Tasted: 2005-12-05 by AG

Prices: BC $19.99 (750 ml) winery direct and private wine shops

CSPC: 206516;   UPC: 063657010280

Distributor: Vincor International

 

88/100 Laughing Stock Vineyards Chardonnay 2004

Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Citrus rind, spicy lees, nutty, vanilla, buttery, waxy aromas mark the somewhat Burgundian nose streaked with garlic and green apple skin. This is an elegant, fresh style with some oily textures and spicy lees, vanilla, creamy, baked pear, mineral, grapefruit rind flavours. The finish mixes butter and bitter apple skin. Well balanced overall. A nice touch of pinot gris is added for zip. 270 cases made.

Tasted: 2005-11-19 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $35.00 (750 ml) Winery

CSPC: 372615;   UPC: 850451001039

Distributor: Winery Direct

 

88/100 Mission Hill S.L.C. Chardonnay 2004

Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Citrus peel, buttery, green apple, lime, floral aromas with a touch of lees and vanilla. Round, dry, slightly oily texture but tight with green apple skin, lime, buttery, mineral, floral flavours. Finish is crisp with a grapefruit rind note. More Chablis like than Sonoma. Suitable for fish courses in butter or cream sauces.

Tasted: 2006-02-07 by AG-ST

Prices: AB $26.00 (750 ml) fine wine boutiques; BC $29.99 (750 ml) Winery, Mark Anthony Wine Marts, Private Wine Shops; ON $28.00 (750 ml)

UPC: 776545995698

Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants; Mission Hill Winery

 

88/100 Sumac Ridge Pinnacle White 2004

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Toasty, spicy, lychee, butter, floral, mineral, nutty, honey aromas. Round, soft, full palate with some oiliness. Vanilla, honey, lemon rind, mineral, floral, spicy, nutty lees flavours with buttery, grassy, gooseberry and grapefruit on the finish. Balanced even if a bit busy with all those varieties floating about. Asian food is natural here.

Tasted: 2005-12-05 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $25.00 (750 ml) Winery Only

UPC: 778876014895

Distributor: Vincor International

 

REDS

 

91/100 CedarCreek Meritage Platinum Reserve 2002

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Tasted several times. Look for pepper, spicy, black olive, saddle leather, cassis, licorice, pencil lead aromas with a streak of B.C. tobacco, green bean and smoke in the background. Ripe, round, supple and warm with fine concentration. Good spicy, orange peel, peppery, vanilla, cigar, licorice flavours with some black cherry and bacon at the end. Nice intensity and finesse, should improve over the next 2-5 years.

Tasted: 2006-01-11 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $39.99 (750 ml) speculative listing - Medallion Wines

UPC: 778913062568

Distributor: Hobbs & Co. Wine Merchants Inc.; Medallion Wine Marketing

 

90/100 CedarCreek Merlot Platinum Reserve 2003

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Floral, black cherry, spicy, vanilla, smoky bacon, black olive, chocolate and tobacco aromas with a gamey, saddle leather streak. Dry, round, slightly astringent palate. Lots of spicy, coffee, black cherry, bacon, tobacco and green olive flavours with a bit of green bean and chocolate on the finish. Good length but some tannins and acidity need to meld. Needs 2-3 years.

Tasted: 2006-01-11 by JC

Prices: BC $39.99 (750 ml) VQA Wine Stores

CSPC: 573683;   UPC: 778913061530

Distributor: Hobbs & Co. Wine Merchants Inc.; Medallion Wine Marketing

 

89/100 CedarCreek Cabernet Franc Estate Select 2003

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Love the smoky, cigar, black cherry, resiny nose with hints of licorice, sage vanilla and cranberry. Tight, full, rich, warm palate with a touch of acidity and defined tannins. More expressive cedar, cranberry, smoky, vanilla pudding, peppery, flavours with some saddle leather and tobacco on the finish. Full and young, this has potential to become affine red wine. Excellent beginning.

Tasted: 2006-01-11 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $24.99 (750 ml) VQA stores / private wine shops

UPC: 778913053580

Distributor: Hobbs & Co. Wine Merchants Inc.; Medallion Wine Marketing

 

89/100 Jackson-Triggs Merlot Sun Rock Vineyard 2003

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Big lifted, mocha, vanilla coffee, spicy, savoury, sage, oregano aromas with some black cherry. Soft, round, ripe, fat, warm style with some tannins. Lots of vanilla, smoky coffee, peppery, black cherry, plum flavours with a savoury pudding finish. Warm, youthful tannin finish. Needs 2-4 years to soften.

Tasted: 2005-11-05 by AG

Prices: BC $29.99 (750 ml) VQA stores / private wine shops

UPC: 063657013489

Distributor: Vincor International

 

89/100 Sandhill Small Lots Program Two Burrowing Owl Vineyard 2003

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Open floral peppery nose with licorice, cassis, black cherry, mocha aromas with some barnyard and smoky leather. Rich, ripe and round with dry if soft tannins. Intense coffee, peppery, smoky, resin, vanilla, cassis, black cherry, black berry flavours on the palate with a warm, vanilla pudding finish. Needs 2-5 years but will improve. Good balance overall.

Tasted: 2006-04-08 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $29.99 (750 ml) winery direct and private wine shops

CSPC: 620344;   UPC: 058976350667

Distributor: Grady Wine Marketing

 

89/100 Sumac Ridge Merlot Black Sage Vineyard 2002

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Lots of spicy, peppery, savoury, vanilla, coffee, black cherry jam nose with some tobacco and chocolate. Rich, round, fat, supple entry with ripe tannins. Big smoky, espresso, vanilla, peppery, olive, black cherry, minty, plum flavours. A bit alcoholic but has lots of fruit intensity. Needs 2-4 years. Generous well made northwest merlot.

Tasted: 2005-11-05 by AG-ST

Prices: AB $15.99 (750 ml); BC $18.99 (750 ml) specialty

CSPC: 593053;   UPC: 778876030536

Distributor: Vincor International

 

89/100 Sumac Ridge Pinnacle 2002

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Stewed cherry, cassis, and coffee nose streaked with pepper, smoke, bacon, leather, barnyard and garrigue-like spice. Rich, ripe, fat and round not to mention somewhat alcoholic. Smooth, substantial tannins but balanced. Intense smoky, coffee, cedar, mocha, cherry cola, black olive, rootsy clove flavours. Big and warm and ripe. This needs another 3 to 4 years in bottle to pull it all together. Good effort.

Tasted: 2006-04-08 by AG-ST

Prices: AB $43.00 (750 ml) private wine shops; BC $50.00 (750 ml)

CSPC: 593061;   UPC: 778876830617

Distributor: Vincor International

 

89/100 Township 7 Syrah 2003

Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Tobacco leaf, menthol, pruny, cherry, shoe leather, coffee and barnyard aromas with a meaty streak. Dry, round, slightly tannic entry but good elegance. Chocolate, coffee, menthol, cool leafy, olive, tobacco flavours with some cherry mint on the finish. A touch oaky but has good expression and balance.

Tasted: 2006-02-15 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $24.90 (750 ml) winery direct, VQA and private wine shops

CSPC: 037523;   UPC: 626990024552

Distributor: Winery Direct

 

88/100 Black Hills Nota Bene 2004

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

The lightest colour we've seen in any southern B.C. red in some time. Typically peppery on the nose with smoky, roasted pepper, black olive, resiny, saddle leather and tobacco notes with some orange rind, cedar and black cherry jam. Soft, round, supple and elegant on entry. Smoky, black olive, dill, cassis, roasted tomato, cherry flavours with some coriander, vanilla and coffee in the aftertaste. Despite its light colour, it's more refined than previous editions with cleaner, softer, smoother tannins. Best over the next five years. The latest Nota Bene a 46/36/18 blend of cabernet sauvignon / merlot and cabernet franc.

Tasted: 2006-04-08 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $36.90 (750 ml) winery direct and private wine shops

CSPC: 708073;   UPC: 8336665001033

Distributor: Black Hills Estate Winery; Landmark Selections

 

88/100 CedarCreek Meritage Estate Select 2003

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Big spicy, vanilla, black cherry jam, cassis, olive, tobacco and cedar aromas with a hint of saddle leather. Dry, round, full palate with some tannins. Chocolate, smoky, licorice, rootsy, vanilla, spicy flavours with some black olive and tobacco leaf. A bit bitter and green on the finish and will benefit from a year or two in bottle. Serve now with a medium rare steak.

Tasted: 2006-01-11 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $28.99 (750 ml) VQA stores / private wine shops

CSPC: 636407;   UPC: 778913050060

Distributor: Hobbs & Co. Wine Merchants Inc.; Medallion Wine Marketing

 

88/100 CedarCreek Syrah Estate Select 2003

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Open peppery, spicy, floral, chocolate, sausage meat and tobacco aromas with some black cherry and rootsy tobacco notes. Soft, round, supple and warm with a touch of acidity on the end. Suave chocolate, spicy vanilla, plum pudding, gamey, sausage flavours with some licorice root and cardamom on the finish. A forward ready-to-drink style for near term consumption. Excellent first effort.

Tasted: 2006-01-11 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $27.99 (750 ml) VQA stores / private wine shops

CSPC: 417949;   UPC: 778913053597

Distributor: Hobbs & Co. Wine Merchants Inc.; Medallion Wine Marketing

 

88/100 Fairview Cellars The Bear's Meritage 2003

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Peppery, spicy, sweaty saddle, smoky, cigar butt, cranberry, buttery vanilla, blackberry aromas. Dry, round, slightly tannic entry with some dryness at the end. Smoky, peppery, leafy, cigar, cranberry, cherry, vanilla, resiny flavours. Very warm (alcoholic) with some lean tannins, should improve over the next 2-3 years.

Tasted: 2005-11-23 by AG

Prices: BC $24.90 (750 ml) winery direct and private wine shops

CSPC: 731943;   UPC: 850104000334

Distributor: Red Dog Sales and Marketing Wine & Spirits

 

88/100 Herder Josephine 2004

Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Smoky, toasted oak and vanilla with green olive, pepper, tobacco leaf and minty notes streaked with black cherry and a touch of rubber. Very warm entry with ripe, supple tannins. Vanilla, smoky resin, peppery, black cherry, cola, pudding flavours with some green tobacco and olive on the finish. A bit too hot but it's youthful with seductive supple textures. Drink or hold three to five years. Needs 1-3 years. The blend is 60/33/7 merlot / cabernet sauvignon / cabernet franc.

Tasted: 2005-11-23 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $28.90 (750 ml) speculative listing - Landmark Selections

CSPC: 227751

Distributor: Landmark Selections

 

88/100 Inniskillin Okanagan Meritage Red Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2003

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Big spicy, mocha, peppery nose with gamey, licorice, black cherry jam, resin and leather aromas with black olive and coffee highlights. Rich, ripe, round and slightly dry entry with light tannins. Warm with lots of spicy, black cherry jam, plum, vanilla, coffee, mocha, cedar, orange rind and olive. Good complexity and length but very warm. Still some dry tannins to shed. Will improve over the next 2-4 years.

Tasted: 2006-04-08 by AG-ST

Prices: AB $21.95 (750 ml) private wine shops; BC $24.99 (750 ml) specialty listing

CSPC: 597039;   UPC: 620654597031

Distributor: Vincor International

 

88/100 Jackson-Triggs Meritage Proprietors' Grand Reserve 2003

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Open spicy, peppery, chocolate, smoky nose with meaty, clove, vanilla highlights mixed with black cherry jam and cassis. Rich, ripe, fat and round (JT-like) with some big tannins. Hot with coffee, smoky vanilla, peppery, cassis, black olive, licorice, resin, pudding and black cherry jam flavours. Very alcoholic with lots of extract. This will need 2-4 years to smooth out. A big style red with obvious consumer attraction.

Tasted: 2006-04-08 by AG-ST

Prices: AB $19.99 (750 ml) private wine shops; BC $24.95 (750 ml) VQA stores / private wine shops

CSPC: 080564;   UPC: 063657007785

Distributor: Vincor International

 

88/100 Jackson-Triggs Shiraz Sun Rock Vineyard 2003

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Enticing smoky leather, tobacco leaf nose with vanilla, chocolate pudding, savoury, garrigue and spicy vanilla aromas. Rich, ripe, round but warm and tannic too. Big chocolate, vanilla, cola flavours streaked with coffee, clove and plum jam with a rootsy, tobacco, leathery finish. Lots of tannins on the finish and quite warm, definitely closing down. Will need two or three years to develop in bottle.

Tasted: 2005-12-10 by AG

Prices: BC $29.99 (750 ml) VQA stores / private wine shops

UPC: 063657013496

Distributor: Vincor International

 

88/100 Mission Hill S.L.C. Merlot 2003

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

True to the Mission Hill style, the S.L.C. merlot opens with tight peppery, spicy, cool cherry aromas laced with mint, coffee, garrigue, vanilla and licorice notes. The palate is dry but rich with plenty of youthful grainy tannins. Black olive, black cherry, smoky vanilla, resiny, herbal, oregano flavours. Good intensity but a touch green and tannic. Similar to a semi-modern St. Emilion. Needs 2-5 years to put on some weight and loosen up. It will undoubtedly improve with time in bottle so do not rush it. Release date early March.

Tasted: 2006-02-07 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $34.99 (750 ml) winery direct and private wine shops march '06

CSPC: 202283;   UPC: 776545995667

Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants; Mission Hill Winery

 

88/100 Poplar Grove Reserve 2003

Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Big cherry kirsch, slightly volatile nose with spicy, mocha, coriander, vanilla flecks and a whiff of port-y-ness. Fat, rich, round, alcoholic style with some rustic and substantial tannins. Cherry jam, roasted pepper, vanilla, pepper, cardamom, orange peel and coffee flavours. Not much finesse and very hot but there is fruit and plenty of back end oomph. Try in 2-3 years on a cold winter eve. The blend is 60/25/15 merlot / cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon.

Tasted: 2006-04-08 by AG-ST

Prices: BC $49.90 (750 ml) winery direct

CSPC: 722538

Distributor: The Seacove Group Inc.

Written By: ag
Anthony Gismondi
Anthony Gismondi

Anthony Gismondi is a Canadian wine journalist and one of North America's most influential voices in wine. For over 30 years, he has been the wine columnist for The Vancouver Sun. The twice-weekly column is distributed across Canada through the Postmedia Network to millions of readers. In addition, Anthony hosts the BC Food & Wine Radio Show, broadcast in 25 markets across B.C. and available as a podcast on major platforms. He launched Gismondionwine.com in 1997, attracting one million monthly users from 114 countries. It continues to be a valuable resource full of tasting notes, intelligent wine stories and videos for the trade and consumers. Conversations with wine personalities are available on his  YouTube Channel.