September 3, 2006 - B.C.'s Best From A to Z

88 Black Hills Nota Bene 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Cabernet Franc
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $36.90 winery direct and private wine shops
The lightest colour we've seen in any southern B.C. red in some time. Typically peppery on the nose with smoky, roasted pepper, black olive, resiny, saddle leather and tobacco notes with some orange rind, cedar and black cherry jam. Soft, round, supple and elegant on entry. Smoky, black olive, dill, cassis, roasted tomato, cherry flavours with some coriander, vanilla and coffee in the aftertaste. Despite its light colour, it's more refined than previous editions with cleaner, softer, smoother tannins. Best over the next five years. The latest Nota Bene a 46/36/18 blend of cabernet sauvignon / merlot and cabernet franc.

89 Blue Mountain Chardonnay Reserve (Stripe Label) 2003
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct or Foremost Wine Domaines Inc.
Spicy lees, mineral, butter, dried green apple, flinty nose with a touch of honey and hazelnut. Very dry, tight palate with good acidity. Buttery, mineral, baked green apple, leesy, vanilla, pear flavours. Restrained style with good acidity. Will improve over the next 1-2 years. Good value here.

88 Blue Mountain Vineyard Pinot Gris Reserve (Striped Label) 2003
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct or Foremost Wine Domaines Inc.
Buttery, nutty, leesy, creamy vanilla, floral nose with a bit of earthy spice. Round, dry, elegant and crisp with nutty lees, citrus, baked apple, vanilla, earthy, buttery, biscuit flavours. Very crisp, warm buttery finish. A fine Burgundian style white but hard to pegged as pinot gris.

89 Blue Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir Reserve 2003
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $35.00 winery direct or Foremost Wine Domaines Inc.
Cedar, compost, barnyard, cherry, celery salt and vanilla aromas with a slightly rubbery note. Very dry, round, warm entry but elegant with light, tight tannins. Peppery, earthy, cedar-y, smoky vanilla, cherry, stewed rhubarb and carrot top flavours. Good acidity but quite dry on the finish and showing some wood. Needs another 1 to 3 years in bottle. A good effort that is consistent with the winery's style.

91 CedarCreek Chardonnay Platinum Reserve 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $28.99 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Open inviting creamy lees and green apple nose with hazelnut, vanilla, floral, citrus aromas and just a touch of butter and peach. Rich, elegant, dry palate with good vanilla, spicy lees, nutty, citrus, baked apple, butterscotch, melon flavours. Very good balance and acidity with some finesse and integration. Will improve over the next 1-2 years. Fine effort, best yet from winemaker Tom Di Bello.

89 CedarCreek Meritage Platinum Reserve 2003 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $44.99 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Now quite as ripe as previous version showing peppery, spicy, black olive cassis notes on the nose flecked with green bean and tobacco. The textures are supple if a bit skimpy. On the palate winemaker Tom Di Bello mixes fruit sources to deliver up a peppery, vanilla, cigar box, coffee mocha red with licorice and back cherry. Needs a bit more time in bottle to fatten up.

88 CedarCreek Pinot Gris Estate Select 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.99 VQA wine shops
Honey, floral, butter, smoky lees, mineral nose. Dry, rich, slightly warm entry with a touch of oiliness. Nutty lees, baked apple, citrus skin, mineral, floral, honey and vanilla flavours. Very leesy, crisp finish. Solid.

88 CedarCreek Pinot Noir Platinum Reserve 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $36.99 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Lots of smoky, vanilla, resiny, black cherry jam, cedar, licorice root, peppery nose. Very dry, round, warm palate but has some tannins showing. Black cherry, peppery, smoky, orange, vanilla, rhubarb flavours. A bit dry, tart and tannic this time out and will need 2-3 years more in bottle to integrate.

88 Golden Mile Riesling Luckhurst Family Vineyards 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.00 winery direct, VQA wine shops
The first riesling we have tasted from Golden Mile shouts more. Love the fresh, citrus lemon fruit aromas with just a hint of honey and flecks of mineral. Winemaker Michael Bartier uses two German yeasts, ferments the grapes very cold and tosses in a pinch of muscat Ottonel to lift the fruit in what is a very well made wine with texture, weight and a lip-smacking fresh fruit finish. Bravo

89 Herder Chardonnay Twin Benches 2005
British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.00 winery direct
Mineral, lees, spicy, smoky, baked apple, honey and vanilla nose with a touch of citrus. Round, full, soft palate with ripe peach, red apple, honey, creamy lees, vanilla flavours with a nutty, citrus finish. Good solid effort that's ready to drink. Best yet from Lawrence who seems to well understand the nuances of chardonnay. There's 30 per cent of wild ferment juice in the mix.

88 Herder Three Sisters 2005 Pinot Grigio - Chardonnay - Viognier - Gewurztraminer
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.90 speculative listing - Landmark Selections
Attractive floral, spicy, lychee, green apple, honey nose. Ripe, round, elegant and fresh on the palate with mineral, green apple skin, perfumed, orange, grapefruit skin and honey flavours with a touch of citrus rind in the finish. Fresh, dry, well balanced wine for spicy seafood or chicken.

88 Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Malbec 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $24.99 winery direct and private wine shops
Big sappy, sage, black cherry, mocha, licorice, iodine, savoury, meaty nose, very malbec. Rich, round, fat and somewhat tannic and dry but very young. Lots of smoky, cherry, roasted mushroom, savoury, orange, cigar flavours. Well balanced if a bit hot but excellent varietal characters. Fine effort. Almost reminiscent of the Mendoza style.

88 Inniskillin Okanagan Meritage Red Dark Horse Estate Vineyard 2003 Merlot - Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
AB $21.95 private wine shops; BC $24.99 specialty listing
Big spicy, mocha, peppery nose with gamey, licorice, black cherry jam, resin and leather aromas with black olive and coffee highlights. Rich, ripe, round and slightly dry entry with light tannins. Warm with lots of spicy, black cherry jam, plum, vanilla, coffee, mocha, cedar, orange rind and olive. Good complexity and length but very warm. Still some dry tannins to shed. Will improve over the next 2-4 years.

89 Inniskillin Okanagan Vidal Icewine 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
AB $41.99 private wine shops; BC $52.99 specialty listing
Floral, spicy, marmalade nose with lifted apricot, candied citrus peel and a touch of vinyl. Full, rich, round, unctuous style but has decent acidity. Big creamsicle, marmalade, baked apple, vinyl, spicy apricot flavours. Big style, lots of fruit and intensity. Drink now and over the next year or so.

89 Jackson-Triggs Cabernet Sauvignon - Shiraz Proprietors' Grand Reserve 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon - Shiraz
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $25.99 specialty listing, private wine shops
A 60/40 blend of cabernet sauvignon/shiraz age in French and American wood. It has a youthful charred barrel nose with dense generous smoky, blackberry vanilla and spicy leather notes - a la Oz. Well-balanced attractive style many will like. Another warm year and 40 per cent shiraz appears to be the tonic for the impossible to ripen cabernet.

88 Jackson-Triggs Cabernet Sauvignon Proprietors' Grand Reserve 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $24.99 VQA stores / private wine shops
The '04 is quite aromatic with cherry, cranberry, espresso, smoky tobacco nose with hits of leather. Lively and well balanced on the palate with much riper fruit this year and softer tannins. Well constructed and certainly a cabernet sauvignon that breaks the green bean and olive stereotype that marks so many B.C. cabs.

88 Jackson-Triggs Chardonnay Proprietors' Grand Reserve 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.99 specialty listing
Very spicy, floral, honey, lees, vanilla, butter, orange, mineral nose. Round, warm, somewhat viscous entry with moderate acidity. Lots of baked pear, vanilla, smoky, baked apple, orange, spicy lees and butterscotch flavours. A bit old style but has good fruit and balance and represents a fair value.

88 Jackson-Triggs Chardonnay Sun Rock Vineyard 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $22.99 VQA stores / private wine shops
Spicy lees, mango, orange blossom, smoky vanilla aromas with a baked, candied apple note. Ripe, round, fresh and tasty with orange, vanilla, creamy spicy lees, citrus and pineapple flavours with a smoky, resiny, leesy, hone, vanilla note. A bit warm on the finish with a bit too much butterscotch and fatness but has good fruit.

88 Jackson-Triggs Meritage Proprietors' Grand Reserve 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Cabernet Franc
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
AB $19.99 private wine shops; BC $24.95 VQA stores / private wine shops
Open spicy, peppery, chocolate, smoky nose with meaty, clove, vanilla highlights mixed with black cherry jam and cassis. Rich, ripe, fat and round (JT-like) with some big tannins. Hot with coffee, smoky vanilla, peppery, cassis, black olive, licorice, resin, pudding and black cherry jam flavours. Very alcoholic with lots of extract. This will need 2-4 years to smooth out. A big style red with obvious consumer attraction.

89 Jackson-Triggs Shiraz Proprietors' Grand Reserve 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $24.99 specialty listing, private wine shops
Big cedar sausage/meaty peppery shiraz with very fine smooth youthful tannins. Plump and bold in the mouth (very JT) but not without some tannin and obvious oak. Destine to be a fine wine with some more time in the bottle. Hedonistic, if a bit oaky but this is B.C. shiraz at its best.

88 Joie A Noble Blend 2005 Gewurztraminer - Kerner - Muscat - Pinot Blanc - Riesling
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.40 private wine shops
The 2005 Noble Blend is a blend of gewürztraminer, riesling, pinot blanc, kerner, muscat, pinot auxerrois and ehrenfelser as evidence by its floral rose petal, spicy, sausage, lychee, green apple and peach aromas spiked with lime rind notes. Ripe, round, fresh entry with a slightly oily texture. Ripe apple, peach, floral, spicy, mineral, honey flavours with some grapefruit rind on the finish. Solid food or summer sipper. Better balanced and fresher than the previous vintage. Now under screwcap.

90 La Frenz Liqueur Muscat N/V
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.90 (375 ml) winery direct
Big spicy, floral, dried peach, lychee, mineral, baked pear aromas. Rich, ripe, round, full bodied but elegant with raisin-y, floral, orange, pear, spicy lychee, apricot and rancio flavours. Somewhat sweet and warm but has good balance and freshness. A very fresh, spicy, floral style that will attract many. Well done.

88 La Frenz Semillon 2005
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.00 winery direct, restaurants
Fig, grapefruit, melon, floral, mineral aromas. Round, fresh, elegant palate with a touch of sweetness. Juicy grapefruit, green apple, grassy, melon flavours. Well balanced, fruity, fresh style for current drinking. Another winner and good value.

88 La Frenz Small Lots Riesling 2005
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, restaurants
Ripe apple, honey, clover, peach, floral nose. Ripe, round, fresh palate with some sweetness but nice acidity. Baked pear, green peach, lime, mineral and floral flavours with a fresh, tart, fruity finish. Well made wine for food or sipping.

88 La Frenz Viognier 2005
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.00 winery direct, restaurants
Very spicy, peach, orange, floral, mineral, citrus rind aromas. Sweet, oily, warm entry with bright zesty acidity. Big honey, grapefruit rind flavours with mineral, sausage and floral undertones. A fine summer sipper but the level of ripeness calls for deep chilling and or serving it with hot, spicy, Thai food. This is fun to sip.

88 Lake Breeze Pinot Gris 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $15.90 winery direct, VQA wine shops
Mineral, floral, white peach, pear aromas with a slight almond note. Ripe, round, fresh palate with a touch of sweetness. Ripe pear, red apple, citrus, chalky mineral flavours. Good fruity, citrus apple skin and butter finish. Attractive style for food or sipping.

88 Lang Vineyards Gewurztraminer 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $16.90 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Bright floral, perfumed, spicy, green apple skin nose with a bit of grapefruit and bubble gum. Ripe, round, crisp and fresh with some sweetness. Ginger, spicy, mineral, floral, peach skin, rose petal flavours with a citrus rind finish. With an easygoing fresh style.

88 Lang Vineyards Pinot Gris 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.90 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Similar to last year's with big floral, perfumed, citrus, mineral, spicy, earth nose. Fresh, round, slightly sweet entry with good acidity and balance. Lots of floral, soapy, green apple skin, mineral, spice flavours. Pure style that is crisp and delicate for spicy foods.

88 Lang Vineyards Riesling Farm Winery Reserve 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $15.90 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Very perfumy, bubble-gum, orange, honey, green apple aromas. Ripe, rich, round, delicate entry with nice acidity sugar balance. Rose, mineral, baked apple, light petrol and lime flavours. Long finish, well made.

88 Lang Vineyards Riesling Late Harvest 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.90 winery direct
Very fresh perfumed, floral, bubble gum, orange, mineral and honey nose. Ripe, round, juicy and balanced with light sweetness. Again, lots of perfumed, floral flavours with peach skin, orange, petrol and green apple skin flavours. Very open floral style but well balanced.

88 Laughing Stock Vineyards Chardonnay 2005
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $24.00 winery direct
Citrus, buttery, vanilla, waxy, nutty, baked peach aromas with a honey, mineral streak. Soft, round, elegant entry with a touch of sweetness. Creamy, leesy, nutty, vanilla, honey, pineapple flavours with some mineral, apple skin on the finish. Well made, attractive consumer style.

88 Laughing Stock Vineyards Pinot Gris 2005
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $20.00 winery direct
Floral, mineral, nutty lees, butter, baked pear and cedar aromas with an earthy note. Rich, ripe, round, slightly fat entry with good acidity and a touch of sweetness. Vanilla, butter, citrus, baked pear, earthy mineral flavours with a hint of peach and apple skin on the finish. A bit warm (alcoholic) but stylish and well made.

88 Mission Hill Chardonnay Reserve 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
AB $18.25 fine wine boutiques; BC $19.99 specialty listing; MB $17.95; NB $18.68; NF $18.45; NS $19.35; NWT $16.45; ON $18.95 Vintages Essentials; SK $17.95; YK $18.95
Floral, spicy, green apple skin, grapefruit nose with some honey and lees. Dry, fresh, elegant and crisp with some texture. Citrus, nutty, grapefruit, green apple, honey flavours with a touch of vanilla and cinnamon. Simple, creamy, spicy finish. Good effort.

88 Mission Hill Pinot Gris Reserve 2004
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
AB $17.25; BC $18.99 specialty listing, vqa and private wine shops; MB $16.59; NB $18.69; ON $18.95; SK $17.99
Grapefruit, mineral, lees, honey and quince aromas. Round, dry, crisp and fresh but nicely balanced with honey, grapefruit, green apple, spicy, buttery mineral flavours. Nice intensity and fruit but finishes a bit on the dry and tart side. Mature now but holding well.

89 Mission Hill Pinot Gris Reserve 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
AB $17.25; BC $18.99 specialty listing, vqa and private wine shops; MB $16.59; NB $18.69; ON $18.95; SK $17.99
Mission Hill is dialling in its Reserve gris focusing on a crisp lemony style with plenty of grapefruit and mineral aromas. Lip smacking honeyed grapefruit, green apple, and mineral flavours with some attractive leesy mid-palate textures. Fine intensity with hints of pear in the finish. Food-friendly and well done.

89 Mission Hill S.L.C. Merlot 2003
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $39.99 winery direct, Mark Anthony stores
The S.L.C. merlot opens with tight peppery, spicy, cool cherry aromas laced with mint, coffee, garrigue, vanilla and licorice notes. The palate is dry but rich with plenty of youthful grainy tannins. Blueberries, black cherry, smoky vanilla, savoury flavours. Showing a bit of chocolate now and fattening up as we expected. Fine intensity as the tannins settle down. Reminiscent of a semi-modern St. Emilion. Needs 2-3 years to fully develop.

88 Mission Hill Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.99 winery direct
Attractive bright correct sauvignon nose with a mix of grass and lime rind and tropical fruit characters. On the palate the wine is impressive - full bodied and fresh with a full, fruity mid-palate and finish. This is very solid sauvignon blanc that should turn heads. Myriad food possibilities add to its value.

89 Nichol Vineyard Syrah Reservare 2003
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $34.90 winery direct
Where others wineries have floundered in a difficult 2003 vintage, the Nichols appear to have hit the target. Love this smoky, meaty, gamey, nose flecked with pepper and rootsy aromas. Dry, round, slightly tannic entry with a sense of elegance throughout. Dense peppery, gamey, meaty fruit with floral, black berry, smoky, spicy flavours with a bit of saddle leather and coffee grind on the finish. Needs 2-4 years. Well made and perfectly suited to strong meat dishes. Fine effort.

90 Nk'Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay 2004
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $24.99 VQA stores / private wine shops
Winemaker Randy Picton has conquered the oak barrel in 2004 and given us a delicious spicy, cinnamon, leesy, baked apple chardonnay nose with nutty, floral, orange notes. Dry, elegant, slightly fat entry with nutty lees, mineral, vanilla, honey, waxy, spicy, green apple skin flavours. The finish is warm but with plenty of pear and citrus and a streak of buttered popcorn. Ready to go but with fine sophistication. Try with grilled trout and almonds meunière.

90 Peller Estates Trinity Icewine Private Reserve 2005 Riesling - Ehrenfelser
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $54.99 (375 ml) specialty listing
From a mix of vidal riesling Ehrenfelser, Trinity opens with orange marmalade, plasticene, dried apricot, baked pear, mineral, citrus nose with a floral note. Ripe, rich, round, somewhat unctuous palate with good acidity. Fine ripe peach, orange, honey and green apple flavours with good acidity and freshness on the finish. Perfect drinking now.

88 Poplar Grove Reserve 2003 Merlot - Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Sauvignon
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $49.90 winery direct
Big cherry kirsch, slightly volatile nose with spicy, mocha, coriander, vanilla flecks and a whiff of port-y-ness. Fat, rich, round, alcoholic style with some rustic and substantial tannins. Cherry jam, roasted pepper, vanilla, pepper, cardamom, orange peel and coffee flavours. Not much finesse and very hot but there is fruit and plenty of back end oomph. Try in 2-3 years on a cold winter eve. The blend is 60/25/15 merlot / cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon.

92 Rollingdale Sweet Tooth Series 2004 Pinot Blanc Icewine 2004
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $70.00 (375 ml) winery direct
Ripe pear, apricot, red apple, marzipan, egg yolk aromas. Rich, sweet, intense palate with good acidity. Baked peach, apple, orange, creamy, mango and honey flavours. Fine fruit and acidity with good intensity. Well done and a nice surprise for pinot blanc.

88 Sandhill Small Lots Program Cabernet Sauvignon - Syrah Burrowing Owl Vineyard 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon - Syrah
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
AB $28.99 fine wine boutiques; BC $26.99 winery direct and private wine shops
Smoky, peppery, chocolate, black olive, black cherry, saddle leather nose with some vanilla, resin and game. Round, soft, dry palate with light, grainy tannins. Licorice root, peppery, spicy, gamey, black cherry, vanilla, bitter chocolate flavours with some tobacco and prune on the finish. Warm and dry but well balanced and supple. Will improve over the next 2-3 years.

88 Sandhill Small Lots Program Sangiovese Burrowing Owl Vineyard 2003
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $26.99 winery direct and private wine shops
Very spicy, black cherry, meaty, sage, smoky, coffee and vanilla nose with a bit of compost. Ripe, round, fresh and slightly chewy on the palate. Smoky, vanilla, peppery, rootsy, meaty, cherry flavours with some leather and mocha on the finish. Good intensity and effort but oak is a bit dominant. Needs 1-2 years.

90 Sandhill Small Lots Program Three Burrowing Owl Vineyard 2003 Sangiovese - Barbera - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
AB $32.49 fine wine boutiques; BC $29.99 winery direct and private wine shops
Young but well balanced with peppery, chocolate, garrigue, black cherry, floral notes with vanilla, coffee, black olive and smoke. On the palate it is round and dry with fine elegant supple characters. Spicy, black cherry, mocha, vanilla, peppery, spicy, black olive flavours with a touch of cardamom. Needs 1-3 years but try now with any grilled meat. The best red blend yet from Sandhill ─ 53/21/13/13 barbera, sangiovese, merlot and cabernet sauvignon.

89 Sandhill Small Lots Program Two Burrowing Owl Vineyard 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Cabernet Franc
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $29.99 winery direct and private wine shops
Open floral peppery nose with licorice, cassis, black cherry, mocha aromas with some barnyard and smoky leather. Rich, ripe and round with dry if soft tannins. Intense coffee, peppery, smoky, resin, vanilla, cassis, black cherry, black berry flavours on the palate with a warm, vanilla pudding finish. Needs 2-5 years but will improve. Good balance overall.

88 Stag's Hollow Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.99 winery direct and private wine shops
Gooseberry, passion fruit, grapefruit rind, spicy, smoky aromas. Dry, fresh, slightly austere palate with grapefruit rind, mineral, smoky, grassy, gooseberry flavours with a tart, warm, full finish. Well made with good intensity if a bit hot.

89 Sumac Ridge Pinnacle 2002 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
AB $43.00 private wine shops; BC $50.00
Stewed cherry, cassis, and coffee nose streaked with pepper, smoke, bacon, leather, barnyard and garrigue-like spice. Rich, ripe, fat and round not to mention somewhat alcoholic. Smooth, substantial tannins but balanced. Intense smoky, coffee, cedar, mocha, cherry cola, black olive, rootsy clove flavours. Big and warm and ripe. This needs another 3 to 4 years in bottle to pull it all together. Good effort.

88 Sumac Ridge Pinnacle Méthode Classique 2000
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $30.00 winery direct
Pale gold/pink colour. Fine mousse with creamy, baked apple, floral, citrus, melon and toasted aromas. Dry, round, elegant entry with baked pear, floral, creamy, green apple, nutty, cherry flavours. Good textures and balance that finishes just a touch short and bitter. Well done and should continue too improve in bottle.

88 Summerhill Pyramid Ehrenfelser 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $18.95 VQA Stores, Private Wine Shops
Mineral, smoky slate, garlic lees, perfumed nose of orange blossoms and peach aromas. Round, elegant, fresh palate but a touch heavy. Big floral, mineral, apple core, orange, peach flavours with a lime rind finish. A touch warm but good weight and flavour intensity.

88 Tantalus Riesling 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $19.90 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Inviting floral, orange, peach nose with baked pear notes and a minty, gooseberry streak. Round, full, fresh palate with lime rind, green apple, floral, green peach and mint flavours. Very crisp, lip smacking austere style riesling with a zippy finish that is near dry. Sophisticated styling for food. Well done.

88 Tantalus Riesling Old Vines Riesling 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $0.00 TBR spring '07
Mineral, floral, green apple skin, light Vaseline, peach pit aromas. Very dry, round, crisp and fresh with mineral, lime rind, granny smith, green peach and mint flavours. Very high acid, crisp finish that is a touch too austere at this point but shows very good aging potential. Will not be released until the spring of 2007. Better get on the list. No estimated price yet so check back we will post when someone let's us know.

88 Tinhorn Creek Gewürztraminer 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $14.50 VQA Wine Stores
Spicy, floral, lychee, orange creamsicle and ginger nose. Round, soft, fresh, creamy palate with meaty, perfumed, orange, lychee and peach flavours. Good balance with fine flavour intensity for summer and Asian food. A short crop will see this label disappear quickly from distribution so stock up early.

88 Township 7 Chardonnay 2004
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $17.90 winery direct, VQA and private wine shops
Light butter and creamy lees notes mixed with jasmine, canned peach and grapefruit aromas. The entry is round and fat, the palate soft but fresh with grapefruit rind, mineral, green apple, buttery, honey flavours. Crisp and round with some finesse, a buttery mineral Chablis-style. Well done.