August 09, 2009 - 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. Please note - the minimum score required to make our list is 87 points out of 100.

 

88 Black Hills Alibi 2008 Sauvignon Blanc - Sémillon

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $30.00 winery direct and private wine shops

Alibi is fashioned after the sauvignon blanc sémillon blends of the Loire Valley. We love the fresh open vibrant e energetic entry of this wine and all the fruit that follows. The 81/19 blend of sauvignon blanc and sémillon blend jumps from the glass offering citrus, honey, green apple fruit aromas with bits of mineral/chalky, grapefruit flavours. Sophisticated white wine. (AG-ST)

 

88 Blasted Church Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $19.00 winery direct, private wine shops

There are many reasons to like the latest Blasted Church sauvignon not the least of which it is clean and fresh. It is easy to say but much harder to do. The colour is correct with green hues; the nose is blast of tropical fruit grass and gooseberry fruit. The finish is medium long with grassy, peppery, citrus notes. Well done and can be served with a variety of foods form pork to sushi. (AG-ST)

 

87 Burrowing Owl Meritage 2006 Merlot - Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon

Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $45.00 winery direct

Coffee, mocha, peppery, spicy, clove, vanilla, tobacco leaf, black olive, saddle leather and savoury aromas. Dry, tight, elegant palate but somewhat lean with dry tannins. Smoky, coffee, mocha, vanilla, cedar, tobacco leaf, riparian, sappy cassis, herbal, savoury flavours. Very dry, warm finish with somewhat hard, black tea tannins. Needs time to round out. (AG-ST)

 

87 Cassini Cellars Viognier 2008

Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $18.00 winery direct, private wine shops

Floral, orange, fruit salad, spicy, slate aromas with a touch of quince. Fresh, round, easy palate with light lees, pear, citrus, red apple, slate and lemon oil flavours. Good solid style for food or sipping. Could use just a bit more acidity. (AG-ST)

 

91 CedarCreek Cabernet Sauvignon Platinum Reserve 2006

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $45.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops

This has about as elegant styling as you will find in any cabernet with cedar, spiced tobacco and smoky vanilla, black cherry aromas. The entry is supple with fine-grained tannins, cocoa black cherries coffee and cedar. Youthful vanilla and some glossy oak mark the finish but with balance and finesse. You can lay this one away from four to eight years and let it reach its maximum quality. New World Bordeaux. (AG-ST)

 

89 CedarCreek Ehrenfelser 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $18.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops

Two years ago I suggested this wine be bottled and ready to go for May 1 and it happened. This year I asked for a screwcap and it has appeared. The result is a fabulously fresh example of what B.C. aromatic wine can be. Expect a fresh floral, mineral, spicy, orange flavoured white that won't quit on the palate. Just off dry it was made for spicy Indian, Thai and Chinese foods or serve liberally on the patio. (AG-ST)

 

87 CedarCreek Estate Select Chardonnay 2006

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $19.99 specialty listing

Look for a bright, fresh, clean green apple core with a cover of vanilla. It's a barrel fermented adding an attractive, creamy buttery texture that over lays a honeysuckle, citrus fresh palate and finish. Crisp and clean with good flavour this is a terrific seafood wine. Good value. (AG-ST)

 

90 CedarCreek Estate Select Meritage 2006 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $30.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops

Soft open, vanilla, cocoa and black fruit flavours. Lovely restraint on the mid-palate with fine wood integration and toast. Lively vibrant acidity with fresh cranberry, liquorice and black fruit flavours. Typically this wine comes with a lean frame that pervades from back to front in essence working the finesse angle as opposed to so many south Okanagan reds that work the fat, smoky fruit and oak angle. Should be even better in five years. Well done. Serve with roast lamb or beef. (AG-ST)

 

88 CedarCreek Gewürztraminer 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $18.00 specialty listing

CedarCreek continues to exhibit a deft hand in fruit handling and wine making exploring the fresh easy sipping style of this variety. Look for a fresh style with bits of litchi lime and peach on the nose with just a dusting of floral notes. On the palate, the entry is soft with a touch of mid-palate sugar over an herbal, lemon, ginger, sausage meat finish. Drink on the patio all summer or try it lighter sushi dishes. (AG-ST)

 

87 CedarCreek Pinot Gris Classic 2008

British Columbia, Canada

BC $17.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops

The CedarCreek gris is always a cool version with bright acidity. The entry is tight, mixing nectarine skin, green apples and lemon lime notes with a mineral citrus, salty finish. Lip smacking and ready for almost any creamy seafood pasta dish or chicken or serve with local oysters. (AG-ST)

 

89 CedarCreek Riesling 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $18.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops

Has winemaker Tom Di Bello been drinking Tantalus Riesling in his spare time? His latest riesling is super fresh with lots of bright acidity upfront and throughout a la Tantalus. Much like last year it is packed full of zippy fruit, crunchy fruit flavours of and plenty of minerality. Now under screwcap the peachy pineapple flavours streaked with orange jump from the bottle. Thai food anyone. (AG-ST)

 

88 Desert Hills Syrah Select 2005

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $35.00 winery direct

Somewhat reduced nose with meaty, sausage, peppery, barnyard, smoky, garrigue, tar, resin, leather aromas. Dry, round, supple, warm palate with peppery, spicy, vanilla, coffee, mocha, licorice root, tar, savoury, black cherry flavours. Good ripeness and flavours in a finish that is very warm. Decant this wine for 30-60 minutes and served with grilled meat. (AG-ST)

 

88 Forbidden Fruit Winery Cerise d'Eve Cherry Port 2007

British Columbia, Canada

BC $30.00 (375 ml) winery direct

Minty, spicy, tobacco leaf, cedar, cooked cherry nose. Rich, round, somewhat sweet palate with cedar, tobacco, cherry jam, licorice root, and menthol flavours. Good intensity but very unusual. (AG-ST)

 

88 Forbidden Fruit Winery Impearfection Fortified Asian Pear Wine 2007

British Columbia, Canada

BC $22.00 (375 ml) winery direct

Floral, lemon oil, cooked pear, nutty, mineral aromas. Fresh, crisp, round palate with a slightly sweet palate. Spicy, cooked pear, floral, lemon skin, mineral flavours. Finish is a touch bitter and nutty but very solid. (AG-ST)

 

88 Forbidden Fruit Winery Plumiscuous Plum Mistelle 2008

British Columbia, Canada

BC $30.00 (375 ml) winery direct

Spicy, floral, cooked strawberry, plum aromas. Fresh, tart, somewhat sweet but balanced. Citrus, spicy, peppery, mineral, canned plum, strawberry flavours. Very tart, warm finish but has good fruit characters to have with dessert. (AG-ST)

 

87 Forbidden Fruit Winery Pomme Desiree iced Apple Dessert Wine 2007

British Columbia, Canada

BC $27.00 (375 ml) winery direct

Canned apple, mineral, nalgene, floral, minty aromas. Sweet, rich, round, slightly soft palate with spicy, cooked red apple, mineral, minty flavours. Good intensity if not quite fresh enough in fruit character. (AG-ST)

 

87 Garry Oaks Blanc de Noir 2008

Burgoyne Valley, Salt Spring Island, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

BC $17.95 winery direct

It's been a couple of years since I've tried this wine but it is as solid as ever. The colour is spot on with its pale pink/orange pink hue, and attractive earthy, fruity spicy nose. The entry is fresh and bright with lemony citrus notes and bits of strawberries. This is classic summer rosé that reminds me of the fine efforts we see from Provence. Bravo. (AG-ST)

 

88 Hester Creek Pinot Gris 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $17.00 specialty listing

One of the better pinot gris at this price with its fresh, apple/ pear nose and a touch of honey in the background. The flavours are similar with a touch of nectarine and plenty of citrus in its fresh mouth-watering finish. With a new winery I expect future edition of this wine will improve even further in the coming years. (AG-ST)

 

87 Hester Creek Reserve Merlot 2005

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $26.00 Peacock & Martin

The HC "reserve" merlot is made with some of the oldest vines in the valley. The nose is highly fragrant and bright with cedar mocha red currants and dried herbs aromas and flavours. On the palate the wine is soft and ready to drink with sweet cassis and deep chocolate cherry fruit flavours. The finish is persistent. Try this with flank steak or spaghetti Bolognese. (AG-ST)

 

87 Hester Creek Trebbiano 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops

From vines now over 30 years old winemaker Rob Summers does a fine job of capturing the fruity aspects of this rare North American planting. The wine is fresh and bright on the palate with tropical fruit notes. Melons, white peach, apricots and passion fruit and lime rind dance across the palate. A versatile wine you can serve solo as an apéritif or with classic summer chicken dishes. Well done. (AG-ST)

 

88 JoieFarm Chardonnay Un-Oaked (ii) 2008

Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $20.40 winery direct, private wine shops

The Joie Unoaked chardonnay is in the bright, white aromatic camp offering up intense green apple fruit aromas and flavours flecked with grapefruit, mineral and sea salt. Not as bitter as last year and with a bit more lees character. It is back on track. (AG-ST)

 

87 JoieFarm Riesling iv 2008

Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $20.40 restaurants, private wine shops

Bubble gum, grapefruit, green apple skin, lime aromas. Fresh, round, delicate style but moderately sweet with decent acidity. Floral, grapefruit rind, melon rind, peach skin flavours. Fresh, candied rind, simple easy sipping style. A summer patio wine. (AG-ST)

 

89 Lake Breeze Pinot Blanc 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $17.00 VQA Wine Stores

Pinot Blanc is the signature wine at Lake Breeze and with good reason. This is a delicious version with bright fresh fruit fine acidity and a lively vibrant palate. The fruit is 100 per cent estate grown on the Naramata Bench. I love the mix of pear, mineral, nectarine skin with bit of honey and peach. Fantastic value. Private wine shops only. (AG-ST)

 

89 Laughing Stock Vineyards Blind Trust White 2008 Pinot Gris- Viognier - Pinot Blanc - Sauvignon Blanc

Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $25.00 winery direct

The Enns, David and Cynthia have hit a home run with this year's Blind Trust a 65/18/13/4 mix of pinot gris, viognier, pinot blanc and sauvignon blanc and, whoops, I should have let you guess because the names do not appear on the label. The flavours are vibrant and fresh with a clean feel offering bits of floral fruit with some tropical notes, apricot skin and mineral. All in all a tight, showy, fresh style white that impresses for its price. (AG-ST)

 

88 Le Vieux Pin Apogée Merlot 2006

Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $65.00 direct order - Christopher Stewart

Peppery, tobacco, cedar, light barnyard, black cherry, coffee, vanilla, soupy, Oxo-cube aromas. Rich, round, full bodied style with very dry, somewhat hard tannins. Big coffee, vanilla, toasty oak, tobacco, cedar, plum, black cherry, herbal, smoky flavours. Good intensity but somewhat hot with very dry tannins. Needs 2-5 years to soften but not sure about the fruit. (AG-ST)

 

87 Mission Hill Five Vineyards Pinot Blanc 2007

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $16.00 private wine stores, MB $15.00, NF $17.30, NS $17.00, QC $16.10, SK $16.00, YK $18.00

Winemaker John Simes dies a great job with this variety and if he ever gets it under screwcap, well look out. The '07 is getting long in tooth under cork but it is still relatively fresh with baked apple and honey undertones. Look for a mix of citrus and pineapple fruit and a soft buttery finish. Bring on the oysters. (AG)

 

87 Mission Hill Merlot Reserve 2006

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $25.00 specialty listing, AB $24.00 private wine stores, ON $23.15 consignment - Mark Anthony Brands, SK $25.00

Spicy, chocolate, cocoa powder, tobacco leaf, cedar, rooty aromas. Dry, round, supple, elegant palate with some light, tight tannins. Tobacco leaf, coffee, peppery, herbal, resin, vanilla flavours. A bit lean but has good finesse. (AG-ST)

 

88 Mission Hill Pinot Grigio Five Vineyards 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $16.00 specialty listing, AB $13.00, ON $13.95

The latest 08 grigio is a delight from its price to its on plate delivery. Again it is the fresh lees and flinty honeyed, citrus/ pear fruit that grabs your attention and the long exuberantly fruity finish now devoid of that bitter lime rind character. This is a versatile wine for sushi or grilled fish. (AG)

 

87 Mission Hill Pinot Noir Reserve 2006

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $22.00 specialty listing, AB $25.00 fine wine boutiques, ON $28.00 Vintages

Very floral, cherry jam, spicy, vanilla, cola, mocha, tobacco leaf. Round, dry, slightly tart palate with smoky oak, vanilla, peppery, rhubarb, cola, rooty, tobacco leaf, barnyard, meaty flavours. A bit tart with some tea leaf tannins but solid and fun to sip. (AG-ST)

 

87 Mission Hill Reserve Late Harvest Riesling 2005

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $30.00 (375 ml) specialty listing, AB $26.00 (375 ml) private wine stores

Slate, nutty, toasty, green apple skin, mineral, pear aromas with a bit of petrol. Round, elegant, somewhat sweet palate with petrol, nutty, slate, baked green apple, citrus, pear flavours. Solid riesling expression with finesse but fully mature. Drink now. (AG)

 

88 Mission Hill Vidal Ice Wine Reserve 2005

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $49.99 Winery, Mark Anthony Wine Marts, Private Wine Shops, SK $50.00

Marmalade, buttery, mineral, nalgene, baked apple skin aromas with a touch of dried apricot. Ripe, rich, round, elegant palate with balanced acidity and sweetness. Cooked apple, nalgene, mineral, apricot skin, orange peel flavours. Solid, balanced but a bit mature. (AG)

 

88 Mt. Boucherie Summit Reserve Pinot Noir 2005

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $22.00 speculative listing - Pacific Wine & Spirits

Cool tobacco leaf, rooty, carrot top, caraway, worsteshire, and light saddle leather and rhubarb aromas. Dry, soft, round, supple palate with rhubarb, strawberry, cola, vanilla, smoky, rooty, tobacco leaf flavours with a warm, slightly tart, orange peel finish. Good value in well made pinot. (AG)

 

87 Peller Estates Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $18.00 specialty listing, MB $16.00 private wine shop

Gooseberry, passion fruit, melon, spicy, grassy nose. Fresh, crisp, dry, round palate. Grapefruit, grassy, granny smith, passion fruit, lemon oil flavours. A bit light on the finish but has good balance and expression. Best yet from this winery. (AG-ST)

 

87 Pétales d'Osoyoos 2005 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Malbec - Cab Franc - Petit Verdot

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $25.00 private wine shops

Spicy, cherry, tobacco leaf, black olive, barnyard, cassis, coffee, herbal aromas. Dry, elegant, slightly tight and lean palate with light tannins. Cherry, cranberry, peppery, orange peel, five spice, tobacco, savoury, coffee and leather flavours. Good complexity needs a few years to round out. This is a bit more linear and green than the 2004 edition. (AG-ST)

 

89 Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2007

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $19.00 winery direct, private wine shops

The QG Estate chardonnay is 35 per cent tank fermented and 65 per cent barrel fermented in 20 per cent new French and American oak for 10 months. The nose is clean and fresh with rich honey and hazelnut aromas and flavours. Somewhat reminiscent of Western Australia chardonnay with a dash of Burgundy. The textures are rich and creamy but with a clean citrus finish. A modern style designed to accompany fresh West Coast seafood dishes. (AG-ST)

 

87 Quails' Gate Rosé 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $13.00 winery direct, private wine shops

Terrific pale pink colour with a bright fresh strawberry/rhubarb nose. The grape is gamay with a dash of pinot gris for extra fruit and lift. The palate is super fresh and bone dry. Crab anyone. Well done. (AG-ST)

 

88 Quails' Gate Chardonnay Stewart Family Reserve 2007

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $30.00 winery direct, vqa wine stores

Garlic lees, spicy, citrus, matchstick, green apple, pear, butter aromas. Dry, round, fresh, delicate palate with baked pear, apple, butter, vanilla, garlic lees, nutty, citrus flavours. Nice finesse if still a bit on the oaky side which tends to interfere with the delicate fruit character found in Okanagan chardonnay grapes. (AG-ST)

 

87 Quails' Gate Dry Riesling 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $17.00 specialty listing

Grapefruit, floral, green apple skin with a touch of slate. Fresh, crisp, tart style with juicy green apple, grapefruit rind, nectarine skin, ginger flavours. Good solid effort with a crunchy finish. This is the path most B.C. rieslings should be heading down if they want to make splash in restaurants that care about wine. (AG-ST)

 

91 Quails' Gate Pinot Noir Stewart Family Reserve 2007

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $125.00 (1500 ml) winery only, BC $45.00 winery direct and private wine shops

This pinot has been a work in progress since winemaker Grant Stanley arrived. Red fruits, black cherries and spice with a one per cent drop in alcohol make this a winner to say the least. The wild ferment also adds another dimension. At the moment it's easy to like its fat, muscular edge but expect it to lean out a bit. Fine density and mouthfeel which is what pinot noir is all about. Bravo; the best yet. (AG-ST)

 

87 Quails' Gate Tawny Non Vintage N/V

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $30.00 (375 ml) winery direct

Very rancio, raisiny, maraschino licorice, chocolate, Christmas cake, cedar aromas, very unusual. Somewhat tart, austere palate with medium sweetness and light tannins. Cedar, walnut, tobacco, raisiny, dried cherry, herbal, coffee, candied citrus flavours. Lots of rancio tawny character, perhaps needs a few years yet to soften some tannins. (AG-ST)

 

87 Road 13 Honest John's Rosé 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $17.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops

Pinot noir with a touch of syrah to super-colour this pink gives us a very fruity raspberry strawberry nose and flavour. The palate is fresh with a bright citrus undercurrent and a dry finish. Very food friendly. A sophisticated look at rosé for food lovers. Serve well chilled. (AG-ST)

 

87 Road 13 Old Vines Chenin Blanc 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops

Open floral, grassy, red apple and honey nose with bits of pink grapefruit. The attack is fresh and juicy with somewhat sweet fruit flavours of apple, mineral, honey and gooseberry flavours. The finish is tart but refreshing. Try this with spciy foods. (AG-ST)

 

87 Sandhill Pinot Gris King Family Vineyard 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $18.00 specialty listing, AB $17.00 private wine shops, MB $17.00, SK $18.00

It is amazing how skinny this wine has become over the years. Like the previous version it remains a lively mix of green apple, grassy, lemony notes on the nose and palate with a touch of mineral, butter and salt in the back end. Crisp and fresh, this has become an excellent wine for oysters. (AG)

 

88 Sandhill Small Lots Program Three Sandhill Estate Vineyard 2006 Sangiovese - Barbera - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $35.00 winery direct and private wine shops

Spicy, black cherry, coffee, chocolate, herbal, cedar, cardamom aromas. Dry, somewhat tight palate but elegant with coffee, peppery, licorice root, savoury, black cherry, cassis, vanilla, black olive flavours. Warm, dry, slightly astringent finish. Needs 1-2 years to soften but has some good fruit. (AG)

 

88 Sibling Rivalry White 2008 Riesling - Chardonnay - Gewurztraminer

Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

ON $14.00

When you taste a wine like Sibling Rivalry White you wonder why Ontario wine is struggling in a province of 11 million people. Fresh bright, clean and full of citrus and mineral notes it is everything and more than it should be for the price. An aromatic blend of riesling, chardonnay and gewürztraminer it is tailor made for summer. Dry but with ripe attractive fruit it will have broad appeal. Love the screwcap. Maybe it is time to dump the formality Niagara and start making wine consumers want to drink...like this. (AG-ST)

 

87 Stoneboat Vineyards Chorus 2008 Pinot Gris - Pinot B - Viognier - Chardonnay - Kerner - M. Thgau

Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $17.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops

The Martiniuk family seem to understand the market better than most new wineries. Chorus is an attractive, aromatic, affordable, summer sipper that hits all the right notes for the price. Look for clean fresh mineral notes and bright citrus grapefruit lime rind flavours. The blend is a mix of pinot gris, pinot blanc, viognier, chardonnay, kerner and müller-thurgau. (AG-ST)

 

87 Stoneboat Vineyards Pinot Blanc 2008

Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $17.00 winery direct

Nectarine skin, spicy, slightly smoky, floral, canned fruit cocktail, honey aromas. Fresh, crisp, juicy palate with green apple, grapefruit, butter, pear skin flavours with a touch of lees. Good solid, fresh, slightly austere style. Try with grilled halibut or scallop ceviche. (AG-ST)

 

89 Stoneboat Vineyards Pinot Gris 2008

Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $19.00 winery direct

The '08 gris is a carbon copy of last year's excellent effort. All fresh and bright he nose is almost electric with citrus and mineral highlights. The mid-palate is dry with more stony mineral nectarine flavours, creamy lees and fresh lemony fruit. Dry, crisp and showy this is a terrific looking gris and this year everything is in balance. Buy this one by the case. (AG-ST)

 

87 Summerhill Pyramid Ehrenfelser 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $20.00 VQA Stores, Private Wine Shops, AB $15.25

Bright dry mineral fresh nose with smoky perfumed orange blossom notes. The entry is dry and refreshing with peachy apricot skin and orange notes. It seems warmer or more alcoholic than its 12.8 designation so make sure you chill it down before serving. Try this with Indian food or barbecued meats or sip solo on the patio. (AG-ST)

 

87 Tantalus Riesling 2007

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $23.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops

Very mineral, lemon, lime, oyster shell, orange blossom, red apple aromas. Very tart entry with some sweetness. Grapefruit rind, lime, mineral, green apple skin, grassy flavours. Finish is warm with crisp acidity that is beginning to soften. (AG-ST)

 

88 The Fort Wine Co. Cold Snap Apples 2007

Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $20.00 (375 ml) winery direct

Lots of mineral, spicy, floral, red apple skin aromas. Sweet, fresh, round palate with juicy red apple, mineral, spicy, floral, citrus flavours. Good intensity if a bit flat. (AG-ST)

 

90 The Fort Wine Co. Finger Fruit Fortified Raspberry 2007

Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $20.00 (375 ml) specialty listing

Big spicy, minty, raspberry leaf, fresh raspberry and jam aromas. Ripe, fat, somewhat sweet palate with decent acidity, Spicy, minty, tobacco, raspberry jam, clove flavours. Good solid dessert style on a cake or with chocolate. (AG-ST)

 

89 Tinhorn Creek 2Bench Oldfield Collection 2008 Sémillon - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Gewurztraminer

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $23.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops

2Bench mixes sémillon, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, viognier and muscat (some of which are co-fermented) to better meld fruit flavours, says winemaker Sandra Oldfield. The wine is fresh and bright and should stay that way under screwcap for years. Look for aromatic notes on the nose with tropical fruit flavours supported by bright acidity underneath. Just a baby that will further improve but should be a summer seafood favourite. (AG-ST)

 

87 Tinhorn Creek Oldfield Series Syrah 2006

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $35.00 winery direct, vqa wine stores (Fall 2009)

Liquorice, savoury, smoky, peppery, meaty, sausage, vanilla, cola, black olive tapenade with black cherry and plum notes. Dry, somewhat hard, slightly tannic palate but a bit hollow. Savoury, black olive, vanilla, coffee, tar, meaty, tobacco leaf, herbal, cooked cherry flavours. Very warm finish. Best with food now to tame its dry, herbal notes or cellar through 2012. (AG-ST)

 

88 Tinhorn Creek Oldfield's Collection Syrah 2004

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $28.00 winery direct, vqa wine stores

White pepper, vanilla, leather, tobacco, tarry, sausage, meaty, black cherry aromas with a touch of dried herbs. Soft, round, supple, dry palate with coffee, peppery, meaty, sausage, tobacco, leather, savoury, vanilla, pruny, blackberry jam flavours. Very warm finish but has good balance with some black tea tannins at the end. Drink now and over the next few years. (AG-ST)

 

89 Tinhorn Creek Oldfield's Collection Syrah 2005

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $35.00 winery direct, vqa wine stores

Spicy, savoury, peppery, meaty, smoky, tar, leather, dried black cherry, vanilla, coffee aromas. Dry, round, elegant, slightly lean structure but good finesse with some light tannins. Coffee, vanilla, tar, smoky, leather, savoury, tobacco leaf, black olive, sage, black cherry flavours. A bit oaky at this point but has good structure to age a few years. (AG-ST)

 

88 Tinhorn Creek Pinot Gris 2008

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $16.50 VQA wine shops

The '08 gris is big on citrus and mineral characters on the nose and the palate. It is very fresh with bits of pear, apple earth and honey. An elegant pinot gris that that finishes with a dash of creamy lees. Pair it with a variety of seafood. (AG-ST)

 

87 Wild Goose Autumn Gold 2007 Riesling - Pinot Blanc - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $18.95 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops

Big spicy, ginger, nectarine skin, green apple, floral aromas. Fresh, crisp, elegant, slightly sweet palate with green apple, nectarine, minty, floral, pear skin, citrus flavours. Good solid summer sipper or try with Chinese food. Fun to drink and not too sweet. Getting pricey. (AG-ST)

 

87 Wild Goose Mystic River Pinot Blanc 2007

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops

Another wine under cork that should be under Stelvin - the fruit is bright already sagging at 18 months. The style is light and elegant with bright flavours of red apple and pears with mineral and tangerine streaks. We appreciate the acidity and balance and bits of price in the back end. Well done. Would be killer under screwcap. Halibut is the dish here. (AG-ST)