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The following is our top ten wine picks from B.C.
(and ties) tasted in the last six months.
91 CedarCreek Merlot Platinum Reserve 2002
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $39.99 VQA wine stores
Peppery, spicy, prune plum, vanilla, black cherry, oregano, floral, black olive aromas ― Northwest merlot. Rich, round, supple style with light tannins. Nice minty, black cherry, chocolate pudding, vanilla, orange compote with more mineral, resiny, peppery undercurrents. A bit dry on the finish but good finesse and intensity. One of the best we have tasted from B.C.
91 Quails' Gate Merlot Family Reserve 2002
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $40.00 specialty
Super spicy, vanilla, clove nose with notes of coffee and pudding. Rich, round, ripe smooth tannins with big alcohol and lifted fruit flavours. 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.
90 CedarCreek Chardonnay Platinum Reserve 2003
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $28.99 winery, private wine shops
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.
89 Burrowing Owl Pinot Gris 2004
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery, private wine shops
Another fine effort from BOV albeit slightly leaner and crisper than in the past and showing a touch more alcohol. Look for a floral, spicy, citrus, light buttery nose with mineral, earthy aromas. Round, dry, elegant palate with grapefruit rind, minerals and spice with light buttery lees and green apple flavours.
89 CedarCreek Meritage Platinum Reserve 2002 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $39.99 winery, private wine shops
Spicy, black cherry jam, cassis, coffee, black olive, saddle leather aromas with a vanilla clove note. Round, dry, elegant style with some dry, grainy tannins. Peppery, tobacco, smoky, cassis, vanilla, tobacco leaf, clove and dill flavours. A bit young and tight now, needs 2-4 years. History suggests this wine will continue to improve in the bottle.
89 Herder Merlot 2003
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.90 winery, private wine shops
Spicy, peppery, earthy, coffee, vanilla, resin, tobacco aromas. Ripe, rich round but dry with some gritty, grainy tannins. Big spicy, clove, coffee, vanilla, peppery, licorice, black cherry jam flavours with some Christmas pudding notes. Good balance if a bit oaky, tannic and hot at this stage. Keep for 3-5 years. Fine effort.
89 Lake Breeze Pinot Blanc 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $14.90 winery, VQA wine stores
Fresh mix of pear, mineral, nectarine skin, perfumed fruit nose with a hint of honey lees. Very lively on the palate with citrus, peach, butter, clover, honey and green apple flavours. A touch sweet but has good acidity and fruit intensity. Drink by the case.
89 Jackson-Triggs Merlot Sun Rock Vineyard 2003
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $29.99 winery, VQA stores and private wine shops
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.
89 La Frenz Semillon 2004
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.00 winery, private wine shops
Pale to medium straw, with high intensity of aromatics, some grassy tones, ripe melon with a touch of tropicality. Dry, medium to full, creamy mouthfeel, rich texture, broad, well balanced, good concentration and long length. Excellent value.
89 Mission Hill S.L.C. Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2004 Sauvignon Blanc - Sémillon
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $29.99 winery, Mark Anthony Wine Marts, private wine shops, AB $26.00 fine wine boutiques
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.
89 Mission Hill S.L.C. Syrah 2003
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $34.99 winery, Mark Anthony Wine Marts, private wine shops, AB $31.00 fine wine boutiques, MB $34.99, ON $34.00
Tight coffee, pepper, spicy nose with floral, black cherry, licorice root notes and smoky, vanilla-pudding tones. The entry is soft and rich, the best yet for a young Mission Hill syrah with grainy tannins in the back end. Fine minty, peppery, coffee, smoky vanilla, black cherry and tobacco flavours. Needs a few years to fully integrate and round out but well made cool climate syrah. Very promising, be patient. Good value.
89 Sandhill Small Lots Program Syrah Phantom Creek Vineyard 2003
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $29.99 winery; Granville Island Brewing Retail Store
Open warm, roasted pepper, tomato leaf and smoky-oak vanilla nose with prune/black cherry notes. Smooth, round, supple and dry on entry with fine spicy, vanilla, smoky oak and peppery, pudding, black cherry and anise flavours. Good ripeness and balance if a touch warm. Drinkable now but should improve in bottle for a year or two. Bravo.
89 Sumac Ridge Merlot Black Sage Vineyard 2002
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.99 specialty, AB $15.99
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.
