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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.
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 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)
87 Black Widow Pinot Gris Naramata Bench Vineyard 2006
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00
Light orange pink tinge. Floral, pear, citrus, mineral aromas. Crisp, juicy, round palate with a slightly oily texture and a bit of sweetness. Baked pear, orange, red apple, buttery, mineral flavours. Very ripe, fatter style but has good intensity if a bit overly alcoholic. Drink now. (AG-ST)
87 Burrowing Owl Chardonnay 2006
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 Winery
Pear, butter, vanilla, lees, citrus, melon aromas. Somewhat sweet, round, warm palate with medium acidity and oily textures. On the palate passion fruit and grapefruit mix with vanilla and buttery, oaky undertones. Solid but too dominated by butter and oak with some bitterness and lees on the finish. Not the best BOV Chardonnay we have tasted. (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 Ehrenfelser 2007
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
For years I suggested BC aromatic varieties be bottled and ready to go May 1 following the vintage. I would only add a screwcap to my wish list for this otherwise delicious CedarCreek label that is just coming into the market. Love its floral, orange, mineral, spicy, nose and flavours. So fresh and inviting, this just off dry white is an attractive bottle of wine. Think spicy foods, even sweet and sour BBQ spareribs. Less is more here. (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)
87 Domaine de Chaberton Barrel Reserve Chardonnay 2006
British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct
Honeyed, green melon, buttery, vanilla, grassy, cedar sawdust, lees and lemon aromas. Rich, round, warm, somewhat sweet entry with leesy, lemon, honey, buttered clove, resin and baked pear flavours. Very warm, buttered popcorn, grassy finish. Needs time to integrate. (AG-ST)
87 Dry Rock Vineyards Chardonnay 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Honey, grapefruit rind, apple skin, floral, matchstick nose. Fresh, round, elegant style with light grapefruit, grassy, green apple, mineral, butter and nectarine skin flavours. Very solid, simple style chardonnay or any occasion. Good value. (AG)
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 Fairview Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $34.90 winery direct
Clean spicy, mocha, peppery, vanilla nose with flecks of coffee, black berry, barnyard and smoky compost notes. Ripe, round, dry, slightly tannic palate. Good cassis jam, peppery, spicy, coffee, vanilla, black olive, tobacco leaf flavours. Slightly alcoholic finish but with fine fruit and balance. The best we've had yet from Fairview. Well done. (AG)
89 Fork in the Road Oliver Block 212 White 2005 Chardonnay - Pinot Gris - Semillon
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct, Mark Anthony stores and private wine shops
The latest Fork in the Road White is a 78/12/10 mix of chardonnay/pinot gris/sémillon from the Mission Hill team that stays the course with its floral, nutty, mineral fruit notes. On the palate the fruit is ripe and intense with bright pineapple and honey flavours flecked with just enough minerality and nutty notes to have plenty of restaurant appeal. Simply prepared halibut or perhaps sole meunière would be fine pairings and it's under screwcap for permanent dependability. (AG-ST)
91 Ganton & Larson Prospect Winery Lost Bars Vidal Icewine 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $40.00 (200 ml) specialty listing, AB $20.00 (200 ml) private wine shops
Pale gold colour. Grapefruit, marmalade, honey, 'shower curtain', mineral aromas. Rich, round, fresh and elegant but balanced and juicy. Honey, grapefruit, orange peel, granny smith, lime and more vinyl/plastic flavours. Good acidity balance and length. Well mad, attractive, sleek style. (AG-ST)
87 Gehringer Brothers Riesling Late Harvest 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 specialty listing
This wine seems to have a signature mineral, bruised apple nose with bits of butterscotch. Soft and round on entry the flavours are mix of baked apple, citrus, butter and minerals. Easy-sipping, late harvest at a fair price. (AG)
87 Golden Mile Black Arts Fifth Element Red 2005 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Petit Verdot - Cabernet F. - Syrah
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $36.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
The Black Arts mix of 27 lots is a 65/28/4/2/1/ blend of merlot/cabernet sauvignon/petit verdot/syrah/cabernet franc. The lots are separately fermented and they complete malolactic fermentation in a mix of new to three-year old French oak barrels. It's much cleaner than its cousin, Road 13, offering up ripe, black fruit flavours with leafy notes with pepper and cedar and vanilla. It's a bit heavy on the oak, given the fruit intensity, but it could come around after a bit more time in the bottle. Pricey. (AG-ST)
87 Golden Mile Road Chardonnay Luckhurst Family Vineyards 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct, vqa and private wine stores
Fresh, floral, honey vanilla nose with orange, floral, spicy, leesy, buttery peach notes. Ripe, round and dry on entry with leesy, buttery, bitter citrus, herbal, vanilla, canned pineapple flavours. A bit warm and a touch green on the finish. This should improve in the bottle over the next year. (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)
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 Twin Benches 2006
British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct
Melon, honey, buttery, passion fruit, citrus, vanilla aromas. Fresh, round, fat, somewhat sweet entry with mango, orange, buttery, vanilla, spicy lees, ginger, nectarine flavours. Warm and tropical style, seems to have a bit of viognier like character and some muscat notes. Unique, ripe style. (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)
87 Herder Three Sisters 2006 Pinot Grigio - Chardonnay - Viognier - Gewurztraminer
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.90 speculative listing - Landmark Selections
Big floral, spicy, rose petal, sausage, lychee, baked apple aromas. Rich, round, elegant style with some residual sugar. Fennel, rose, spicy, ginger, honey, peach skin, baked citrus flavours. A bit fat and oily but a good sipper with lots of character. (AG-ST)
87 Hillside Estate Pinot Gris Reserve Series 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.99 winery direct
Big floral, citrus, honey, ginger, mineral, buttery nose with some lees notes. Fat, ripe, round palate with pear, mineral, quince, lemon rind, butter and ginger flavours. Almost a bit like viognier with a steelier palate. Good intensity, drink now. (AG)
87 Joie Chardonnay Un-Oaked (ii) 2007
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.40 winery direct, private wine shops
Mineral, grassy, butter, melon, peach skin, lime, grapefruit aromas. Warm, tart, zippy entry with grapefruit skin, gooseberry, butter, honey, mandarin rind flavours with green apple skin. Finish is a bit bitter and rindy and very warm. A bit too aromatic for chardonnay but fun to drink nonetheless. (AG-ST)
87 Joie Riesling iv 2007
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.40 restaurants, private wine shops
Open enticing floral, pink grapefruit, spicy, ginger, green apple aromas. Ripe, round, elegant, slightly sweet entry but balanced with moderate acidity. Juicy, floral, citrus rind, ginger, apricot flavours with a green apple finish. This is a terrific style for B.C. and a clear indication we can make riesling that can turn heads. This beats just about everything made in Washington State. Limited production and distribution is this wine's only problem. (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 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 Megalomaniac Narcissist Riesling 2006
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada
AB $33.00
Floral citrus blossom, green apple skin, slate, smoky, nectarine pit, buttery, nettle aromas. Crisp, tart, round, juicy palate with light residual. Citrus, green apple skin, lime, slate, sulphur, quince, peach pit, grassy flavours. Juicy, full style but quite dry acidity on the finish. (AG-ST)
87 Mission Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $24.99 specialty listing, ON $25.15
Tobacco leaf, peppery, black olive, dill, resin, licorice root, cassis nose with coffee vanilla. Round, dry, fairly supple entry. Peppery, cassis, resin, rooty, tobacco, coffee, carrot, barnyard flavours. Better balance and textures than last vintage with a touch more alcohol in the finish. (AG)
87 Mission Hill Chardonnay Reserve 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $21.99 specialty listing, AB $19.99 fine wine boutiques, MB $21.95, NB $18.68, NF $18.45, NS $19.35, NWT $16.45, ON $22.15 Vintages Essentials, SK $21.99, YK $18.95
Peach, lees, canned fruit, garlic, grapefruit rind, oyster shell and honey aromas. Round, dry, fairly crisp palate with a touch of oiliness. Buttery, nutty lees, light garlic, grapefruit, orange, canned melon flavours. Crisp, warm finish with some fruti intensity if a bit oaky. (AG)
87 Nk'Mip Cellars Chardonnay 2006
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.00 specialty listing, vqa and private stores, winery direct, AB $19.00 private wine shops
Fresh citrus, melon, light butter, green apple, pear skin aromas. Crisp, clean, elegant style on the cooler side with a touch of sweetness. Green apple, citrus rind, mineral, light butter and lees flavours. A clean, attractive style for current summer drinking. Well done. (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 Paradise Ranch Late Harvest Chardonnay Riesling 2005 Chardonnay - Riesling
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $24.99 (375 ml) specialty listing
Open baked apple and honey aromas that morph into similar flavours on the palate. Soft, easy sipping sweet and certainly drinkable. Serve with fresh fruit for best results. Ready to drink. (AG-ST)
87 Peller Estates Private Reserve Chardonnay 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $16.99 specialty listing, AB $16.99 private wine shop, SK $18.99
Light lees, matchstick, butter, honey, melon, green apple aromas with a touch of vanilla. Fresh, round, slightly oily texture with buttery, honey, melon, lees, spicy, citrus rind flavours. Finish is a touch sweet and sour but otherwise a solid effort. (AG-ST)
87 Pentâge Winery Riesling 2006
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 winery direct, private wine shops
Floral, nectarine, ginger, green apple skin and peach aromas. Ripe, full, fresh palate with good elegance. Juicy mineral, citrus, nectarine, floral, fruit cocktail flavours. A tad flat on the finish but solid fruit in a friendly style. (AG-ST)
88 Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.99 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Light garlic lees, grapefruit rind, mineral, floral, green apple skin aromas with a touch of vanilla and honey. Crisp, cool, moderately dry style with green apple skin, honey, light lees, melon rind flavours with a touch of bitter grapefruit rind on the finish. More modern style to accompany light West coast seafood. (AG-ST)
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)
88 Quails' Gate Pinot Noir Stewart Family Reserve 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $45.00 winery direct and private wine shops
Smooth, dry, round palate with some finesse and ripeness. Vanilla, mocha, cedar, tobacco leaf notes mixed with rhubarb and raspberry flavours. Solid mid-palate balance but still showing more oak than fruit at this stage with some tartness on the finish. Should improve over the next 2 years in bottle. (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)
87 Sandhill Cabernet Franc Sandhill Estate Vineyard 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.99 specialty listing, vqa and private wine shops, AB $21.99 private wine shops
Spicy, black cherry, peppery, tobacco, resin, barnyard, poultry spice, black olive and mocha vanilla aromas. Round, dry, elegant but slightly lean with light tannins. Cedar, orange peel, poultry spice, vanilla, tobacco, coffee, tobacco flavours with a cranberry, licorice, oak resin finish. A bit young but has good acidity to age 1-3 years. Good solid effort for this variety that in our opinion could be even better if the was less overt, sweet American oak in the blend. (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)
88 Sumac Ridge Gewürztraminer Icewine 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $29.99 (200 ml) specialty listing, vqa and private stores, winery direct
Shower curtain (plastic), spicy, ginger, dried lychee, floral, mineral nose. Ripe, fat, round, sweet entry with a touch of bitterness. Butter, lychee, plasticene, mineral and cooked peach flavours. Solid but a bit ponderous and bitter on the finish. (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 Sumac Ridge Pinnacle White 2006 Gewurz-Chardonnay-Ehrenfelser-Muscat-Pinot Blanc-Semillon
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 specialty listing, vqa stores, winery direct
Pinnacle White can hardly be positioned as the big gun white at Sumac ridge but this 25/20/20/15/10 blend of gewürztraminer/sauvignon blanc/ehrenfelser/chardonnay/pinot blanc/muscat and two percent sémillon is definitely different. In fact, it's an odd blend of aromatic and oak flavours. Fresh, yet resiny, with a strong meaty, resiny gewürztraminer character and a ripe, spicy finish. Okay, if an odd mix of fruit and flavours. (AG-ST)
87 Summerhill Pyramid Ehrenfelser 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 VQA Stores, Private Wine Shops
Bright fresh enticing nose of orange blossoms and peach. The entry is clean and fresher than previous editions but the flavours a bit dilute. Look for fresh, floral, candied lime and peach flavours. Again like last year it's a bit warm and pricey but otherwise, it is a stylish patio sipper. (AG-ST)
87 Summerhill Pyramid Pinot Gris Organic 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $16.95 VQA and private wine shops
Ripe pear, citrus, matchstick, earthy, orange blossom nose flecked with slate and a light lees character. Round, full, dry, fresh and crisp palate with earthy, slate, pear, butter, citrus, green apple and ginger flavours. Solid effort. (AG-ST)
88 Summerhill Pyramid Platinum Series Gewürztraminer Organic 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $29.00 VQA and private wine shops
Rich meaty floral spicy nose with flecks of ginger. The entry is dry and fresh with bright, zippy ripe fruit flavours streaked with nectarine skin, floral orange notes and bits of spicy sausage meat. Impressive firm lean style with fine balance. Well done. (AG)
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 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 Township 7 Merlot 2004
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Smoky spicy sagebrush notes with bits of leafy black cherry tobacco notes and a touch of compost. Fairly supple on entry and round with a resiny coffee, smoky mocha cedar flavours and plenty of alcohol showing up on the mid-palate and finish. Standoffish for the moment and dry calling for roasted meats to best tame its youthful edges. (AG-ST)
87 Twisted Tree Merlot 2005
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $24.90 winery direct
Open smoky vanilla American oak barrel nose with coffee, menthol undertones. On the palate the fruit black fruit cassis flavours are subdued by the vanilla, coffee, chocolate (the JT formula) with bits of cedar bark and cranberry. Fairly rich and tracking in the right direction but needs a bit more fruit and acidity to sing. Serve with steak for best results. (AG-ST)
87 Van Westen Vineyards Vino Grigio 2006
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.90 winery direct and private wine shops
Floral, apple skin, honey, light lees, pear, mineral nose. Crisp, fresh, round, elegant style with nectarine skin, green apple, lees, slate, pear and citrus flavours. Solid flavour profile and balance for seafood in the summer time. (AG-ST)
87 Van Westen Vineyards Vivacious 2006 Pinot Blanc - Pinot Gris
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.90 winery direct and private wine shops
A fine improvement over the previous vintage. The floral, mineral, lees aromas are still present but it's cleaner and fresher on the nose and palate. The palate is crisp with bright, okay "vivacious" pear/apple fruit. This 96/4 mix of pinot blanc and pinot gris hits all the right notes for summer. (AG-ST)
87 Wild Goose Autumn Gold 2006 Riesling - Pinot Blanc - Gewurztraminer - Muscat - Pinot Gris
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.95 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
The Autumn Gold blend is a delightful blend of riesling, pinot blanc and gewürztraminer that beckons the nose with spicy, floral, baked apple aromas and delicious red apple, mineral fruit with a touch of lime rind. Great value. (AG-ST)
88 Wild Goose Gewurztraminer 2006
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Always crisp when young it builds intensity in the bottle mixing spicy litchi fruit flavour with hints of rose oil. 1990. Similar flavours mark the palate that is dry and fragrant. A terrific food wine with few limits. Drink n
