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Tastings: June 2018
30 June 2018
88PTS
Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rosé 2016
Pfalz, GermanyVilla Wolf is Ernst Loosen's affordable, traditional Pfalz varietal line, and combine estate fruit with contract growers. This fruity pinot noir rosé well illustrates the Pfalz's warmness, though holds the bright acidity and direction of a purpose-picked rosé. The 4-6 hour maceration keeps the colour pale, and this was macerated and aged for a short time in stainless on lees (no MLF) to preserve freshness. Like typical Pfalz riesling, this carries a bump of RS (10.5 g/l) that sweetens wild strawberry jam, perfumed cherries, red apple, lime, and pink grapefruit pith. Acidity keeps this juicy and bright, finishing with a dusting of stone and cinnamon. Lovely style showing that off-dry can still equal electricity. I hope BC is paying attention.Prices:Read Full Note
90PTS
Domaine de la Rosière Jongiuex Rosé 2017
Savoie, FranceNice to see the new (current) vintage on our shelves already of this likeable Savoie rosé, an expression of gamay from limestone and clay. Also happy to see the 2017 is back to the balanced loveliness of the 2015, what with its lean, salted, fresh, herbal allure. A short time on skins lends the pale, pretty hue, while a slight time on lees comforts the palate. Lovely, elegant expression that could make a regular nightly experience at your dinner table (as it will mine).Prices:| BC | $22.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Tinhorn Creek Oldfield Reserve Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaUpdated this vintage with a new name (Reserve), label (serious and stencilled) and ownership (Sandra Oldfield no longer has anything to do with the wine/ry that carries her name), this year's Rosé remains entirely cabernet franc (now 20 years old) from Diamondback Vineyard on the Black Sage Bench. Fuller, riper orange/raspberry hue, this opens and carries noticeable tobacco smoke throughout strawberry, orange, red apple and across a full, glycerol slicked, off-dry palate. Twelve hours skin contact, a slow press and time in stainless go into this. Cali styled, ripe and sun sweet, for those looking for that style.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Clos du Soleil Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaContinuing its strong streak, this year's rosé fills the glass with wild strawberries, rhubarb jam and perfumed raspberries. This is blend of purpose-picked cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon from both their home estate as well as a nearby vineyard in Cawston. The grapes were soaked on skins for 20 hours, chilled on dry ice and then pressed for a cool fermentation in stainless to preserve this pure berry fruit. Threads of orange, cherry to the lingering finish. Well suited for pairing to a wide variety of dishes, and will easily work well into next year.Prices:| BC | $21.90 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Singletree Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is a fun rosé that delivers lightness and freshness in the glass. The winery is in Abbotsford but the pinot fruit hails from an organic vineyard in West Kelowna. I love rosé with a bit of grapefruit and citrus in the core to lift the red fruit up. Add some acidity and you have a solid patio pink for food or simply quaffing on a warm day.Prices:| BC | $22.50 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Howling Bluff Pinot Noir Rosé Three Mile Creek Acta Vineyard 2017
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaHowling Bluff routinely bleeds off its top pinot noir and that juice ends up in the rose stream. It’s not the perfect route to rosé, but if it’s not the focus at the winery, it is what it is. The nose is pleasant enough with sweet cherries over a light herbal character. The attack is similar, full-bodied and stuffed with sweet strawberry that is balanced by a linear run of citrus. The slightly watery finish has more underlying herbal notes. Ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux Rosé 2017
Ventoux, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceOne of the best value pinks in the market now comes in a 3-litre bag in the box format that will keep the party going all night. Expect a medium-pale pink colour from this dry rosé, along with vibrant, floral, jammy strawberry and orange flecked with notes of tangerine and red liquorice. Fresh, highly-affordable and food-friendly, it’s a hard-to-beat patio pink.Prices:| BC | $33.99 | 3000ml |
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86PTS
Mas Donis Rosat Rosé 2017
Montsant, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainLight salmon colour with a fresh, spicy, aromatic nose reminiscent of almonds and red fruits. On the palate it mixes strawberry/raspberry with a spicy, dry, herbal undercurrent. A fun patio pink for seafood or chicken appetizers. The grape mix is 75/10/10/5 grenache, tempranillo, merlot and syrah.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
J. Bouchon Reserva Rosé 2017
Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, ChileThis rosé is a blend of cabernet sauvignon and pais, the indigenous grape of Chile. This is from Maule, in the dry coastal area of Mingre, 45km from the ocean and granitic soils around 200m. After a cool maceration this fermented and spent time in stainless to preserve fresh, crisp, marine influenced fruit. Tight raspberry, white cherry is infiltrated with dried herbs and tightened with grapefruit pith, adding a nice slick of grip to this dry, fresh rosé, kissed with raspberries on the end. Lovely choice for food, a welcome show of less-is-more, and great value.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
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29 June 2018
92PTS
Haywire Waters and Banks Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Summerland Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRetasted. This is one of Canada's singular wines. And amazingly, it's sauvignon blanc - but it's not about the grape. This is all about site. From Summerland's Waters & Banks vineyard, this is whole bunch pressed, native ferment in concrete tanks for seven months on gross lees, without racking. Heady white asparagus, honeysuckle, lemon thistle, elderflower, large flake sea salts filter throughout. There's a lovely perfumed fennel, medicinal thistle and lingering with a persistent minerality. Savvy is just a vessel for transmitting the site that Pedro Parra, Alberto Antonini and Matt Dumayne have analyzed as worthy. Entirely worthy. Real wine.Prices:| BC | $24.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Emandare Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaFrom the oldest savvy vines on Vancouver Island, this estate grown wine is organically dry farmed, and native fermented in stainless, where it held for five months. True to the island, this has bright, tight, shining acidity. Unlike many island whites however, this balances that sharp acidity with a lovely cushion of lees and ripe fruit. Honeydew, subtle honeysuckle, gooseberry and pear blossom on a plump, yet moderate (12.8 degree) palate. Stony richness carries this wine to a lingering, lemony finish. Quite unique, not only for the island, but for BC. Worth seeking out.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Jackson Estate Stich Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandThis is a much better rendition in 2017 beginning with a less aggressive attitude in the glass. The nose is aromatic, crammed with fresh melon and cut with citrus. The attack is juicy, almost watery at the start, before a textural, creamy, leesy, mid-palate kicks in with a mineral, mango, pear, kiwi undercurrent. Scallops or oysters are the match.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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28 June 2018
94PTS
Tantalus Old Vines Riesling 2015
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAn iconic BC label, Tantalus ‘Old Vines’ is one of many Tantalus wines to feature the artistic endeavours of celebrated Tahltan, Tlingit artist, Dempsey Bob, who agreed to share photographs of his original carvings acknowledging the decades-old fine relationship between art and wine. Old Vines is the pinnacle wine of place at Tantalus, shepherded by winemaker and GM David Paterson. The vines were planted on a single 2-acre plot known as Block 5 over marginal, deep silty soils protected from the warm, late day sun by a stand of Ponderosa Pine. As warm as 2015 was it would appear the vines shut down during the warmest weeks, thus saving the wine from developing massive amounts of sugar accumulation at the expense of its normally intense acidity. After two years in the cellar it’s ready for showtime. Stony, mineral citrus, lemon verbena notes preview an intensely flavoured version of riesling with an equally savoury undercurrent. Wild herbs mix effortlessly with floral scents, lime pith, nectarines, grapefruit and pineapple in a barely off-dry format. A unique bottle of wine, this storyteller may not be for every palate, unless of course you love wine in all its glory. Real wine.Prices:| BC | $30.35 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Tantalus Riesling 2017
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2017 was an interesting year at Tantalus, beginning with a sluggish start before the summer cranked up the heat to record temperatures. All of this led to regional fires and hazy skies that lessened the sunlight and heat in the north Okanagan, delayed the riesling crop and kept the sugars in check. A slightly smaller crop did what it always does: concentrated the flavours in the grapes, leading to some spectacular wines. Add to that old vines that date back to 1978 and a two-month harvest and you begin to sense the fabric of this wine. Last year we said it was joyously and confidently off-dry, and so it is in 2017 with even more lime, pear laced with tangerine, ginger and guava cut tightly with a mineral undercurrent. Keep your eye on the bottle because in our experience it tends to disappear in minutes when opened. Oh, and you can serve this refreshing gem with just about anything you can think of.Prices:| BC | $19.91 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Karp-Schreiber My Karp Riesling Dry Style 2015
Mosel, GermanyThe Karp family has been farming grapes and making wine in the Mosel since 1664, which makes touting a perfect vintage tough, but 2015 came close. Its fair to say 2015 is a high acid vintage with high sugars, and because it was dry there is very little botrytis so the style is ripe and intense, all with that Mosel freshness. Ripe red apple flecked with apricots jump from the glass and spill across your palate. Not as delicate this year but super flavourful and fun to drink from the intense fruit to the slate finish. Perfect with your favourite spicy sushi roll. Great value.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Fort Berens Riesling 2017
Lillooet, British Columbia, CanadaUnlike 2016 where two rieslings were released, this year Fort Berens has combined efforts and made one mid-sweet riesling, using 61 percent Lillooet estate grapes and the remainder from Lady Hawk Vineyard in the Similkameen. Whole cluster pressing and cool fermentation has resulted in a rich, fruity wine. Rich pear, baked yellow apple and lime curd is dosed with a touch of spritz. The RS here is pretty high (27.9), and overreaches the admirable zippy acidity, leaving the finish bright, but a bit sticky. Would love to see the RS dialled back, making this more user-and-food friendly.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
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27 June 2018
82PTS
Rocky Creek Pinot Noir 2015
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaFrom two of Rocky Creek's estate Cowichan Valley vineyards, the vines age from 8-20 years and grown on cobble and clay. The plastic corked bottle I opened was highly oxidative, with worn raspberry, sour cherries and spice. Spicing was bright though acidity was mild, and worked to lift the very tired fruit to the short finish. This wine is the resultant of a saignée, fermented for two weeks with selected yeasts and stored in French oak for 16 months before bottling. Too bad about the closure, which I suspect affected this bottle.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Averill Creek Somenos Series Pinot Noir 2015
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaCowichan Valley's Averill Creek is hitting it out of the park with this pinot, one that was very good last year and even better in 2015. The colour is on the darkish side of pinot, leading with a spicy, black cherry nose lifted with black raspberries and forest floor notes. The palate is medium weight with silky, refined textures and savoury, red fruit flavours throughout. Long and complex, this will change your thinking about Island wines. Well done Averill Creek; all we need is a piece of grilled Sockeye salmon.Prices:| BC | $38.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Sperling Vineyards Pinot Noir 2016
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaIt’s impossible to explain biodynamics to most people but when it’s done right and it's in the glass, well, it sings. I just love this Sperling pinot, biodynamically farmed in East Kelowna. It’s a mix of three French clones and it’s as fresh as they come, in a perfectly restrained manner. The fruit is red and bright with notes of raspberries, cherries, strawberries and spice, aged mostly in large format oak. Perfectly balanced; wow this is amazing, and the value is even better. Real wine. Back up the truck.Prices:| BC | $22.59 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Blue Mountain Reserve Pinot Noir 2015
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe BM Reserve is all that and more most years. It is a wine that should be reserved from drinking for a minimum five years to allow it to become the complex pinot it is. The 2015 may be an exception given the ripeness and a sweetness that beguiles, if only because it’s been rare. Look for a smoky, savoury, spicy, sweet pinot in a rare Russian River meets Okanagan style, with sweet raspberry, ripe cherry and spices filling in a plump palate. Warm, round, soft, silky, and soft, this will likely fade sooner than later, but why miss the party? Duck, salmon, pork all work here and now.Prices:| BC | $39.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $44.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Tantalus Pinot Noir Reserve 2015
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaI first encountered this wine a year ago in the cellar and was blown away by its promise back then. A year later in bottle it hardly disappoints. The first ever Tantalus reserve pinot stands out from its gold Dempsey Bob mask and a wax dipped capsule, to its delicate sweet pinot personality. Winemaker David Paterson makes a barrel selection from his top parcels, centered on clone 667 with lesser volumes from clone 115 and 828. The attack is sweet and round but with a delicate underbelly flecked with plums, black cherries, wafting notes of raspberries dusted with cinnamon and pepper. Sonoma Coast meets East Kelowna and I love it. Forty percent whole cluster, native fermented and aged 16 months in all French oak (30 percent new). Get it while you can.Prices:| BC | $60.95 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Rocky Creek Pinot Noir 2015
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaPale colour with a highly oxidative thrust throughout. The strawberry scented nose is flecked with funky earthy notes. The attack is more promising, medium light with sweet, funky cherry fruit flavours and spicy, earthy, sour cherry finish. Ready to drink, and better well chilled. I'm not a big fan of artificial corks that can have issues adjusting to fit all bottle types.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Sea Star Pinot Noir Reserve 2015
Pender Island, Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia, CanadaFrom the winery's warm upper benches on Pender Island, this year's pinot noir is grippy, scrubby red, with downy plum, perfumed black cherry, and cola. Tannins are gritty and up front, housing the fruit while shredding the sides of this coastal wine. The finish is brusque and bitter pinched, which can be remedied with protein. A rustic, if pure, lens of organic Pender Island pinot.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Hillside Pinot Noir 2014
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe 2014 marks year five of Hillside's Naramata-only pinot fruit and the style is evolving naturally to reflect the sub-region, now on the precipice of gaining its own official sub DVA status. The style is vibrant and juicy with raspberry, wild strawberry, and a hint of savoury, tomato leaf throughout the spicy finish. The texture is pinot silky, the tannins minimal and the minerality high. The fat from a piece of grilled salmon would be the perfect match here.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Tantalus Pinot Noir Reserve 2015
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaImpressive packaging in this inaugural Reserve Pinot Noir, from the gold Dempsey Bob mask on the label to the soft, long wax on the capsule. The wine is a barrel selection from their top parcels centered on clone 667, complemented by smaller parcels of our Clone 115 and 828. Forty percent whole cluster, entire native fermented, this spent 16 months in French oak (30 percent new) before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Dusky, textural and forest-led, with perfumed dark plum, black cherry, wild blackberry, lifted with pretty raspberry blossoms and seated with fine, firm tannins. The finish is lengthy with sun ripened blackberry dusted with peppercorns. This is a confident, elegant pinot, ripe though handled with a light touch, distinctly Tantalus, and highly impressive. 100 cases made.Prices:| BC | $60.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Mirabel Pinot Noir 2016
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMirabel Vineyards is owned by the Reimers, Doug and Dawn, long-time grape growers situated on a rolling hillside in south-east Kelowna. For years they sold their fruit to local wineries (does Meyer Reimer Vineyard Pinot Noir strike a bell?), and some went to Foxtrot as well. The vineyard's name is Mirabel, and beginning with the 2016 vintage the Reimers are taking back full control of their fruit to sell it under the Mirabel Vineyards label. The site is moderately steep with a cool, northwesterly aspect, and the soil a mix of alluvial and windblown silt over gravel. The vineyard is planted with a mix of French Pommard and Dijon clones farmed sustainably. There is no winery facility yet, so the wine is made in Summerland under the tutelage of winemaker Matt Dumayne at Okanagan Crush Pad. The 2017 is the best of the New World pinot noir style, and testament to the quality of fruit coming out of the north Okanagan. Rich and juicy, with both black and red fruit and a fair bit of spice, it takes me to coastal Sonoma. The key is the balance in this well-made pinot. Highly drinkable already with pork, chicken, veal, mushrooms.Prices:| BC | $70.00 | 750ml |
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26 June 2018
87PTS
CedarCreek Pinot Gris 2017
British Columbia, CanadaThe CedarCreek pinot gris is a mix of southern Okanagan and Kelowna fruit which no doubt helps with volume if not the vitality of this wine but then they have gone with 30 percent neutral oak ageing giving it added texture and mouthfeel. The attack is a mix of fruit salad notes with a hint of butter and just enough acidity and spice to keep it honest. A mid-week white for a sunny patio or appetizers.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Pirramimma Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaSweet and ripe red fruit is covered by milk and dark chocolate in this potent McLaren Vale cabernet sauvignon. Pipe tobacco and waves of green herbs thread the palate, while overly gritty tannins house the smoothed, full palate to the grippy and tight finish. Drink now with read meats.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $27.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Pirramimma Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaBig peppery, cedar, licorice root, resin, coffee, cassis aromas. Youthful on the palate with slightly tart gritty cabernet tannins. More warm coffee, pepper blueberry and tobacco flavours with a tart finish that dries out the ending. Too young at this point so if you are going to drink this now be sure to serve something big and boisterous like a well herbed leg of grilled lamb.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $27.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Wakefield St Andrews Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Clare Valley, South Australia, AustraliaThis Clare cabernet is from this historic St. Andrews property, first planted in 1892. Rich and full, with roasted coffee bedding, this is a dense, thick and potent red, with medicinal cherry leading, and tobacco, cassis, cedar filling out the rest of the ample 14.5 (minimal) fleshy frame. Tannins are wood-strident and opaque at this youthful stage, enough to hold up the very ripe fruit. The finish burns with wooden alcohol, requiring rich and fatty ribs to counter now, or better yet time in the cellar to lessen the impact.Prices:| BC | $57.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Margaret River, Western Australia, AustraliaRich and velveteen, this Margaret River cabernet sauvignon is joined with 13 percent malbec, flushing out cab's structural side with plush blueberry, blackberry jam and peppery spice. Ample dusky, brooding spices and extra ample sticky/tacky tannins house the ripe fruit, one that spent a backbone-building one year in French oak (13 percent new). Savoury dark cherry, mint and and sultry tobacco lingers on the finish. Though this certainly carries heft, it brings with it an impressive freshness to carry. This will be happy with a few more years in bottle, though showing very well now with airtime.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $34.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Jim Barry The Cover Drive Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Coonawarra, South Australia, AustraliaCured meats, cassis, red currant is imbued with light smoke and leather in this ripe Coonawarra cab. Medicinal, minted redcurrant and cherry come across thick and ripe on the dense palate, with soft plushy tannins and seasoned with Worcestershire, damson plum, salty olives. Sweet tobacco, perfumed, sweet jam fruit on the compact palate finish with cedar spicing. This is a rough and ready, plucky big red, perfect for your juicy grilled burgers and chips.Prices:| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $28.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Howard Park Miamup Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Margaret River, Western Australia, AustraliaSpicy, ripe, full and powerful, as one would anticipate from a Margaret River cabernet sauvignon, one of the region's hallmark grapes, and one of the grape's classic regions. This is sourced from numerous vineyard blocks in and around the subregion of Wilyabrup. Blocks are vinified separately, fermented in tank, and matured in French oak for 18 months. Blackberry, black cherry is pushed through a charcoal filter, with a perfume of dark florals, anise emerging on the back end. Tannins are present, but sueded, and take a back seat to the fruit. Ample perfume, dusky black fruit, peppery spice fill the ripe palate, one that holds its poised form to the vanilla and cardamom kissed finish. This is ready for drinking now, though will hold with time in cellar.Prices:| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
West Cape Howe Book Ends Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Mt. Barker, Great Southern, Western Australia, AustraliaMount Barker is a region at the southern most point of Western Australia, eastward of famed and coastal Margaret River, and gaining acclaim on its own stead. This is classic Western Oz, with juicy, full bodied blue and black fruits, plush tannins and ample coastal freshness to carry. Eucaluptus is omnipresent, from first sniff to lingering finish, flushed out with plum, blueberry, cassis on a steely, lingering finish. Tannins are ample, but comfortable in the background, supporting the fruit. This strikes the ideal balance between ripeness, acidity, fruit - plus that bonus point of restraint.Prices:| BC | $38.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $37.00 | 750ml |
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25 June 2018
86PTS
Rocky Creek Pinot Gris 2017
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaFrom three of their estate vineyards, this year's pinot gris had some extended skin contact - 16 hours - giving it a deeper peach hue and some brisk grip. The back label describes it as "Modern with a pinkish tone: 'termed Orange wine'". After being racked off the skins, this was fermented in stainless with three different yeasts, where it remained until the following April. Tight, brisk and astringent, with light apricot, Asian pear and grapefruit, this finishes short and snappy. Best when it warms in the glass a little bit. One of my favourite wines in their portfolio, this is lovely looking fruit, and I would love a cleaner, purer look in future.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Pinot Gris 2017
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaThis Cowichan Valley pinot gris well shows the cool climate and clay/gravels of the region through the crisp, tight frame, light spice, mineral, shining pear, lemon peel and grapefruit pith that streams the length of this slender wine. As it warms and opens in the glass, an alluring anise emerges. A fine layer of lees comforts the middle, and zest of lime lingers on the finish. Bight and juicy, svelt and minerals, this is the best gris I've tasted from the Islands, and a hallmark for what's yet to come.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Blue Grouse Quill Pinot Gris 2017
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaThis Quill wine blends Cowichan fruit with Okanagan Valley fruit, fermented separately in stainless and then blended, without MLF and with full intent to make a crisp, bright, lighter wine. This is achieved, in a fully grigio style, with tight yellow and green apples, grapefruit, melon and light jasmine spice. There's a sunny Okanagan cushion mid, but otherwise this is tight and marine-kissed. I'd like to see this migrate to all island fruit in future.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Flat Roof Manor Pinot Grigio 2017
Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South AfricaLean and tight, with lemon, melon, green apple and grass on a thin, steely frame to a shorter, snappy finish. The grigio comes from three Stellenbosch vineyards around 200m altitude and from vines 5-34 years old. The wine spent two months on the lees in stainless, where it was blended with nine percent sauvignon blanc and two percent chenin. Crisp, shining and lively, chill and crack this summer.Prices:| BC | $12.29 | 750ml |
| ON | $11.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $12.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $14.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $15.50 | 750ml |
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22 June 2018
87PTS
CedarCreek Pinot Gris 2017
British Columbia, CanadaThe 2017 blends roughly equal parts pinot gris from the southern Okanagan and their Kelowna estate. This year they upped the neutral oak percentage to thirty, whereas it usually sits more around ten percent, with the remainder in stainless. The weight certainly is felt on the palate, one with more girth than some previous vintages. However, it has some persistent shimmery acidity, and the RS is dialled back from 2016, which is welcome. Gingersnap spicing on the finish.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Lang Vineyards Pinot Gris 2015
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaScrewcap was damaged; wine was oxidized. Try another.Prices:| BC | $19.90 | 750ml |
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19 June 2018
88PTS
Sea Star Siegerrebe 2017
Pender Island, Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia, CanadaPerfumed with lime blossoms, ripe peach, apricot fuzz and ginger spicing, this is a coastal streamline version of what can be a very heady, lush grape. If too chilled, this wine is tight and unyielding. When allowed to warm and relax in the glass, the wine opens up, and the jagged edges fade into an off-dry, lighter white, with a bitter kiss of anise on the finish.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Hillside Reserve Viognier 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaKathy Malone is talking the talk and walking the walk at Hillside having gradually shifted her production to all Naramata fruit over the last eight years. She is particularly sensitive to which grapes Hillside should be growing and where they should be planted. This viognier is a good reflection of what can be done on the mid-valley bench, based on soil and extended hang-time. The aromatics are intense but just when you are ready for a richer, heavier attack this wine is juicer and more elegant than you expect, with a riot of orchard fruit, spice and fragrant honeysuckle notes. The slightly extra weight you sense in the mid-palate is due to the small portion of the blend that was aged in oak, sur lie, to add complexity. A perfect chicken wine but it's equally at home with most vegetarian dishes. Super value.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Spearhead Winery White Pinot Noir 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA white pinot noir? Yup, made by gentle whole bunch pressing and very minimal time on the skins. The juice was cold settled and fermented to dryness in stainless, where it sat before bottling. This is filled with sharp flintiness due to the reductive environment, though here it comes across as a bitter, almost ashen note that overwhelms the fruit. Underneath you get a sense of some subtle pear, melon and yellow apple on a glycerol-lined palate, finishing with salts, and a flush of warmth. Interesting attempt, but less so on result.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Blue Grouse Estate Ortega 2017
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaOrtega has come to be a calling card of the Wine Islands, and Blue Grouse's is one of the highlights. From vines now 25 years old, this was fermented in stainless and without MLF, keeping the fruit shining. Two months on the lees lends a slight cushion to buffer the acidity. Crisp, tight and bright white, laced with citrus, melon, mandarin to a snappy, slightly bitter finish. Ideal with coastal shellfish and salads.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Rocca Bernarda Ribolla Gialla 2016
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, ItalyRibolla gialla is delicious when it’s well made, plus highly versatile at the table. Look for bright acidity, strong lemon verbena mixed with white pepper, wild grasses and lime rind. It has a self-cleaning palate mode that sets you up to just keep drinking the bottle sip after sip. Perfect with barbecued chicken but any vegetarian/vegan dish will shine with this sophisticated white. Tasting well now but this will age well through 2023. Real wine and great value.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Barone di Valforte Pecorino 2016
Abruzzo, ItalyThe Sorricchio family has owned the baronial fief of Valforte since the 13th Century, and their vineyard lies within the DOCG Colline Teramane area. This pecorino is grown on north facing (cooler) calcareous laced soils in Piomba and Colle Sale, and from 150 - 350m. Light honeysuckle, quince, pine nuts, Asian pear, apricot fuzz in this structured white, hedged with smoked / broken stone, and lifted with a bright spire of acidity to an savoury finish. There's a slight sandy/ash texture that lingers, bringing this additional interest. Snappy, intriguing now, this will continue to honey with time, adding secondary and tertiary complexities to this easy charmer.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Barone di Valforte Passerina 2016
Abruzzo, ItalyNative to southern Marche / northern Abruzzo, this grape was near extinction before a handful of producers resurrected it. The Sorricchio family has owned the baronial fief of Valforte since the 13th Century, and their vineyard lies within the DOCG Colline Teramane area. This passerino is grown on north facing (cooler) sandy soils, approximately 100m above sea level. Meadow grasses, quince, ripe white peach is slicked with a firm coat of lees and lifted with white pepper to a spiced, lightly bitter finish. This is a touch loose and watery on the mid palate. I would love to see this under screw cap rather than a short, plastic cork.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
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18 June 2018
88PTS
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Region del Valle Central, ChileThick on the palate with juicy blackberry, blackcurrant, inky plum, smoked meats, pipe tobacco, dried violets, and dried desert scrub herbs. This bold cabernet sauvignon is much more refined in 2015 than in previous vintages, with the wood fading more into the background, and the alcohol fieriness capped at a respectable 14 degrees. Cab sauv from Rapel and Colchagua Valleys, plus 10 percent merlot, go into this powerful red, one that 55 percent spent in French wood (1st, 2nd, 3rd use) for a year prior to bottling. Tannins are big and grippy but softened, while cedar and mint scent the briefer finish. Well done to freshen and modernize this compact red.Prices:| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $27.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $23.02 | 750ml |
| NS | $22.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $28.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Finca Decero Cabernet Sauvignon Remolinos Vineyard 2013
Agrelo District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaFinca Decero is a vineyard that was carved out of the landscape from ‘scratch’ or Decero as they say in Spanish. The philosophy is less is more, to allow the character of the 3500-foot-high Remolinos Vineyard in Agrelo shine. In this case ‘remolinos’ refers to the whirlwinds that keep the grapes dry and in perfect condition. There is a certain Napa feel this wine, in terms of roundness and richness. The nose is aromatic and stylish with concentrated, ripe, spicy blackberry fruit with just the right dusting of coffee. It finishes warm but not enough to bother. Prime rib or lamb would be a very tasty match.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $22.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Pascual Toso Alta Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Maipú, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaThis cab hails from 60-year-old vines in the Barrancas, Maipú District of Mendoza that present rich, soft, silky fruit textures laced with boysenberry and black raspberry fruit. The attack is full and warm with flecks of vanilla, brown spices and chocolate. The 2015 Is not particularly intense but it is ready drink with your favourite beef.Prices:| US | $28.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Felino by Viña Cobos Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Mendoza, ArgentinaAlways reliable, the 2015 is a mix of fruit from Lujan, Cuyo and Valle de Uco with both red and black fruit attributes. The key here is the freshness of the acidity and the floral undertones that keeps the richer, intense, sweet black cherry fruit from being overbearing. Mostly balanced and friendly with alcohol just on the edge of warm. This is your Saturday night party steak wine.Prices:| AB | $24.99 | 750ml |
| BC | $28.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $20.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
El Esteco Fincas Notables Cabernet Sauvignon Cuartel 9 2013
Calchaqui Valley, Salta, North, ArgentinaThe vineyard was planted in 1960 at 1700 meters above sea level. As you would expect, the nose is fresh with more red fruit aromas than black. The attack is similar with red cherry supported by cassis and lively acidity. The tannins are still youthful but light and run across the full length of its linear, stony mineral palate. Best with grilled beef at the moment but will improve with two to three more years in the bottle.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $23.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Kaiken Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Agrelo District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaBelow average temperature throughout most of the 2015-2016 growing season extend the ripening period well into late April. Ultra is always an elegant wine whose structure begins at its Vistalba vineyard, now over 80-years-old and farmed biodynamically. The site sits at 1050 meters above sea level and roughly 800 meters away from the Mendoza River. The first two feet of alluvial soils contain 20 percent clay but after that it is rock city. The stony mineral black fruit has a strong peppery bent in 2015 with some upfront freshness reflecting the cool year. Post ferment the 95/5 cabernet sauvignon/malbec is aged in French oak (1/3 into new barrels) for one year. There is a cool, savoury, umami demeanour here and some smoky oak but the black fruit is dry and showing some finesse and minerality. It will age effortlessly through 2026.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $20.00 | 750ml |
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14 June 2018
89PTS
Pirramimma Shiraz 2015
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaPirramimma was founded by Alexander Campbell Johnston in 1892 and has been owned and operated by the family ever since. Geoff Johnston is the current ancestor, and winemaker. Pirramimma is an Aboriginal phrase meaning "the moon and the stars," which this what this wine reaches for from the glass. Expect a massive, hedonistic, ripe, deep and dense red with dark chocolate, mint and blackberry. This doesn't just suggest, it shouts McLaren Vale. Approximately 15 percent of this saw French and American oak, and the rest spent their time in stainless. Potent medicinal cassis, purple florals, ripe plums, blackberry wine gums and peppery spice take over the palate that surprisingly ends warm and just a touch lean which is probably a good thing. Pepper steak would be a fine match.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $29.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $24.95 | 750ml |
| MB | $32.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap 2017
Western Cape, South AfricaRipe, dense and rich, opulent black fruit, cherry jam, resin and tar coat the palate of this syrah, mourvedre and viognier blend from sandy Franschhoek. Tannins are ample and supple, squeezing the sides of this full-boded red. There's a pretty floral lift on the end, perhaps a nod from the viognier, though the rest of this blend is weighted down with some charcoal dust. Certainly an easy grilled meat partner.Prices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $16.80 | 750ml |
| NF | $15.75 | 750ml |
| NS | $16.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $14.25 | 750ml |
| NB | $16.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $17.20 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Wakefield St Andrews Shiraz 2015
Clare Valley, South Australia, AustraliaThis wine contains some of the oldest vines on the family estate, one that was first planted in 1892. Ample and alluring red raspberry, mulberry, cracked peppercorn, is threaded with medicinal cherry / kirsch and lifted with a thread of potent acidity. Peppercorns scent the whole, and sticky tannins, vanilla-lined, prop this up. After fermentation and ample hands-on time, this spent 20 months in American oak prior to bottling. The wood is evident, but well integrated, leaving an additional lingering sweetness on top of the super ripe fruit. Dense and hot, but with élan, this drinks well now with richer beef dishes, but will reward with cellaring.Prices:| BC | $58.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2016
AustraliaNearly equal parts Clare and McLaren Vale, this deep, full and sunripened shiraz was cold soaked prior to fermentation, and then into American oak for a short stint before bottling. Thick on the palate, compounded by wood and super ripe fruit, this is medicinal black cherry, cassis, ample pepper and eucalypt on a dense, kissed-with-vanilla palate. Too much, of too much; if you're looking for an intense Aussie shiraz, devoid of place but full of intent (richness), here you go.Prices:| BC | $30.50 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Chapel Hill The Parson Shiraz 2016
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaClassic McLaren Vale shiraz always starts with a generosity of rich fruit and softness, and this wine has all that and more. Sweet but not over the top, the palate is warm and fresh and the peppery, licorice fruit persistent. A pleasant surprise perhaps due to a maturation period in older French oak. Barbecue lamb is an easy match. Good value.Prices:| BC | $19.49 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.50 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Beyond Broke Road Heathcote Shiraz 2016
Heathcote, Victoria, AustraliaHeathcote’s dry central Victorian climate with cool nights and warm days, is home to this shiraz fruit. The maturation is in older French oak for a year to soften the tannins without adding any oak wood flavour influence. The nose is slightly reduced under screwcap so be sure to splash decant and get some air on it. On the palate, it is all plums and mulberry with a lick of chocolate. Firm, spicy, linear, and warm, it finishes fresh with a hint of minerality. A solid hamburger red.Prices:| BC | $20.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Heartland Directors' Cut Shiraz 2014
Langhorne Creek, South Australia, AustraliaThe Directors’ Cut has always been a big wine and a window into the style and power of Langhorne Creek shiraz. The nose is rich and hedonistic with aromatic, meaty, black fruit. The palate is full of black licorice, black and blue fruits with a spicy, warm underbelly and a dusting of menthol. Tannins are dense but sweet. I suggest grilled lamb to tackle this wine now, or you can cellar it for three to six years. A blockbuster style made for a specific audience.Prices:| BC | $39.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $34.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $45.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Wallace by Ben Glaetzer Shiraz Grenache 2016
Barossa Valley, South Australia, AustraliaThe 2016 has to be among the best vintages of Wallace we have tasted over the years, but then 2016 was special in the Barossa. It is definitely one in twenty, if not more when it comes to quality, thanks to adequate spring rainfall followed by a warm, dry, calm summer that led to plenty of time to pick. Now to the best part of all, there was abundant, high quality fruit to choose from. In the glass this 78/22 shiraz/grenache blend made from just under 100-year-old dry farmed vineyards is intense and decadent. Love the open florals, the smoke and licorice and the mix of raspberries and blueberries, all with a stylish acid/sugar balance. Juicy, not a word to use lightly with Barossa shiraz, is its calling card. Fantastic value and ready to drink.Prices:| AB | $28.95 | 750ml |
| BC | $30.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $26.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Sea Star Ortega 2017
Pender Island, Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia, CanadaOrtega is one of the highlight whites of the Wine Islands, and Sea Star's a veritable star. Pristine, pixellated acidity lifts tight perfumed citrus, lemon pith, white peach, lemon verbena, green melon, with grapefruit ringing on the finish. Streamlined, sleek, coastal brisk and vibrant, this is a beauty example, and style we should be championing. All this, and 11.9 degrees alcohol? Stock up now.Prices:| BC | $17.30 | 750ml |
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13 June 2018
89PTS
Claus Preisinger Blaufrankisch 2016
This juicy blaufrankisch was fermented in stainless and matured in old, large format barrels on lees for six months before bottling. Black raspberry, red currants, black cherry is sharpened with cranberry acidity, and weighted with balsamic. At once both juicy and chisled, the acidity here wins out, driving this compact, tight red to a pointed, astringent finish.Prices:| BC | $23.50 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Katogi Averoff Xinomavro 2013
Nemea, Peloponnese, GreeceLight mint, crushed cassis, wild scrubby herbs and elegant purple florals fill this xinomavaro through the mid-palate. It's Barolo-esque up front, even pouring with a brown tint in the glass. However, as soon as you get to the finish, the raging grippy xino tannins take over, stripping this of easy drinking pleasure if you're not consuming with lamb or ribs. There's a lovely freshness that carries this compact wine, though those tannins require serious protein, or a day in decanter to mitigate now.Prices:| BC | $30.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Gut Oggau Josephine 2013
Bergland Österreich, AustriaGut Oggau is one of the exciting darlings of the natural wine movement. Based in the small town of Oggau in Burgenland, Austria, the project was started by Eduard and Stephanie Tscheppe in 2007. The couple took over a 17th century winery that had been abandoned for 20 years, renovated it (including its 200-year-old screw press), and renewed the vineyards, which had benefitted from two decades' life chemical-free. They practice biodynamically, and are Demeter certified. Each of their small-lot wines have a distinct personality, so they've come up with an entire family tree of intertwining stories and characters, faced with striking label sketches by local artist Jung von Matt. The labels depict the human face of each wine, and remarkably, each ages and matures with each vintage. Josephine is an unconventional woman of the more mature generation, Timotheus’s second wife and Winifred’s stepmother. This is a blend of 35 year old, lower south facing gravel-sloping Blaufrankish and Roesler, fermented in used 500, 1000 and 1500-liter barrels before eight months' quiet rest in 500-liter barrels. The wine is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with zero addition of sulfur. Deeper hued and darker fruited, with brooding mulberry, sweet cassis, spicing, and cracked cloves. Though the palate is mouthfilling, it has a lift and impression of brightness. There is some forest floor and earthy funk lingering beneath the berry fruit. Tannins are fine, firm and secondary. Contemplative and serious, while easy to drink.Prices:| BC | $67.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Gut Oggau Atanasius 2015
Bergland Österreich, AustriaGut Oggau is one of the exciting darlings of the natural wine movement. Based in the small town of Oggau in Burgenland, Austria, the project was started by Eduard and Stephanie Tscheppe in 2007. The couple took over a 17th century winery that had been abandoned for 20 years, renovated it (including its 200-year-old screw press), and renewed the vineyards, which had benefitted from two decades' life chemical-free. They practice biodynamically, and are Demeter certified. Each of their small-lot wines have a distinct personality, so they've come up with an entire family tree of intertwining stories and characters, faced with striking label sketches by local artist Jung von Matt. The labels depict the human face of each wine, and remarkably, each ages and matures with each vintage. Atanasius is one of the children, a generation of wines meant to be lighter, fun and fresh. His is a blend of gravels and limestone, single plot and field blend 35-year-old zweigelt and blaufrankisch, fermented in large-format old wood where it remained on skins for three weeks. Post ferment the wine stays in the same vessels for one year, with no sulphur, until bottling unfined and unfiltered. Tight herbal raspberry, plum, blackcurrants on a finely dusty palate, lined with worn leather and housed with light gritty tannins. There's a perfumed wild raspberry that clings onto the drying finish. Honest, chillable, chugable.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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12 June 2018
90PTS
Finca de la Rica El Guia Rioja Crianza 2016
Rioja, SpainFinca de la Rica makes this 95/5 mix of tempranillo/viura at a modest 13.5 percent alcohol. The fruit, 45-year-old tempranillo and 100-year-old viura is grown organically and cofermented. One quarter goes through carbonic maceration followed by a stainless steel ferment. The nose is reminiscent of ripe and tart cherries and currants, while the palate is texturally soft with ripe raspberry and strawberries dusted with brown spice and sagebrush (a little Okanagan). A wonderful food wine that would ignite a plate of jamon, olives, and dry aged cheeses. Real wine and fine value.Prices:| BC | $31.00 | 750ml |
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0PTS
Finca de la Rica El Buscador Rioja Crianza 2014
Rioja, Spaincorked.Prices:| BC | $31.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Aalto Ribera del Duero 2008
Ribera del Duero, Castilla-Leon, SpainFrom the cellar. This bottle was gifted to me in Spain from Mariano García', ex-winemaker of 30 years of Ribera del Duero / Spain / world's iconic Vega Sicilia. He left VS to found this project. This special one is ten years on and presenting so youthful still, with the core of black cherry pure and strong, surrounded by worn leather, smoked meats, tobacco, charcoal, cracked peppercorns, all gripped by firm, very drying, iron-fist tannins. You can feel the sunripened fruit, once potently powerful, now fading out with Worchestershire spicing. Aalto is sourced from seven different villages across a variety of soils, with the age of the vineyard ranging from 40-100 years. This was aged for two years in French and American oak. Drink now.Prices:| BC | $69.00 | 750ml |
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11 June 2018
89PTS
Ashton Hills Pinot Noir 2016
Piccadilly Valley, Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaAshton Hills is considered amongst the top pinot producers in Adelaide Hills, opening in the early 1980s not long after Brian Croser established the modern era of grape growing in the cool climate region. The Piccadilly Valley pinot is their entry level bottling containing fruit grown close to the winery and anything declassified from the estate and reserve bottlings, but don’t let that disappoint you. This is a delicious drinking, red-fruited red with a full, sweet pinot character, and an edgy, savoury, earthy underbelly. The textures are soft and spicy and it is very food friendly. Think grilled salmon and vegetables.Prices:| BC | $39.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Cline Family Cellars Pinot Noir 2016
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, United StatesThis pinot is all hand-harvested at about 3 tons to the acre. The fruit comes off three ‘Sonoma Coast’ sites including Lazy C Vineyard in the cool ‘Petaluma Gap’ and the Lazy P and M ranches located a few miles north. The sites are often fogbound in the morning extending the growing season and enhancing flavours. It’s aged eight months in 40 percent new French oak with a n additional portion of American and Eastern European barrels. The family id highly committed to sustainable agriculture. Look for a ripe, California style with rich strawberry and candied cherry fruit with smoky, spicy, vanilla undertones with a warm, earthy, black tea undercurrent. A style you can sip solo or pair up with salmon, grilled vegetables or even a favourite curry dish.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $22.60 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Domaine Franck Millet Sancerre Rouge 2015
Sancerre, Upper Loire, Loire, FranceThis 100 percent pinot noir Sancerre rouge is grown on clay soils, which accounts for the middle weight in an otherwise silky, low alcohol red that slides down effortlessly. Only 30 percent of the wine goes into neutral oak barrels, and the remainder rests in stainless steel. The attack is fresh and juicy with a balance of floral, cherry fruit flavours and a light dusting of forest floor before a long, balanced, mineral finish. The perfect summer red for grilled salmon steaks.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $27.35 | 750ml |
| ON | $24.95 | 750ml |
| SK | $33.97 | 750ml |
| AB | $29.99 | 750ml |
| Mb | $33.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Thorle Spatburgunder 2016
Rheinhessen, GermanyThe new German wine order includes pinot noir, and the wines have taken a quantum quality leap in the past five years. The Thorle ‘spätburgunder’ is aged in 85 percent neutral German oak barrels mixed with 15 percent new French oak, just enough to give the wine a centre line. It is bottled unfiltered and unfined. The colour is pale ruby, the nose aromatic with savoury, mineral floral notes that jump from the glass. The attack is juicy and savoury mixing intense wild red fruits with dried herbs and ripe juicy cherries. An impressive mix of Okanagan and New Zealand with a twist of Burgundy. It’s the next world of wine. Duck fried rice and mushrooms would be a fit.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Cirro Pinot Noir 2015
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandMarlborough pinot noir has long been reliable, which probably explains why so few are sold in BC. It’s good to have Cirro in the market. There are fine aromatics here, led by a smoky, savoury, earthy nose of dried herbs over cherries and cedar, earthy notes. Soft and juicy on the palate with more of the same nose notes, plus more red berry fruits and rooty, earthy mushrooms before a touch of acidity poking through the back end. Perfect for mushroom pasta dishes or pork chops grilled on the barbecue. Ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
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05 June 2018
93PTS
Eyrie Vineyards Daphne Pinot Noir 2013
Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United StatesPlanted at the hill crest of Eyrie's estate vineyards, Daphne is one of the oldest and highest elevation plantings in the Dundee Hills. In response to the harsh environent, the vines are tiny and scrawny (but strong) with tiny berries. The site, at 865 feet, was for many years considered too high for red wine. Thank goodness for Lett's not listening. Wild raspberry, cranberry stream through the slender wine. There's a lovely supple wild strawberry mid palate, lined with plum and meadow herbs, drawn tight and fine on the shimmery finish. So nimble and pristine, with a nonchalant lifted acidity which instantly charms. Youthful still, this has leagues to go.Prices:| US | $75.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir Estate Cuvée 2014
Willamette Valley, Oregon, United StatesThe 2014 growing season was really warm, yielding a generous crop and one of the largest over Sokol Blosser’s 44 years of winegrowing in Dundee. The dry conditions ensured a clean crop, dark in color. The winery takes 30 percent of the fruit off the skins immediately to maintain a level of pinot pureness. The blend involves each of the pinot blocks spread across the 85-acre estate. A richer style, this vintage offers darker blackberries, black cherries and brambleberries intermixed with savoury forest floor. The texture is lush with a touch of tannins to yet disperse, and the finish is long and persistent with brown spicing. Duck confit, grilled salmon, or pork belly would all be fine complements.Prices:| BC | $37.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $26.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Brewer-Clifton Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2015
Santa Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United StatesThe Brewer-Clifton pinot is a mix of three estate vineyard sites within the Sta. Rita Hills AVA: 3D, Machado and Acin. The style is intense and rich from a European point of view, but I might say restrained from a New World view. The nose is a mix of red fruit scents with a strong tea leaf undercurrent marked with a dusting of dried herbs. Think earthy/forest floor, raspberries cherries and pomegranate. AT B-C they employ neutral oak to better let the site show through. The use of stems is an important part of the structure and earthy characters of the Sta. Rita Hills fruit. The clones are a blend of Swan, Pommard, 667, 828, and the Merry Edwards clone. Delicious stuff.Prices:| US | $49.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $69.95 | 750ml |
| BC | $49.00 | 750ml |
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04 June 2018
89PTS
Bella Wines Mariani Trad-Nat Gamay Noir NV
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNever heard of Trad-Nat? Fret not, as it's a name owner/winemaker Jay Drysdale came up with to describe this cross between a traditional method sparkling wine, and a pét-nat (method ancestrale). As with many new things, this was an experiment. Their goal: to make traditional method fizz with nothing added, including sugar or yeast. They native fermented their bone dry 2016 Westbank gamay as a base wine, and added the still-fermenting, thus still sugar-laden 2017 Cavada gamay (Naramata Village) as their liqueur de triage (to kickstart the second fermentation in bottle). After about a day to marry the two vintages, and with Jay confident that the resultant sugar (approx 25 g/L) would create enough pressure to make a traditional method fizz, this was bottled, where it rested on lees for four months before hand riddling and disgorging at the end of January 2017. Pixellated and frisky, with raspberry, red currant, red apple, red liquorice, cut with a twinge of balsamic and riff of stony spice. Bone dry via zero dosage, yet tightly knit and finely fruity, via Westbank gamay that spent one year on lees in neutral barrel, this is a rarity, and an experiment that worked. This reminds me of a light and finer Lambrusco rather than a rosé Champagne, yet feels inherently Okanagan and perfect for food. Looking forward to future experiments from Bella.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2016
Contra Costa, Central Coast, California, United StatesCline Ancient Vines Zinfandel has deep roots that go back nearly a century in the sandy soils of Contra Costa County’s Oakley vineyards. Old or ancient, anyway you cut it this wine has pedigree, but it can’t escape its warm site. The nose is slightly reduced with smoky, meaty aromas. The palate is awash in super ripe raisiny fruit with notes of cola and chocolate. Ready to drink, and your best bet is a side of smoky barbecue ribs. Pricey for what you get in BC.Prices:| BC | $31.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $23.95 | 750ml |
| PEI | $28.50 | 750ml |
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89PTS
El Esteco Fincas Notables Tannat Cuartel 28 2013
Calchaqui Valley, Salta, North, ArgentinaIt’s easy to look at tannat as a rustic, tannic red, especially if your experience is decades old, but this full-bodied high-altitude red is anything but. The fruit is bright and clean, the acidity bright, and centred all with a floral, stony, almost creamy finish. It’s attractive to say the least. Finca Las Mercedes plot 28 was planted in 1993 and these vines are just beginning to sing. Any favourite grilled meat or stew works, but it has enough grace to work with pork or chicken as well.Prices:| BC | $31.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Novy Zinfandel 2016
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United StatesThe Novy zin is an explosion of pure raspberry on the nose and palate with bright acidity and spice to balance. The secret is a stellar bunch of vineyards: Jensen Lane Vineyard (planted in 1915), the Limerick Lane Vineyard (planted in 1910), and the Carlisle Vineyard (planted in 1927). Old vineyards bring fruit like no other, but they also provide the acidity to keep the wine fresh. Even the prolonged drought in 2016 was no match for these deep-rooted vines, dry-farmed since they were planted. The juice is kept separate by vineyard to allow for a barrel selection of the best wine, aged in all French oak (one/fifth new).Prices:| BC | $46.99 | 750ml |
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01 June 2018
91PTS
Seven Directions Tractor and Vines Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé 2017
West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSeven Directions is doing what no other winery in BC has thought about, in that they are totally focused on one style of wine: rosé. In fact, they are selling a series of single-vineyard rosés sourced from sites across the Okanagan. Tractors and Vines is a one acre, lake-level, ten-year-old vineyard in Summerland. The pinot noir was crushed and cold-soaked for only two hours, leaving a very pale colour. After fermentation, it is held on its lees until bottling. Alluring, enticing, inviting nose of warm wet stones and a palate of wild strawberries, kiwi, mandarin and salt. Love the acidity, brightness and silky textures. So impressive, so right and they aren’t clobbering you with price. Run, rush, hurry, it will be gone soon.Prices:| BC | $19.91 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Arrowleaf Rose 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaArrowleaf Cellars would get my vote for one of the most underrated winery in British Columbia. Their location in Lake Country puts them just off the major traffic map but they are making a compelling case for northern Okanagan fruit. Case in point, this perfectly fresh, light pink rosé that blends 85/25 pinot noir / zweigelt grown in West Kelowna and Lake Country. The harvest of these grapes are specific to rosé: earlier and at higher acidity. The style is juicy, clean and floral with rich red fruit and mineral notes; think strawberries, grapefruit and cranberries. Despite some healthy acidity it finishes just off-dry with 8.5 grams of residual sugar. A warm patio is the best match all summer. Super value.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Black Hills Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is year two for this rosé made from only pinot noir. It’s less sweet in 2017 but still a full-bodied style rosé on the red shade of electric pink. The attack is a mix of strawberry, raspberry, licorice with a light dusting of sagebrush and tomato leaf. The palate is soft and sweeter, a touch of glycerol permeating the cranberry, rhubarb, strawberry and a lick of candy apple on the finish. Best with seafood or chicken salads. We'd love to see them lower the ripeness, lessen the RS, up the acidity.Prices:| BC | $26.90 | 750ml |
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81PTS
Rocky Creek Robin's Rosé 2017
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaDeep, day-glo pink, this pinot noir pink is from 20+ year old estate vines. After one day of cold soak, this was fermented in stainless where it remained until the following spring. Off-dry and blocky, with smoke, cherry jam, and strawberries, this finishes abruptly, lingering with a candied cherry gel note. The back label states, amongst other things, this is "Manly but sophisticated". I tend to disagree with both adjectives.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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84PTS
Monte Creek Ranch Rosé 2017
British Columbia, CanadaDeeper day-glo pink, this off dry rosé is from the marquette grape. Strawberry jam, candied apple fill the soft round palate, akin to a cherry gummy bear. There is a warming cinnamon heart spice that heats the finish. This is a full-bodied, old school rosé, best chilled down or dare we say pour over ice on a super warm day. Spicy appetizers would be an excellent foil.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Dirty Laundry Vineyard Hush Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThough this paler blush hue blend of merlot, pinot noir, and cabernet franc has a good bump of RS, it's held well by the shining acidity and matched by the juicy fruit. All whole cluster, part saignee (pinot) and part maceration (merlot and franc), this is off-dry strawberry jam, spicy raspberry and cinnamon on a round, medium-bodied palate, finishing snappy. Chill and enjoy this summer. Nice new tighter and fresher direction for the winery; keep it up.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Lunessence Blanc de Noir Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPale pink in the glass with a bright strawberry/raspberry scent. The attack is sweet with intense strawberry fruit flecked with dried herbs and a crystalline lemon finish. A touch of oak adds some weight to the mid-palate. If you like your pink bright and sweet this is it, but just be sure to serve this well chilled or perhaps with a spicy pork/barbecue sauce dish. A 60/40 mix of cabernet franc and pinot noir.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Mission Hill Reserve Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe mission Hill ‘Reserve’ are made on the premise, reflect the top 15 percent of their estate vineyards, and use at least 75 percent of the same vineyard blocks each vintage to ensure consistency. This 63/37 mix of merlot and shiraz is sourced from estate vineyards in Osoyoos. A crowd pleaser to the eye with its pale pink colour, the attack is super fresh. Wild strawberries and fresh crushed raspberries are mixed with candied lemons and enough supporting underlying acidity to make you want to finish the bottle. Patio ready.Prices:| BC | $20.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Mission Hill Five Vineyards Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe 2017 harvest, lasted 66 days at Mission Hill and is characterised as one of extremes. It started late, was wet and cool early and then record-breaking dry in July and August shrinking the crop but intensifying flavours, reminiscent of the highly lauded 2009 vintage. This rosé is all southern fruit, mixing 45/35/20 merlot, shiraz and pinot noir with a light pink orange tint. Look for a fruity, red cherry nose with a whiff of pepper. Strawberries and watermelons dominate the slightly coarse palate. A budget and patio-friendly juicy rosé, perfect for a beet and goat cheese salad. Good value.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $16.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $12.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $16.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Kitsch Wines Pinot Noir Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis organically farmed pinot noir rosé is a blend of two clones (115 and 777) from their very young East Kelowna vineyard, planted in 2014. After a little foot stopping, this was whole cluster pressed, given 15 hours skin contact and an overnight settle before fermentation with Provencal yeast. This was blended with free run juice left from the barrel aged pinot noir, which was wild fermented. The whole spent 50 days on the lees. Juicy watermelon, cherry, herbal strawberries on a creamy, lees-lined palate. A bump of RS works well with the impact of the berry fruit and the fresh acidity. Short and snappy on the finish, this is a likeable, friendly, drink-me-now pink to enjoy this summer.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Seven Directions Fruitvale Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Franc Rosé 2017
West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe elegance on the palate of the Seven Directions rosés is highly appealing. This is not an afterthought label, but one of two single vineyard offerings celebrating pink wines and honouring the Provencal style. This is all cabernet franc from Osoyoos' Fruitvale Ridge Vineyard, now nine years old. The predominantly rocky shale site has yielded a delicate strawberry, watermelon, rhubarb nose that spills across the palate with a twist of orange rind. Delicious and terrific value.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Seven Directions Tractor and Vines Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé 2017
West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSeven Directions is serious about pink. This rosé-only winery releases a series of single-vineyard rosés every year, sourced from various wineries spanning the length of the Okanagan. This is from a one acre lake-level vineyard in Summerland, and from ten year old vines. The pinot noir was crushed and cold soaked for only two hours on the skins, which is why the colour is so pale (every so slightly just off-clear), fermented cool and held on lees. An alluring nose of stones, wild strawberries, kiwi, Anjou pear, mandarin, with Asian pear crunchy acidity to texture and lift. The finish is lengthy and silken. Elegant, textural, interesting, and impressive.Prices:| BC | $19.91 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Spearhead Pinot Noir Rosé 2017
South East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA name dispute has seen Spierhead rebrand itself to Spearhead Winery moving forward. The 2017 rosé is all pinot noir from south-east Kelowna's Gentleman Farmer Vineyard and Vernon's The Rise Vineyard. The colour is mid-pink, the nose a minty, herbaceous candied fruit affair with bits of citrus, strawberry, watermelon, strawberry, pear and spice. The finish is soft and round suggesting it can take on spicy sushi, ribs, or as Treve has suggested, candied salmon. We would like to see a little more elegance and freshness from these cool fruit sources.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Le Vieux Pin Vaïla Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDried herbs, meadow grass, wild raspberry leads this pinot noir rosé, backed up with red apple on the palate, and apple blossoms lingering. This sees grapes sourced from vineyards in Naramata Bench, Osoyoos Lake, Okanagan Falls and Westbank. After 22 hours on the skins this is gently pressed and aged in stainless, holding tight onto the bright, crunchy grapefruit acidity on the snappy finish. Nice, tight, food-friendly option.Prices:| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
LaStella Lastellina Rosato 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaHerbal raspberry, cool cherry glides along a silken strawberry palate in this off-dry pink. The finish is astringent and snappy, welcoming food, and echoing with dried sage. A mix of 62 percent cabernet franc, 32 percent merlot, and six percent sangiovese from North Oliver, Naramata Bench, and Osoyoos Lake district spent four months on the lees in stainless. The gentle bump of RS stands out here, a bit offset against fuzzy sides and herbal seasoning. Best with grilled salmon or veggie burgers.Prices:| BC | $22.90 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Sandhill Terroir Driven Wine Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNew from Sandhill, a rosé labelled Terroir Driven Wine. We would have preferred they named the single vineyard it came from and include its location on the front label, but we quibble. In fact, the fruit comes from the Sandhill Sandhill Estate Vineyard (Sandbox would have been more memorable, but again, we digress). The 73/27 gamay/merlot is pretty tasty. It's all stainless and fresh, with an alluring red fruit nose and a slightly richer southern fruit reminiscent of strawberry jam, with bits of sagebrush and pepper.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
CedarCreek Platinum Block 1 Pinot Noir Rosé 2017
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaIn 2017 the winery decided to put all its home estate Block 1 pinot noir into this rosé, harvested over two tries in September. Ten percent saw time in neutral oak to plump-up the texture while the rest remained tight in stainless. This is a graceful, pale pink hue, with wild strawberries and cream, perfumed raspberries and pink grapefruit rimmed with fine, dusty, sage on the finish. The palate is silky and cushioned with the cream and a touch RS, though the finish is fine rasped pink peppercorns, stony salty and mineral dry. This is an elegant, polished and serious rosé, befitting the Platinum name and tier. We would love to see the acidity pulled taut to take this next level. Food perfect.Prices:Read Full Note
88PTS
Chic Fille Pinot Meunier Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaChic Fille is Heidi Noble's new natural wine side project, and this rosé is her first release. Chic Fille can be translated as "cool girl", and certainly she's talking to all the cool kids with this line. This is entirely pinot meunier from Naramata's Pipar's Family Vineyard, destemmed and soaked on skins for two days before a slow, gentle pressing, bringing along some of the meunier tannins into the final wine. The must was allowed to hyper-ox before a three day cold settling, and two week wild ferment in 500L neutral oak puncheons. After racking off gross lees, this spent five months on fine lees before fining and bottling, with minimal sulphur through the process and just prior to bottling. Dry and juicy, with a sharp savoury edge, this draws rhubarb, red currant and cranberries along its slight (10.5 degree) frame. There's an ample twinge of balsamic and snap on the upright, pink peppercorn finish. Only 50 cases made; looking forward to watching this cool chick and her cool wines in future.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Organic Syrah Malbec Rose 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis deeper magenta / plum hued rosé is a blend of organic syrah and malbec from the southern Okanagan. A full day cold soak on the skins has ramped up the deep hue of this saignée rosé, and apparently quite sunripened grapes have donated 25 g/l sugar to this off dry pink. Sweeter blueberry, plum, candied blackberries and ample cinnamon coat the palate, one light at 11.5 degrees but hefty with fruit sweetness. This needs a big chill, and would suit blueberry waffles or maple candied bacon.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Summerhill Alive Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaTrue to name, this organic pinot noir rosé is lively and juicy in the glass. Sourced from their biodynamically farmed home vineyard in Kelowna as well as from other organic vineyard blocks around the Okanagan, this medium/light hued rosé carries wild strawberries, perfumed raspberries sprinkled with spice and bedded with stones. Finishing dry, with a slight bump of sugar offset by upright acidity. Highly drinkable, friendly and bright. Would love to see this under screw cap for maximum freshness.Prices:| BC | $18.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Rosé 2017
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaThis pinot noir rosé blends estate fruit with neighbouring Cowichan vineyards, all with six hours on skins before a long, cooler stainless ferment. This pale pink underwent full MLF and time on lees to plump up the inherently-slender Island fruit. Light cream, summer strawberries, wild raspberries fill this medium palate, one complete in its slight frame, and stretching far with pink peppercorns and subtle salts on the finish. Juicy, bright, friendly (for folks and food).Prices:| BC | $21.65 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Emandare Vineyard Rosé 2017
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaThis is a Cowichan Valley estate-grown blend of marechal foch, tempranillo, siegerrebe, malbec and carmenere. This is what Mike and Robin came across when they took over the North Cowichan Vineyard, one they've worked with minimal intervention. Deep pink hue, this is juicy blue and orange lined fruit, tight with balsamic / VA swings, and finishing with a short clap on the finish. Unlike the majority of their portfolio, I think this wine needs more tweaking future vintages.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Sandhill Terroir Driven Wine Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is a new release from Sandhill, and clearly identifies their marketing aims with its Terroir Driven Wine moniker. Though they've been closely working with single vineyards / growers and identifying them in the past vintages, now they're spelling their renewed vows out for you labelling this "distinct wine, distinct experience." In this case, the back label reveals it's grown by Nathan and Robert Goltz, from Sandhill Estate Vineyard and is a blend of gamay (73 percent) and merlot. The grapes are gently pressed, cool-fermented with selected yeast and aged in stainless. Pale in hue, with white currants, ample, thick lees, strawberry jam, light white pepper on the finish. A very well made wine. As for the emphasis on 'terroir', that messaging is best left to others. Walk the walk, don't talk the talk.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Tantalus Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis medium-hued rosé is a 60/40 blend of younger vine pinot noir and older pinot meunier, the latter a rarity in BC. Partial whole cluster (pinot noir) lends complexities, while the skin contact (just under a week) on the meunier provides finely grippy texture. The whole is dry and juicy with rhubarb, raspberries and cherry, with a line of bitter bergamot and a wash of peppery spices on the finish. Love how this has tightened over previous versions, owning every bit of its 12.5 degrees of alcohol, but still having that Tavel generosity, allowing grilled salmon or wild mushroom matches. Drink often and liberally all year.Prices:| BC | $19.09 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Spearhead Pinot Noir Rosé 2017
South East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpierhead is now Spearhead Winery, a slight spelling change to amend to how everyone has written them since the beginning. This year's rosé is again entirely pinot noir, sourced from South east Kelowna's Gentleman Farmer Vineyard as well as Vernon's The Rise Vineyard. Deeper peach in colour this is a full, glycerol-full rose, off-dry and mouth filling. Watermelon, strawberry jam, ripe pear and a warming finish of cinnamon spice fill this big wine, once that could take on candied salmon, or just sipped very well chilled this summer.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Bartier Bros. Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is an herbal edged rosé from Oliver and Summerland, and a dog's breakfast blend of cabernet franc, muscat, gewürztraminer, and chardonnay, whole cluster pressed and with five months on the lees. With blend in mind, you get the sense of competing flavours in this juicy rose, merging sweet, perfumed florals (roses, peach blossoms, apricot fuzz) with bright fruit (cherry, rhubarb) tightened with an herbal, balsamic, meaty element (think fennel salami). Cherry, orange, plum and blueberry lines the palate, and peppery spicing seasons the finish. Though somewhat disjointed, I can appreciate its bright juiciness (and moderate alcohol).Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Haywire Gamay Noir Rosé Secrest Mountain Vineyard 2017
Summerland Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWhen this note is published, Haywire will be the proud and worthy owner of the 36ha Secrest Mountain Vineyard, one they've been working with for years alongside previous owners, the Wise brothers. Its alluvial, gravel, calcareous soils have yielded some of the winery's most iconic wines. And again in 2017, it provided the grapes for this gamay rosé. A deeper cherry hue, this brisk and strawberry led wine carries salted stones, cherry, wild florals, textural lees on a medium bodied palate to a lingering salt finish. This shines when allowed to breathe some, rest and relax, as you should. Lovely purity and focus.Prices:| BC | $22.90 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Mirabel Rose of Pinot Noir 2017
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDoug and Dawn Reimer own the picturesque east Kelowna vineyard that is home to Mirabel Vineyards. There is no production facility yet, so the wines are made offsite at Okanagan Crush Pad by the talented Matt Dumayne. The vineyard is a mix of French Pommard and Dijon clones, farmed sustainably. The rose is a result of the saignée process, essentially bled from the tanks of the big brother pint noir and left on its lees for six months. The colour is Provencal pink, supported by a translucent, bulbous glass bottle. The wine is a soft-ish mix of watermelon and creamy raspberry sherbet with a squeeze of citrus soaked herbs. Crab cakes is a favourite match.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Sea Star Blanc de Noir Rosé 2017
Pender Island, Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia, CanadaConsistently one of BC's top rosés, and the 2017 lives up to expectations. Pale salmon hue, slicked with lees and imbued with wild strawberry, raspberry blossoms, crunchy pear, cranberry and a fine lingering pink grapefruit and shimmer of spice. This year's version is a slight bit more supple on the palate, offsetting the crisp, coastal acidity. This is whole cluster, organic Pender Island pinot noir from both Sea Star's home estate, and nearby Clam Bay Farm. Perfectly balanced, fresh and food-friendly.Prices:| BC | $19.04 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Blue Grouse Quill Rosé 2017
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaThis year's Quill Rosé is a blend of 68/32 gamay/pinot noir from the Cowichan. Medium pale pink, with a slick of lees layering the palate. Wild strawberries, fresh raspberries is lined with orange and ringed with citrus pith. This has a creamy mid palate, and friendly approachability. I'm missing the zippy acidity of last year, but this easy pink will have many fans, rightfully so.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Road 13 Honest John's Rosé 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA glowing dark magenta hue, this richer, off-dry rosé is a blend of merlot, gamay, viognier, syrah, pinot noir and cabernet franc. Padded with glycerol, this carries strawberries and cream, milk chocolate, apricot jam, pear cordial and cinnamon spicing. The sugar bump is noticeable, and best met with a very cold ice bucket. Simple, easy, full-bodied and ready for this summer.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
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July 2018