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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Tinhorn Creek The Creektext
91POINTS
16¾/20

Tinhorn Creek The Creek 2015

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaYear two of The Creek is looking right at a young age. The flagship Tinhorn red is a mix of vines from seven to twenty-one years old grown on the Golden Mile Vineyard site and across the valley at Black Sage. The ’15 mix is 50/20/20/7/3 cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot, and is more complex than its predecessor. A typical hot and dry South Okanagan summer ended with a chilly October, allowing the Bordeaux varieties time to slowly ripen into the end of October. The malbec and petit verdot, grown on the Golden Mile Bench, bring acidity and spice, while the two cabs and the merlot bring the weight and full flavours of the warmer Black Sage Bench. The oak, 40 percent new French and Hungarian, is clean and supportive without overwhelming the fruit. The grapes are destemmed and partially crushed, leaving some whole berries, and pumped to stainless steel tanks for fermentation which ferments naturally, long and slow before finishing a 24 month journey in wood. The nose is fresh with blueberry and cassis. The palate similarly fresh and tighter than is typical for Tinhorn, with a linear path of black fruits, spice and acidity to beat the band. Young and it will need some time in bottle, but this is going to be an excellent bottle of wine in five years.Tasted: 16 January 2019Tasted by: Prices:
BC$55.99750mlBCLS
AB$74.99750mlprivate wine stores
SK$75.00750mlprivate wine stores
MB$75.00750mlprivate wine stores
Producer: Tinhorn Creek VineyardsDistributors: Trialto Wine Group
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Cabernet Franc - Malbec - Petit VerdotCSPC: 138432UPC: 624802981321