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88 8th Generation Vineyard Riesling 2006 Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBC $21.50Light matchstick, lees nose with mineral, butter, peach, citrus, apricot flower and honey aromas.
88 8th Generation Vineyard Riesling 2006
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $21.50
Light matchstick, lees nose with mineral, butter, peach, citrus, apricot flower and honey aromas. Fresh, round, elegant palate with crisp, zesty acidity and just a hint of sweetness. Green apple, lime, mineral, grapefruit, nectarine flavours with a light nutty, granny smith finish. Very solid styling, should improve in bottle. Needs a bit of air but otherwise well done. (AG-ST)
87 Barcello Canyon Pinot Diablo 2006
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 VQA wine stores
Minty, stewed cherry, riparian, tobacco, leather, pruny, spicy nose. Round, lightly sweet palate with peppery, pruny, rancio, tobacco leaf, and stewed plum and rhubarb flavours. Good intensity and fruit but tannic and will need a few years to soften. Try with cheese and nuts. (AG-ST)
87 Black Hills Chardonnay 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $32.00 winery direct and private wine shops
Leesy, garlic, vanilla, butter, nutty, baked apple nose. Round, dry, slightly fat entry but decent acidity. Nutty, lees, garlic, green apple skin flavours with a slightly oily, bitter citrus rind finish. Solid if leesy and warm. (AG-ST)
88 Blasted Church Chardonnay Musqué 2007
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 winery direct, vqa and private wine stores
Floral, green apple, pear, citrus, mineral, matchstick, light vanilla and lees with a spicy, muscat streak. Crisp, round, fresh, zesty palate with lime, muscat, nectarine skin, butter, mineral, floral flavours. Delicious, well made chardonnay under screw cap. (AG-ST)
87 Blasted Church Hatfield's Fuse 2007 Optima - Perle of Casaba - Chasselas - Pinot Gris
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.00 winery direct, vqa and private wine stores, AB $24.00 private wine shops
A return to the fresh juicy aromatic style with bits of mineral, green apple and citrus work for me. The attack is fresh with hints of fruit salad and green apple and lime rind. A perfect wine for barbecued spareribs or sipping solo on the patio. (AG-ST)
90 Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc 2006
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $33.00 winery direct
Savoury, earthy, tobacco, cedar bark, chocolate, ash, peppery, cherry, dried cranberry aromas. Dry, round, slightly tannic palate but well balanced. Smoky, tobacco leaf, cranberry, chocolate, peppery, orange peel, savoury, sweaty saddle, cigar and cedar flavours. Finish is dry, slightly tart and tannic, needs a few years in bottle to soften. (AG-ST)
87 Burrowing Owl Merlot 2006
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 Winery Only
Peppery, smoky, savoury, vanilla, coffee, menthol, rooty, meaty, cooked carrot aromas. Dry, round, supple but tight tannins. Tart entry with smoky, chocolate, coffee, black olive, resin, earthy, cedar, and tobacco leaf flavours with some green tea tannins on the finish. A bit disjointed. (AG-ST)
87 Burrowing Owl Pinot Gris 2007
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct
Fresh light fruity nose with floral, honey, lime rind notes. The entry is ripe juicy mineral red apple, tangerine rind and honey flavours. The finish is crisp and clean if just a bit off-dry. Well made and food friendly. (AG-ST)
88 Burrowing Owl Syrah 2006
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $38.00 winery direct
Big spicy, black berry jam, peppery, smoky nose with bits of coffee and vanilla. The entry is dry and tannic, the style chunky style with a touch of volatility. The flavours are a mix of black berry, black cherry, tobacco, earthy, vanilla, tobacco and roasted pepper. Very hot (alcoholic) and extracted but give it some time in bottle and it should come around in 2010. (AG-ST)
87 CedarCreek Classic Series Chardonnay 2006
British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.00 specialty listing
Bright pear and ripe red apple nose with bits of citrus and mineral and creamy lees. The entry is crisp and fresh with buttery, citrus, green apple fruit with a dusting of dried herbs. A simple straight-up cool-style B.C chardonnay that finishes with just a touch of bitterness. Solid. (AG-ST)
88 CedarCreek Classic Series Merlot 2006
British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 specialty listing
Merlot took a big hit in Sideways and for good reason, but Miles wasn't drinking Northwest merlot and certainly not this one. Big and open with higher toned spicy fruit pudding with vanilla and black cherries. Bordeaux with fruit, cedar, pencil lead and a firm, dry, ripe finish. Delicious, well made merlot. (AG-ST)
88 CedarCreek Dry Riesling 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Another delicious effort from winemaker Tom Di Bello. A reasonably late pick from October 27 to 31, off the home block in Kelowna and Mannhardt Vineyard on the Westside near Kelowna, gives the wine a bright almost crunchy fruit flavour with plenty of zippy acidity and minerality. Just off-dry look in the mouth look for delicious peach and pineapple fruit with flecks of orange. Bottled with a synthetic cork. Buy this one by the case. (AG-ST)
87 CedarCreek Estate Select Pinot Gris 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 VQA wine shops
Open spicy fennel seed nose with a dusting of hazelnuts and lees. The entry is dry, the mid-palate lean with good acidity and dry, earthy, citrus fruit flavours. Without the honey and sweet characters it is more of a food style gris than a summer sipper. Well made. (AG-ST)
88 CedarCreek Estate Select Pinot Noir 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $27.00 winery direct, BC Liquor stores, VQA and private wine shops
A big jump in quality here over last year. Love the juicy fruit and five spice aromas and the sweet black cherry pinot fruit entry. Warm and dry on entry, the palate is fresh and balanced with delicious fruit flavours and no dryness or bitterness in the finish. Bring on the salmon. Well done. (AG-ST)
89 CedarCreek Estate Select Syrah 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 specialty listing
It's been a couple of years since I've tasted this label. The 03 was an excellent first effort and the '05 was a big winner at the Canadian Wine Awards. The '06 nose is rich and spicy with fragrant savoury sweet peppery aromas and flavours laced with chocolate and gamey meaty undertones. All soft and slippery it finishes dry. Impressive and hard to believe you can pick some up at select government stores. You best hurry. Terrific wine. (AG-ST)
88 CedarCreek Gewurztraminer 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
CedarCreek winemaker Tom Di Bello cold-ferments his gewürztraminer in stainless steel before finishing it just off-dry. Look for a fresh, spicy style with lychee fruit and orange notes and just enough citrus to keep the wine interesting through the finish. A great patio sipper or wine you can serve with a variety of spicy Asian or Indian dishes. (AG-ST)
91 CedarCreek Merlot Platinum Reserve 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $40.00 specialty listing, winery direct
Winemaker Tom Di Bello absolutely nailed merlot in 2006 as evidenced by this delicious unfiltered offering that is mixed with 3.7 per cent each of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. Twenty months in French oak has delivered an elegant expression of this soft grape in a true cool-climate Bordelais style. The result is a super rich cedar-y, red that is steeped in spicy, plummy, black cherry/blueberry fruit, with flecks of chocolate, vanilla, mineral with a touch of that elusive orange peel. (AG-ST)
88 Church & State Chardonnay Gravelbourg Vineyard 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct and private wine shops
Made for the longer haul the steeped sloped C&S Gravelbourg Vineyard lies midway up the Black Sage Bench. Winemaker Bill Dyer blends two clones, 96 and 76 to shape this chardonnay. Less of that malolactic buttery character helps to reveal a spicy fruit nose with bright flavours of melon, green apple and citrus. Restrained stylish cool climate chardonnay that reflects its origins. (AG-ST)
87 Church & State Gewurztraminer 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
This is the first C&S gewürztraminer we have tasted. It's perfectly correct with a bright and fresh fruit nose. Bits of orange and spice preview a dry bitter lime rind palate and finish. Clean tight and fresh it's the perfect mid-week white for Indian food. (AG-ST)
87 Church & State Merlot Coyote Bowl 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 winery direct and private wine shops
This is one hundred percent merlot from Coyote Bowl. The nose is an interesting mix of orange peel and leather coffee and spicy tobacco leaf with a form dose of sweet oak. On the palate more mocha coffee tobacco earth flavours with a big round soft finish with bits of berry and chocolate. Warm and youthful; this needs some time to settle down. (AG-ST)
88 Church & State Quintessential 2005 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Malbec - Cab Franc - Petit Verdot
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $50.00 winery direct and private wine shops
Quintessential is a mix of all five Bordeaux varieties in this case assembled by wine maker Bill Dyer. We had our first brief glimpse in May and will reserve final judgement until we have tried it again. It has all the Dyer hallmarks. Ripe round and elegant with fine acidity and freshness. Liquorice and black fruit with a touch of smoke and oak carry the current palate. Looks to have fine potential in the years to come. A fine start. (AG-ST)
87 Church & State Syrah Coyote Bowl 2006
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $26.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Coyote Bowl Vineyard is located along Oliver's sandy loam Black Sage Bench where its Western edge forms a bowl that drops some 300 feet to a pasture below. Look for a well structured syrah with spicy sweet fruit with a definite sausage meat and liquorice character and a dusting of bench sage. Young and tight but should be fine with a year or two of extra bottle age. Promising. (AG-ST)
87 Crowsnest Gewurztraminer 2007
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $13.43 VQA Wine Stores
Classic gewürztraminer nose with floral, spicy, fruity nose streaked with the scent of charcuterie. The entry is fresh and sweet with honey, nectarine skin and floral fruit flavours. The finish is long and dry in the Alsace mode. This is an excellent food for spicy pan-Asian dishes. (AG-ST)
87 Crowsnest Riesling 2007
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 VQA wine stores
Green apple, peach skin, floral, guava, grassy aromas with a slight bread-y note. Fresh, round, soft entry with some mid-palate sweetness. Bready, guava, leesy, red apple, peach and honey flavours. More suitable for spicy Indian food or with fruit. (AG-ST)
95 Elephant Island Orchard Wines Fortified Framboise 2007
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.00 (375 ml) winery direct, private wine shops
Deep dark raspberry cherry colour. Incredibly intense fresh raspberry nose with fresh jam, minty, spicy notes. Ripe, round, rich, fresh, somewhat sweet style with good acidity but a tad warm. Again, incredibly intense raspberry/black raspberry, minty, mineral flavours. No lack of intensity here, try on ice cream or chocolate or as a kir. First class. (AG-ST)
88 Ganton & Larson Prospect Winery Larch Tree Hill Riesling 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.00 speculative listing - Mark Anthony Brands
This was bit of a shocker for me if only because it's rare to encounter so much fruit, minerality and freshness in a B.C. riesling that is balanced to boot. This is another benchmark wine that proves we can grow this variety and make it well. A blend of three sites from south, central and north Okanagan its peachy, lime fruit and fresh aromatic style makes this a winner. The price is a bonus. Stock up. (AG-ST)
89 Granite Creek Ehrenfelser 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.90 winery direct
Floral rose petal, ripe peach, plasticene, orange aromas. Full, round, sweet palate with medium acidity. Oily with orange, apricot, baked pear, mineral, rose flavours. Somewhat fat and heavy but with fine fruit intensity. (AG-ST)
88 Gray Monk Kerner Late Harvest 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $16.49 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Floral, matchstick, orange, mango, green apple aromas. Fresh, round, delicate palate with good acidity. Juicy green apple, orange, nectarine, mineral flavours. Good sipper or for Asian food or fruit. (AG-ST)
87 Gray Monk Riesling 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $15.49 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Open floral, green apple skin, grapefruit rind, and spicy sausage aromas with a touch of grass. Fresh, tart palate with light sweetness. Lots of grapefruit rind, green apple, lime, mineral and sausage flavours. Well balanced but the sweaty grapefruit rind is a bit dominant. (AG-ST)
88 Herder Chardonnay 2007
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct
Super fresh nose of nectarine skin with bits of citrus and dusty minerality. The entry as suggested is fresh with tight acidity and structure, green apple fruit with flecks of grapefruit and mango. Reserved lean-ish, cool-climate fruit that hits the spot. Should be very good with seafood. (AG-ST)
88 Herder Josephine 2006 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $39.90 speculative listing - Landmark Selections
Huge smoky, espresso oak, vanilla nose with floral, plum, tobacco leaf, green olive, savoury, spicy notes. Dry, somewhat tannic, hard entry with a fair bit of acidity. Dried herbs, espresso, vanilla, tobacco leaf, cranberry, minty, black olive, resiny, licorice flavours with a bit of smoky roasted tomato, floral and cherry on the finish. A touch bitter, herbal and tannic but has good concentration. Give it 2-4 years. (AG-ST)
87 Herder Merlot Bellamy Vineyards 2006
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $34.90 speculative listing - Landmark Selections
Smoky, spicy, peppery, tobacco leaf, light tomato, herbal, olive, cherry nose with a light floral and coffee vanilla note. Round, dry, slightly tight tannin palate but good body. Coffee, vanilla, tobacco leaf, green olive, cherry, cranberry, rooty, meaty flavours. Warm, somewhat tight finish. Needs a few years to soften, just a bit on the herbaceous, oaky side. (AG-ST)
89 Herder Pinot Gris 2007
British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct
An un-oaked blend of fruit from the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys that delivers on all fronts. Look for fresh, honey/citrus aromas and flavours in what is a lively gris with plenty of minerality. A fresh lip-smacking style with bits of fresh bread and citrus in its balanced finish. Very well done. (AG-ST)
88 Hester Creek Pinot Gris 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 speculative listing - Peacock and Martin
Floral, spicy, green apple, pear, nectarine skin aromas. Round, fresh, elegant style with citrus, nectarine, pear skin, mineral, spicy, ginger flavours. A touch sweet and sour but good fruit intensity and balance. Well done. (AG-ST)
87 Inniskillin Okanagan Chardonnay Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 specialty listing
This wine always has fine chardonnay character mixing notes of green apples with peaches with just a touch of butter. The style is now a bit old fashioned, less oak would no doubt be a plus and it needs to get to market just a bit earlier. Still many will like this style and if served with a whole roasted chicken it will be hit. (AG-ST)
87 Inniskillin Okanagan Pinot Blanc Inkameep Vineyard 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 specialty listing
Floral honey-scented red apple nose with a dusting of grapefruit. Fresh round and a bit rind-y on entry with a touch of heat. On the palate it is warm with spicy, green apple skin, citrus and grassy flavours. The finish is clean if a bit dry. (AG)
87 Inniskillin Okanagan Pinot Grigio 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $0.00 specialty listing, private wine shops
Typical this grigio is fresh and friendly up front floral, orange blossom notes. The entry is clean with a slightly sweet and sour, lime and lemon flavour with bits of apple, citrus, mineral and almonds. The finish is dry with a touch of citrus rind in the finish. (AG)
92 Jackson-Triggs Shiraz SunRock Vineyard 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 specialty listing, winery direct
The grapes for this single vineyard wine are plucked from a warm, southwest facing slope that literally nestle under a rock face that, most days, sits in the warm Okanagan sun some 200 feet above Lake Osoyoos. White pepper dominates the nose along with black almost meaty fruit across the palate. The fruit is bright and rich, the palate vibrant; the textures glossy. Bravo south Okanagan. (AG)
89 Joie Muscat 2007
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.90 winery direct, private wine shops
A carbon copy of the last year's model is good news for consumers. The concept is Northern Italian muscat with its aromatic sweet nose and dry flavours. The palate is pure and grapy with a perfect dose of acidity. Good luck finding this wine, I'm sure restaurants are the only place to find it at this point. Bravo. (AG-ST)
87 Joie Rosé 2007 Pinot Noir - Gamay - Pinot Gris - Pinot Meunier
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.90 winery direct, vqa wine stores
Another winner from Joie. The product of a long slow ferment and 10.2 grams of residual sugar that is added in the form of sweet reserve to lush out the mid-palate and balance the acidity and spice. The fruit is bright and lively the way it should be. A well-made versatile, local, pink that is well priced. (AG-ST)
89 Lake Breeze Gewurztraminer 2007
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Last year's LB gewürztraminer was very impressive and the latest version is equally well made. The fruit is bright and well balanced with a creamy well blanced palate. No bitter notes and no soapiness make this a refreshing but sophisticated white with tasty mineral notes and peachy, floral flavours. Food and patio- friendly. Buy this one by the case. (AG-ST)
88 Lake Breeze Pinot Gris 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Bright fresh floral, spicy, pear, citrus, butter, red apple aromas. Round, fresh, slightly sweet, fat palate. Delicious red apple, citrus, butter, pear, strawberry, mineral and grapefruit flavours. Good fruit and intensity. Textbook B.C. gris and one to follow. (AG-ST)
89 Lake Breeze Seven Poplars Chardonnay 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.99 winery direct, VQA wine shops
The new '06 is every bit as good as the previous edition. The nose is an enticing mix of peach, honey, floral, nutty notes while on the palate the wine a touch sweet but elegant. and with some mid-palate fat and flavours of citrus lees mango and spicy, butterscotch. It's also better balanced than the 05. (AG-ST)
88 Laughing Stock Vineyards Pinot Gris 2007
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct
The LFNG gris is a big fruit bomb drenched in honey/pear and ripe orange fruit. A dusting of one year old oak and plenty of lees adds complexity to the finish. Big and different it could be an attractive wine with Indian food or other rich spicy offerings. (AG-ST)
90 Laughing Stock Vineyards Portfolio 2006 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Malbec - Cab Franc - Petit Verdot
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $38.90 winery direct
As I mentioned last year, it is usually the latest edition of Portfolio that is the best and the reasons are simple: older vineyards, more vineyard ownership, and more experience in the winery. Winemaker David Enns has made big strides of late shaping the tannins and texture of his flagship red. The out-with-green-and-in-with-the gloss continues and the result is a better wine. Enns uses the five classic Bordeaux grapes in a 61/16/16/2/1/ mix of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec, petit verdot to shape a very solid wine. Love the ripe black fruit and the savoury mint and the rich textures. The finish is the best yet. Aged in 40 per cent new French oak; the remainder is one and two year old wood from a variety of coopers. Well done. Sensible price too. (AG-ST)
89 Meyer Family Chardonnay Micro Cuvée 2006
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $65.00
Light yellow colour with buttery, spicy lees, creamy, floral, peach skin, baked pear, vanilla aromas. Round, dry, somewhat delicate palate with nutty lees, spicy, citrus, buttery, baked green apple skin, mineral flavours. Finish is dry and slightly tart with lots of butter and lemon. Good effort but needs a bit more mid-palate concentration to lend more texture. (AG-ST)
88 Meyer Family Tribute Series Chardonnay 2006
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00
Vanilla, lees, peach, buttery, baked apple nose. Round, slightly sweet, somewhat hot and bitter palate with green apple, citrus, light lees, butter and peach pit flavours. Fairly elegant style with decent acidity but lacks the concentration of a great wine perhaps due to simply too much new oak. A solid start. (AG-ST)
88 Mission Hill Chardonnay Reserve 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct
Darkish yellow orange for such a young wine. Peach, butter, pineapple, vanilla, mango, pear and baked apple aromas. Round, fresh, elegant and crisp with some fatness on the palate. Buttery, tangerine, pineapple, vanilla, spicy lees, grapefruit rind flavours with some green apple skin and ginger spice on the slightly bitter finish. Good effort if a bit warm but fresh. (AG-ST)
91 Mission Hill Oculus 2005 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc - P.Verdot
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $70.00 winery direct
The latest Oculus continues down the path of richer, softer textures while eliminating almost all green aspects. We like the '05 and its spicy, peppery, chocolate nose laced with vanilla, black olive, tobacco leaf, coriander, cassis and cherry aromas. The palate is dry and elegant, and yes young and tight but in time this will dissipate. More cedar, tobacco leaf, cassis, orange peel, vanilla, coffee, green olive and licorice flavours mark the palate with a bit of cardamom and coriander on the finish. There is fine finesse in what is the best Oculus yet. Cellar for 3-5 years and beyond for best results. (AG-ST)
91 Mission Hill Perpetua Chardonnay Osoyoos Vineyard Estate 2006
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $33.00 winery direct, private wine shops
The MHFE top of the line chardonnay has an enticing orange, lime, green apple, vanilla, creamy lees nose with flecks of nectarine and light buttery aromas. Crisp, round and fresh on the palate it mixes lime and grapefruit with creamy vanilla, green apple skin, peach and butter flavours with a nutty, toasty lees on the finish. Good intensity and crispness with lots of citrus. Needs a year or 2 in bottle to fully develop but a very fine effort to start. (AG-ST)
88 Mission Hill Pinot Gris Reserve 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 specialty listing, vqa and private wine shops, AB $19.25 fine wine shops
More or less a carbon copy of the '05 with its fresh, crisp, lemony demeanour. The entry is lip-smacking fresh with northern Italian honeyed grapefruit, green apple mineral tones mixed with some creamy mid-palate textures. A touch less dry, or conversely fruitier than the previous version which I'm sure will be welcomed by most sippers. Made for B.C coastal food. Well done. (AG-ST)
92 Mission Hill Quatrain 2005 Merlot - Syrah - Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $48.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Open fragrant, savoury, mint, black cherry nose with licorice, meaty, tobacco and sandalwood notes. Rich, round, supple, elegant and full palate with more coffee, vanilla, peppery, licorice, black cherry jam, black berry, tobacco and orange flavours. Very spicy, warm black olive finish with some light tannins to shed. Nice textures and intensity, should improve over the next 2-5 years. (AG-ST)
88 Mission Hill S.L.C. Chardonnay 2006
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $27.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops, AB $30.00 fine wine boutiques, ON $28.00
Very similar to the 2004 in our estimation with its buttery, nutty oily citrus peel nose and flavours with underlying lees and vanilla. The fruit is fairly tight with bright green apple notes, minerality and harder oak notes that will likely appeal to Old World aficionados and maybe less with New World sippers. A cool style that is more in the French camp than say the cool examples from the coast of California or Chile. Creamy fish dishes should help reveal its best side. (AG-ST)
89 Mission Hill S.L.C. Merlot 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 winery direct, private wine shops
The latest S.L.C. merlot has slightly smoother textures than previous editions but remains long on French oak, coffee grounds and cool peppery spicy notes. The palate is firm and dry with more minty garrigue notes mixed with coffee, black cherries and cedar and cocoa powder. The finish is long and showing some youthful dry tannins. This still needs time to soften and let the fruit shine. Should be perfect with lamb shanks. (AG-ST)
93 Mission Hill S.L.C. Riesling Icewine 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $79.99 winery direct and private wine shops, AB $59.95 fine wine boutiques
Pear, light apricot, orange, butter, green apple, grassy floral aromas. Round, elegant, crisp and fresh palate that is sweet but not cloying with tart acidity. Granny smith, pear skin, orange, lime, apricot, butter and peach skin flavours. Good finesse and elegance if a tad warm in the finish. (AG-ST)
91 Mission Hill S.L.C. Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2006 Sauvignon Blanc - Sémillon
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $27.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops, AB $30.00 fine wine boutiques
The best SLC blend we have tasted. This sauvignon blanc sémillon blend is not meant to be an ode to Bordeaux but rather to the ambitious New Zealand sauvignon. Kiwi winemaker John Simes has tweaked this blend to perfection from its bright grapefruit/green melon nose to its rich, smoky, gooseberry, vanilla, lees flavours. Very complex and inviting with taut crisp styling. Good value. (AG-ST)
88 Mission Hill Sauvignon Blanc Five Vineyards 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $16.00 specialty listing, AB $14.99, MB $11.99, ON $15.95, SK $13.98
Now a solid workhorse in a slim B.C. category. Fresh and clean and zippy as you would expect with bits of kiwi fruit, pear, gooseberry herbal aromas and flavours. The latest edition is creamier which is a nice offset to the lime rind and mineral flecks in the finish. Think white meats, white sauces, white fish and this white wine. Bag the cork please. (AG)
87 Nk'Mip Cellars Chardonnay 2007
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.00 specialty listing, vqa and private stores, winery direct, AB $25.00 private wine shops, MB $16.00
Clean bright fresh nose with aromas of ripe pears bits of honey and nectarine skin. Similarly the entry is clean and crisp with honey, pear, citrus and mineral flavours with just a touch of softness at the back end. An attractive style of chardonnay for current drinking. (AG)
89 Nk'Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay 2006
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 specialty listing, vqa and private stores, winery direct
Buttery, floral, baked peach, vanilla, leesy, spicy, nutty aromas. Dry, round, soft, supple palate with butter, lees, nutty, baked pear, smoky, citrus flavours. Good balance if a touch soft. Light oily texture with some finesse makes this a solid effort. (AG)
88 Nk'Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Merlot 2005
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 specialty listing, vqa and private stores, winery direct
Big smoky, coffee oak with tobacco, cherry, savoury, spicy, black olive aromas and a light rubbery mercaptan note underneath. Rich, round, fatter style with supple tannins. Smoky, coffee, vanilla, licorice, black cherry, tobacco leaf, Christmas cake flavours. Warm, round finish with some length. Should improve over the next 1-3 years. (AG-ST)
87 Nk'Mip Cellars Riesling 2007
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.09 winery direct, vqa wine stores
Another year and another pleasant well made riesling from winemaker Randy Picton. Look for tell tale honey notes throughout the bright green apple and peachy fruit that finishes with a touch of sweetness and minerality. Perfect for a Satay. (AG)
90 Quails' Gate Chardonnay Family Reserve 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $29.99 winery direct, vqa wine stores
Citrus, green apple, garlic lees, vanilla, butter, pear aromas. Round, full, somewhat oily texture and warm but good acidity. Baked apple, leesy, buttery, spicy, nutty, citrus flavours. Good concentration and flavour intensity despite the very warm, oily, buttery finish. Good solid style akin to Corton Charlemagne. A bit less butter and oil and more acid minerality would make it shine. (AG-ST)
87 Red Rooster Riesling 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $15.99 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops, AB $17.99
Red apple, lime, floral, peach, honey aromas. Fresh, round, elegant palate on the sweeter side with moderate acidity. Lime, peach, honey, mineral, slightly buttery flavours. Finish is solid but less alcohol and less sugar would help this wine express its fruit better. (AG-ST)
82 Rigamarole Red 2006 Gamay - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $16.00 specialty listing
Edition two tastes like edition one. Green tobacco leaf, cedar bark, herbaceous, sappy nose. Dry, tart, soft palate with green herbal, leafy, tobacco, menthol flavours. Not worth the rigamarole of pulling the cork. (AG-ST)
84 Rigamarole Rosé 2007 Gamay - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $16.00 speculative listing - Mark Anthony Brands
A somewhat light pink cranberry colour previews a simple sweet style rosé. Sweet juicy strawberry fruit flavours finish with bits of bitter citrus rind, candied apple and resin. Lacks verve and freshness for a rosé. (AG-ST)
86 Rigamarole Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $16.00 specialty listing
Open aromatic herbaceous nose with bits of grapefruit and grass. The attack is soft the fruit ripe to the point of sweet. It flattens out on the palate perhaps to appeal to the aperitif crowd still waiting for food. I supposed it fits the rigamarole definition with its confusing dry aromatic nose and sweet soft palate. (AG-ST)
86 Rigamarole White 2007 Riesling - Gewurztraminer
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $16.00 specialty listing
Nice improvement over last year showing more minerality and floral notes with bits of spicy, honeyed fruit. The palate is fresh with peachy, honeysuckle and a touch of candied fruit all with an oily slightly sweet finish. The blend is a mix of riesling, gewürztraminer and a couple of secret "tank ends." Poultry veal and heavier fish dishes should work here. (AG-ST)
84 Road 13 Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $28.00 winery direct and private wine shops
Green olive, briny, peppery, tobacco leaf, herbal, minty, floral, coffee aromas. Dry, slightly tart, light bodied with some light, edgy tannins. Coffee, green cassis, green olive, resin, bitter green, menthol, rooty flavours. Somewhat green and bitter on the finish. Underripe. (AG-ST)
87 Road 13 Chardonnay 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct, vqa and private wine stores
Citrus, butter, vanilla, light lees, mineral, green apple skin, grapefruit aromas. Dry, round, elegant, fresh palate with vanilla, lees, butter, green apple skin, peach fuzz with a light diacetyl, rind-y finish. Good solid effort if a bit overly buttery. (AG-ST)
88 Road 13 Jackpot Chardonnay 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 winery direct, vqa and private wine stores
Spicy, buttery, clove, lees, vanilla, baked apple, citrus aromas. Round, elegant, dry palate if a touch flat. Buttery, vanilla, lemon oil, spicy, clove, pear and baked apple flavours. Good fruit and balance but the oak and butter are somewhat dominant at this point. (AG-ST)
88 Road 13 Jackpot Pinot Noir 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 winery direct, vqa and private wine stores
Spicy, cranberry, smoky, vanilla, cherry, tobacco leaf, coffee aromas. Dry, round, elegant palate but forward. Spicy, celery root, smoky, vanilla, cherry, strawberry jam, tobacco leaf flavours. Good solid effort with some finesse. (AG-ST)
87 Road 13 Jackpot Viognier 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00 winery direct, vqa and private wine stores
Light ginger, honey, spicy, floral, light buttery lees aromas. Round, fresh, moderately dry, elegant palate with a slightly oily edge. Buttery, light lees, honey, cooked ginger, spicy, mineral, nectarine skin flavours. Crisp finish and spiciness will allow this to match well with Indian food. (AG-ST)
88 Road 13 Merlot 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $24.00 winery direct and private wine shops
Smoky, vanilla, cherry, coffee, tobacco, chocolate, menthol, cedar aromas with a spicy, peppery edge. Dry, round, supple palate with light, grainy tannins. Full coffee, cedar, tobacco, peppery, cherry, vanilla, smoky, menthol, mineral, stony flavours. Good solid effort that has the ability to age 2-4 years. (AG-ST)
88 Road 13 Riesling 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Green apple, floral, lees, peach pit, light Vaseline, slate aromas with a touch of anise. Fresh, round, crisp palate with good elegance. Apricot, honey, green apple skin, lees, slate and orange flavours. Good fruit complexity in a somewhat more austere style. Good length but best with food. (AG-ST)
88 Sandhill Pinot Gris King Family Vineyard 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 specialty listing, AB $20.00 private wine shops, MB $17.00
A fine follow up to last year's excellent release once again boasting bright, Naramata, King Family Vineyard fruit. Fresh and lively, it has a grassy, nutty, lemon lime palate that persists from front to back. On the palate more mineral, green apple skin and nutty citrus notes carry it through the finish. Delicious. (AG)
90 Sandhill Small Lots Program Syrah Phantom Creek Vineyard 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 winery, private wine shops
After some wavering in the last vintage the '06 Phantom Creek Syrah is back on track with its rich savoury, roasted pepper, black cherry nose flecked with vanilla, tobacco and sage aromas. It has a ripe, round, supple, forward style with cool black cherry, tobacco, savoury flavours with bits of vanilla, liquorice and sausage meat. Very fine, cool-style syrah with just a bit of heat on the finish. Finest effort from here to date and well done. (AG)
88 Sandhill Small Lots Program Three Sandhill Estate Vineyard 2005 Sangiovese - Barbera - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 winery direct and private wine shops
The latest Howard Soon Italian fling is rich and warm with big plummy fruit and showy oak and lots of spicy, savoury, gamey aromas. The entry is dry and warm followed by smoky, cherry, peppery, cassis flavours with more dry roasted coffee beans in the finish. (AG)
87 Sandhill Small Lots Program Viognier Osprey Vineyard 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 Granville Island Brewing Retail Store; or www.sandhill.ca
Honey, floral, perfumy, waxy, leesy, butter, ginger aromas. Round, full, riper style but a bit soft. Soapy floral, spicy, lemon oil, ginger, honey, buttery, grassy flavours. Good solid styling and effort. (AG)
87 Sandhill Syrah Sandhill Estate Vineyard 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery, private wine shops, AB $22.00 private wine shops
Spicy, peppery, meaty, sage, black berry, vanilla, coffee aromas. Hot, round, fresh, somewhat tart palate with light tannins. Lots of smoky, sage, meaty, peppery, tobacco, vanilla, cinnamon, resin, tobacco leaf flavours. Less oak than the small lots with some tannins to shed over the next few years. Should improve but needs food. (AG)
88 See Ya Later Ranch Chardonnay 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00, AB $19.00 private wine shops
Vanilla, buttery, diacetyl, peach, flora, citrus, spicy lees aromas. Soft, round, dry and crisp but a bit lean and oily. Big buttery, diacetyl, peach, green apple skin, leesy, vanilla flavours with a tropical, cooked peach finish. Decent acidity but shows some bitterness and very oaky. (ST)
90 See Ya Later Ranch Ehrenfelser Icewine 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 (200 ml) VQA wine stores
Very floral, spicy, orange, ripe peach baked green apple aromas. Fresh, fat, round, elegant style with moderate acidity. Nalgene, baked green apple, floral, apricot skin, orange rind flavours. Good solid effort if a bit fat and warm. (AG-ST)
87 See Ya Later Ranch Ping 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc - Merlot
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $28.00 winery direct and private wine shops
Black olive, briny, rooty, vanilla, cedar, resin and black cherry nose with some coffee notes. Dry, moderately tannic but rich palate and alcoholic. Big oaky, vanilla, clove, spicy, espresso, tobacco leaf, olive brine, meaty, sweaty saddle leather flavours. Some cassis and cooked fruit on the finish. Very oaky, warm style with green tea and gritty tannins. Needs 2-4 years. (AG-ST)
87 See Ya Later Ranch Pinot Gris 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 specialty listing, AB $20.00 private wine stores
Floral, spicy, mineral, pear skin, grapefruit, light lees, butter and vanilla aromas. Ripe, round, moderately rich with a bit of sweetness and bitterness. Grapefruit, floral, spicy, pear, granny smith, buttery flavours. Good acidity and fruit but finishes a bit oaky and hot. (AG-ST)
88 See Ya Later Ranch Pinot Noir 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Vanilla, smoky, barnyard, tobacco leaf, carrot top, black cherry, rooty, coffee, strawberry aromas. Round, dry, slightly tannic palate but elegant and round. Vanilla, spicy, peppery, worsteshire, cherry, rhubarb, clove flavours. Somewhat oaky and warm but with good overall balance. (AG-ST)
87 See Ya Later Ranch Riesling 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $15.99 specialty listing
Spicy, floral, bubble gum, green apple, peach, citrus, guava aromas. Crisp, round, full style that finishes a bit sweet. Green apple, guava, orange, grassy, grapefruit rind flavours. Good solid consumer style if a bit hot and heavy. (AG-ST)
87 Stoneboat Vineyards Pinot Gris 2007
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct
Fresh leesy bright style of pinot gris with bits of citrus and mineral. Dry stony mid-palate with just a hint of creamy spiced fruit in the finish. Fine ripeness marks a warm, floral, mineral finish. Good potential here if the alcohol is kept in check. (AG-ST)
87 Stoneboat Vineyards Pinot Noir 2006
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.00 winery direct
It's year two for Stoneboat and without much fanfare they are coming along nicely. Grower Lanny Martiniuk (23 years of experience) and family are behind the label and three clones of Pinot Noir give this modest red just enough character and style to merit your attention. The fruit is left to speak without being over-oaked offering up a mix of leafy, forest floor notes with sweet black cherries and silky tannins. Sensitive, stylish simple pinot that is on its way to stardom. Impressive given the generous 6.5 tonnes to the acre yield. (AG-ST)
88 Sumac Ridge Cabernet Franc Black Sage Vineyard 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 vqa and private stores, winery direct, AB $18.00 private wine shops
Strong tobacco green olive nose with mixed with smoky oak, cigarette ash and leather. The entry is dry with more cranberry floral violet notes. A nice jump in ripeness over the previous wine and the oak is well integrated. Best with a strong meat dish. (AG-ST)
87 Sumac Ridge Pinnacle Méthode Classique 2001
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 winery direct
Pale yellow with a hint of pink. Small, fine continuous mousse and bead. Toasty, lemon, nutty, buttery, cherry, baked apple aromas. Crisp, fresh, dry and zippy palate with moderate mousse. Lemon, toasty, nutty, mineral, sour cherry, earthy, citrus flavours. More like a Cava in style but solid. (AG-ST)
87 Tantalus Pinot Noir 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Minty, fresh brewed tea, licorice, cherry, floral, cedar-y nose. Fresh, dry, slightly tannic entry with some finesse. Raspberry, cedar, rhubarb, smoky, spicy, worsteshire, floral, rooty flavours with a meaty, light barnyard finish. A touch warm, a simple, fresher style for near term consumption. Bottled with a Diam cork. (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 some might say hard acidity showing. (AG-ST)
89 Thirty Bench Small Lot Gewurztraminer 2007
Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada
ON $30.00 winery direct
There isn't much of this stuff made (86 cases) but it is good. I complained about not getting to taste these wines so low and behold they have finally shown up on my tasting bench. Love the smooth oily gewürztraminer entry and the fresh tropical fruit underneath. Rich but structured long but not overpowering it is a delicious drop of wine. Perfect under screwcap. (AG-ST)
87 Tinhorn Creek Chardonnay 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 specialty listing, vqa and private wine shops
Peach, butter, citrus, mineral, baked red apple aromas. Crisp, moderately dry, round palate with a touch of oiliness. Green apple skin, butter, apricot, pear, citrus and vanilla lees flavours. A bit warm and fat on the finish but solid, easy-sipping style. (AG-ST)
89 Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Kerner Icewine 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 (200 ml) VQA wine shops
Apricot, waxy, butter, citrus rind, floral, smoky, red apple aromas. Fat, round, rich, soft palate with baked red apple, pear, apricot, waxy, orange floral flavours. Good fruit intensity if a bit fat. More acidity to balance the sweetness would take this to another level. (AG-ST)
87 Twisted Tree Chardonnay 2007
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.00 winery direct
Ripe peach, honey, butter, citrus rind, leesy-matchstick nose. The entry is fat and ripe with fresh acidity green apple skin and buttery, honey, lees, grapefruit flavours. Zesty, slightly warm butter finish. Solid, easy-sipping consumer style. Well done. (AG-ST)
87 Twisted Tree Merlot 2006
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct
Chocolate, vanilla, barnyard, tobacco leaf, cherry, resin, minty aromas with a bit of sweaty saddle. Dry, round, full bodied style with supple tannins. Tobacco leaf, minty, coffee, resin, vanilla, cedar bark, cherry flavours. Warm, rich, oaky style but with ripe fruit. (AG-ST)
87 Twisted Tree Syrah 2006
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct
Similar to the '05 but slightly fresher and with a bit more acidity. Look for a big spicy sausage meat nose with bits of pepper and tobacco and a touch of Band-Aid/Brett. The entry is ripe (sweet) and round; the flavours a glossy mix of vanilla, black cherry fruit flavours with some generous oak. Nice improvement. (AG-ST)
87 Van Westen Vineyards Vino Grigio 2007
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct and private wine shops
Floral, mineral, green apple skin, spicy, honey aromas. Crisp, dry, juicy palate with an oily texture. Cool green apple, grassy, grapefruit, gooseberry, honey flavours. Some bitter lime rind notes on the finish but solid. (AG-ST)
87 Van Westen Vineyards Viognier 2007
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct and private wine shops
Floral, spicy, ginger, butter, quince aromas with a touch of lemon oil and white peach. Crisp, round, slightly oily palate with minty, lemon oil, green apple skin, floral, ginger, light lees and nectarine flavours. Good solid fruit expression, a bit tight now with a hot finish. Should improve over the next year. Getting better every year. (AG-ST)
