quicksearch
88 Bartier-Scholefield B-S Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Summerland, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada BC $23.00 winery direct Typically BS with its muted, restrained I'm here but you better look for it characters.
88
Bartier-Scholefield B-S Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Summerland, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $23.00 winery direct
Typically BS with its muted, restrained I'm here but you better look for it characters. There are some leesy So2 notes to work through but underneath are grassy, nectarine skin, notes with delicate lemon, grapefruit, orange flavours all with sufficient acidity. Made for food and ageing this is another New Okanagan white well worth investigating. (AG-ST)
88 Bella Sparkling Gamay Rosé 2012
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $15.00 (375 ml), BC $24.00 winery direct
Oliver's Secrest Mountain Vineyards is home to this gamay sparkler grown over sand, silt and gravel. The fruit is given some four hours skin contact before it is de-stemmed and pressed off. There is no malolactic fermentation to preserve acidity and freshness and the wine is hand-riddled. Tasted from a half-bottle the nose is fresh and packed full of delicate strawberry notes. The attack is bit a rustic with yeasty, earthy red fruit notes but with a softer, gentler more appealing finish. Try this with grilled prawns or fresh chèvre. (AG-ST)
90 Black Hills Alibi 2012 Sauvignon Blanc - Sémillon
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct and private wine shops
Alibi is one of my favourite BC white wines. What it may lack in sophistication it makes up for in enthusiasm. The 2102 is fresh and juicy and year later under screwcap it is youthful. Lovey the smoky, stony, citrus, ripe pink grapefruit flavours flecked with dried lemon thyme and a squeeze of ginger. Clams mussels prawns and more all work here. Impressive and all Okanagan. (AG-ST)
89 Black Hills Syrah 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 winery direct and private wine shops
This wine is beginning to settle in at Black Hills offering a peppery, smoked meat nose with sweet cherries punching through form underneath. The palate is similar with a slick glossy underbelly and smooth sweet tannins. More elegant than monster you can enjoy the sweet, smoky meaty fruit flavours that runs from the front to the back of each glass. A cool style of syrah that works well with food. A leg of lamb would be a super match. (AG-ST)
91 Blue Mountain Blanc de Blancs 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $40.00 private wine stores, winery direct, ON $35.00 Vintages
The Blanc de Blancs is 100 percent chardonnay that is aged sur-lie for five years. Love the nose awash in nutty complex yeasty, lemon, red apple and brioche notes. Similar flavours mark the palate with even more pronounced dry, nutty notes in the finish. Definitely low fruit but it is not a severe style. Think oysters or sablefish, best with delicate flavours. (AG)
90 Blue Mountain Brut Rosé 2008 Pinot Noir - Chardonnay - Pinot Gris
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $33.00 winery direct
The rosé brut is a 63/34/3/mix of pinot noir / chardonnay / pinot gris all estate fruit. The nose is suitably restrained with hints of strawberry, nectarine skin and citrus. The palate is similar with yeasty, red fruit flavours and a fine persistent mousse. The finish is soft and dry with good complexity. A wonderful style for food. Try it with turkey. (AG-ST)
91 Blue Mountain Brut Rosé R. D. 2009 Pinot Noir - Chardonnay - Pinot Gris
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $33.00 winery direct
The 09 Brut Rosé RD 84/16 mix of pinot noir and chardonnay. The colour is pale orange perfection, the nose subtle hints of red fruits and citrus. The palate is lively with fresh yeasty, red fruit flavours and a creamy persistent mousse. Wonderfully complex and as austere as it needs to be. It is a style that will be much hailed by food lovers. Turkey comes to mind but then so does caviar. Terrific bottle, good value. (AG-ST)
89 Blue Mountain Gold Label Brut N/V Pinot Noir - Chardonnay - Pinot Gris
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $24.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Gold Label Brut is a 57/38/5/ mix of pinot noir/chardonnay/pinot gris all estate grown and sur lie aged for 24 months. Expect a pure style where citrus, toast and nuance rule. Love the minerality and green fruits that disappear into its fresh lip-smacking stony finish. Oyster would be a great match or even oven warmed cheese sticks. Delicious sophisticated BC sparkler. (AG-ST)
92 Blue Mountain Reserve Brut RD 2005 Pinot Noir - Chardonnay - Pinot Gris
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $40.00 private wine stores, winery direct
Fun to see an RD coming out of Blue Mountain, in this case a 2005 that was recently disgorged (RD). The blend is 60/35/5 pinot noir/chardonnay/pinot gris. There is no reserve is this wine and according to winemaker Matt Mavety it isn't required due to the uniformity of the blend from year to year. The wine spends six years on its lees developing an aromatic red fruit nose with toasted nuts and lees and a whiff of minerality. Dry, firm complex and impressive it sells out in moments. Best get on the list. (AG)
88 Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc 2010
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $33.00 winery direct, AB $35.00 fine wine shops
The nose is the setup, enticing with vanilla, blackberry cherry aromas. On the palate it is soft with sweet flavours baled cherry pie, cinnamon with a touch of acidity poking through its warm, alcoholic, chocolaty finish. Hamburgers are the ticket here. (AG-ST)
88 Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc 2011
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $33.00 winery direct, AB $35.00 fine wine shops
Cool peppery, coffee, ash, vanilla nose with prune plum, cedar, cranberry, floral aromas. Fresh, full, round, somewhat astringent attack on the palate with light tannins. Black cherry, coffee, smoky vanilla, cedar, ash, cranberry, savoury, tobacco leaf flavours. Warm, somewhat lean finish but good overall concentration but short finish. Needs 3-5 years to round out. A good effort in a tough year. Serve with grilled meat. (AG-ST)
88 Burrowing Owl Meritage 2009 Merlot - Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $45.00 winery direct, AB $50.00 fine wine shops
A true Meritage (Bordeaux blend). Look for blackberry jam, prune, coffee, tobacco aromas with cedar, vanilla, roasted bell pepper, and tomato paste aromas. Round, full, dry but somewhat tart palate. Coffee, vanilla, chocolate, tobacco, peppery, prune cherries, roasted pepper, resin, clove and cassis flavours. Solid but very oaky and warm on the finish. Best with grilled meats. (AG-ST)
88 Burrowing Owl Merlot 2010
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00 VQA wine stores, winery direct, AB $31.00 fine wine shops
Open peppery, black cherry, vanilla, smoky, saddle leather nose with bits of black olive, aromas with a minty, prune plum note. Dry, fresh, juicy palate with light, grainy tannins and black cherry, cedar, tobacco and liquorice flavours all with a light herbal, savoury note. Finish is still somewhat tart and oaky. It needs two to three years to fully integrate. (AG-ST)
89 Burrowing Owl Pinot Gris 2012
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct, AB $29.00
Back on form the 2012 is delicious. Honey, pear, light lees, citrus, baked apple, orange and vanilla aromas. Round, full, juicy, slightly sweet palate but balanced with good finesse. Grapefruit, honey, quince, red apple, mango, pear and vanilla flavours. Very good fruit intensity and balance, fine effort here. (AG-ST)
89 Burrowing Owl Syrah 2009
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $38.00 winery direct, AB $41.00 fine wine shops
Classic southern Okanagan liquorice blackberry, smoky leather with coffee, vanilla and savoury herb aromas. Dry, fresh, round, elegant palate with light tannins. Smoky herb, vanilla, licorice, chocolate, poultry spice, black olive flavours with some blackberry and tobacco leaf. Another solid effort that will benefit from 1-2 years further in bottle. (AG-ST)
88 CedarCreek Ehrenfelser 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Floral, nectarine, honey, spicy, orange and apple aromas. Fresh, juicy, off-dry palate with nectarine skin, red apple, mandarin, pear and grapefruit rind flavours. Delicious seafood white. (AG-ST)
88 CedarCreek Gewürztraminer 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 specialty listing
Spicy, peach, honey, light lychee, orange rind aromas. Fresh, round, somewhat sweet style but solid acidity. Honey, lychees, soapy floral, orange and peach flavours. Good flavours but this is quite a sweet style so plan your menu accordingly. Or serve solo well chilled. (AG-ST)
89 CedarCreek Pinot Gris 2012
British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
The Upper CedarCreek Vineyard is home to this delicious fruit picked about the same time the black bears arrive in the vineyard. Timing is everything. It's partially fermented with the wild yeast native which seems to allow the juicy peachy/orange and honey scented fruit to mesh perfectly with a dash of earth. Fine elegance in what is a delicious balanced gris for spicy foods. (AG-ST)
89 CedarCreek Platinum 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Only available at the winery this is long since sold out. In 2012 winemaker Darryl Brooker chose to harvest the 21-year-old vines much earlier than in previous years. The flavour is almost pure lemon with a touch of lime rind all set in a low alcohol, unirrigated riesling. A tribute to the Mosel Okanagan style. Fresh bright and full of tension. An electric wine that is part of the New Okanagan. The winery suggest sweet and sour pork and we couldn't agree more. (AG-ST)
88 CedarCreek Platinum Chardonnay Block 5 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Lees, vanilla, spicy, floral, maraschino, honey, baked apple, oatmeal and baked peach aromas. Fresh, dry, lean entry with green apple skin, leafy, minty, leesy, bitter grapefruit and toasted nut flavours. It seems a bit lean and reserved for the moment but will almost surely improve in the bottle over the next year. (AG-ST)
88 Clos du Soleil Fume Blanc 2012
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct
Passion fruit, pink grapefruit, light bell pepper and bubble gum aromas with a touch of nettle. Fresh, round, soft palate with a touch of sweetness. Juicy grapefruit, nettle, asparagus, gooseberry, mint and bell pepper flavours. A delicate but flavourful style that will attract many consumers. (AG-ST)
89 Clos du Soleil Grower's Series Baessler Pinot Blanc 2012
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct
They added another notch of electricity to this gorgeous pinot blanc with its juicy red apple nose and slate/pear skin aromas. The palate is watery fresh with juicy, delicate pear, citrus, honey, lees, red apple fruit flavours. The finish is long persistent and just a hint off-dry. It would be a shame to serve this without food but you could, it is that entertaining. (AG-ST)
89 Culmina Hypothesis 2011 Cabernet Franc - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $48.00 winery direct
The best first release I can remember from a local winery. Pepper, liquorice, coffee, vanilla, tobacco, cedar and violets mark its complex Bordelais nose (40/26/34 cabernet franc/merlot/cabernet sauvignon) with cranberry, meaty, black olive aromas. The attack is round, dry, and elegant, the palate fresh with some light, astringent tannins. More coffee, smoky pepper, vanilla, cassis, cranberry, black cherry flavours flecked with tobacco, orange peel and olive flavours fill out the palate and the finish. Still youthful but well-constructed. This will need another two to four years to soften the tannins. An impressive first edition with a Right Bank Bordeaux styling. (AG-ST)
88 Gray Monk Odyssey Rose Brut 2009 Gamay - Pinot Meunier
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 specialty listing
Clean fresh, aromatic cherry/raspberry, liquorice, tobacco, nutty, citrus aroma. Fresh, full, slightly foamy palate with light sweetness. More licorice, earthy, strawberry, cherry, nutty, toasty flavours. Fine textures and excellent flavours for the money. Well done. (AG-ST)
88 Harper's Trail Late Harvest Riesling Thad Springs Vineyard 2012
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 (375 ml) winery direct or private wine stores
Dessert wine under screw cap always excites me. When it is as clean and fresh as this wine is and has plenty of fruit - ripe apples and baked pear, all with a touch of crème brûlée, it may well age effortlessly for a decade. Try this with peach cobbler. (AG-ST)
88 Hester Creek The Judge 2010 Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $45.00 winery direct or private wine stores
The Judge get all the top fruit grown in Hester Creek's Golden Mile Vineyard. A mix of cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and merlot it opens with an aromatic peppery clove nose mix with black cherry and vanilla. The palate is rich and smooth with more vanilla and spicy oak dominating the fruit. Coffee, mocha and cinnamon flavours mix with spicy sweet black cherry fruit but never quite mesh. It's youthful and needs time but it remains a bit too awkward and warm to develop any real finesse. If you like big New World reds load up. (AG-ST)
88 Hillside Estate Gewürztraminer 2012
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA wine stores
Open fresh spicy floral nose with bits of smoked meat, peach, ginger and litchi fruit. The attack is juicy and with a mix of pink grapefruit, rose water and light litchi flavours flecked with nectarine skin and a touch of lemon oil. Again, a friendly juicy drink-me style. Perfect for your favourite curry. (AG)
90 Hillside Estate Merlot Hidden Valley Vineyard 2009
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $26.00 winery direct
The Hidden Valley vineyard is just that, hidden from view not far from Hillside Winery. We love the way this wine has evolved over the past four years. It is warm, rich and plummy now with glossy satin tannins and long rich textures throughout the finish. Sweet plums, figs, black cherries and a whiff of mint and sagebrush combine to make this a formidable red that would happy with a hamburger but equally up to the task of accompanying a roast of beef. The fruit is all hand harvested and fermented in two separate lots priot to ageing about a year in French and American oak. (AG)
88 Hillside Estate Merlot Reserve 2009
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Winemaker Kathy Malone has been quietly working to refocus the Hillside portfolio on the Naramata Bench where to my mind the not too hot and not too cool vineyards seem perfectly suited to merlot. The 09 reserve is quite evolved showing a rich, fruit forward style. Plenty of spice and chocolate mixed with bits of toasted oak and rich, savoury, black cherry fruit flavours and smooth textures. Dense, weighty and drinkable now it should easily improve in the bottle over the next four years. Perfect now with grilled meats, spaghetti Bolognese or chorizo pizza. (AG)
88 Hillside Estate Pinot Gris Reserve 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.00 winery direct
Bright floral, ginger, orange rind notes mark the nose. The palate has a touch of lees for texture with nectarine, ginger, guava, butter and spicy, pear flavours. More on the tighter, austere style but with fine intensity and length. Try this with a variety of seafood. (AG)
89 Hillside Merlot Gjoa Vineyard 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $26.00 winery direct
Winemaker Kathy Malone has been quietly working to refocus the Hillside portfolio to Naramata Bench fruit and to my mind the not too hot and not too cool vineyards seem perfectly suited to merlot. The Gjoa Vineyard merlot is an excellent example of what can be done in Naramata when you let the fruit and the site show through the wine. The structure is tighter and leaner with active acidity, hints of minerality and juicy, stony, red fruit flavours of spiked with plums, smoke and espresso highlights. The tannins are firm and will need three years settle in. Try it now with grilled meats. (AG)
89 Hillside Merlot Hidden Valley Vineyard 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $26.00 winery direct
Winemaker Kathy Malone has been quietly working to refocus the Hillside portfolio to Naramata Bench fruit and to my mind the not too hot and not too cool vineyards seem perfectly suited to merlot. The Hidden Valley Vineyard merlot is a much different animal then the Gjoas. The fruit here is earthy in style with that dusty, savoury character, almost a bit Rutherford-like. The tannins slightly rounder and longer with bits of black fruit, toast and coffee on the palate. Firm but with some generosity of fruit and tannins in the finish. The wood is very much now in the background for support only. T-bone steaks would be a lovely match here. (AG)
88 Howling Bluff Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2012 Sauvignon Blanc - Sémillon
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 private wine shops
The mix is 85/15 sauvignon blanc/sémillon and you sense the sauvignon upfront on the nose thanks to its pungent, passion fruit and kiwi aromas with bits of baked apple and honey. The attack is fresh with some mid-palate sweetness balanced off by some tangy orange, grassy, citrus lemon notes. Exotic and interesting, a wines first duty and capable of ageing perhaps its second job. A wonderful food style for substantial menu items. A small portion of the juice spends five months in French oak. Fine value. (AG-ST)
92 Inniskillin Okanagan Riesling Icewine 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 (200 ml) vqa stores, BCL signature stores
Super intense style with apricot, lime, floral honey aromas. On the palate it is rich and unctuous with solid underlying acidity to keep it fresh. The fruit is a mix of apricots, baked red apple and spiced honey. Rich stylish and extremely and yet with finesse and length. This is riesling icewine at its best. You can drink this now chocolate molten lava cake our cellar it for five years and allow for it to develop some complexity. (AG)
88 Intrigue Pinot Gris 2012
Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.00 winery direct, VQA stores, private wine shops
Restrained cool citrus, guava with a touch of quince. The attack is dry and food friendly firm with earthy citrus, honey notes and a medium length, and now a bit drier and crisper in the finish. Made for clams or crab or serve well-chilled on the patio with appetizers. (AG-ST)
90 Joie A Noble Blend 2012 Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Pinot Blanc - Pinot Auxerrois - Schoenberger
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $24.00 winery direct, private wine shops, ON $34.00
Another repeat performance from Michael and Heidi that has to be rewarding for them. The 2012 puts gewürztraminer back in the lead at 35 percent followed by 29/17/12/4/3/ riesling/pinot blanc/pinot auxerrois/schönburger and now muscat. It's the juicy aromatic style that is so attractive, spice guava, ginger and tangerine set the tone for unlimited food matching. Don't change anything. (AG-ST)
88 Joie Muscat The Pure Grape (v) 2012
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $23.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Another intense aromatic muscat with bits of soap mixed though its floral, ginger, peppery nose. The attack is nervy with citrus, lime rind, lemon peel, nectarine skin notes and a long persistent finish. There's touch of residual sugar suggesting spicy food could be an excellent match. Kudos to the moderate 11.5 percent alcohol. (AG-ST)
88 Joie Pinot Blanc 2012
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $23.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Fresh pear, green apple, grapefruit, light lees aromas with a floral note. Fresh, crisp, juicy, creamy, slightly sweet palate with canned pear, grapefruit, granny smith, honey and green mango flavours. Zippy, floral but balanced style that is fun to sip. Try it with halibut and fruit salsa. (AG-ST)
88 JoieFarm En Famille Reserve Gewurztraminer 2011
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $28.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Light honey, peach, spicy, citrus, ginger and light lychee aromas. Full, round, elegant, soft palate with some creaminess. Baked apple, citrus, lees, honey, rose water flavours. A bit soft and warm on the finish but has good intensity and persistence. (AG-ST)
89 Lake Breeze Pinot Blanc 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA stores, private liquor stores
Pinot Blanc is in good hand at Lake Breeze. Super fresh and clean under screwcap winemaker Garron Elmes simply captures the essence of this variety and gets it into the bottle. The 2012 has wonderful ripe red apple aromas and flavours with fresh flecks of pear, citrus and honey and just a hint of minerality in the finish. Perfect for halibut or even crab cakes. Good value. (AG-ST)
89 Lake Breeze Semillon 2012
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
I'm guessing this wine isn't for everyone which is fine by me because I would like to buy more of it. Love the nettle, weedy, grassy undertones that support the zesty mix of grapefruit, white flowers and jalapeno notes. The attack is dry but juicy with pink grapefruit and gooseberry flavours that persist throughout its long finish. Delicious acidity and sugar balance in the finish. Bravo. (AG-ST)
88 Lake Breeze Seven Poplars Merlot 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $26.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Open, aromatic, fragrant herbal, spicy, medicine chest-scented nose with subtle oak and black cherry notes. The palate is fresh with bright acidity, pepper, liquorice, black fruits and cedar with a dollop of oak and heat. Try this with grilled steaks for the moment or wait two years for it to round into shape in the bottle. (AG-ST)
88 Lake Breeze Winemaker Series Viognier 2012
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.00 winery direct
The latest by winemaker Garron Elmes from the new Winemaker Series. This viognier is off-dry with a peachy/floral nose and juicy, fresh mid-palate. The flavour is a lemon squeezed on a green apple skin covered apricot. Lobster, grilled squid in olive oil or even a spicy Hamachi sushi would be perfect. Available direct from the winery. (AG-ST)
88 LaStella Fortissimo Selezione di Famiglia 2010 Merlot - Cab Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Sangiovese
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 winery direct
Cranberry, black cherry, coffee, vanilla, tobacco leaf, black olive, savoury, celery salt and roast pepper aromas. Dry, round, fresh, slightly tannic palate. Cassis, prune, cranberry, smoky, resin, espresso, tobacco, compost, black olive flavours. The finish is a touch cedar-y and astringent but offers solid finesse for the vintage. Needs 2-4 years in the bottle to reach its peak. (AG-ST)
88 Laughing Stock Vineyards Blind Trust White +09/10 2012 Pinot Gris - Pinot Blanc
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.10 winery direct
Delicate light vanilla, spicy lees, butter, grapefruit, grassy, pear, quince aromas. Fresh, juicy, elegant palate with grapefruit, grassy, pear, honey, light butter flavours with a vanilla, green apple finish. A bit austere but like the gris will benefit from another year in bottle to fully develop. (AG-ST)
90 Laughing Stock Vineyards Syrah+28/10 2011 Syrah - Viognier
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $34.00 winery direct
Big spicy, floral, coffee, chocolate, liquorice, poultry spice nose flecked with gingerbread and meaty, blackberry jam, soy and roasted tomato aromas. Round, smooth, suave, fresh style with light tannins and some warmth. Coffee, vanilla, tobacco, celery salt, poultry spice, gingerbread, sausage meat, tomato paste and liquorice flavours. Solid fruit and intensity but with a fair amount of youthful oak. Best t cellar for three to five years or serve now with grilled lamb. (AG-ST)
89 Le Vieux Pin Syrah Cuve Violette 2011
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00 winery direct
Big peppery, celery salt, savoury, sausage meat, black cherry, liquorice, earthy, tobacco aromas. Round, dry, elegant, attractive lean palate with some young tannins. Coffee, peppery, sausage meat, resin, tobacco, sage, poultry spice, liquorice and black cherry flavours. Good complexity and fruit, just needs bit more mid-palate and finish to reach the next level. Try this with grill lamb chops on the barbecue. (AG-ST)
Summerland, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $23.00 winery direct
Typically BS with its muted, restrained I'm here but you better look for it characters. There are some leesy So2 notes to work through but underneath are grassy, nectarine skin, notes with delicate lemon, grapefruit, orange flavours all with sufficient acidity. Made for food and ageing this is another New Okanagan white well worth investigating. (AG-ST)
88 Bella Sparkling Gamay Rosé 2012
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $15.00 (375 ml), BC $24.00 winery direct
Oliver's Secrest Mountain Vineyards is home to this gamay sparkler grown over sand, silt and gravel. The fruit is given some four hours skin contact before it is de-stemmed and pressed off. There is no malolactic fermentation to preserve acidity and freshness and the wine is hand-riddled. Tasted from a half-bottle the nose is fresh and packed full of delicate strawberry notes. The attack is bit a rustic with yeasty, earthy red fruit notes but with a softer, gentler more appealing finish. Try this with grilled prawns or fresh chèvre. (AG-ST)
90 Black Hills Alibi 2012 Sauvignon Blanc - Sémillon
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct and private wine shops
Alibi is one of my favourite BC white wines. What it may lack in sophistication it makes up for in enthusiasm. The 2102 is fresh and juicy and year later under screwcap it is youthful. Lovey the smoky, stony, citrus, ripe pink grapefruit flavours flecked with dried lemon thyme and a squeeze of ginger. Clams mussels prawns and more all work here. Impressive and all Okanagan. (AG-ST)
89 Black Hills Syrah 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 winery direct and private wine shops
This wine is beginning to settle in at Black Hills offering a peppery, smoked meat nose with sweet cherries punching through form underneath. The palate is similar with a slick glossy underbelly and smooth sweet tannins. More elegant than monster you can enjoy the sweet, smoky meaty fruit flavours that runs from the front to the back of each glass. A cool style of syrah that works well with food. A leg of lamb would be a super match. (AG-ST)
91 Blue Mountain Blanc de Blancs 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $40.00 private wine stores, winery direct, ON $35.00 Vintages
The Blanc de Blancs is 100 percent chardonnay that is aged sur-lie for five years. Love the nose awash in nutty complex yeasty, lemon, red apple and brioche notes. Similar flavours mark the palate with even more pronounced dry, nutty notes in the finish. Definitely low fruit but it is not a severe style. Think oysters or sablefish, best with delicate flavours. (AG)
90 Blue Mountain Brut Rosé 2008 Pinot Noir - Chardonnay - Pinot Gris
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $33.00 winery direct
The rosé brut is a 63/34/3/mix of pinot noir / chardonnay / pinot gris all estate fruit. The nose is suitably restrained with hints of strawberry, nectarine skin and citrus. The palate is similar with yeasty, red fruit flavours and a fine persistent mousse. The finish is soft and dry with good complexity. A wonderful style for food. Try it with turkey. (AG-ST)
91 Blue Mountain Brut Rosé R. D. 2009 Pinot Noir - Chardonnay - Pinot Gris
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $33.00 winery direct
The 09 Brut Rosé RD 84/16 mix of pinot noir and chardonnay. The colour is pale orange perfection, the nose subtle hints of red fruits and citrus. The palate is lively with fresh yeasty, red fruit flavours and a creamy persistent mousse. Wonderfully complex and as austere as it needs to be. It is a style that will be much hailed by food lovers. Turkey comes to mind but then so does caviar. Terrific bottle, good value. (AG-ST)
89 Blue Mountain Gold Label Brut N/V Pinot Noir - Chardonnay - Pinot Gris
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $24.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Gold Label Brut is a 57/38/5/ mix of pinot noir/chardonnay/pinot gris all estate grown and sur lie aged for 24 months. Expect a pure style where citrus, toast and nuance rule. Love the minerality and green fruits that disappear into its fresh lip-smacking stony finish. Oyster would be a great match or even oven warmed cheese sticks. Delicious sophisticated BC sparkler. (AG-ST)
92 Blue Mountain Reserve Brut RD 2005 Pinot Noir - Chardonnay - Pinot Gris
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $40.00 private wine stores, winery direct
Fun to see an RD coming out of Blue Mountain, in this case a 2005 that was recently disgorged (RD). The blend is 60/35/5 pinot noir/chardonnay/pinot gris. There is no reserve is this wine and according to winemaker Matt Mavety it isn't required due to the uniformity of the blend from year to year. The wine spends six years on its lees developing an aromatic red fruit nose with toasted nuts and lees and a whiff of minerality. Dry, firm complex and impressive it sells out in moments. Best get on the list. (AG)
88 Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc 2010
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $33.00 winery direct, AB $35.00 fine wine shops
The nose is the setup, enticing with vanilla, blackberry cherry aromas. On the palate it is soft with sweet flavours baled cherry pie, cinnamon with a touch of acidity poking through its warm, alcoholic, chocolaty finish. Hamburgers are the ticket here. (AG-ST)
88 Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc 2011
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $33.00 winery direct, AB $35.00 fine wine shops
Cool peppery, coffee, ash, vanilla nose with prune plum, cedar, cranberry, floral aromas. Fresh, full, round, somewhat astringent attack on the palate with light tannins. Black cherry, coffee, smoky vanilla, cedar, ash, cranberry, savoury, tobacco leaf flavours. Warm, somewhat lean finish but good overall concentration but short finish. Needs 3-5 years to round out. A good effort in a tough year. Serve with grilled meat. (AG-ST)
88 Burrowing Owl Meritage 2009 Merlot - Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $45.00 winery direct, AB $50.00 fine wine shops
A true Meritage (Bordeaux blend). Look for blackberry jam, prune, coffee, tobacco aromas with cedar, vanilla, roasted bell pepper, and tomato paste aromas. Round, full, dry but somewhat tart palate. Coffee, vanilla, chocolate, tobacco, peppery, prune cherries, roasted pepper, resin, clove and cassis flavours. Solid but very oaky and warm on the finish. Best with grilled meats. (AG-ST)
88 Burrowing Owl Merlot 2010
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00 VQA wine stores, winery direct, AB $31.00 fine wine shops
Open peppery, black cherry, vanilla, smoky, saddle leather nose with bits of black olive, aromas with a minty, prune plum note. Dry, fresh, juicy palate with light, grainy tannins and black cherry, cedar, tobacco and liquorice flavours all with a light herbal, savoury note. Finish is still somewhat tart and oaky. It needs two to three years to fully integrate. (AG-ST)
89 Burrowing Owl Pinot Gris 2012
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct, AB $29.00
Back on form the 2012 is delicious. Honey, pear, light lees, citrus, baked apple, orange and vanilla aromas. Round, full, juicy, slightly sweet palate but balanced with good finesse. Grapefruit, honey, quince, red apple, mango, pear and vanilla flavours. Very good fruit intensity and balance, fine effort here. (AG-ST)
89 Burrowing Owl Syrah 2009
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $38.00 winery direct, AB $41.00 fine wine shops
Classic southern Okanagan liquorice blackberry, smoky leather with coffee, vanilla and savoury herb aromas. Dry, fresh, round, elegant palate with light tannins. Smoky herb, vanilla, licorice, chocolate, poultry spice, black olive flavours with some blackberry and tobacco leaf. Another solid effort that will benefit from 1-2 years further in bottle. (AG-ST)
88 CedarCreek Ehrenfelser 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Floral, nectarine, honey, spicy, orange and apple aromas. Fresh, juicy, off-dry palate with nectarine skin, red apple, mandarin, pear and grapefruit rind flavours. Delicious seafood white. (AG-ST)
88 CedarCreek Gewürztraminer 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 specialty listing
Spicy, peach, honey, light lychee, orange rind aromas. Fresh, round, somewhat sweet style but solid acidity. Honey, lychees, soapy floral, orange and peach flavours. Good flavours but this is quite a sweet style so plan your menu accordingly. Or serve solo well chilled. (AG-ST)
89 CedarCreek Pinot Gris 2012
British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
The Upper CedarCreek Vineyard is home to this delicious fruit picked about the same time the black bears arrive in the vineyard. Timing is everything. It's partially fermented with the wild yeast native which seems to allow the juicy peachy/orange and honey scented fruit to mesh perfectly with a dash of earth. Fine elegance in what is a delicious balanced gris for spicy foods. (AG-ST)
89 CedarCreek Platinum 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Only available at the winery this is long since sold out. In 2012 winemaker Darryl Brooker chose to harvest the 21-year-old vines much earlier than in previous years. The flavour is almost pure lemon with a touch of lime rind all set in a low alcohol, unirrigated riesling. A tribute to the Mosel Okanagan style. Fresh bright and full of tension. An electric wine that is part of the New Okanagan. The winery suggest sweet and sour pork and we couldn't agree more. (AG-ST)
88 CedarCreek Platinum Chardonnay Block 5 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Lees, vanilla, spicy, floral, maraschino, honey, baked apple, oatmeal and baked peach aromas. Fresh, dry, lean entry with green apple skin, leafy, minty, leesy, bitter grapefruit and toasted nut flavours. It seems a bit lean and reserved for the moment but will almost surely improve in the bottle over the next year. (AG-ST)
88 Clos du Soleil Fume Blanc 2012
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct
Passion fruit, pink grapefruit, light bell pepper and bubble gum aromas with a touch of nettle. Fresh, round, soft palate with a touch of sweetness. Juicy grapefruit, nettle, asparagus, gooseberry, mint and bell pepper flavours. A delicate but flavourful style that will attract many consumers. (AG-ST)
89 Clos du Soleil Grower's Series Baessler Pinot Blanc 2012
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct
They added another notch of electricity to this gorgeous pinot blanc with its juicy red apple nose and slate/pear skin aromas. The palate is watery fresh with juicy, delicate pear, citrus, honey, lees, red apple fruit flavours. The finish is long persistent and just a hint off-dry. It would be a shame to serve this without food but you could, it is that entertaining. (AG-ST)
89 Culmina Hypothesis 2011 Cabernet Franc - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $48.00 winery direct
The best first release I can remember from a local winery. Pepper, liquorice, coffee, vanilla, tobacco, cedar and violets mark its complex Bordelais nose (40/26/34 cabernet franc/merlot/cabernet sauvignon) with cranberry, meaty, black olive aromas. The attack is round, dry, and elegant, the palate fresh with some light, astringent tannins. More coffee, smoky pepper, vanilla, cassis, cranberry, black cherry flavours flecked with tobacco, orange peel and olive flavours fill out the palate and the finish. Still youthful but well-constructed. This will need another two to four years to soften the tannins. An impressive first edition with a Right Bank Bordeaux styling. (AG-ST)
88 Gray Monk Odyssey Rose Brut 2009 Gamay - Pinot Meunier
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 specialty listing
Clean fresh, aromatic cherry/raspberry, liquorice, tobacco, nutty, citrus aroma. Fresh, full, slightly foamy palate with light sweetness. More licorice, earthy, strawberry, cherry, nutty, toasty flavours. Fine textures and excellent flavours for the money. Well done. (AG-ST)
88 Harper's Trail Late Harvest Riesling Thad Springs Vineyard 2012
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 (375 ml) winery direct or private wine stores
Dessert wine under screw cap always excites me. When it is as clean and fresh as this wine is and has plenty of fruit - ripe apples and baked pear, all with a touch of crème brûlée, it may well age effortlessly for a decade. Try this with peach cobbler. (AG-ST)
88 Hester Creek The Judge 2010 Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $45.00 winery direct or private wine stores
The Judge get all the top fruit grown in Hester Creek's Golden Mile Vineyard. A mix of cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and merlot it opens with an aromatic peppery clove nose mix with black cherry and vanilla. The palate is rich and smooth with more vanilla and spicy oak dominating the fruit. Coffee, mocha and cinnamon flavours mix with spicy sweet black cherry fruit but never quite mesh. It's youthful and needs time but it remains a bit too awkward and warm to develop any real finesse. If you like big New World reds load up. (AG-ST)
88 Hillside Estate Gewürztraminer 2012
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA wine stores
Open fresh spicy floral nose with bits of smoked meat, peach, ginger and litchi fruit. The attack is juicy and with a mix of pink grapefruit, rose water and light litchi flavours flecked with nectarine skin and a touch of lemon oil. Again, a friendly juicy drink-me style. Perfect for your favourite curry. (AG)
90 Hillside Estate Merlot Hidden Valley Vineyard 2009
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $26.00 winery direct
The Hidden Valley vineyard is just that, hidden from view not far from Hillside Winery. We love the way this wine has evolved over the past four years. It is warm, rich and plummy now with glossy satin tannins and long rich textures throughout the finish. Sweet plums, figs, black cherries and a whiff of mint and sagebrush combine to make this a formidable red that would happy with a hamburger but equally up to the task of accompanying a roast of beef. The fruit is all hand harvested and fermented in two separate lots priot to ageing about a year in French and American oak. (AG)
88 Hillside Estate Merlot Reserve 2009
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Winemaker Kathy Malone has been quietly working to refocus the Hillside portfolio on the Naramata Bench where to my mind the not too hot and not too cool vineyards seem perfectly suited to merlot. The 09 reserve is quite evolved showing a rich, fruit forward style. Plenty of spice and chocolate mixed with bits of toasted oak and rich, savoury, black cherry fruit flavours and smooth textures. Dense, weighty and drinkable now it should easily improve in the bottle over the next four years. Perfect now with grilled meats, spaghetti Bolognese or chorizo pizza. (AG)
88 Hillside Estate Pinot Gris Reserve 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.00 winery direct
Bright floral, ginger, orange rind notes mark the nose. The palate has a touch of lees for texture with nectarine, ginger, guava, butter and spicy, pear flavours. More on the tighter, austere style but with fine intensity and length. Try this with a variety of seafood. (AG)
89 Hillside Merlot Gjoa Vineyard 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $26.00 winery direct
Winemaker Kathy Malone has been quietly working to refocus the Hillside portfolio to Naramata Bench fruit and to my mind the not too hot and not too cool vineyards seem perfectly suited to merlot. The Gjoa Vineyard merlot is an excellent example of what can be done in Naramata when you let the fruit and the site show through the wine. The structure is tighter and leaner with active acidity, hints of minerality and juicy, stony, red fruit flavours of spiked with plums, smoke and espresso highlights. The tannins are firm and will need three years settle in. Try it now with grilled meats. (AG)
89 Hillside Merlot Hidden Valley Vineyard 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $26.00 winery direct
Winemaker Kathy Malone has been quietly working to refocus the Hillside portfolio to Naramata Bench fruit and to my mind the not too hot and not too cool vineyards seem perfectly suited to merlot. The Hidden Valley Vineyard merlot is a much different animal then the Gjoas. The fruit here is earthy in style with that dusty, savoury character, almost a bit Rutherford-like. The tannins slightly rounder and longer with bits of black fruit, toast and coffee on the palate. Firm but with some generosity of fruit and tannins in the finish. The wood is very much now in the background for support only. T-bone steaks would be a lovely match here. (AG)
88 Howling Bluff Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2012 Sauvignon Blanc - Sémillon
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 private wine shops
The mix is 85/15 sauvignon blanc/sémillon and you sense the sauvignon upfront on the nose thanks to its pungent, passion fruit and kiwi aromas with bits of baked apple and honey. The attack is fresh with some mid-palate sweetness balanced off by some tangy orange, grassy, citrus lemon notes. Exotic and interesting, a wines first duty and capable of ageing perhaps its second job. A wonderful food style for substantial menu items. A small portion of the juice spends five months in French oak. Fine value. (AG-ST)
92 Inniskillin Okanagan Riesling Icewine 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 (200 ml) vqa stores, BCL signature stores
Super intense style with apricot, lime, floral honey aromas. On the palate it is rich and unctuous with solid underlying acidity to keep it fresh. The fruit is a mix of apricots, baked red apple and spiced honey. Rich stylish and extremely and yet with finesse and length. This is riesling icewine at its best. You can drink this now chocolate molten lava cake our cellar it for five years and allow for it to develop some complexity. (AG)
88 Intrigue Pinot Gris 2012
Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.00 winery direct, VQA stores, private wine shops
Restrained cool citrus, guava with a touch of quince. The attack is dry and food friendly firm with earthy citrus, honey notes and a medium length, and now a bit drier and crisper in the finish. Made for clams or crab or serve well-chilled on the patio with appetizers. (AG-ST)
90 Joie A Noble Blend 2012 Riesling - Gewurztraminer - Pinot Blanc - Pinot Auxerrois - Schoenberger
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $24.00 winery direct, private wine shops, ON $34.00
Another repeat performance from Michael and Heidi that has to be rewarding for them. The 2012 puts gewürztraminer back in the lead at 35 percent followed by 29/17/12/4/3/ riesling/pinot blanc/pinot auxerrois/schönburger and now muscat. It's the juicy aromatic style that is so attractive, spice guava, ginger and tangerine set the tone for unlimited food matching. Don't change anything. (AG-ST)
88 Joie Muscat The Pure Grape (v) 2012
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $23.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Another intense aromatic muscat with bits of soap mixed though its floral, ginger, peppery nose. The attack is nervy with citrus, lime rind, lemon peel, nectarine skin notes and a long persistent finish. There's touch of residual sugar suggesting spicy food could be an excellent match. Kudos to the moderate 11.5 percent alcohol. (AG-ST)
88 Joie Pinot Blanc 2012
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $23.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Fresh pear, green apple, grapefruit, light lees aromas with a floral note. Fresh, crisp, juicy, creamy, slightly sweet palate with canned pear, grapefruit, granny smith, honey and green mango flavours. Zippy, floral but balanced style that is fun to sip. Try it with halibut and fruit salsa. (AG-ST)
88 JoieFarm En Famille Reserve Gewurztraminer 2011
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $28.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Light honey, peach, spicy, citrus, ginger and light lychee aromas. Full, round, elegant, soft palate with some creaminess. Baked apple, citrus, lees, honey, rose water flavours. A bit soft and warm on the finish but has good intensity and persistence. (AG-ST)
89 Lake Breeze Pinot Blanc 2012
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA stores, private liquor stores
Pinot Blanc is in good hand at Lake Breeze. Super fresh and clean under screwcap winemaker Garron Elmes simply captures the essence of this variety and gets it into the bottle. The 2012 has wonderful ripe red apple aromas and flavours with fresh flecks of pear, citrus and honey and just a hint of minerality in the finish. Perfect for halibut or even crab cakes. Good value. (AG-ST)
89 Lake Breeze Semillon 2012
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
I'm guessing this wine isn't for everyone which is fine by me because I would like to buy more of it. Love the nettle, weedy, grassy undertones that support the zesty mix of grapefruit, white flowers and jalapeno notes. The attack is dry but juicy with pink grapefruit and gooseberry flavours that persist throughout its long finish. Delicious acidity and sugar balance in the finish. Bravo. (AG-ST)
88 Lake Breeze Seven Poplars Merlot 2010
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $26.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Open, aromatic, fragrant herbal, spicy, medicine chest-scented nose with subtle oak and black cherry notes. The palate is fresh with bright acidity, pepper, liquorice, black fruits and cedar with a dollop of oak and heat. Try this with grilled steaks for the moment or wait two years for it to round into shape in the bottle. (AG-ST)
88 Lake Breeze Winemaker Series Viognier 2012
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.00 winery direct
The latest by winemaker Garron Elmes from the new Winemaker Series. This viognier is off-dry with a peachy/floral nose and juicy, fresh mid-palate. The flavour is a lemon squeezed on a green apple skin covered apricot. Lobster, grilled squid in olive oil or even a spicy Hamachi sushi would be perfect. Available direct from the winery. (AG-ST)
88 LaStella Fortissimo Selezione di Famiglia 2010 Merlot - Cab Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon - Sangiovese
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 winery direct
Cranberry, black cherry, coffee, vanilla, tobacco leaf, black olive, savoury, celery salt and roast pepper aromas. Dry, round, fresh, slightly tannic palate. Cassis, prune, cranberry, smoky, resin, espresso, tobacco, compost, black olive flavours. The finish is a touch cedar-y and astringent but offers solid finesse for the vintage. Needs 2-4 years in the bottle to reach its peak. (AG-ST)
88 Laughing Stock Vineyards Blind Trust White +09/10 2012 Pinot Gris - Pinot Blanc
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.10 winery direct
Delicate light vanilla, spicy lees, butter, grapefruit, grassy, pear, quince aromas. Fresh, juicy, elegant palate with grapefruit, grassy, pear, honey, light butter flavours with a vanilla, green apple finish. A bit austere but like the gris will benefit from another year in bottle to fully develop. (AG-ST)
90 Laughing Stock Vineyards Syrah+28/10 2011 Syrah - Viognier
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $34.00 winery direct
Big spicy, floral, coffee, chocolate, liquorice, poultry spice nose flecked with gingerbread and meaty, blackberry jam, soy and roasted tomato aromas. Round, smooth, suave, fresh style with light tannins and some warmth. Coffee, vanilla, tobacco, celery salt, poultry spice, gingerbread, sausage meat, tomato paste and liquorice flavours. Solid fruit and intensity but with a fair amount of youthful oak. Best t cellar for three to five years or serve now with grilled lamb. (AG-ST)
89 Le Vieux Pin Syrah Cuve Violette 2011
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00 winery direct
Big peppery, celery salt, savoury, sausage meat, black cherry, liquorice, earthy, tobacco aromas. Round, dry, elegant, attractive lean palate with some young tannins. Coffee, peppery, sausage meat, resin, tobacco, sage, poultry spice, liquorice and black cherry flavours. Good complexity and fruit, just needs bit more mid-palate and finish to reach the next level. Try this with grill lamb chops on the barbecue. (AG-ST)
Written By: ag
