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88 Black Hills Carmenère 2007 Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBC $50.00 winery direct and private wine shopsSoupy leafy, herbal nose with smoky, savoury, licorice root and menthol notes.
88 Black Hills Carmenère 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $50.00 winery direct and private wine shops
Soupy leafy, herbal nose with smoky, savoury, licorice root and menthol notes. Good thing its carmenère because the roasted pepper, tobacco and peppery, herbal, spicy, coffee menthol flavours are allowed. It may be too herbal for some but if you like spice in your red wine this is it. Thankfully the tannins are soft. Try this with a big piece of grilled lamb. The price is another story. (AG-ST)
88 Black Hills Chardonnay 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00 winery direct and private wine shops
Fresh lees, vanilla, cooked peach, butter and green apple skin, slightly grassy, smoky edge. Fresh, crisp, round, slightly oily texture with a hint of sweetness. Green apple, pear, vanilla, light lees, garlic, butter, mineral, citrus flavours with a touch of nectarine skin and butterscotch. Warm, crisp finish, very solid. Fresh delicious light style that just lacks a bit of extract. (AG-ST)
88 Black Hills Nota Bene 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Cabernet Franc
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $53.00 winery direct and private wine shops
The latest Nota Bene is a 46/39/19 blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc. Production is supposedly maxed out at 4300 cases mostly sold direct $50: that's a 2.7 million cash cow. Ah but what about the wine you say. Well, it's softer and the tannins are richer and finer grained than ever. At 14.7 per cent alcohol the finish is warmer and smoother than ever. The challenge is the herbaceous peppery green olive, savoury resiny cigarette ash nose and leafy dried, tomato flavours. A dash of pure black fruit would be welcomed but with so much cabernet to ripen in the blend it is unlikely the style will change. Given its annual sell-out and price hikes it doesn't seem to matter to its many fans. (AG-ST)
88 Blasted Church Chardonnay Musqué 2008
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 winery direct, vqa and private wine stores
Floral, green apple, citrus, mineral nose with a spicy lees and streak. The entry is fresh and crisp with nectarine, lime, muscat, mineral and floral flavours. Delicious, well-made Unoaked, chardonnay under screw cap. Versatile food wine. Try with pan Asian cuisine. (AG-ST)
87 Blasted Church Gewurztraminer 2008
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Light floral, grapefruit rind with green apple skin and rosewater aromas. Round, soft entry with bits of citrus oil, litchi, fresh grapefruit rind and grated ginger. Just a hint of meatiness in a lightweight version of the varietal. Sip solo or with spicy cuisine. This has improved a lot in the bottle over the last few months. (AG-ST)
88 Blasted Church Nothing Sacred 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Malbec
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $40.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Blasted Church winemaker Richard Kanazawa has released the winery's first major blended red that has been tag Nothing Sacred. It is a Bordeaux blend with (cabernet sauvignon 33, merlot 33, malbec 23, cabernet franc 11 all aged in new French oak. The nose is a mix of sweet vanilla (oak) and menthol with black fruits, tobacco liquorice and a touch of leather. The texture is soft and round with more cassis fruit and reasonably soft tannins. Best with lamb or roasted meats now but should age comfortably for five years. Well done. (AG-ST)
87 Blasted Church Pinot Gris 2008
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 specialty listing, AB $26.00 private wine shops
The Blasted Church gris is definitely aromatic with bright notes of pineapple, grape fruit rind and nectarine skin. The entry is soft and a touch sweet with warm honey, vanilla flavours mixed with some green apple notes. The finish is soft with butter, canned grapefruit and mineral flavours. The addition of five percent viognier has given the gris a bit of extra weight and mid-palate fat. Ready-to-drink. Try it with turkey. (AG-ST)
88 Blasted Church Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, private wine shops
There are many reasons to like the latest Blasted Church sauvignon not the least of which it is clean and fresh. Something that easy to say but much harder to do. The colour is correct with green hues; the nose is blast of tropical fruit grass and gooseberry fruit. The finish is medium long with grassy, peppery, citrus notes and a touch dry in the back end. Well done and can be served with a variety of foods from pork to sushi. (AG-ST)
88 Blasted Church Syrah 2007
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $26.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Floral, boysenberry, black cherry white pepper liquorice root, gamey, chocolate coffee and dried herbs on the nose. Round, supple, fresh, elegant style with very light tannins. Tobacco, herbal, cherry, coffee, spicy, menthol, sage, carrot top, mineral and liquorice flavours. A bit tart on the finish but has good finesse to go with food. Should improve over the next year or so. Excellent progress here. (AG-ST)
88 Blasted Church The Dam Flood 2008 Lemberger - Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, vqa and private wine stores
The unusual lemberger/merlot blend seems to work in 08 with a fresh spicy chocolate aroma mixed with floral meaty notes. The palate is as mix of pepper, chocolate, cassis and more earthy, meaty notes with a clean fresh finish. Should be perfect with grilled meats off the barbecue. Solid winemaking. (AG-ST)
87 Burrowing Owl Syrah 2007
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $38.00 winery direct, AB $41.00 fine wine shops
Savoury, peppery, rubber, liquorice root, vanilla, coffee, sausage meat, leather, lees aromas. Dry, light, warm, slightly tart palate with very light tannins. Vanilla, coffee, cedar, tobacco, licorice, resin, savoury, sausage meat, dried herb flavours. A bit lean and bitter on the finish with some oak showing but may improve over the next year or two. (AG-ST)
88 Cassini Cellars Syrah 2007
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $24.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Floral, earthy, rooty, licorice, spicy, meaty, blackberry, herbal aromas with a minty, resin note. Round, dry, supple palate but tight. Coffee, resin, licorice root, black olive, earthy, roasted pepper flavours. Warm, slightly tart finish. Solid style but needs a year to round out. (AG-ST)
87 Church & State Pinot Gris 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
This is a well-made pinot gris. The nose is bright and fresh with earthy, honeyed aromas with ripe pear fruit flavours with a citrus undercurrent and cleans crisp finish. Classic crisp, British Columbia gris that will match a wide variety of foods. (AG-ST)
88 Church & State Syrah 2006
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $26.00 specialty store
Winemaker Bill Dyer continues to raise the bar at Blasted Church as evidenced by this rugged syrah. A bigger style red than previous version it is big on pepper and gamy notes on the nose and palate. The fruit is sweet and ripe with spicy cooked meat, menthol and black liquorice flavours in the finish. Just a baby but you could try it now with roast lamb or osso buco. (AG-ST)
88 Crowsnest Vineyard & Barcello Canyon Stahltank Chardonnay 2008
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 VQA wine stores
The cleanest version yet of this unoaked white with fresh mineral, melon, green apple, citrus aromas. The entry is sweet and smooth with intense sweet pear and apple flavours with pretty good acidity underneath. Well made but a little less sugar would really let the fruit and appellation shine through. (AG-ST)
88 Dunham Froese Amicitia Red 2007 Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauv. - Merlot - Malbec - PV - Syrah
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $28.00 winery direct
Floral, spicy, cedar bark, rooty, barnyard, coffee, prune and black cherry nose. Round, soft, supple palate with light tannins and fine balance. More peppery, prune, coffee, cherry, dried herbs flavours with bits of compost, carrot top and cassis. Well balanced if a bit lean on the finish but it should be ready to drink by 2010. (AG-ST)
87 Eau Vivre Pinot Noir 2007
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct
Expect a "pretty" red cherry nose and pinot character from grapes grown on a cool single vineyard site down by the river. In Similkameen and other grapes from the Okanagan. Bits of spicy strawberry fruit with some fine intensity and not too much oak (yeah) make this an interesting start. Well done. (AG-ST)
87 Garry Oaks Prism 2008 Gewurztraminer - Chardonnay
Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.95 winery direct
Perfume, sausage, spicy, honey, butter, baked apple, peach skin aromas. Fresh, crisp, dry palate with green apple, grapefruit rind, peach skin, pear and fresh grassy, gooseberry flavours on the end. Very crisp, clean style for seafood. Well done. (AG-ST)
88 Gray Monk Odyssey III Fortified N/V Gamay - Pinot Noir - Merlot
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 (500 ml) winery direct, private wine shops
A fortified red style with dried cherry, dried tomato, peppery, cedar, coffee, chocolate aromas. Soft, round, full, moderately sweet style with light tannins. Coffee, chocolate, cherry kirsch, peppery, spicy, cedar, tobacco flavours. A bit warm and fiery on the finish but well balanced overall with some tannin to shed. (AG-ST)
88 Gray Monk Siegerrebe 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.00 winery direct, vqa and private wine stores
Fresh spicy, floral, ginger, muscat, peach skin, citrus, sausage aroma. Fresh, crisp, delicate, off dry palate with mineral, floral, honey, grapefruit, ginger, sausage and grass flavours. Elegant, fun style to have with sushi or Chinese food. This wine has been consistently well made for decades. (AG-ST)
87 Herder Cabernet Franc 2007
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $32.00 speculative listing - Landmark Selections
Peppery, crushed leaf, cranberry, herbal, menthol, cedar, coffee, carrot top aromas. Round, dry, elegant, full palate with light tannins. Spicy, floral, cranberry, coffee, peppery, caraway, dried herbs, menthol and prune flavours. Again good finesse and balance if still a bit herbal. (AG-ST)
87 Herder Merlot 2007
British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 winery direct
Peppery, tobacco leaf, cherry, cranberry, floral, dried herb, coffee, savoury nose. Dry, tight, round, elegant, warm, fresh palate with herbal, cherry, coffee, peppery, cedar, black olive, rhubarb, crushed herb flavours. A bit young with some light, tight tannins to shed but balanced and elegant. Promising, especially if we can get the fruit quotient up. (AG-ST)
87 Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Marsanne Roussanne 2008 Marsanne - Roussanne
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery only
Spicy, floral, green apple, citrus, peach skin, honey, ginger and mineral aromas. Round, ripe, fresh, elegant palate with some sweetness and a touch of oiliness. Lemon, orange, honey, ginger, rose, spicy, baked peach, quince flavours. Good finesse and elegance, just finishes too sweet despite nice acidity balance. Similar to last vintage. (AG-ST)
87 Inniskillin Okanagan Pinot Blanc Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 specialty listing, AB $19.00 private wine stores
Pear, floral, dry slate, quince, lemon oil aromas. Soft, round, dry, and warm with a slightly oily texture but fresh acidity. Green apple skin, slate, chalky, pear, floral, lemon grass flavours. Good intensity but a bit warm and austere on the finish. (AG-ST)
87 Inniskillin Okanagan Pinot Blanc Reserve 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $17.00 private wine stores
Grapefruit, grassy, passion fruit, slate, melon, floral, lemon oil aromas, very fresh. Crisp, juicy, fresh and round palate with green apple, grapefruit rind, passion fruit, butter and melon flavours. More sauvignon blanc in character but a solid seafood white. (AG-ST)
87 JoieFarm PTG 2007 Pinot Noir - Gamay
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00 winery direct, private wine shops
PTG or "Passetoutgrains" is a riff on the classic gamay/pinot noir blend you can encountered in Burgundy. The blend is kept in a 25/75 combination of new and 1 year old French oak for 10 months before release. The '07 is a pleasant jump up in quality from the 2006. The palate is slightly reductive with meaty leesy notes but much sweeter fruit this time around. The textures are soft and supple the flavours a mix red cherries and strawberries. An easy sipping red that should age a year or two in bottle and improve further. Try it with duck confit or roasted chicken. Not cheap. (AG-ST)
87 JoieFarm Reserve Chardonnay 2007
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00 winery direct, private wine shops
The Reserve edition comes off a mix of vineyards in Naramata (Earlco Three Sisters) and Okanagan Falls (Schales). Honey and ripe apples mark the nose along with some fairly prevalent vanilla and oak. The palate is drier and more reserved than last year with plenty of buttery, pineapple notes both mid-palate and in the finish. The after taste is fat and round with traces of chalk in the finish. It needs a bit more complexity and finesse to live up to its price and moniker as a reserve wine. (AG-ST)
87 La Stella Vivace Pinot Grigio 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 Winery Direct or Christopher Stewart
Floral, pear, canned grapefruit, peach, gooseberry, quince aromas. Fresh, crisp, dry, juicy palate. Grapefruit, gooseberry, granny smith, lemon, quince and light lees flavours. The finish is a bit tart, light and warm but clean with some bitter citrus rind notes. Very solid food style, try with mussels. (AG-ST)
87 Laughing Stock Vineyards Blind Trust Red 2007 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc - P.Verdot - Malbec
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $29.00 winery direct
Similar to last year with a peppery, olive, caraway, tobacco leaf nose with bits of compost and earth aromas. The attack is dry, round and slightly austere with herbal, olive, compost, leafy, dill, tobacco, coffee flavours. There is some finesse but it a bit of charm and fruit. Hold 2-4 years or serve now with roasted meats. (AG-ST)
87 Laughing Stock Vineyards Chardonnay 2008
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $26.00 winery direct
Light garlic, spicy lees, butter, vanilla, quince, baked peach, baked apple, nutty aromas. Round, fresh, elegant palate with a touch of oiliness. Fruit cocktail, buttery-diacetyl, spicy lees, baked apple, peach skin, passion fruit, grassy, nutty flavours. Good solid expression if a bit buttery on the finish. (AG-ST)
88 Laughing Stock Vineyards Portfolio 2007 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Malbec - Cab Franc - Petit Verdot
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $40.00 winery direct
Peppery, espresso, smoky oak, black olive, tobacco leaf, floral, dried savoury herbs, cassis aromas. The entry is round and dry but this year it's a bit tart too. The rest of the palate is super smooth with warm smoky coffee scented flavours flecked with vanilla, tobacco leaf, pepper, dill and black olives. The texture is the best yet but the finish is very oaky and warm. It will improve with time but we want more pristine Okanagan fruit and less French wood. (AG-ST)
87 Le Vieux Pin Equinoxe 2006
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $65.00 direct order - Christopher Stewart
Coffee, saddle leather, vanilla, peppery, tobacco, compost, meaty, dried cherry, dried herb aromas. Round, dry, somewhat austere palate with some tight tannin. Cranberry, peppery, meaty, coffee, resin, rooty, compost, leather, savoury, gamey flavours. Finish is very warm and bit tart with some young oak showing. Needs 2-4 years to round out but lacks fruit and freshness. (AG-ST)
88 Le Vieux Pin Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 Winery Direct or Christopher Stewart
Passion fruit, melon, gooseberry, grapefruit, nettle, floral, canned asparagus aromas. Round, fresh, juicy but somewhat austere palate. Lemon, nettle, passion fruit, grassy, grapefruit rind, butter, lees and jalapeno flavours. Finish is long but a bit austere and tart with a hard edge and some green notes. Good solid expression but best with grilled fish. (AG-ST)
90 Mission Hill Compendium 2006 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc - P.Verdot
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $40.00 specialty listing, AB $40.00 private wine stores, ON $40.00 Vintages, consignment Mark Anthony
Peppery, earthy, barnyard, compost, black olive nose with northwest notes of black cherry, caraway, smoky tobacco all with a touch of carrot top, vanilla and leather. The entry is dry and round but tannic. More smoky, earthy, peppery, tobacco, black olive, liquorice flavours flecked with vanilla, clove, caraway and black cherry flavours. It finishes oaky at this point and tight but again with some early finesse poking through. Time and patience is required. (AG-ST)
91 Mission Hill Oculus 2006 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc - P.Verdot
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $70.00 winery direct, AB $70.00 private wine stores, ON $70.00 Vintages, consignment mark Anthony
Oculus continues down the softer rounder richer path but slowly. Very peppery, spicy, minty nose with black olive, leather, mineral, liquorice and blackberry notes sprinkled with coffee, cassis, carrot top and vanilla aromas. The attack is dry and round with fairly tight tannins but with finesse. More black cherry fruit spiked with peppery, liquorice, smoky flavours with coffee, resin, tobacco, leather black olive and herbal notes in the finish. This has a solid future but like previous editions it will need 3-5 years to soften up and develop further. It needs a little less Medoc character and a little more Pomerol. (AG-ST)
89 Mission Hill Perpetua Chardonnay Osoyoos Vineyard Estate 2007
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 specialty listing, AB $35.00 private wine stores, ON $35.00 consignment - Mark Anthony Brands
An interesting twist in '07 with the pronounced lemon/nettle, clove, baked apple and pear nose with a honey pineapple hazelnut undercurrent. The attack is dry and fruity with more crisp, sharp fruit and les texture than previous editions. Green apple, vanilla, baked pear, tropical, nectarine, honey, cooked marzipan and passion fruit flavours mark its firm lean palate. This too needs a year or so to round out and develop some viscosity and weight to carry the flavours. (AG-ST)
88 Mission Hill Pinot Grigio Five Vineyards 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $16.00 specialty listing, AB $13.00, ON $13.95
The latest 08 grigio is a delight from its price to its on palate delivery. It is the fresh lees and flinty honeyed, citrus/ pear fruit that grabs your attention and the long exuberantly fruity finish now devoid of that bitter lime rind character. This is a versatile wine for sushi or grilled fish. Well done. (AG)
87 Mission Hill Pinot Noir Reserve 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.00 specialty listing, AB $25.00 fine wine boutiques, ON $28.00 Vintages
Typically soft and round with plenty of cherry jam, spicy, vanilla fruit. The textures are soft and pinot and the flavours warm spicy cherry and oak with a dry spicy finish. Easy to like but not particularly pinot in structure. Needs bit less oak and bit more finesse, fruit and verve. Drink now though 2012 with duck, or roast chicken. (AG-ST)
89 Mission Hill Quatrain 2006 Merlot - Syrah - Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $48.00 specialty listing, AB $45.00 private wine stores, ON $45.00 Vintages, consignment Mark Anthony
The latest and 2nd release of Quatrain is a 41/32/14/13/ blend of syrah, merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon taken from estate blocks in Oliver and Osoyoos. Tasted several times since its release. Look for black cherry, spicy, black pepper, black olive aromas with flecks of vanilla, coffee, tobacco, carrot top, caraway, saddle leather and cassis. Dry, slightly thin and tight on entry with a youthful tannic palate. On the palate spicy, clove, peppery, vanilla, tobacco, coffee, herbal, cassis, cranberry flavours mixed with black olives, cherry mark the palate. There is a sense of elegance here but it is a somewhat tannic with a hollow mid-palate at this point. Not as generous as the previous edition. It is definitely best to wait on this for another two to four years. (AG-ST)
93 Mission Hill Reserve Riesling Ice Wine 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $60.00 winery direct and private wine shops, QC $60.00
Apricot, orange, nectarine, quince, baked apple, floral aromas. Rich, round, full with good acidity and good sugar balance. Lime, orange, guava, apricot, green apple, spicy, honey flavours. Good concentration and acidity, very long finish. Fine effort with some finesse. (AG-ST)
89 Mission Hill S.L.C. Syrah 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $37.00 winery direct, Mark Anthony stores, AB $28.00 fine wine boutiques, MB $40.00, ON $37.00 consignment - Mark Anthony Brands
Smoky, black olive, savoury, balsamic, leather, tobacco, sausage meat, chocolate aromas with a touch of barnyard and black cherry. Round, elegant, dry, supple palate but slightly lean with a touch of acidity. Peppery, tobacco, espresso, resin, licorice, cedar, vanilla, dried herbs and olive flavours with a cedar, leafy, green tea, and black cherry finish. Good finesse if a bit green and hollow on the finish. It should fatten up a bit with one to three years of ageing but it is drinkable now. (AG-ST)
88 Mission Hill Shiraz Reserve 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.00 specialty listing, AB $22.00 private wine stores, MB $22.00, ON $22.00 Vintages, QC $25.45
Spicy, black pepper, vanilla, coffee, black cherry, smoky saddle leather, meaty sausage aromas. Dry, round, elegant but slightly lean palate with cherry, coffee, smoky, peppery, vanilla, tobacco leaf, dried herbs with a touch of sausage meat. Finish is a bit lean with some green tea tannins but otherwise solid. Drink now with lamb or hold for another two tears in the cellar. (AG-ST)
87 Mistaken Identity Pinot Gris Organic 2008
Salt Spring Island, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 speculative listing - Vino Allegro
Floral, waxy, almond, green apple skin, slate, herbal, grapefruit rind with a strong struck match sulphur burn. Dry, slightly lean entry with pear skin, grapefruit rind, lees, green peach flavours. More austere, leaner food style wine. (AG-ST)
89 Mt. Boucherie Estate Collection Semillon 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $16.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Grapefruit, light artichoke, gooseberry, grassy, nettle, passion fruit aromas. Ripe, round, elegant palate with pink grapefruit, passion fruit, grassy, nettle, asparagus, lemon, nutty flavours. Good fruit intensity and balance for seafood. Very impressive effort. Oysters anyone. (ST)
88 Nk'Mip Cellars Pinot Noir 2007
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery / private wine shops
Spicy, cherry, cola, carrot top, meaty cool pinot aromas. Dry, tight, slightly austere palate with more earthy, coffee, vanilla, stewed tea, cola, cherry, rhubarb flavours. A warm, herbal edgy north west pinot reminiscent of Oregon. (AG-ST)
87 Nk'Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Merlot 2006
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $26.00 specialty listing, vqa and private stores, winery direct
Coffee, cedar, floral, herbal, cherry, rooty, resin, pruny, vanilla aromas. Dry, tight, elegant, slightly tannic palate with plum, cherry, herbal, floral, cedar, tobacco leaf, coffee, resin, meaty flavours. A bit too hot and oaky but has some finesse and freshness. (AG-ST)
88 Orofino Beleza 2007 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc - P.Verdot
Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $0.00 winery direct
Beleza is the new name of Orofino's signature merlot cabernet blend. The latest mix is a 68/13/15/2/ blend of merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot aged in a mix of new French and American oak. Look for savoury, peppery, tobacco and cool red fruit aromas with soft, smoky, chocolate black fruit flavours. Unfined and unfiltered. (AG-ST)
88 Painted Rock Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $40.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Savoury tobacco spicy, coffee, herbal, caraway, barnyard and saddle leather aromas. Round, fat, full palate with ripe tannins. It is oaky and warm with coffee, cherry cough syrup, tobacco, cedar, mocha, vanilla pudding flavours. Slightly tart and oaky finish a la Oz. Promising start. (AG-ST)
87 Painted Rock Merlot 2007
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $40.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Menthol, cedar, coffee, smoky oak, meaty, peppery, roasted pepper, tobacco leaf, floral, black cherry aromas. Dry, tight, elegant but slightly lean palate with fresh acidity. Cedar, meaty, leesy, floral, tobacco leaf, savoury, caraway, meaty, cooked carrot, celery salt flavours. Finish is somewhat tart and light with cedar-y tannins but finesse. Needs a few years but lacks some ripeness and concentration. (AG-ST)
89 Painted Rock Red Icon 2007 Cabernet Franc - Petite Verdot - Cab. Sauvignon - Merlot - Malbec
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $55.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Big spicy, peppery, black cherry nose with cassis, clove, saddle leather, mocha, caraway and vanilla aromas with an undercurrent of tobacco and olive. Good complexity if a bit too much meaty leather notes. Round, dry, warm, supple entry with some gritty tannin in the back end. Similar flavours with spicy, oaky, coffee notes in the finish. There is ripe fruit and good balance but with a lot of oak and green dried herbs on the back end. (AG-ST)
87 Painted Rock Syrah 2007
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $40.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Peppery, soupy, sausage meat, herbal, tobacco leaf, caraway, leesy, spicy, savoury, coffee flavours. Dry, round, elegant, supple palate with coffee, vanilla, herbal, roasted pepper, resin, caraway, savoury, sour cherry, mocha flavours. Warm with a touch of meat and stewed tea on the finish. Lacks fruit. (AG-ST)
89 Pentâge Winery Gewurztraminer 2008
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 winery direct, private wine shops
A huge turnaround from last year in what is a rich fabulously ripe style gewürztraminer. Look for a big floral, litchi meaty nectarine skin notes on the nose. The palate is equally full flavoured with bright spicy fruit with peachy, orange and litchi fruit flavours and a long moderately sweet finish. Try this with spicy (hot) Pan Asian food. (AG-ST)
88 Pentâge Winery Riesling 2007
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Floral, lifted citrus notes with bits of red apples, ginger and mineral peach aromas. Like the '07, the entry is fresh and ripe with sweet nectarines and juicy mineral fruit cocktail flavours. A friendly fresh, fruity style that would be best with spicy foods or chilled downed and served solo before dinner. Well done. (AG-ST)
88 Pentâge Winery Syrah 2006
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Open spicy, savoury, sausage meat, white pepper, floral, tobacco, licorice aromas. Round, dry, elegant entry with a slightly tannic palate and more cherry, coffee, sausage, peppery, liquorice flavours with bits of vanilla, and a meaty, savoury finish. Fine elegance but it should improve for another two to three years. (AG-ST)
88 Pentâge Winery Viognier 2007
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $23.00 winery direct, private wine shops
The Pentâge style is fresh and fruity and despite the cork, this viognier follows suit. Plenty of orange and peach flavours dominate the mid-palate with bits of green apple skin and mineral in the back end. Fairly good varietal character with a leaner toward the French style. (AG-ST)
87 Robin Ridge Gamay 2007
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.90 winery direct
Similar to the previous year with its smoky, cherry, mineral, rooty notes, soft tannins and cedar-y, spicy, mocha, chocolate black cherry jam flavours. The finish is smooth and a touch warm with sweet vanilla oaky notes. Try this with local cheeses. (AG-ST)
87 See Ya Later Ranch Pinot Noir 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Spicy, rhubarb, sour cherry, coffee, compost and vanilla aroma. Soft, round, slightly sweet palate with light green tannins and some fresh acidity. Cooked cherry, rhubarb, rooty, compost, coffee, vanilla, worsteshire flavours. Very warm, slightly green tea and tobacco leaf finish. There is a bit too much wood for the fruit this time out. (AG-ST)
91 See Ya Later Ranch Rover 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 specialty listing, AB $27.00 private wine stores
This is one impressive syrah. A 95/5 blend of syrah and viognier it has a big white pepper nose flecked with anise, mint, pepper, roasted coffee, orange peel, ginger and meaty aromas. The entry is rich and concentrated with more meaty, savoury, roasted pepper, tobacco, vanilla, coffee flavours and plenty of tannin. Complex and ripe if just a bit too oaky at the moment. Let's hope the price stay at this very attractive level. Stock up. (AG-ST)
87 Sperling Vineyards Market White 2008 Pinot Gris - Gewurztraminer - Riesling
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $16.00 speculative listing - Liquid Art
Market White is an intriguing 60/32/8 blend of pinot gris, gewürztraminer and riesling, in the vein of the old Alsace Edelzwicker. The lots are separated but it is all made in stainless steel to retain maximum freshness. The palate is fresh and clean with tropical litchi notes and an off-dry finish. What it lacks in exuberance it makes ups up for in texture and price. Try with mild Asian dishes or sip solo on the patio. (AG-ST)
88 Sperling Vineyards Old Vines Riesling 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $29.00 speculative listing - Liquid Art
The "old vines' are 30-plus but the wine is fresh and young. Look for bright citrus, peach and melon fruit with fruit and a fairly dry mid-palate and ripe citrus finish. A clean tasty version of this variety with just a hint of dryness in the backend. (AG-ST)
89 Sperling Vineyards Pinot Gris 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 speculative listing - Liquid Art
Winemaker Anne Sperling describes here restrained pinot gris style as pears and stones. The fruit comes off two very different benches on the home property in Kelowna's Mission District. It's essentially bone dry on the palate, light and fragrant all aged in old barrels for no wood influence. Lees stirring gives it a pleasing texture and protects tis dry citrus flavours. Less fruit more site expression is the goal. Food friendly. (AG-ST)
92 Sperling Vineyards Riesling Icewine 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $36.00 (200 ml) speculative listing - Liquid Art
The Sperling Icewine is made in small amounts and not every year. There is a clear link to the regular riesling with its bright acidity and intense tangy peach and tropical fruit flavours. Well structured the acidity carries the sugar and leaves you wanting an extra glass - a rare episode for most icewine. It should also age well for a decade and beyond. Well done. (AG-ST)
92 Stoneboat Vineyards Verglas 2007 Pinot Gris - Pinot Blanc - Kerner - Muller Thurgau - Oraniensteiner - Schönburger
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $55.00 (375 ml) winery direct
According to Wikipedia, "verglas is a term for a thin layer of water ice coating a rocky surface or footpath. It poses a danger to hill walkers and rock climbers, being extremely slippery and often nearly invisible." No such danger stems from drinking this fabulous botrytised oranienstenier whose vines are 26 years old. Complex aromas that one normally doesn't associate with most icewines because they are seldom affected by botrytis. Revel in the intense, super sweet peach, pineapple and melon flavours. The palate and finish is fat but fresh with a decent dollop of acidity. Well done. (AG-ST)
88 Tantalus Riesling 2008
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $23.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Retasted three months after the first sample showed so much sulphur and struck matchstick - it may have been sent right off the bottling wine. This sample has reverted back to form with its lip smacking, tart fresh citrus and green apple flavours and dry finish. Very avante garde for North American riesling but the only way to go if BC is going to be taken seriously as a riesling producer. Try this with oysters or Indian food both will work. (AG-ST)
88 Township 7 Dunfield Collection Meritage 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Cabernet Franc
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 winery direct
A special release with a mouth painted label by quadriplegic artist Robb Dunfield. The nose is a mix of black pepper and leafy, black olive, herbal, cassis aromas mixed with smoky, coffee, vanilla notes. Round, dry, elegant, slightly tannic palate with dried herbs, savoury, peppery, mocha, resin, black olive, tobacco leaf, coriander, cedar flavours with balance and finesse. A solid effort. The blend is 54/45/1 cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc. (AG-ST)
87 Twisted Tree Trio 2008 Marsanne - Roussanne - Viognier
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.00 winery direct
Spicy, floral, nutty, ginger, honey, nectarine, grassy aromas. Crisp, round, delicate, juicy palate with a touch of sweetness. Honey, grapefruit, ginger, nectarine skin, green apple, soapy floral, orange flavours. Fun, juicy style to accompany lighter, spicy food. (AG-ST)
87 Twisted Tree Viognier Roussanne 2008 Viognier - Roussanne - Marsanne
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.00 winery direct, AB $22.00 fine wine shops
Honey, butter, green apple, nutty, orange, gooseberry, leesy, ginger aromas with a floral note. Full, slightly oily palate with some sweetness and a light spritz. Heavy with leesy, sausage, grapefruit rind, ginger, lemon oil flavours. Very warm, somewhat sweet finish. Needs a bit more finesse and less sugar but solid effort. (AG-ST)
87 Van Westen Vineyards Vino Grigio 2008
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct and private wine shops
Similar to the 07 with bright floral lifted mineral, green apple skin and spicy honey/melon aromas. The entry is crisp and dry with an oily/gewürztraminer-like character. The palate is clean with more grassy, grapefruit, green apple, honey flavours and a touch of citrus rind in the finish. Solid and should be fine with mussels, or Thai dishes. (AG-ST)
