quicksearch
Tastings: July 2019
31 July 2019
88PTS
Privata Chardonnay by Ex Nihilo Vineyards 2017
Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPrivata is Ex Nihilo's reserve chardonnay label grown in Lake County, a cool, north Okanagan region attracting many chardonnay producers. The latest version is all barrel fermented and aged in 85/15 French and American oak, but only 25 percent is new, giving the fruit every chance to express itself. The alcohol has been reigned in as well at only 13.3 percent. The result is a more exciting palate, full of brighter Lake Country fruit with adequate acidity and, dare I say, a touch of dryness. It still has a buttery/caramel character, but it’s offset by the lees and some lingering minerality and sea salt. Privata has a little more curb appeal in 2017, but it remains true to the California-like house style at Ex Nihilo.Prices:| BC | $32.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Guillaume Vrignaud Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume 2015
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceVrignaud's four hectare 1er Cru Fourchaume vineyard is situated in the north of Chablis near the commune of Fontenay-Près-Chablis on the eastern banks of the Serein river. 25-year-old vines on clay-limestone Kimmeridgian yield a concentrated and focused wine. After a native ferment in stainless, this remained in inox for 10 months on lees, without battonage. Lemon, green apple, flax and stone run the long, slender, clay-weighted palate, finishing with more river stones. This feels its 2015 vintage concentration, yet still manages to keep fresh. Guillaume joined his family's domaine in 1999, and convinced his father to leave the co-op, build a cellar, and start their own label. They moved to organic viticulture in 2009, but like many growers, had to abandon in the very challenging 2016 vintage. They began the three year conversion period for organic certification again in 2017, and will have completed it by the end of the 2019 vintage.Prices:| ON | $57.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
91PTS
Guillaume Vrignaud Les Champréaux Chablis 2015
Chablis, Burgundy, FranceThis organically farmed Chablis comes from the 2.68ha ‘Champréaux’ vineyard, northeast of Fontenay-Près-Chablis. Kimmeridgian soils and 27 year old vines yield concentrated flavours, amplified and well suited to a native ferment, with 30% going to barriques and 500L barrels (10% new). Post ferment and full MLF, this remained in the mix of wood and stainless for ten months on the lees. Subtle vanilla mingles with white blossom, pear skin, lemon, on the medium bodied, concentrated, lees-lined palate, one held taut by lemon pith bracing and salted stone finish. Confident and properly so. Guillaume joined his family's domaine in 1999, and convinced his father to leave the co-op, build a cellar, and start their own label. They moved to organic viticulture in 2009, but like many growers, had to abandon in the very challenging 2016 vintage. They began the three year conversion period for organic certification again in 2017, and will have completed it by the end of the 2019 vintage.Prices:| ON | $43.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Nielson Chardonnay 2018
Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United StatesNielson by Byron is the next iteration of Byron Wine, intended to honour the area’s first true pioneer, Uriel Nielson. The vines were replanted in 2001, featuring cuttings from the original “Wente” clone planted 1964. The harvest is a mix of select clusters with a combination of berry sizes, combining rich stone fruit with firm acidity and underlying minerality. Much like every year, the wine bursts out of the glass with tight, crisp, tropical fruit sporting streaks of orange, mineral, lees and intense peach. It is an exquisite style to sip, but it is even better with spicy, savoury chicken or sushi. This Santa Maria Valley chardonnay spends 16 months in French oak, of which 45 percent is new.Prices:| BC | $32.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Cambria Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard 2017
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United StatesIs this the best yet Katherine’s from Cambria Estate, one of two vineyards named after the Jackson sisters Katie and Julia of Jackson Family Wines? The site is located on the coastal Santa Maria Bench in Santa Barbara County. This cooler, fog-blanketed and limestone-laden site is planted to clones 4, 76, 96, and the Wente selection. There's a marvellous freshness here led by green apple streaked with lemon and peach folded into a creamy, complex lees that tones the mid-palate down. The finish is equally bright with lots of nutmeg, hazelnut, and more pear and green apple fruit. Impressive style change.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Kendall-Jackson Avant Unoaked Chardonnay 2018
California, United StatesAvant is entirely stainless steel fermented and bottled under screwcap, which is a reliable recipe to rein in the bright fruit. In this case, the wine is 47% Monterey County (lemony citrus and mineral notes), 39% Santa Barbara County (fresh pineapple), and Mendocino County (juicy green apple flavours). Clean bright, ripe and ready to drink, this is great for west coast seafood or cream cheese dishes.Prices:| BC | $25.19 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Liberty School Chardonnay 2016
Central Coast, California, United StatesThe Liberty School chardonnay is whole-cluster-pressed and chilled for one to two days before a barrel fermentation followed by six-eight months in both neutral French and American oak barrels. The freshness and elegance surprises despite the intensity of its tropical fruit aromas and flavours. Lemons tangerines and pineapples combined with flecks of crème brûlée with a touch of minerality. Ready to drink and a fine introduction to central coast chardonnay.Prices:| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $19.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $26.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Cono Sur Bicicleta Organic Chardonnay 2018
ChileNot a lot of change here. Fresh, bright, honeyed nose with melon, canned grapefruit and peach. The tropical theme carries onto the palate, but I like this somewhat skinnier version with juicy, green apple, grapefruit, nectarine, pear, finishing with citrus and a dusting of lees. Still a dependable entry-level chardonnay.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $13.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Sebastiani Chardonnay 2017
California, United StatesThe attack is ripe and sweet with intense pineapple and a touch of citrus, before the trademark butterscotch and caramel finish. There was a time when I thought this label was drying out but the sweetness is back so if you love your chardonnay rich, round and ripe this it. Best with equally busy dishes like butter chicken ar Thai curry bowl. Ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $20.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.50 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.50 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
30 July 2019
86PTS
Cecchi Chianti 2016
Tuscany, ItalyCecchi is a classical Chianti label made from mostly sangiovese grapes. Production is a healthy 85,000 cases, and in 2016, that delivers for the price. It was a great vintage, and you can feel the fruit and the bones of 2016 in this simple but effective red. The attack is bright with warm plummy fruit flecked with earthy, savoury notes and enough acidity to keep it fresh through its powdery tannin finish. A simple red wine you can serve with a favourite pizza or pasta dish.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $15.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $15.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $13.80 | 750ml |
| NL | $23.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena 2015
Veneto, ItalyValpantena, the name for the hillsides where this wine was grown, means valley of the gods. It is also the only cru sub-zone in Valpo. This blends 80% corvina veronese with 20% rondinella, with select ripe bunches sent to the drying rooms of the winery in Grezzana, where they are laid out in single-layer crates. In mid-January, the grapes are destemmed, crushed, and fermented. A part ages in Slavonian oak barrels, with the remainder in barriques for about 30 months. After bottling, this rests for a minimum of six months before release. As expected, this all yields a concentrated, dense, rich and intense wine, with sweet dark blackberries, kirsch, raspberry cordial on a plump palate, padded by raisins and studded with peppercorns. Tannins are sticky and the finish is very warm, at 15.5 degrees. This would work alongside rich blue cheese dishes.Prices:| BC | $52.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $50.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Le Ragnaie Miscelone 2018
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyThis is the first year Le Ragnaie has produced this "Miscellaneous wine", though blending red and white grapes is certainly part of the traditional Chianti 'recipe'. Miscelone is 60% red grapes (sangiovese and canaiolo) and 40% white grapes (malvasia and trebbiano), sourced from the same vineyard, coharvested and cofermented in concrete, and then aged for 6 months in concrete. This chillable, non-intervention red opens with a wall of reduction that quickly blows off into red cherry, liquorice, leather, and an ample wash of sea salts. Tannins are sandpaper fine and acidity is nervous to a taut, brisk finish. Charmer; chill and drink now and over short term.Prices:| ON | $37.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Ruffino Tenuta Greppone Mazzi Brunello di Montalcino 2013
Tuscany, ItalySunbaked leather, old wood, tar, tobacco, dried cherries, flake salt, is washed over with gentle waves of oxidation in this Brunello. Acidity thankfully remains taut, if thin, streaming orange peel through until the falling off the finish. Chewy tannins frame the shadowing fruit. Certainly well-constructed and with pedigree; ready to drink now.Prices:| BC | $55.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $50.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
92PTS
Ruffino Tenuta Greppone Mazzi Brunello di Montalcino 2013
Tuscany, ItalyGreppone is like stepping back in time in Brunello offering up a nose of worn leather, tobacco, and tar with classic dried cherries. The attack is fresh and intense, but it carries its weight effortlessly across the palate with red fruits and more tobacco and earthy notes before finishing long with a tug of tannins that suggests it will have more to give down the road. A sleeper you can try now with grilled meats and mushroom dishes, but it would best to wait through 2023 and beyond. Good value.Prices:| BC | $55.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $50.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Poggio Bonelli Chianti Classico 2016
Castelnuovo Berardenga, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyPoggio Bonelli Chianti Classico is a 90/10 mix of sangiovese and merlot all grown in the Castelnuovo Berardenga area of Siena. The south-facing hillside vineyards sit between 350 and 360 meters above sea level. The winemaking is with a stainless steel ferment, followed by 10-days maceration on skins, ten months in older wood tonneaux and three more months in bottle. A great year to enjoy Chianti Classico in all its glory: red fruit, juicy, soft tannins and lovely savoury, sour cherry fruit dusted in dried herbs.Prices:| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
92PTS
Poggio Bonelli Chianti Classico Riserva 2016
Castelnuovo Berardenga, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyWow. What a great year and a delicious Chianti Classico Riserva. Classic black cherry with perfect spicing all supported by lively energy that penetrates the palate. Licorice, plums, peppers, and forest floor are all present in exquisite balance, daring you to drink one glass after another. It was perfect with grilled chicken but would be equally excellent with mushrooms and pasta. This 95/5 mix of sangiovese and other traditional grapes all grown at Castelnuovo Berardenga (Siena) is a wine to buy and cellar and drink over the next decade.Prices:| BC | $39.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
San Fabiano Calcinaia Chianti Classico 2016
Florence, Tuscany, ItalyBitter cherry, dried cassis, plum, worn leather snake through this organic, rustic Chianti Classico, one that feels somewhat sluggish with time, even though it's a youthful 2016. This bottle's bret gives way to iron pan lining the medium-bodied, brawny palate, with the metal overrunning into the tannins and creating a bitter astringency through the spiced finish. Fermented in stainless, this spent one year in small new French oak barrels before bottling.Prices:| ON | $27.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $29.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
85PTS
San Valentino Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2016
Abruzzo, ItalyThis montepulciano is a simple, easy red of sour cherries, baked rhubarb and scents of roses. Tannins are soft and plump, while the finish is sticky and short. Best chilled, and taken with equally simple tomato / meat sauced pasta.Prices:| BC | $12.29 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Abbazia di Novacella Schiava 2016
Trentino- Alto-Adige, ItalyAbbazia is a monastery founded in 1142 by the Augustinian Order of Canons Regular, and produces wine from their estate vineyards, complemented by neighbouring growers, like this schiava. After opening with a swing of reduction, this moves into balsamic, muddied blackcurrants, thorny plum, hints of spice, and sapid pitch. Tannins are soft, and acidity is bright and pixellated, both encouraging a chill and partnering with grilled sausages.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Abbazia di Novacella Lagrein 2016
Trentino- Alto-Adige, ItalyAbbazia is a monastery founded in 1142 by the Augustinian Order of Canons Regular, and produces wine from their estate vineyards, complemented by neighbouring growers. This lagrein comes from vineyards in in Bolzano’s Quirein district, at 260-350m, and on soils mixed with sand, clay and eroded quartzite porphyry. You can feel the pixellated grittiness of the soils on the tight / fine textured palate, with blueberry, bumble berry, wild plum and sapid rock roses. Tannins are sticky and plump, and acidity is brisk to carry this to a peppery finish. This was fermented and aged in stainless before six months aging in very large oak casks prior to bottling.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Torrevento Vigna Pedale Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva 2014
Puglia, ItalyNero di Troia grapes thrive in the Castel del Monte region of Apulia, here growing at 350 to 450 metres above sea level. It spends just over a year in large casks to better expand its reach in the glass. The nose is an invitation to the southern Mediterranean, with black raspberry and cherry. The attack is fresh with some surprising acidity and earthy, licorice, red fruits with that fierce Italian dryness in the finish. Vigna Pedale is the definition of a wine that needs food but not in a negative way. A mushroom pasta dish or a favourite meaty pizza is the match.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Torrevento Torre del Falco Nero di Troia 2015
Puglia, ItalyThis nero di troia grows at 350-450m in the Apulian hills. This dusky red is imbued with scrubby herbs, infiltrating plum, dark raspberry, boysenberry along a medium-slight body. A juicy core, and nubby fine tannins welcome pairing with grilled sausages or kabobs. This saw no oak, thankfully, and could take a chill readily. Well done.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Stag's Hollow Dolcetto Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard 2017
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThere is so much to like about this “dolcetto” or the "little sweet one." The attack is one, big, juicy, black cherry and black raspberry affair with a bolt of acidity and soft tannins. It would be perfect with some grilled sausages off the barbecue or spaghetti Bolognese or a simple charcuterie plate. Ready to drink but no rush to open through the next year or two.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
29 July 2019
87PTS
Cháteau Peyros Madiran Tannat Cabernet Franc 2013
Madiran, Sud-Ouest, FranceThis blend of tannat and cabernet franc comes from southern-facing slopes in the Haut Béarn region, in the heart of the Vic Bilh, or 'old country' in local dialect. The soil here is a conglomerate of rolled pebbles and clay, known as pouzzolanes. This is a rustic edged, savoury red with leather, gravels, brambled fruit along a drying palate, lined with cedar bough tannins. Best taken with roasted root veg or sausages.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
The Prisoner Red Wine 2017
Napa Valley, California, United StatesThe Prisoner is the most recognized Napa Valley red blend proving once again; consumers love a name they can remember, especially if it is big, red and sweet. They don’t come much bolder at 15.2 percent alcohol by volume, and you sense all of it in the glass and the mouth. The blend is zinfandel mixed with cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah, syrah and charbono inspired by the field blends planted regions early Italian immigrants. Expect an intense explosion of cooked cherries, raisins and figs on the nose and palate. The finish is long and warm with black fruits reminiscent of fresh-baked blueberry or blackberry pie. Given the sweet-fruit flavours, we suggest pairing this with spicy ribs.Prices:| BC | $59.99 | 750ml |
| NF | $29.72 | 750ml |
| AB | $31.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $54.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
26 July 2019
90PTS
Quails' Gate Chardonnay Rosemary's Block 2017
West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRosemary's Block leads a trio of top-flight chardonnays at Quails' Gate, named after the mother of the current Stewart family, Rosemary. It continues to show it can be at the top of the BC chardonnay chain year after year with its quiet, leesy lemon nose and palate. Elegant and mineral, it is all about the place and not so much about the fruit. Citrus, green apple, pear ever so slightly rises above the oak and lees and spice. You can drink this now, but I say wait for two to three years until it's at its zenith. The grapes come off two upper estate blocks on the Boucherie (volcanic) Bench. Clones 809 and 76 were whole-cluster pressed and fermented in new and old French oak barrels for 11 months, with full MLF, and regular battonage.Prices:| BC | $44.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
93PTS
Meyer Family Vineyards Chardonnay Tribute Series - Joannie Rochette Old Main Road Vineyard 2017
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe 2017 Tribute Series Chardonnay honours Joannie Rochette, a Canadian figure skating Olympic medallist. The fruit comes off the Old Main Road Vineyard in Naramata, a site with a gently sloping northern aspect planted in 1996 to silty loams and clay. Minimalist winemaker, Chris Carson’s ferments, are long, cool and slow and in this case, were followed by 11 months ageing in French oak (22 percent new) resting sur lies with no battonage. The results are stunning, beginning with one of the best-structured chardonnays I have tasted in BC. Look for a bony, mineral, white wine flecked with bits of lemon, green apple, sea salt dusted in dried desert herbs — all you could want in a serious bottle of chardonnay at a fantastic price.Prices:| BC | $30.52 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Kitsch Chardonnay 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe regular Kitsch Chardonnay is a complete departure from the reserve edition that leans on a fair bit of oak. The style is light and soft and a bit watery but in the right way, making it almost gulpable. We like the resiny/chalky lees notes and light green apple/pear flavours that leave the palate clean with a touch of complexity. A dollar of every bottle sold goes to Mama's for Mama's - a national charity assisting families in need. Good value here. It is all estate chardonnay, clone 95, planted in 2013 on silty loam over sand. After whole cluster pressing and fermentation in stainless, this spent eight months in neutral French oak.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards Big Leap Chardonnay 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2017 is 100 percent estate-grown, and it comes off a single block. It goes through a wild yeast ferment in French Oak before spending a further ten months in French oak, of which 25 percent is new. A small percentage of that was put through natural malolactic fermentation to add those creamy textures evident on the palate. Look for stone fruit and lemon kissed wet stones with a dry, tangy back end. Flinty is a good descriptor, with just a bit of creamy pear and white cherry in the finish. The winery suggests you pair it with crab cakes and fennel salad, soft cheeses, and herb-crusted halibut with pea puree. I simply request an invitation.Prices:| BC | $24.50 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
CedarCreek Platinum Block 5 Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine hails from Block 5 at the top of the Home Block Vineyard – the first year it was farmed organically. Winemaker Taylor Whelan reported the first changes saw the grapes developed riper flavours, but fewer sugars, than in previous years and weather-related the were smaller berry size, clusters and yields. The fruit was barrel fermented in puncheons and barriques and went through a full malolactic fermentation before spending ten months in barrel, on full lees, before bottling. 2017 was highly lauded at the National Wine Awards, but it is showing somewhat disjointed at this youthful stage, with the wood, lean fruit, and lees jockeying it out for pole position. Lemon, green pear, green apple, white blossom, vanilla-kissed spices sit atop a bed of earthy lees, finishing with some warming shell spicing. It needs time to resolve its parts into one.Prices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Seaside Pearl Fraser Gold Unoaked Chardonnay 2018
CanadaThe Fraser River Gold Rush was a remarkable time in BC and is duly noted on its label. The attack is dry with resiny, light, green apple exposed to no oak. The result is crisp and bright. It would be well suited with a simple fish dish, but the price suggests it should offer up a bit more. Ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
91PTS
Tightrope Winery Chardonnay 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLove the quality, especially for the price, and love the style even more: fresh citrus, pears, green apples with a stream of lees and acidity that runs from back to front. There is an electric quality here that excites and it should be a superb accompaniment to a wide range of foods. This spends nine months in oak, but you would never know it. Only 60 cases made, but this is well worth buying.Prices:| BC | $26.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Upper Bench Chardonnay 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe UB chardonnay is aged in a 50/50 mix of French oak barrels and stainless steel tanks for three months. 2017 is the best one yet from my perspective, starting with an inviting leesy, nutty nose and a touch of melon. There is a Naramata liveliness in the front end that suggests the barrel management is being fine-tuned to allow the bright apricot, pear and guava flecked fruit to shine through. The finish is equally fresh with a twist of sea salt and minerality. Impressive and food-friendly. As we said last year this is an excellent example of why Naramata may be the Okanagan chardonnay sweet zone.Prices:| BC | $28.85 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
JoieFarm En Famille Reserve Chardonnay 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe En Famille Reserve is made up of Joie’s best blocks of chardonnay coming off the Skaha Bench (Con Vida Vineyard) and the Naramata Bench (Plein de Vie Vineyard). The goal was a juicy, mouthwatering style to balance off the intense ripe fruit in 2017, and it would appear that has been accomplished. The complexity and depth of flavour is the result of multiple picks that saw the last fruit come in at the end of September. It’s all barrel-fermented using native yeast, and the entire lot goes through malolactic fermentation. It’s aged in a blend of premium French oak barriques and puncheons with only a moderate amount of new oak used, extended lees contact and monthly stirring. Expect a high degree of pear and apple dusted in hazelnuts with a salty, fresh, long palate. Impressive and will get better in the bottle. Be patient.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $38.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
91PTS
Mission Hill Terroir Collection No. 8 Jagged Rock Vineyard Chardonnay 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBright lemon curd and lees lead to a colourful, vibrant, sun-soaked chardonnay that pops in the glass. You get a mix of floral (white flower and lemon blossom notes) on the nose that adds energy to a stony mineral base. A lot is happening here, but all is well. The richness is almost Corton-like, giving this wine a promising future. It's the Next Okanagan style, although bolder than the flagship Perpetua Chardonn y. The Terroir Series wines are meant to tell a story at Mission Hill. The chardonnay is from Oliver's Jagged Rock Vineyard, a warm sandy/loamy site. It is planted to clone 76 at some 400 metres above sea level, surrounded by towering and steep rocky cliffs. It spends 16 months on the lees in a blend of French oak, foudre, and clayver (ceramic) containers.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Crowsnest Family Reserve Stahltank Chardonnay 2018
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada2018 continues the streak of ripe offerings from Crowsnest. The nose is like a sweet summer orchard with notes of apricots and orange blossoms. On the palate, there is more red apple and tangerine with ripe, juicy flavours that run through the back end with some helping minerality and wet stones. Many will like this gulpable style that can take on spicier dishes – think Indian, Thai or Chinese.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Arterra Chardonnay 2017
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaThe colour suggests the wine could be both mature and oaky. It's both pitching a spicy toasted oak nose against warm, forward, ripe pear and apricot flavours. The palate is smooth, the lees muted and the acid strangely low for an Ontario chardonnay. It could use an injection of Thomas Bachelder heading back to Arterra to consult on the Le Clos Jordanne project. Ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $26.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $26.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Painted Rock Chardonnay 2017
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2017 is a crowd-pleaser style chardonnay focused on ripe, peachy/cherry (orchard) fruit aromas and flavours. Not quite as zippy as 2016 it likely has broader appeal, but it’s a little less Euro and little more New World in the glass. Creamy and ripe it offers up some sweet oak - best with more sumptuous dishes like lobster or turkey. It always sells out early, so it's hard to argue its popularity, but a tighter version of this grape, especially in the Skaha region, could take it to another level.Prices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Haywire Chardonnay Secrest Mountain Vineyard 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe fruit is whole-bunch-pressed to egg-shaped concrete tanks during a long slow ferment. The result is a beautiful chardonnay led by its exquisite texture and length in the mouth. The fruit is pure and lively with notes of pear and green apple mixed with riper red apple/honeydew flavours. There is a terrific balance here in a lovely linear chardonnay that plays the elegant game. Secrest Mountain Vineyard has proven to be an excellent site for grapes. It is a 20-hectare site of alluvial soils interspersed with coarse gravel and sandy loam planted to a 15-hectare vineyard situated on a flat, south-west facing bench at 487 meters above sea level. OCP has been in charge of the farming since 2010; they purchased the vineyard in 2018, and it is currently under conversion to organic farming practices began in 2014.Prices:| BC | $24.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
25 July 2019
87PTS
Seaside Pearl Lover's Lane Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe winery doesn’t provide much background on this wine. It’s 2016. It’s Cabernet Sauvignon. And, though the winery is based in Abbotsford, the grapes are sourced from Okanagan Falls in the Okanagan Valley. But there’s actually a fair bit to like. A spot-on nose of red currant and fresh herbs, with some smokey oak leads to a medium-bodied palate with fresh, slightly tart acidity, and plush tannins, which isn’t easy to achieve with cabernet sauvignon in the Okanagan. It’s definitely ripe, but I like that they preserved the variety's intrinsic green, herbal edge, and at only 13.7% alcohol to boot. Not a bad showing from this relatively new winery.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Bellwether Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Coonawarra, South Australia, AustraliaNeed proof that Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon can age? This 11-year old cabernet sauvignon still has a deep ruby core, with the colour only beginning to fade at the rim. There’s more evident development on the nose, with attractive tertiary cedar notes, but the fruit is still bright and fresh. And then there’s that dusty, dried eucalyptus, which immediately places you in Coonawarra. The palate doesn’t quite live up to the nose; it’s well balanced (and only 13% abv) with resolved, fine-grained tannins, but it lacks mid-palate weight and the flavours come across slightly diluted. At peak now, it will hold for an additional 3-5 years. A steal if you can get it on sale for $31.97, as I did. The winery currently lists this wine at AUD $90.Prices:| BC | $38.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Tom Gore Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
California, United StatesTom Gore Vineyards was founded in 2014 by grape grower Tom Gore. There's nothing shy about this cabernet, from its spicy, black cherry, blackberry fruit to its warm, round, soft, luxurious, floral fruit finish flecked with brown spice. Try this with your favourite barbecue rib dish.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Upper Bench Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown Limited Release 2015
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWine geeks rejoice at the easily accessible technical information on the back label: this is a blend of 95 percent cabernet sauvignon and 5 percent merlot (yes, cropped at 2.71 tons per acre) from Upper Bench’s home vineyard. A deep purple colour, this is a full throttle style of cabernet sauvignon from a ripe vintage that shows raisonated fruit and cedary oak, but not much else. Although it’s only 30 percent new oak, the fruit just doesn’t quite hold up to the wood. The tannins are pretty firm, but there’s a pinch of residual sugar (3.9 g/L) to help soften the palate, leading to a hot finish. This should appeal broadly, especially to those that favour a California-style of cabernet. Consider decanting for an hour or two before serving. Only 162 cases produced.Prices:| BC | $46.10 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Valle Secreto Vineyards and Winery First Edition Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Valle del Cachapoal, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileValle Secreto is located 122 kilometres south of Santiago in a small production zone known as the Alto Cachapoal. The First Edition is an attractive, style of cabernet sauvignon with plush, fruity, soft tannins, spice and toasted bits of oak, but the attraction is the plummy fruit flecked with fig jam and a bit of minerality. Rich, round, and ready-to-drink.Prices:| BC | $37.98 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
83PTS
Condor Peak Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Mendoza, ArgentinaIt is nice to pull out the cork and see a Diam 3, which is a smart (and TCA free) choice of closure for this style of soft and sweet cabernet sauvignon. Quite muted on the nose, the wine shows some muddled baked red fruits and oak adjuncts. It has a good dose of residual sugar, with tart, unintegrated acidity, soft tannin, and confected fruit. This is a wine that was made for easy drinking, but which just doesn’t bring a lot of pleasure.Prices:| BC | $13.98 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Mission Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA combination of Oliver (68 percent) and Osoyoos (32 percent) estate fruit, this cabernet sauvignon was aged in French and American oak for 14 months, of which 25 percent was new. An attractive nose of juicy blackberry and subtle sweet herbs shows through, with some dill from the American oak. There isn't the same intensity or expected concentration on the palate, and the finish dries out without persistent fruit. Varietally accurate, though this has taken a big step up in price over the last two years and isn't quite the same value it once was.Prices:| BC | $36.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
0PTS
Treana Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, Central Coast, California, United StatesCorked., to be re-tasted.Prices:| BC | $39.99 | 750ml |
| US | $30.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
92PTS
Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, Central Coast, California, United StatesCabernet Sauvignon has been an extended part of the Hope Family’s viticultural history, and no one has embraced the potential of Paso Robles more than Austin Hope, the winemaker and architect of this big cabernet. Not for the timid, its opaque opening leads to an intense, black-fruited big red flecked with black currants, blackberries and black cherries that persist form front to back. It’s also spicy, mixing tobacco and cloves with smoky vanilla notes. It is just a baby and will keep a decade before it begins to open up to tell the Paso Robles story.Prices:| BC | $69.99 | 750ml |
| US | $50.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Hester Creek Terra Unica Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSourced from the winery's estate vineyard on the Golden Mile Bench, this wine is exclusively available to wine club members. The deep purple colour hints at a big, fully extracted cabernet sauvignon. A dense nose with no shortage of chocolatey oak and dark fruits, the palate is medium-full bodied with firm, woody tannins, and fresh, integrated acidity. Everything is in the right place, but just lacking some complexity and elegance. It will be interesting to watch this evolve over the next 3-5 years, as there is potential to improve with bottle age. Only 250 cases produced.Prices:| BC | $28.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, ChileIn 2016 the start was early and warm, followed by a warm summer. Temperatures finally drop at harvest, but persistent rains made strategic picking necessary. Look for a medium-weight cab with the kind of elegance you would expect from the house of Lafite. The palate is more savoury red fruit than black, with a spicy mid-palate and a dusting of wild herbs (boldo). Best with grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $18.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Noble Vines Collection 337 Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Lodi, Central Valley, California, United StatesPouring a deep purple, this Lodi cabernet sauvignon shows considerable jammy, stewed fruit along with confected sweet spices and forward oak. On the palate, it is round with perceptible residual sugar (6 g/L), soft acidity, and smooth, barely noticeable tannins. More zin than cabernet sauvignon, this will appeal to those looking for an easy-drinking, oaky, full-bodied red wine for BBQ season.Prices:| SK | $25.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $20.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $19.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
85PTS
Bordertown Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNot yet released at the winery, so we don't have a lot of information on this wine, but the previous vintage was 100 percent Osoyoos fruit. On the nose, it’s not shy on intensity, but it’s all about roasted red pepper and stewed fruit as opposed to freshness. There’s also some subtle oak spice, which is nicely integrated in the background. The palate is fairly plush with fine tannins, but the tart acidity sticks out on the finish. Tame this with peppercorn steak.Prices:| BC | $25.50 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Santa Julia Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaInky purple in colour, this shows surprising varietal typicity for the price. It was also partially aged in French oak barrels for ten months. It’s about what you’d expect from Argentinian cabernet, with chocolatey oak, bright dark fruits, and a sappy green note. The palate is dry (3 g/L residual sugar), and firm with nice freshness. Good value for the price - and a fairly honest wine too, especially if you can get it in Ontario at the LCBO for only $9.95.Prices:| AB | $17.50 | 750ml |
| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $9.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $10.95 | 750ml |
| SK | $16.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
24 July 2019
88PTS
Ex Nihilo Pinot Noir 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRetasted nine months along, and this Lake Country pinot noir is holding well. Wood is mellowing, further softening the downy soft cherry, raspberry, vanilla-scented fruit. Whole berry fermented, this was aged nine months in American and French oak, yielding a Sonoma-meets-Okanagan red. There's a soupiness to the palate that welcomes tightening with a chill, and a partnering with meatloaf or pork chops.Prices:| BC | $38.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
91PTS
CedarCreek Platinum Block 4 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom the upper, sandy loam slopes of their home estate, this is 21-year-old vines of clones 115 and 667. After a native ferment in concrete and stainless, this aged for a year in French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Finely textured throughout, this elegant pinot carries cherry, black raspberry, tree bark, fine tobacco, and walnut shells. Tannins are spider web fine, easily framing a long, slight, silken palate — lovely savoury-edged form.Prices:| BC | $49.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Quails' Gate Pinot Noir Richard's Block 2017
West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNamed for the Stewart family patriarch, Richard, who was one of the first to introduce pinot noir to the Okanagan in the early 1970s. From the oldest vines in Block 11 the Mt. Boucherie, volcanic-soiled estate, this is clones 667, 117, and 115, up to 30 years in vine age. After a ferment in stainless, this aged 13 months in French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Dusky plum, bitter black cherry, bark, tobacco leaf rule a medium bodied palate, with striated tannins from the wood, and a finely grippy texture that increases on the finish, welcoming rabbit or pork pairings. There's a very serious reserve and restraint here, while still allowing the pure Okanagan fruit to pulse through. Drinking well now, and over the next couple of years.Prices:| BC | $54.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
93PTS
Ochota Barrels Home... Pinot Noir 2018
Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaAfter making it through the impressive / annoying two layers and colours of wax (so pretty though), this incredibly spicy, tight and characterful pinot opens. Tomato plant, wild herbs (chervil, tarragon, parsley, chives), rhubarb, cranberry, medicinal anise, white cherry buoy from this bright and lifted red, crunchy with acidity and alive. As the wine opens, more tart red fruit shines, along with a lovely gentle earthy scent. Quite memorable. This was made entirely by Amber Ochota, down to the photo of the poppy field she shot while cycling that adorns the label. This tiny organically farmed vineyard is a mix of clones, was handpicked by the family in under 2 hours, and whole bunch native fermented, basked pressed, and bottled without any additions or filtering. 298 bottles.Prices:| BC | $103.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Ochota Barrels Impeccable Disorder Pinot Noir 2018
Piccadilly Valley, Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaI don't know about disorder, but this light red certainly is edgy. Youthful wild strawberry, earth, hops, herbs and flicks of moss stream through this light, silken Picadilly pinot noir, all 777 clone, organically farmed and native fermented. Soft on the palate, with furry tannins hugging baked plum, warm boysenberries, rhubarb and cranberry, trailing off into worn leather. This was racked from a puncheon into bottle with minimal SO2, and no other inputs. 616 bottles made.Prices:| BC | $84.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
92PTS
Ochota Barrels A Forest Pinot Noir 2018
Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaA Forest Pinot Noir is a very apt name for this Adelaide Hills red. Clones 777, 114, 115 and D5V12 from 450-600m were native fermented separately, 85 whole bunch, and basked pressed to French barriques and one new chassin where it hung out for a few months prior to bottling. There are no additions outside of minimal SO2 at that end point. Light in hue, with wild raspberry, dusky young cherry, forest floor, sapid cranberry core, with fine, lightly grippy tannins around the sides. Acidity is crunchy and the finish is dusted with pink peppercorns. Unfined and unfiltered with intended authenticity. Drinking beautifully now, and will continue to do so.Prices:| BC | $54.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
92PTS
J. M. Sohler Les Terrasses Pinot Noir 2017
Alsace, FranceSourced from a 27-year-old granitic soiled, terraced pinot noir vineyard in Blienschwiller, in the Bas-Rhin, this was fermented and aged in very old (75+ years), very large wood. Concentrated but so elegantly finessed, with beauty haunting cherry and raspberry licked with kirsch and flaked with sea salts. The core of red fruit is housed by spiderweb tannins and lifted with an easy, natural swell of acidity. Nothing is forced with this charming wine; drinking lovely now, but will hold in your cellar short term.Prices:| ON | $28.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Chardonnay 2016
Burgundy, FranceA leaner, fresher style of chardonnay, with only 5% aged in oak barrels and the balance fermented and aged in stainless steel. At first taste, you might think you’re in Chablis. But there’s a ripeness to the fruit that points further south, with a combination of yellow apple and lemon notes, yet the fruit isn’t the focus. The wine gains complexity from ten months on lees, with wet rocks and a flinty, reductive note that pulls you into the glass. The lees influence also adds some creaminess to the palate, which is balanced by fresh acidity and a clean finish. An excellent introduction to white Burgundy, and at a price that makes you want to reach for the region more often. It is not your standard Bourgogne.Prices:| BC | $38.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $85.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Santa Carolina Reserva Pinot Noir Leyda Estate 2018
Valle de Leyda, Valle de San Antonio, Region de Aconcagua, ChileWe love what winemaker Alejandro Wedeles is doing with this way-too-affordable pinot noir (clones 777 and 667) made in a terrific year. The fruit comes off the cool hillsides of the Coastal Mountain Range, mostly isolated from any warm inland air, and making the growing season long and slow. You can taste it in the is pinot. Juicy and succulent, it is packed with raspberries, cherries, cedar, and pepper that keeps on coming. Fresh, mouth-filling, affordable, and well, what are you waiting for, back up the truck. It is handpicked and 10 percent barrel-aged for six months.Prices:| BC | $13.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $15.60 | 750ml |
| MB | $12.99 | 750ml |
| NL | $15.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Cirro Pinot Noir 2016
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandSmoke, forest, moss pervade this spicy Marlborough pinot noir, infiltrating the cherry, raspberry, red currant fruit. Autumnal spices and grapefruit peel stick on the finish, carried by furry tannins. Though the citrus peel gives a subtle lift, I would love a slice less ripe fruit to allow this pinot to shine. As is, chill slightly, and enjoy now with a slight chill and/or mushroom risotto.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
85PTS
Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir 2018
Region del Valle Central, ChileTraces of pinot mark the nose of this commercial offering that mixes rooty, earthy notes with cherries, compost and smoke. The attack is dry, with more rooty, spicy notes and a dollop of rhubarb and celery root. Simple style and not that fruity. Try it with a pulled pork sandwich or a salmon pizza.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
93PTS
Craggy Range Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
Martinborough, Wairarapa, North Island, New ZealandThe Te Muna Road Vineyard (The Secret) sits just outside the Martinborough township at 41° 16' 41.3"S. The vineyard is neatly divided into two different soils, but it’s the higher terraces made up of mostly stony clay soils that are perfect for pinot noir. This wine has evolved into something extraordinary over the last 15 years. As technical as pinot noir has become, especially in New Zealand, this wine sings from the glass because it has a fantastic balance of fruit and flavours that both stimulates and melts on the palate in a way that makes you want to drink another glass. Beautiful juicy ripe cherries dusted in sagebrush remind one of BC, but the sophistication is off the charts. It is sophisticated, elegant and well worth the money.Prices:| BC | $55.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $48.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Yealands Land Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandExpect a somewhat reduced nose with peppery, forest floor and celery salt aromas. The attack is juicy and smooth with similar green undertones, spicy beetroot and sticky tannins. This pinot needs to be served with a piece of grilled wild salmon to maximize its charm. Decant for thirty minutes.Prices:| BC | $35.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
23 July 2019
88PTS
Church & State Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom the southern Okanagan Valley's Foundation and Souto Vineyards and sandy loam soils, this was fermented and aged in a mix of stainless and French oak. Tight and bright, with lemon, green apple, verbena, green melon, and cut grass stretching along a taut frame to a snappy finish. There's a welcome veil of lees to counter the lean fruit, complementing well. Would be lovely with simply dressed local prawns or a Thai salad.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Mission Hill Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLike the punchy, fruit-forward, acid-ample Chilean style of sauvignon blanc, but want to keep it a bit more local? Look no further. This Reserve tier was predominantly seen in stainless, with 10 percent each in oak and concrete. Potent lemongrass, pineapple rind, passionfruit and lemon rind fill this powerful white, propelled by spices to a snappy finish. Solid.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Blue Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSerious sauvvy here, via 12-year-old French clone vines, native fermentation in stainless and French oak, and a five month stint in stainless, foudre, puncheons and older barrels. Elegant, as is the BM style, this is long on the medium bodied palate, with river stones, lemon verbena, pear skin and flesh, anise, ample mineral salts and a moreish whisper fine texture that brings you back. Sancerre meets Okanagan Falls for a winning combination.Prices:| BC | $24.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
CedarCreek Platinum Border Vista Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom Osoyoos' Border Vista Vineyard, as the name suggests, this savvy had 4 hours skin contact in the press before fermentation, half in stainless, 40 percent in foudre, and 10 percent in concrete. It remained four months on the lees before bottling. Green-edged, with cut hedge, gooseberry, underripe guava and crunchy green apple acidity buffered by the aforementioned lees pad, this runs long on the palate with streaks of lemon peel to a snappy finish. Quite serious, while remaining highly savvy, try this with pan-roasted lingcod.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
River Stone Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis sauvignon remains a delicate dance between acidity and sweet fruit. The grapes are grown just North of Oliver on the cooler, west side of the valley, in sandy loam deposited during the last glaciation. It’s a bit Californian in style but with better acidity and some underlying minerality. Melons, passionfruit, and pink grapefruit make the palate. Try this with pan-fried squid or steamed mussels.Prices:| BC | $21.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
91PTS
Tightrope Winery Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe grapes, handpicked and whole cluster pressed, are from the Eira Thomas Vineyard on the Naramata Bench. The ferment is long, slow and super cool, and takes four weeks to complete. The attack is vibrant with fresh lemon, and grassy fruit everywhere. More juicy than oaky, it delivers a refreshing experience but with some minerality and complexity. The winery suggests the match could be asparagus frittata, steamed mussels or clams. I recommend you find this wine and buy it. Bravo.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesMost of this iconic sauvignon is fermented for two to three weeks in stainless steel; 20 percent is fermented in neutral oak barrels. The nose is an enticing mix of green fruits. with guava and nectarine. There is a touch of sémillon (grass) and a musqué clone (floral) in the mix, but overall this is a dry, crisp, and perfectly bitter sauvignon blanc that offers complexity and length. The fruit comes off as many as 38-plus blocks each individually harvested, fermented and kept separate for the tasting table. Predictably good, year in and year out.Prices:| BC | $33.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
92PTS
Mission Hill Terroir Collection Jagged Rock Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc - Semillion 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom the southern Okanagan's Jagged Rock Vineyard, this white Meritage is a 60/40 mix of sauvignon blanc/semillon, aged in a combination of stainless and French oak. There is exceptional intensity here, with a layer of texture and complexity. On the palate, there is a delightful mix of white fruits, honey, grapefruit, and a touch of Okanagan sagebrush and stony minerality. A super wine that should improve in the bottle through 2021 and perhaps beyond. Seriously well done.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Mission Hill Reserve Meritage White 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2018 began earlier than usual due to above-average growing degree days in the spring. Summer arrived with cooler temperatures, encouraging the fruit to develop beautiful acidity, while allowing more time for full flavour retention. This was followed by a very cool September slowing sugar accumulation and allowing the fruit to develop phenologically. This Reserve White Meritage is grown on two estate vineyards in Oliver, with more than 60 unique individual blocks, and in their Osoyoos vineyard, providing more than 200 frost-free days. I have tasted this wine several times and can say I'm impressed by yet another Mission Hill Reserve. The attack is bright and fresh, full of grapefruit with a dusting of ripe apricot, but it's the balance and linear vibrant back end that seals the deal. The blend is 51% sauvignon blanc, 49% semillon. Thirty percent is fermented in wood (13% new, 17% neutral) with another six% fermented in concrete. Try this with seafood.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
22 July 2019
91PTS
Intersection Axiom 2014
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWow, this is impressive from front to back. The blend of cabernet franc and merlot, with a bit of cabernet sauvignon, presents in the mouth with substantial weight and power, but with balance. The peppery, spicy fruit spills across your palate with round tannins and persistent black fruit and blacker chocolate. The finish is long and lingering, with notes of coffee, bitter chocolate and black cherry jam. There's plenty to contemplate here and it is likely best to do that with grilled lamb or beef. Well done; a wine to watch.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Mission Hill Reserve Meritage 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe second edition of this 39/38/20/3 cabernet franc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot is about as slick texturally as you can get. Elegance is the watchword here, especially upfront where the merlot dominates. You feel the cabernet franc more on the mid-palate and in the back end, with its smoky, peppery, black cherry and a hint of dryness. The finish is long, round and silky with a savoury Okanagan twist. Perfect for a favourite steak cut. It spends 15 months in French and American oak, and the fruit comes off two estate vineyards, one in Osoyoos, and the second in Oliver.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Bordertown Living Desert Red 2015
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine continues to improve in the bottle and is a beautiful advertisement for cabernet franc and the warm, south Okanagan. The nose is an enticing mix of graphite, sagebrush, and blackberry, dipped in oak but not overdone. There is a minor tug of dryness at the four year mark, but even that disappears into the juicy fruit. Food friendly, and a delight to drink now.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
19 July 2019
87PTS
Beaufort Ortega 2018
Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaThe ortega comes off two estates, one is the winery's in Comox, the other on the Saanich Peninsula. It was fermented and briefly aged in stainless, to preserve the crisp, delicate island fruit. Pretty lime, gooseberry, Asian pear, yellow apple is scented with apricot blossoms and a lick of anise on the medium-bodied, finishing snappy and bright — impressive length and flavours with just the right amount of dryness. Again can we move to screwcap? It will change the whole complexion of this wine.Prices:| BC | $24.50 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Beaufort Petite Milo 2018
Saanich Peninsula, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaPetite Milo is a "Blattner hybrid", Swiss-designed, and bred to tackle wet, cool conditions, like here on the marine west coast. It is very Blattner-esque, with sour, tart, steely flavours. These grapes come from Saanich, were stainless fermented and bottled without fining. Clinical cool, with yellow apple, pear butter, hedge, and a smack of candied gummies that sweetens the warm, drying finish, leaving it somewhat disjointed. There is plenty of promise here, and with a few tweaks, it could be considerably more nimble. Best now with pan-seared scallops. Oh and ditch the synthetic cork for a screwcap to protect the fragile aromas of this grape.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
LaStella Moscato D’Osoyoos 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOne of the unique specialties of the Okanagan, inspired by Piemonte - the blend is moscato bianco a petits grains, muscat ottonel, and orange muscat. The vines are six to nine-years-old and grow on heavy clay/gravel soils in the Osoyoos Lake District, and vines 6-9 years old. Mid-sweet, and low on alcohol, this is an effervescent and lifted light-bodied wine, buoyant with gooseberries, pear blossom, elderflower, mandarine. A beauty size and wine for brunch, summer fruit desserts, and picnics. Super value.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 500ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
JoieFarm En Famille Reserve Muscat 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSuper potent and focused, this dry moscato giallo (yellow muscat) is from their estate vineyard on Naramata Bench, planted in 2007. After destemming, this was fermented cool with an aromatic-forward yeast in stainless, where it remained for a short amount of time before bottling. Heady key lime, white peach, green hedge, and cilantro skip along a spiced, tight palate to a snappy finish. Quite a unique wine, especially considering the intensity compact into 11 degrees alcohol.Prices:| BC | $27.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
CedarCreek Platinum Block 9 Single Vineyard Ehrenfelser 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis year's Ehrenfelser was deemed Platinum worthy, coming off of their single stony Block 9, and 13-16-year-old vines. Eleven percent was fermented in neutral oak, with the remainder split between stainless tanks and stainless barrels. Four months on the lees provides texture and richness to the already concentrated grapes. Honeysuckle, tangerine, honeydew, ripe pear, key lime walks that fine line between sugar and acid, deftly balancing the 11 g/L RS with 8.1 TA, and held to a smart 12.5 degrees, leaving an impression of dryness and freshness. Orange lingers on the long finish. Impressive.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards The Unwinder Ehrenfelser 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2018, like last year, blends estate fruit with grapes from West Kelowna's Mannhardt Vineyard. After a stainless ferment and short rest, this was bottled with a small bump of RS, leaving this off-dry but without killing its verve. Soft pear, peach blossom, lime peel and anise slides along a slim, attractive palate to a snappy finish. Very pretty, and a natural to pour alongside fragrant Thai dishes.Prices:| BC | $24.50 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Cuma Organic Biologique Torrontés 2018
ArgentinaCuma is Michel Torino's organic line, and this bright, fresh torrontés bears the somewhat generic Argentina appellation bearing out that the notion that the grapes from all over the country. Light soap, lime blossoms, peach, honey sit on a slim body and a short finish. Bright, light, easy with a touch sweetness, this is the perfect white for spicy sushi rolls or most spicy vegetarian dishes. The price is terrific.Prices:| BC | $12.49 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
JoieFarm En Famille Reserve Muscat 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOoh la la, this is muscat. Dry moscato giallo (yellow muscat) is estate grown on the newly minted Naramata Bench sub-appellation in the mid-zone of the Okanagan Valley. It was fermented cool in stainless steel, giving it a refreshing edge. The nose has a hint of the classic armpit before a starkly mouthwatering palate of nectarines, key lime and noisy cilantro, all finishing clean and tightly wound. A star at 11 percent alcohol, and wine with endless food possibilities. Go Heidi.Prices:| BC | $27.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Singletree Winery Siggy 2018
Fraser Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAlways fruity and floral, this off-dry, Fraser Valley siegerrebe presents as fruit salad of flavours with a touch fo spice. Mashed apples, pears, apricots, with a twist of lime rind offers up a light white for summer days on the patio or evenings with Asian dishes. Ready to drink, well chilled.Prices:| BC | $18.50 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Szászi Birtok Badasconyi Rózsakó 2017
Badacsony, HungaryHighly perfumed, with white florals, gooseberry, honeysuckle and lime pith, this rózsakó has an oily, textural component. Broken stone, lime leaf, exotic spicing and an herbal sappiness stick through the gently warming finish. Grown exclusively in the Badasconyi region, rózsakó is a cross between kéknyelű and budai zöld.Prices:| ON | $25.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Seaside Pearl Charlotte Estate Petite Milo 2018
Fraser Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCharlotte is inspired by Mount Lehman’s fertile soil and perfect daffodil growing climate. English horticulturist Fenwick Fatkin invited local growers to showcase their daffodils annually to “make this a second Holland,” and honour his wife, Charlotte. The Charlotte Petit Milo is equally floral with soft honeysuckle and citrus, flecked with ripe pineapple. It could use more acidity to pop in the glass, but if chilled it would be an excellent patio sipper and would work well with spicy seafood and sushi roll dishes.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Bordertown Muscat 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA small amount of muscat is planted on the family estate, and is responsible for this 2016, fully ready to drink. It has that classic, grapey, muscat nose with notes of litchi, pineapple, and peach. The good news is it's dry and fresh, although the nose is more intense than the flavours that tend to peter out in the back end. Serve on the patio with smoked salmon to best effect.Prices:| BC | $17.49 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Stag's Hollow Muscat Frizzante 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA unique bottling for BC made with muscat ottonel and orange muscat. Light, soft, round and filled with pink grapefruit, pear, honey, and apricot that feels and tastes fresher with an injection of fizz. The balance is key to its drinkability, with acid holding the sugar at bay. Brunch worthy at 11.1 percent.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Hester Creek Old Vines Block 16 Trebbiano 2018
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaIt was only a matter of time before this wine got to this place. Unique in Canada, the 50-year-old, Italian-suitcased vines are just hitting their stride. Awash in pear, honeysuckle and yellow fruits soaked in citrus and melon, this slides down dangerously easy. It’s richer than you think on the mid-palate, almost Rhone-like, but then the finish falls back in line and tightens up. Perfumed papaya lingers on the finish this year, intermingling with lime zest spicing. So much not Okanagan, but yet, so very right.Prices:| BC | $23.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
18 July 2019
89PTS
Culmina Family Estate R&D Dry-ish Riesling 2018
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDry-ish is such a great name for riesling. This, from Culmina's R&D line (Research & Development + brothers Ron & Don Triggs fronting the label) embraces the concept, with a tight line of citrus acidity that draws the ripe pear, orange, yellow apple, lime through to a lip-smacking finish. The tight acidity is perfectly offset against the ripe, off-dry fruit on the mid-palate. This was sourced from the higher altitude Stan's Bench on their Golden Mile Estate, proving that riesling can excel in the warm southern Okanagan.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Ex Nihilo Riesling 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom northern Okanagan's cool Lake Country, this vintage of Ex Nihilio's riesling was picked after the first snows and freeze of the season, meaning the fruit was concentrated on the vine. Knowing that makes the honeyed and heady concentration natural, joined with ripe pear, apricot, apple butter on a slow moving palate. Acidity is low for riesling, making this easy, sweeter white highly approachable for drinking now.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Kitsch Maria's Block Riesling 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMaria is the sweeter, friendlier of the Kitsch's rieslings boasting a healthy 16.5 g/L of residual sugar. Like Esther, the clone 239 fruit is from the estate, grown on clay/limestone soils. There is an immediate attraction here to a richer underbelly. You can sip this wine on the patio without food, but why would you? Look for mandarins, peaches, lemon and that open fruitiness that finishes super fresh. Balanced and a delight to sip. Think shellfish, Thai or a favourite curry.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Kitsch Esther's Block Riesling 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThey make two rieslings at Kitsch, and Esther's is the driest. It's piquant, in a manner sommeliers get all excited about, though consumers, a little less. That said, I love this wine, and we need this wine because it promotes purity and precision and complexity, and it's the next step for our rieslings. The fruit, all clone 239, is grown on clay/limestone soils, and the vines are barely five years old. The attack is fresh and zesty, mostly lemon-lime with some wet stone minerality flecked with nectarine skin, tangerine and cherries. It needs food, but the choice is yours. It will pretty much match anything.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards The Lookout Riesling 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA blend of Greata Ranch estate fruit plus Kelowna's Mannhardt vineyard, this purposefully walks the line between sweet and sour. White honey, lime, pear drop and green apple ride a juicy, medium bodied palate to a mineral dusted finish. Zesty, tart acidity keeps this electric and skipping, welcoming solo sipping as well as partnering with lightly spiced curries.Prices:| BC | $18.50 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
91PTS
Tantalus Den's Block Old Vines Riesling 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is the inaugural release of Den's Riesling, a tribute to a longtime farmer and viticulturist Daniel Martin Dulik, known by all as Den. Den owned and operated Pioneer Vineyards for several decades, on the site where Tantalus now rests. Den passed in 2016, and this special release riesling is a tribute to him. Medium sweet, with lushly ripe pear, white peach, roasted pineapple, lime curd and a rivlet of juicy acidity on the palate to a lengthy, lime pith finish. This is a style departure for Tantalus, with an RS of 49.5 g/L, but still feels firmly in the family. A lovely tribute.Prices:| BC | $34.70 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
92PTS
Tantalus Old Vines Riesling 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Old Vines is aptly named, referencing its near heritage (for BC) vine status with estate plantings from 1978. Block 5 is a north-facing, deep silty soiled site, and is bordered to the west by a bank of mature Ponderosa Pine. This was fermented to near dryness in stainless, the savoury potency of the old vines allowed centre stage. Lime oil, medicinal white cherry, pear skin, streams along a stony riverbed, bracketed with textural dry extract, to a very lengthy, broken slate finish. Very intense; drinking well now, but certainly one for the cellar.Prices:| BC | $30.35 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Tantalus Riesling 2018
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaVibrant and singing as ever, the 2018 feels especially joyous. Estate fruit was picked as lots and whole cluster pressed separately, each fermented and aged in stainless to preserve the fresh, pure fruit. They were then blended to achieve this winning, youthful white. Lime rules the juicy, off-dry palate, with pulp and peel playing staring roles, and accompanied by green apple, pear, kiwi, and mouthwatering sherbet-laced acidity which holds the 19 g/L RS at bay. This is one of three rieslings released by Tantalus this year, and they all carry distinctly the house hallmark.Prices:| BC | $19.91 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Rust Wine Co. Gamay 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis may be one of the most muscular and brooding gamays you've had. Sourced from the Similkameen Valley, this was native fermented and aged stainless, with one third carbonic maceration. That candied fruitiness bumps up against a wall of smoke, perhaps reflective of the forest fires raging through BC last summer and into fall. The palate is super ripe with cherry, raspberry, and heaps of cracked pepper and smoked spice. Tannins are supple, and again, smoke spiced tinged. The finish burns the throat a bit solo (could be the 14.5 degree alcohol), but could be a partner for fire-grilled ribs?Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Seaside Pearl Interurban Cabernet Foch 2017
Fraser Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCabernet foch is a cross of cabernet sauvignon and marechal foch created by Swiss grape breeder Valentin Blattner. Experimental plots of cabernet foch have gone into the ground in Ontario, Nova Scotia and British Columbia’s. As you might guess it’s winter hardy and the is bright acidity before the animal, spicy, earthy notes kick in. Medium-light to soft tannins rounds out this pure hamburger/sausage red that is ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Tightrope Winery Riesling 2017
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe estate-grown grapes are picked in two lots, one week apart, to select the bunches for optimal ripeness. The nose is a mix of honey, green apples and pear with a touch of petrol. The attack is tart early on with an intense nectarine and pink grapefruit palate and a fresh, tart finish. I love the minerality here, and although it may be a bit stark for some, I see endless food possibilities and long life in bottle. Halibut, fish cakes, fish tacos, sushi: they all work here. The fruit qualifies for the new Naramata sub-appellation.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Upper Bench Riesling Limited Release 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2018 stays the course of bright and light with a twist of residual. The petrol encountered last year is gone in favour of a fresher palate with a medium weight grapefruit, Granny Smith apple core flecked with gooseberry, lime and peaches. There’s a touch of minerality here, and the winery famous for its cheese recommends this riesling with their King Cole blue cheese.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Township 7 Riesling Fool's Gold Vineyard 2017
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFool's Gold Vineyard is a dry riesling from North Oliver, whose character reminds me a bit of Australia’s Clare Valley. The fruit is pressed and cold settled before fermenting at temperatures of 12-14C, with a small portion of the wine fermented wild in neutral oak, to retain every bit of the fruit. You smell and taste a pleasant fruity wine with a touch of talcum powder, grapefruit pith, lemon, lime and just a dusting of spice. Tart, crisp and ready for food, this is a winner.Prices:| BC | $24.97 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
92PTS
Harper's Trail Thadd Springs Vineyard Silver Mane Block Riesling 2018
Kamloops, British Columbia, CanadaFrom nowhere to the superb in just a few short years is a testament to BC terroir, and what can be done if you let the site and weather dictate the direction of the wine. The Silver Mane Block has leapt into the stratosphere in 2018; what a delicious riesling. Electric really, with all the components you would want in a New World riesling. The palate is an enticing, crunchy mix of pineapple and pears sprayed with citrus and a hint of ginger. Back up the truck. Kamloops is on the wine map now. Super value.Prices:| BC | $19.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Harper's Trail Thadd Springs Vineyard Pioneer Block Riesling 2018
Kamloops, British Columbia, CanadaWe see continual improvement and incremental energy injections that lift the palate pf this wine. Again, freshness and minerality rule, with a ripe guava undercurrent that gives this wine some upfront attraction and balances off the acidity. More orchard fruits dusted with sagebrush and sweet citrus mark the palate. Solid, easy-to-drink, almost gulpable – well done.Prices:| BC | $19.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Moraine Riesling 2018
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine has been consistently delicious, and 2018 is likely the best yet. It is all Naramata Bench fruit, of which some 50 percent is estate grown clone 49. It’s gently whole bunch pressed and wild fermented in a series of batches that span a couple of months – all under 13C. The result, much like last year, is very juicy, with big citrus, apples, and excellent tension balancing the fruit and acidity perfectly. Best with your favourite curry, or spicy sushi roll. Drink all summer.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Sea Star Maréchal Foch 2018
Pender Island, Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia, CanadaI reckon if more maréchal foch was made like this (chillable, light-bodied, with care and sensitivity), the oft-lamented grape would become much more lauded. Following on last year's success, this is another pale cherry hued, lighter red, fully tuned with boysenberry, cherry, drippy ripe raspberry on the juicy, buoyant palate. Tannins are near negligible, and the finish rings with sea salts, encouraging (demanding, really) another glass. Do take it with a chill; this wine was designed to be smashable.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Spearhead Botrytis Affected Late Harvest Riesling 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Botrytis Affected Late Harvest Riesling is new to the Spearhead lineup, picked November 15 from Spearhead's Orchard Block Riesling. The young fruit was foot tread in the picking bins, detaching the rich juice from the dehydrated raisin-like grapes. The colour is gold, and the nose full with tropical apricot and honeyed, botrytized, marmalade notes. The attack is more of the same with a surprisingly good balance. It's creamy, if not unctuous, but never cloying, making it fun to sip. Perfect for crème brûlée or tarte tatin. Serve well chilled and let it warm up in the glass.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 375ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Blue Grouse Estate Black Muscat NV
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaBlack muscat is a red Vitis vinifera grape variety spawned from Schiava Grossa and Muscat of Alexandria crossing back in 1850. It is commonly produced as table wine, but in California's Central Valley it has been used in the production of dessert wine. That goes ditto for Blue Grouse on Vancouver Island where it is to at the only planting on self-rooted vines in clay loam soil, spur pruned on a sprawl trellising system. This fortified red is a mix of two vintages 2011 and 2012, that has been in bottle since October 2012. The colour is a rich purple with a mahogany edge. The nose spicy and lifted with raisin-ed black currants and brown spices. The spirit is still evident, and you can fell the 18 percent alcohol by volume in the back end. The classic match is blue cheese, but an assortment of nuts and or nutty cake with caramel sauce would be an excellent match.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
17 July 2019
87PTS
Benjamin Bridge Pet-Nat NV
Gaspereau Valley, Nova Scotia, CanadaPét-nat in a can? From Nova Scotia? I'm used to being surprised by this ground-breaking Canadian producer, so when this 250ml can of methode-ancestrale, gorgeously designed and labelled, landed on my door, I took it as a natural step for this cult fizz favourite. Entirely cloudy/opaque in the glass, this is a blend of estate whites unnamed, leading me to believe it's mostly local hybrids. Grapefruit rules, from pith to oils, buffered by apricot fuzz, green apple, medicinal white cherry, rose petals, washed with marine saline. I think the sharp hipsters will have fun with this format on the beach, bus, or ferry. Nice chilled, but I prefer it when it warms slightly in the glass.Prices:| NS | $8.99 | 250ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Beaufort Zephra Sparkling Ortega 2017
Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaBeaufort Zephra is a traditional method fizz made in Comox Valley on Vancouver Island by Hollywood movie mogul James Cameron and his wife, Suzy. Beaufort Vineyard and Estate Winery will become the first certified organic vineyard on Vancouver Island this fall, only five years after the Camerons bought the site. Zephra is a blend of 60 percent ortega, 12 percent siegerrebe, and 28 percent 49-28-04, a Blattner hybrid grape. The nose is a sea-salt washed melange of cherries and lemons that spilled across the palate along with nectarine skin and light peach tones, finishing with grippy dryness. Lacks a bit of balance, but that is easily fixed with a little bit of food — a unique look at the varieties we can expect from Vancouver Island.Prices:| BC | $28.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Noble Ridge The One Sparkling 2015
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom their estate in Okanagan Falls, this is a 70/30 chardonnay/pinot noir blend, whole cluster pressed, and with 28 months on the lees. Showing nice development on the palate, with a creamy bed of lees, citrus, green apple, and anise. Nice bright acidity counters the richness on the palate, dosed with a mere 2 g/L. Youthful, but highly approachable now, especially with food.Prices:| BC | $47.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Fitz Brut Sparkling Wine 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis year's Brut blends chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot blanc, and meunier from their Greata Ranch home estate. Lemon, green apple, light anise, and a rift of nuts ride the slender, well-balanced palate. Excellent complexity here, and great value that embodies the BC fizz ethos with its fresh, pure fruit character, and natural acidity. More like this, please.Prices:| BC | $32.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Tawse Spark Blanc de Noirs 2014
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaFrom Niagara's Laundry Vineyard, this traditional method fizz is entirely pinot noir, with three years ageing on the lees. Raspberry, tight cherry, cranberry, light toast is laced with lemon to hold this tight. The core is pure-fruited, and there's a bright character to this snappy wine. Very well balanced.Prices:| ON | $30.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Queenston Mile Vineyard Blanc de Noirs 2015
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaEstate pinot noir was early picked, fermented cool in stainless and then spent 26 months on lees. Oxidative red fruit, red apple, toast, tight spices is tightened by snappy acidity. Though the palate has an amply dough padding, this finishes somewhat disjointed and sharp — best with food.Prices:| ON | $50.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Huff Estates Cuvée Peter F. Huff 2016
Prince Edward County, Ontario, CanadaCuvee Peter F Huff is named for the son of Huff Estates owner Lanny Huff, and the 2004 vintage of this wine was the first traditional method fizz from Prince Edward County. This chardonnay spent 24 months on lees and is dosed with 9 g/L. Sweet lemon blossoms, yellow apple, frisky spices bed a brioche and almond palate. Quite traditional and safe, this could use a tightening and drying out to keep it current and fresh.Prices:| ON | $40.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Trius Showcase Blanc de Blancs NV
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaThe Showcase blends chardonnay from two vineyards in Lincoln Lakeshore and Beamsville Bench. It enters oxidative on the palate, with sour lemon, green apple, toast, sesame, and citrus pith on the finish. Crunchy acidity holds this taut and nervy and feeling slightly underripe. This spent four years on lees and was disgorged in September 2018. A more mature version of Trius' flagship Brut.Prices:| ON | $55.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Trius Brut NV
Ontario, CanadaWhite florals, pear, yellow apple, laced with lemon sherbet, this screams along the doughy palate with tight acidity, finishing with a bitter kissed finish. It spent 2.5 years on lees and is dosed with 10 g/L, which feels apt to offset the early-picked, sharp fruit. Crowd-pleaser.Prices:| ON | $25.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Niagara Teaching College Balance Brut NV
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaLook for a brash nose of red fruits, lemon and ample toast with a toasty, nutty palate that is well offset between acid and fruit. This year's balance blends 76% chardonnay, and 24% pinot noir, with 5 g/L RS. Crowd-pleasing, and well made in its style. Go, class!Prices:| ON | $25.15 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Casa-Dea Estates Winery Dea's Cuvée 2017
Prince Edward County, Ontario, CanadaDea's Cuvée is a charmat method blend of chardonnay and pinot noir from their estate Cold Creek Vineyard in PEC. Sharp, ragged acidity cages pink florals, yellow apple to a bitter finish. Chill well.Prices:| ON | $20.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Benjamin Bridge NV Brut Méthode Classique NV
Gaspereau Valley, Nova Scotia, CanadaBB's classic NV, this traditional method is an estate blend of L’Acadie, Seyval, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, with reserve wines that stretch back over 13 years. Lemon pith, lime pith, white blossoms, and riveting green apple acidity is held at bay by 11 g/L dosage, and thankfully taut on the palate at 12 degrees alcohol. By now, a BB classic, and a brightened (no more vidal) one at that.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Road 13 Sparkling Chenin Blanc 2015
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine has undergone a lot of change over the years, moving from a racy, old-vine, bone dry wine to this slightly more accessible version. Make no mistake; this still carries the chenin telltale striking acidity. It's just now clothed with lemony quince, yellow and green apple, biscuit and lemon pith that riffs along the finish. Snappy, bright, and undoubtedly unique, pour this for your acid-loving / chenin loving friends (often one in the same). Winery and Club members only.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Parés Baltà Cava Pink P Organic NV
Penedès, Catalunya (Catalonia Cataluña), SpainSummer cherries, salted nuts, apple brioche, rhubarb, light toast and a whiff of smoke fill this bright pink fizz from one of Penedès' leading biodynamic families, Parés Balta. This traditional method Cava blends garnatxa, parellada, and macabeo, and rests 18 months on the lees prior to release, with zero dosage. The riveting, joyous cran-tinged acidity works well with the slightly plump, red-fruited palate, finishing with a lingering deep berry essence and spice. For current consumption, liberally, and most certainly with salmon or pork dishes.Prices:| AB | $23.95 | 750ml |
| BC | $28.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
JoieFarm Quotidien Brut 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaQuotidien translates as daily ration, and references Joie's joie-de-vivre for drinking fizz, liberally. It is a mix of 70/30 riesling/chardonnay, the former from Naramata's Paxon Family Vineyards, and the latter from Skaha Bluff's Con Vida Vineyard. The blend was aged in neutral puncheons on the lees over the winter, before getting a hit of a solera riesling that has been maturing without sulphur. A pied de cuve Champagne yeast and bump of sugar kicked off a second ferment in the charmat tank. It was bottled with zero dosage. The vinification, extended wood ageing, and addition of solera gives it a richness beyond the normal charmat method. Lemon, pear, toasted meringue, apple brioche is all kept snappy and lemon pith tight with the zero dosage.Prices:| BC | $19.97 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
85PTS
Sperling Vineyards Speritz Pet Nat 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine has taken a dramatic turn since I tasted it last, going from a lightly sweet and candied fizz to a bone dry, light and lean one. With sour lime, sour lemon, unripe melon, green apple and dish soap notes on a lightly frizzante palate. This biodynamic, pét-nat is entirely Perle D'Csaba vines, planted in 1934. Natural in every turn, from the native ferment to the no sulphites, to leaving the wine unfiltered in bottle, on its lees. Low alcohol and low flavour, though high in sour fruit, this year's quirky Speritz isn't my favourite.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
16 July 2019
89PTS
Mission Hill Terroir Collection Jagged Rock Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc - Semillion 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom the southern Okanagan's Jagged Rock Vineyard, this 60/40 sauvignon blanc/semillon spent time between stainless and French oak, both playing roles in building the structure and layers of this full bodied, potent white. White honey, potent grapefruit, white peach, Rainier cherry, on the savoury palate, trailing off with a rasp of broken stones and kiss of cherry sweetness. Serious attempt; one to watch in future.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
CedarCreek Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis juicy, youthful and bright sauvignon blanc was sourced from Jagged Rock and Border Vista Vineyards in the southern Okanagan. This was fermented in stainless, with 10 percent done in concrete for added texture and depth. Post-ferment, the parts were reunited in stainless for three months on the lees before bottling. The result feels Okanagan fresh, with sage, meadow florals, greengage, Asian pear and potent fragrant spice on the snappy finish. Well done.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
91PTS
Marc Deschamps Les Porcheronnes Pouilly Fumé 2018
Pouilly-Fume, Upper Loire, Loire, FranceEnergy up front, with smoked stone, flint, medicinal white cherry, and potent, focused lemon to lead. This powerful, fuller-bodied wine can take the intensity, gobbling up a palate of tangerine, pear, guava, white grapefruit, and a gobsmacking 15 degrees of alcohol, and giving out ample crushed rock, flinty puffs of smoke, and a lingering lemon pith on the back end. The grapes are sourced from numerous clay and limestone hilltops in Les Loges, specifically La Cote and Les Griottes, both averaging 20 years in vine age. Striking now, this will certainly evolve with cellaring.Prices:| ON | $28.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Le Vieux Pin Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe LVP sauvignon hails from the south Okanagan, with fruit coming off Osoyoos Lake Bench and the Golden Mile Bench. The style is fresh, the acidity brisk, and the texture is Euro lean. It spends only four months on its lees in a mix of stainless steel and puncheons. Battonage has added a touch of weight, but this is lean and mean on the palate with super bright, green apple fruit tempered with flecks of gooseberry, lemongrass and melon. Marlborough meets Leyda in the Okanagan. You can pair just about anything with this snappy white, and it will work.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Cirro Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandSuper concentrated, with passionfruit, pear, citrus filling a juicy, assertive, ripe and off-dry palate. There's a great raft of spicing on the potent palate, finishing off with ample spicing and jalapeño. If you like your Marlborough savvy's potent and punchy, chill well and drink now.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
91PTS
Nobilo Icon Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandThe Icon is the flagship of Nobilo Wines, impressively first established in 1943. The fruit comes off three select Marlborough sites: Brooklands, Southern Valleys; Gifford Creek Lane, Rapaura; and Twin Creek, Rapaura. Each block was harvested and fermented separately using a variety of yeasts. The nose and attack is a mix of flint and minerality before the tropical passionfruit kicks in along with guava, citrus and jalapeño. Fish tacos, grilled halibut with fruit salsa and fresh grilled asparagus all work here - real New World sauvignon blanc.Prices:| NFL | $27.50 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.75 | 750ml |
| ON | $25.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Telmo Rodriguez Basa Rueda Blanco 2017
Rueda, Castilla-Leon, SpainThe signature of top producers is consistency, and this medium-bodied blend of verdejo/viura/sauvignon blanc from Rueda delivers that and more. Expect a fruity style (well, as fruity as Euro whites can be) with mandarin, peach, and assorted orchard fruits on the nose. The palate is more of the same with lime pith, melon, pineapple and spice that finishes juicy and tangy with a twist of chalk for texture. The Rueda region remains undervalued as a producer of fresh white wine, which allows Telmo Rodriguez to build his ‘basa’ or basement/ foundation with this larger production white.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $20.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $16.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $20.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Blue Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAs the sauvignon blanc vines settle in on one dozen years, this might be the best BM savvy I have tasted. The grapes, two French clones, are fermented with native yeasts in a combination of stainless and French oak, the latter adding some weight and mouthfeel before another five months in stainless steel, foudre, puncheons and older barrels. In 2018 the energy was retained, and the wine further leaned out to give freshness and the precision I love. Pears, citrus, white peaches: it is all here in this tight, compact white that finishes with just the right amount of weight and texture. Most seafood works here and if the adornments are creamy and fatty, so much the better. Bravo.Prices:| BC | $24.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Fleur Moelleux Bordeaux Blanc 2016
Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux, FranceWhite Bordeaux can be a revelation at the top end, but so are the prices. Entre-Deux-Mers is a different proposition, often over-delivering for the price. Moelleux Blanc is a chateau-bottled semillon from this region set between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. Most of the area is red, but the 20 percent that is white can be a delightful find for many. The soils are high in lime and calcareous clay, and limestone is excellent for white grapes. The style is fruity, the attack soft and round with guava, honeysuckle, peach, and stone fruit. Ready to drink and perfect for spicy sushi rolls or Thai/Indian Chinese dishes. Serve well chilled.Prices:| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Condor Peak Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Mendoza, ArgentinaClean and bright, with greengage, hedge, green apple, pineapple and an alluring herbal lees bed on the slender palate. Lipsmacking acidity rings out the snappy finish. Great value for a simple, authentic little white.Prices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Murphy-Goode The Fume Sauvignon Blanc 2018
North Coast Region, California, United StatesWarm and brash flavours of pineapple, papaya, mandarin and spices rule this wooded sauvignon blanc from the North Coast of California. There's ample glycerol on the medium bodied palate to hold the big fruit, and toasty spices, sliding it along to a warming, sweetish finish. Chill well and serve with protein-rich appies.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.60 | 750ml |
| NB | $24.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Township 7 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Blue Terrace Vineyard 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWinemaker Mary McDermott has a terrific touch, as evidenced by the vibrancy and freshness of this sauvignon blanc. This wine will surprise you with its electricity, but even more so with its texture and complexity. Classic passionfruit leads the way with gooseberry, lemon, and lightly bitter, citrus pith flavours. A revelation for BC sauvignon blanc. Prawns, clams, mussels and goat cheese all work here.Prices:| BC | $26.97 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Mission Hill Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe latest Reserve Sauvignon Blanc remains a terrific value. The style is super brisk; if you are lemon, citrus, passionfruit freak, the 2017 sauvignon blanc is for you. Multiple picks continue to deliver vibrancy and freshness to a wine that sees ageing in 80 percent stainless steel and ten percent each oak and concrete. The flavours are citrus drenched pineapple, lemongrass and lime with a dusting of sagebrush. This year is definitely on edge. Steamed mussels, fish tacos or a fresh local tomato burrata salad would all work.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Cono Sur Bicicleta Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Valle de San Antonio, Region de Aconcagua, ChileThis all you could want in an inexpensive sauvignon, from the juicy, passionfruit entry to the lime pith and lemon rind back end riddled with nectarine skin and perfect tropical, orange undertones and bitterness. Ready to drink - an ideal match with fish tacos, steamed mussels, or a summer tomato burrata salad. Terrific value.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
92PTS
Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc Te Muna Road Vineyard 2018
Martinborough, Wairarapa, North Island, New ZealandThe best New Zealand sauvignons have an electric current running through them, and the Craggy Te Muna is one of those. Key lime, melons, peaches, and chalk all conspire to draw you into this glass. The attack is similar, with gooseberry and sea salt highlights, and more juicy citrus undercurrents. Fun to sip, and even better with food. Crisp, dry, mineral-driven, this is the real thing. Steamed mussels, crab, fish tacos, and more all go with this beauty. Good value.Prices:| AB | $32.95 | 750ml |
| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $22.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Clos du Soleil Fumé Blanc 2018
British Columbia, CanadaThis year's Fumé is a 75/25 mix of sauvignon blanc and semillon centred about Cawston, Keremeos, and Oliver. It’s another Euro-lean version with sauvignon dominating the nose and palate. Expect a lot of New Zealand gooseberry and lemon-lime, guava, green apple notes but with a woolly underscore that tends to dry out the finish. If you like your sauvignon lean but bright, this is for you. It will work with creamy or buttery seafood dishes, and both components will be better for it.Prices:| BC | $18.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Franciscan Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Monterey County, Central Coast, California, United StatesCalifornia sauvignon is an enigma. The region calls for a new version of sauvignon, à la New Zealand or the Loire, but you seldom encounter that style. Sure, it is warm, but why not pick earlier and head for the coast and try for a skinnier style? In this case, the wine is halfway there. The lemon is present, but the fruit is more candied than tart. There is a nice touch of grass and herbs that perfectly offsets the ripe tropical notes, but the finish is a touch woolly and bitter. It will appeal to those who don't like the tartness, but I would prefer it with a bit more zip in the finish.Prices:| ON | $19.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Emandare Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaWe continue to be impressed by this Vancouver Island sauvignon, grown organically in the Cowichan Valley. They are the oldest sauvignon vines on the island and seem to be thriving under the watch of Mike & Robin Nierychlo. The attack is floral with sweet rose and honeysuckle. On the palate, melon, starfruit, pear and kiwi is elegantly structured and punctuated with classic lemongrass before a candied lemon finish. It would be a good match with spicy tuna rolls or similarly spiced fish tacos. Always in short supply.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
15 July 2019
89PTS
Mission Hill Terroir Collection No. 29 Bluebird Passage Viognier 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOne of MHFE's Terroir Series, this is based on Osoyoos fruit, with a 10 percent splash from Black Sage Bench. This spent time in stainless, concrete egg, and French oak for additional layers of complexity. Lush and perfumed white peach, pear, apricot fuzz, prickly pear, and gingersnap and white pepper spicing along the medium-bodied, smooth palate. Varietally true, which is not always easy with finicky, flabby viognier.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Hester Creek Terra Unica Viognier 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis small lot viognier comes from two long-time Osoyoos growers: Citrus Hill, and Star Vineyards. It was fermented and rested briefly in stainless, to preserve acidity. Lush blossoms, apricot, peach and lime, ride a slow, just-off-dry creamsicle palate, finishing with a dusting of gingersnap spice on the shorter finish. Impressively light at 11.5 degrees, chill this down and enjoy this summer.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
85PTS
Road 13 Roussanne 2017
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRich, full, intense and heady, this roussanne was sourced from the Similkameen Valley, was whole cluster pressed, and fermented and aged in a myriad of vessels, from concrete eggs to stainless steel barrels to older French barrels. All the parts do not equal a better whole, however. This remains clunky and disjointed, with rich perfumed pineapple, apricot, pear nectar, big spice and vanilla all jockeying for position on the flabby and shorter palate. Less is more, and this wine allows roussanne to fulfill its more is more side.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Artakama Viognier Roussanne 2018
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaArtakama is a natural, magnum-only line from the good folks behind Le Vieux Pin and La Stella wineries. This 2018 blanc is a blend of viognier and roussanne, with "nothing added, and nothing taken away". Native fermented in stainless, this was then pressed into a 500L barrel for regular battonage before bottling the following spring. Etched with apricot, tangerine, lit with green apple acidity, scented with quince and orange blossom, and seasoned with a saline minerality, this is a snappy and bone dry, and a fantastic result. A shining light for natural wines in BC.Prices:| BC | $49.00 | 1500ml |
Read Full Note
84PTS
Tightrope Winery Viognier 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine is sourced from the Naramata Bench. An incredibly reductive nose needs a lot of time to blow off. Once it does, there is some lovely stone fruit and a touch of oak, from ageing in a combination of French oak, acacia, and stainless steel barrels for eight months. You’d almost think this was chardonnay instead of viognier, with its linear texture and tart acidity. Maybe just a notch underripe in 2017.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Penner-Ash Viognier 2018
Oregon, United StatesOur note from last year asks, “is it classic viognier?” And the same question is valid for the 2018 vintage. It skews towards the green fruit spectrum, with a swath of green apple and lime, before revealing subtle floral aromatics and honeyed stone fruit that are more characteristic of viognier. Entirely fermented and matured in stainless steel, the fruit is bright and pure with a silky, oily texture.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $39.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Vanessa Vineyard Viognier 2018
Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Similkameen Valley seems an excellent place for growing the heat-seeking-missile of a grape, viognier. Concentrated orange, apricot, white peach is expressed, though held to a welcome slight 12.2-degree frame and kept dry. The finish is salty and bright, leaving you with a sense of buoyancy, not heft, as viognier is want to do. It has quickly shot to one of BC's best viogniers.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Hester Creek Terra Unica Viognier 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom two vineyards in Osoyoos, this was fermented and matured in stainless before being bottled in March 2019. A fresh, pure nose of orange blossom and apricot, with subtle lees character. The texture is broad and viscous, with balancing acidity and a clean finish. It is surprising to see this at only 11.5 percent, as you typically expect to see viognier at higher alcohol levels. That said, the wine doesn’t come across unripe. Varietally accurate, if not the most complex example.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Road 13 VRM Viognier Roussanne Marsanne 2017
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRich, potent and heady, this is a full-bodied blend of roussanne, viognier, and marsanne from Similkameen's Blind Creek Vineyard that sucks up every grade on the heat thermometer. Peach jam, apricot, lime curd, pear pie and heaps of ginger spicing flood the voluptuous palate, declared at 14.3 degrees. After whole bunch pressing and 24 hours of cold settling, it is fermented in French oak (25% new). The wine remained in barrel with regular battonage until the following summer. If you're looking for a creamy, hedonistic white to work alongside sweet/sour pork or chicken, this will do.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
85PTS
Bottega Viognier 2017
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSourced from Osoyoos (40 percent) and Naramata (60 percent), the Osoyoos fruit was crushed and left on the skins overnight before pressing while the Naramata fruit was directly whole cluster pressed. Fermentation was by cultured yeast, with the wine fermented and matured in stainless for five months before bottling. Not the most aromatic nose, but there is viognier’s characteristic ripe apricot, even if it comes across slightly muddled. The wine has some freshness, which is always a challenge with this grape as it can quickly end up soft and flabby. A relatively short finish, with some bitterness.Prices:| BC | $20.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
11 July 2019
88PTS
Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2016
Campo de Borja, Aragon, SpainPotent raspberry, cherry, medicinal strawberry, leather, dusty stone fill this round, spicy old vine garnacha from Campo de Borja. Tres Picos is the top cuvée of Borsão, drawn from 30 to 65-year-old, head-pruned garnacha from the slopes of the extinct Moncayo volcano. Thick on the palate, with potent wood courtesy of 10 months in older French oak barrels, and stainless steel. This holds its sun-drenched alcohol (15 degrees) very well. Enjoy now, with grilled sausages or lamb.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Familia Castaño Hécula Monastrell 2016
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, SpainSpain's Hecula is the benchmark producer of commercial monastrell (mourvèdre in France), courtesy of the Castaño family, owners of more than 410ha in the Yecla DO, and 80 percent of those planted to monastrell. This wine comes from a mix of sandstone and limestone soils located 750m above sea level, and the vines are a tantalizing 50 years of age. It’s all stainless fermented and then aged six months in oak, 80 percent French, 20 percent American. Modern and accessible, it is the perfect barbecue red, and it is marked down three dollars all July at BCLS.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $17.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $17.50 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2016
Campo de Borja, Aragon, SpainTres Picos is the top cuvée at Borsão. The fruit grows on volcanic soils and the vines, heat-loving, head-pruned garnacha, average 30-65 years of age. The attack is rich and heady with soaring red cherry and raspberry-scented fruit with a dusty, resiny medicine cabinet edge. It’s old school, but its complex, mineral, chalky notes will surprise. Spain means oak again, and in this case, it is about ten months in older oak. It is rich in the mouth boasting 15 percent alcohol, but it's easily tamed by grilled lamb sausages or a favourite steak cut. Ready to drink through 2022.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
92PTS
Comando G La Bruja de Rozas 2017
Castilla-Leon, SpainComando G is a partnership of minds, mates and winemakers Fernando García and Dani Landi. La Bruja de Rosas is their village wine, sourced from numerous vineyards around Las Rozas de Puerto Real, between 900-1200m altitude and from granitic sands. Organically and biodynamically farmed 50-80 year old garnacha vines is native fermented with a lengthy maceration followed by nine months in oak vats. The result is a pale hued, lengthy, well-knit red, with harmonious and seamless red fruit, white pepper, perfumed red florals, scrubby wild herbs and an easy and buoyant swell of acidity to carry. Tannins are slight and slightly tuggy, and the finish is brisk with pepper. Welcome new wave Spain - we've been waiting for this. More, now, please.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Laderas del Tiétar Garnacha 2017
SpainThis garnacha was made by a co-op (Bodega Cooperativo Cristo del Humilladero) and Comando G, two young friends who farm their own garnacha organically and biodynamically across their collective 15ha of vineyards. In this wine Dani and Fer selected fruit from the co-op growers and advise on the winemaking, trying to assist the members into modernity and sustainability. Garnacha's exuberance is on full display here, with medicinal cherry, strawberry jam, smoked cocoa on a juicy palate, lightly framed by sticky tannins. Youthful and exuberant, this is well suited to sweet-shellacked ribs.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
10 July 2019
89PTS
Blue Mountain Pinot Blanc 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom 33 year old vines, this was whole cluster pressed, native fermented in French oak (barrels, puncheons, foudres) and stainless, with partial battonage until the following spring. White blossoms, lemon, white peach, anise, and lime flow along the easy, medium-bodied palate to a tidy bitter lime finish. This is a bit sharp on its own, but would be a welcome partner with fragrant green curries or citrus sautéed prawns.Prices:| BC | $24.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Clos du Soleil Winemaker's Series Pinot Blanc Middle Bench Vineyard 2018
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOne of the standout pinot blancs in BC, and the 2018 Clos du Soleil follows suit. A light dusting of sage and thyme infiltrates pear, Asian pear, white peach and nectarine, with a cut of green apple acidity to sharpen. From Middle Bench Vineyard, in Keremeos, this was whole cluster pressed before a long, cool ferment and rest in stainless on the lees. Tight, energetic, spiced and bright, this rises blanc far beyond the blah.Prices:| BC | $22.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Hester Creek Pinot Blanc 2018
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRipe and perfumed white fruit, starfruit, apricot, peach, yellow apple, and gingersnap fill this round, softer pinot blanc from the winery's Golden Mile estate blocks 4 and 9, and planted from 1968 and 1996-98. This was fermented and aged for a short stint in stainless before bottling. Drink now, with a brisk chill.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Road 13 Chip Off The Old Block Chenin Blanc 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaChip Off The Old Block is the lighter, more youthful, more accessible version of their Old Vines Chenin. This is from estate fruit on the Golden Mile Bench, as well as contracted fruit. Orchard fruit forward, with chenin's characteristic waxy core intact, this is flush with yellow apples, yellow plums, jasmine blossoms, white peaches on a softer, just off dry palate. Chenin is splashed with orange muscat and viognier here, upping that florality.Prices:| BC | $17.39 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
08 July 2019
92PTS
Catena Alta Historic Rows Malbec 2016
Mendoza, ArgentinaExpect a deep cerise colour with a lovely vinous nose that reveals heady florals, some smouldering dark fruit, and a savoury character that is just plain exciting. The fruit ranges from red to black to blue: raspberries and plums to mulberries and blueberries. There is also a captivating menthol note, along with chocolate and gravel dust. The flavours mirror the nose, with savoury, black, licorice fruit that reveals the woody part of a berry bush as well the juicy fruit itself. The acidity is marked and refreshing. Sturdy but fine-grained tannins prop up the dense and savoury fruit, keeping its minty, botanical plot. It finishes with the gravelly, dusty complexity that graced the nose. It's a complex, intricate malbec that embodies Catena's devotion to this formidable grape.Prices:| BC | $48.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $58.50 | 750ml |
| SK | $55.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $55.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $50.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $49.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Andean Vineyards Reserve Malbec 2016
Mendoza, ArgentinaA tasty malbec from a cool 2016 vintage, with ripe, juicy, black cherry flecked with plums and coated with smoky, soft tannins. I like that it’s not overly sweet or alcoholic. Grapey with chalky, soft textures, it is ready to drink. It would be a fine match for a mushroom pizza or spaghetti Bolognese.Prices:| BC | $21.49 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
85PTS
Condor Peak Malbec 2017
Mendoza, ArgentinaExpect an easy-sipping malbec that opens with a mix of red and black berries on the nose. The attack is smooth but straightforward, with more blackberry flavours and a touch of acidity poking through the back end. Ready to drink. Serve with hamburgers or other barbecue fare.Prices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
| PEI | $11.30 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
C.C. Jentsch Small Lot Series Malbec 2016
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Small Lot Series is serious stuff at C.C. Jentsch. This 100 percent malbec is a mix of two sites: 66% Golden Mile Bench Vineyard, and 34% Testalinden Creek Vineyard. The ferment and maceration is just over two weeks, and the ageing is 13.5 months in Hungarian and American oak barrels. The attack is juicy and soft with rich, savoury black fruit spilling all across your palate. Floral black cherries and peppery spice mark the long, warm finish. Just a baby, but you could enjoy it now with lamb or beef. A rarity in BC, but one we could get used to real fast. Well done. Cellar through 2022.Prices:| BC | $49.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Doña Paula Los Cardos Malbec 2017
Mendoza, ArgentinaSavoury desert-like aromas jump from the glass along with a subtle (screwcap induced?) reductive character so be sure to give this wine some air. The attack is soft, round and juicy with plummy, spicy red fruit flavours and a spicy undercurrent that finishes medium-long. A hamburger red that can do double duty at a street party. The fruit grows at El Alto Vineyard, in Ugarteche, Luján de Cuyo, on sandy clay loams, and at 1050 metres.Prices:| BC | $12.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $12.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Santa Julia Vin Biologique Malbec Organic Wine 2018
Mendoza, ArgentinaThe Zuccardi family is a shining light in the New Argentina, and this simple, but sophisticated malbec raised organically is but one of many contributions the family is making to Argentine wine. That this wine isn’t listed in government stores is a crime. Let’s hope you can find in private wine shops. Expect soft, round, plummy fruit with flecks of chocolate and even a touch of tannin yet to be shed. A superior red malbec you could age for a year or two. Delicious.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Santa Julia Malbec del Mercado 2018
Mendoza, ArgentinaJust in time for summer, Malbec del Mercado is a soft, round, velvety ready to drink red with lively red plums and cherry. It comes from the Zuccardi family's line of certified, organic wines and reflects their mission of focusing on sustainable agriculture, respecting the environment, and the biodiversity of the area. It is both a good tasting and a feel-good experience.Prices:| BC | $16.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $15.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Santa Julia Malbec + Julia Zuccardi 2018
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaThe + series is a range of varieties from selected areas of Mendoza. It doesn’t sound all that exciting, but the wine is terrific. Santa Julia ¨Plus¨ is said to express the four significant strengths of the winery: innovation, respect for the environment, quality, and contribution to the community. Say what you like, it’s a dense, soft, spicy, deep, cherry-flavoured malbec that is super smooth. A mid-week red for grilled beef at an attractive price.Prices:| AB | $17.50 | 750ml |
| BC | $16.49 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $16.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Santa Julia Reserva Malbec 2017
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaThis inexpensive gem is 100 percent Uco Valley malbec handpicked at the end of April. The ferment and maceration lasted just over 25 days, and a portion of the wine is aged in older oak. The nose is classic Zuccardi, red-fruited and fresh, evoking cherries, plums and blackberries. The tannins are subdued, but support the finish, bright with flecks of black licorice. Serious yet simple stuff that overdelivers for the price. Back up the truck, again.Prices:| BC | $16.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.50 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $15.00 | 750ml |
| SK | $16.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $14.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Masi Tupungato Passo Doble 2016
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaOpen, aromatic, earthy, meaty nose with warm black fruit. The blend is an 85/15 mix of malbec and lightly dried corvina Veronese. The latter gives it a warm, luxurious texture. Sweet cherries and spice fill the nose and the palate. Drying the grapes make sense in cool, wet years like 2016, but the Argentines should be careful not to overdo it. The rich raisins, black fruit laced with liquorice, and a touch of reduction should be served with older cheeses and big meaty pasta.Prices:| BC | $14.99 | 750ml |
| NS | $17.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $17.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $14.00 | 750ml |
| NF | $18.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $16.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $15.00 | 750ml |
| PEI | $19.00 | 750ml |
| YK | $18.00 | 750ml |
| NB | $19.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Kaiken Reserva Especial Malbec 2016
Agrelo District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaNot the best year for red wines that lagged behind normal parameters in cool weather. The attack here is fresh, and the fruit red flavoured as you might expect, but without a lot of meat or density. The fruit was hand-picked and further sorted at the winery. The fruit goes through a 30-day fermentation and maceration before aging in French oak barrels for six months. Light, bright, floral and spicy but lacks body and length. Ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $15.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Hillside Reserve Malbec 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaI would join the Hillside Wine Club to get access to this delicious Naramata malbec. The 2016 comes off a long established vineyard just south of Naramata village. It projects the best of malbec: soft, juicy fruit with a wrapping of savoury Okanagan sagebrush. Round, lively and food-friendly, you can’t ask for much more. The perfect growing season and a warm lakeside vineyard combined to give this malbec an energized plushness and a love of food. Stock up they are giving it away at $28.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
92PTS
Painted Rock Malbec 2016
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is a blockbuster malbec that presents awash in black fruit and spice. The dry, desert Skaha environment may not be Andean but the proximity of the lake and cool nights have stoked its florals and acidty to keep it on point. Another level above the C.C. Jentsch and the Hillside, this tells an impressive Okanagan tale. Big, boisterous and ready to go, this must be tamed with a grilled piece of lamb or another decade in the cellar.Prices:| BC | $44.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Painted Rock Malbec 2016
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaHow surprised was I to fine this charming little malbec my favourite of the Painted Rock portfolio? Perhaps because it is a little quirky, a small lot (most of their malbec is poured into Red Icon), and under made, compared with some of their other, highly crafted and cellar-intended wines. Lovely generosity and freshness here, with crushed blueberry, dusky plum, and brisk spicing, framing this bigger red. The 18 months in French oak (30 percent new) is gobbled up by the potent, pure, blue fruit. Youthful, tight, and smart, this is worth seeking out. 210 cases made.Prices:| BC | $44.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
05 July 2019
88PTS
Le Vieux Pin Vaïla Rosé 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWinemaker Severine Pinte has a light touch, and you can taste it in this super fresh version of a pinot noir rosé. The style is a startlingly bone dry, raspberry rhubarb affair with a spicy strawberry undercurrent. Not for everyone unless you are a fan of dry, food-friendly rosé.Prices:| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Cirro Pinot Noir Rosé 2018
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandWe know that Kiwis do pinot noir very well. Yet it's still surprising to see a rosé of pinot noir on this market. Hopefully we'll see more like this snappy Cirro from Marlborough. Bright cherry, strawberry, rhubarb fruit is threaded with ample zesty orange pith. Pretty dry, amply juicy, and super snappy on the spiced finish, this is a friendly pinot pink very well made. And obvs, under stelvin.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Domaine La Croix Belle Caringole Rosé 2018
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, Sud de France, FranceThis pale belle is a blend of syrah and grenache from Pays d'Oc, thankfully left dry and spiced with Languedoc garrigue. Cherry, raspberry, thorns and dried rosemary and thyme intermingle on the slight, short palate, finishing with a smack of bitter rhubarb. Best chilled, with food. Fine value.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Fado Rosé 2018
Alentejo, Central and Southern Portugal, PortugalThis deeply hued, lusty rose is a blend of aragonez and touriga nacional, from Portugal's Alentejano region. It's named Fado, for the Portuguese music that permeates the culture. Raspberry, tayberry and a sprinkle of dusty spice fills the medium plump pink, nearly bone dry, and with a lovely swell of juicy acidity to brighten. Bitter cranberry closes out the finish with a short snap. Easy choice for this summer.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Cellier des Princes Rosé La Princesse 2017
Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, FranceDon't let the cartoon character on the label fool you into thinking this is silly wine. It's actually quite smart: The label changes colour once the wine temperature reaches 12°C, indicating that it's ready to drink. Liberally. This is a smart little blend of grenache, syrah, and cinsault from IGP Vaucluse. Warm summer strawberries, light cream, orange blossom and a dusting of spice on the slight palate, one dry and breezy, though blows warm on the finish. Drink this cutie this summer.Prices:| BC | $17.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
CedarCreek Platinum Block 1 Pinot Noir Rosé 2018
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBoth Treve and I agree on the pedigree of this wine that is fast becoming one of the most elegant rosés made in North America. The fruit is all estate grown, harvested from the Home Block, Block 1. Winemaker Taylor Whelan makes two passes to get the juicy, flavourful pink to be all that it can be. It’s partially native fermented in neutral oak after a short one hour of skin contact. Three months on the lees, attention folks three months on the lees, builds creamy textures that are as light as pillows. Look for spicy, wild strawberries and Bing cherry with a squeeze of tangerine tempered with a savoury, sagebrush, northern Okanagan undercurrent. Exciting stuff and capable of matching a variety of summer foods. Not cheap but worth every penny.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Copain Tous Ensemble Rose 2018
Mendocino County, California, United StatesTous Ensemble is French for all together, referring to the pinot noir coming from three vineyards across Mendocino County for this medium blush-hued pink. Sweet strawberry, raspberry jam, cherry blossoms fill this ripe, round rosé, one thankfully held dryish. Silken on the palate, this finishes smooth and slightly warming. A stylishly made Cali rosé best taken on a patio or yacht.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Rosé 2018
California, United StatesSweet orange creamsicle, strawberry, peach, raspberry jam fill this fuller, slicked, Cali pink. Silken on the palate. Kendall-Jackson obviously has a lot of grapes to choose from. This year is 39% Santa Barbara County, 29% Sonoma County, 23% Monterey County, 9% Mendocino County, and a mix of 82% Pinot Noir, 15% Syrah, 3% Grenache, all in stainless. Chill well. Predictable Cali Pink.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Painted Rock Rosé 2018
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMedium pink in hue, this rosé packs a punch, like all of Painted Rock's wines. The 2018 is a blend of 41% Merlot, 21% Syrah, 15% Petit Verdot, 10% Malbec, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc, mostly saignée method, concentrating their muscular red wines. This is intense, with sweet cherry, red currant, rhubarb compote and light spice, on a hot (14.4 degrees declared), glycerin palate. Even with a brisk chill, this is a wallop. I reckon skirt steak or tuna steak would meet this pink. Old school.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Township 7 Rosé 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPouring a lovely pale pink, this year's rosé is a far cry from the last one we've tasted, way back from 2014. They've dialled the sugar way back to near dryish, though kept some similar grapes : merlot, cabernet sauvignon, malbec, and petit verdot, sourced from both the Township 7 Estate in Naramata, and Sunshine Acres Vineyard in Oliver. The merlot, malbec and petit verdot were direct press, and cofermented. This year cab sauv was added to the mix after to give structure and possibly some gravitas. Seems to be a working model, with strawberry gel, raspberry, candied red apple on a medium palate. Chill well and drink this summer.Prices:| BC | $21.97 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
C.C. Jentsch Small Lot Series Blanc de Noirs 2018
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis sweeter rose channels its southern Okanagan provenance through super ripe, sweet strawberry, candied peach, pear nectar and cinnamon spicing. The palate is somewhat syrupy, though there's a rise of acidity to keep this somewhat aloft. This is estate merlot, macerated for 24 hours on skins before stainless ferment and brief aging. A swell of RS is best taken with a brisk chill.Prices:| BC | $22.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Crowsnest Family Rosé 2018
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPouring a deeper pink hue, this pinot auxerrois / pinot noir rosé is on the sweeter style, with cranberry sauce, strawberry jam, brisk spicing on the medium+ palate. Best enjoyed well chilled, and if you prefer your pinks sweeter. Old school.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Vanessa Vineyard Rosé 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis year's rosé is a big jump up / dryer / fresher than last year, with tight raspberry, strawberry, crunchy red apple, and baked rhubarb along a leesy, stony river bed base, so characteristic of its stony Similkameen site. There's a thread of lemon pith bracing this dry blend of estate merlot and syrah to a lingering stony finish. And a huge bonus - this early picked pink clocks in less than 2 degrees less alcohol than last year, at a very welcome 12.3 degrees. Well done.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Rosé 2018
British Columbia, CanadaThis pale, Provençal-coloured pink is another strong effort from Unsworth, made with Cowichan fruit. All kinds of berries, with a fresh, crunchy, underbelly and a twist of sweetness makes this (what do the kids say?) smashable. Creamy, bright, and linear, this is a delight to sip and is a terrific match with lighter patio snacks. Well done.Prices:| BC | $21.65 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
04 July 2019
87PTS
Gray Monk Pinot Gris 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFermented and aging in stainless, with no MLF, keeps this gris, the namesake grape for Gray Monk winery, crisp and fresh. Steely pear, yellow apple, Asian pear is infiltrated with a light spice. Approximately 12 hours on the skins lend a medium hue and sliver of texture to the palate, offsetting the bump of RS. Classic BC gris.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.94 | 750ml |
| MB | $21.28 | 750ml |
| SK | $22.69 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Mission Hill Reserve Pinot Gris 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAnother solid effort from the Reserve series. The fruit comes off estate vineyards on Black Sage Road and Naramata Ranch. In all, some 60 blocks were involved in the blend, 25 percent of which was barrel-fermented in French oak, and five percent of that was new wood. The nose and palate is bright pear with a squeeze of lemon, and the mid-palate is firm and dry. Don’t bother looking for any sugar; it ends with the perfect lime pith bitterness. Rich, yet svelte, I can think of dozens of matches for this wine starting with pesto pasta.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Blue Mountain Pinot Gris 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOrchard-fresh and juicy, this year's pinot gris is from two French clones and 32-year-old estate vines. After whole cluster pressing, this was native fermented in a mix of foudre, stainless, French barrels and puncheons. The wooded wines received regular battonage or stirring of the lees, while the stainless portion did not. The lots are blended the following spring. Bright and crunchy Asian pear, lime pith and lime leaf, green apple rings through this wine, one with a thin cushion of lees, but overall much tauter and tighter than last year, and charmingly so. Snappy and impressive. Solid.Prices:| BC | $24.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $26.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $24.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Cirro Pinot Gris 2018
Marlborough, South Island, New ZealandPinot Gris has an identity crisis in New Zealand. It can be lean and sprightly, grigio style, or rich and lush Alsatian inspired. This Cirro, from Marlborough, seems to take its inspiration from sauvignon blanc. Grassy, passionfruit, lemon, pear drop on a snappy, bright palate, finishing with a bitter citrus twist. If you like NZ sauvignon, but want to try something new, here you go.Prices:| BC | $19.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Seaside Pearl Sam and Issac Pinot Gris 2018
CanadaCousins Sam and Isaac Lehman arrived on the banks of the Fraser River by riverboat in 1875 and set about living in the shadow of Mount Lehman. This gris is dry with a citrus, melon, green apple nose that spills onto a creamy palate. Simple and ready to drink. Try with fish tacos or a vegetable and egg frittata.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
San Valentino Pinot Grigio 2017
Puglia, ItalyPinot Grigio is either loved, or reviled, it seems. The grape and style is a chameleon, running the gamut from thin and insipid and forgettable, to chiseled and zesty and mineral-rich. This well-priced model is on the simple side, but thankfully not dumbed down like many of its contemporaries. There is a generous bed of lees to bed the crisp lemon, green melon, pine nut and herbs. Snappy and salty on the brief finish, this is a welcome addition to your summer patio.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Harper's Trail Thadd Springs Vineyard Pinot Gris 2018
Kamloops, British Columbia, CanadaBarely coloured, this Kamloops pinot gris is an interesting one. The style is super fresh and tight with a stony, mineral, floral nose. The attack is juicy, with more wet stone, mineral, pear, quince, and nectarine. Very food-friendly; summer salads and pastas cold or hot would be excellent matches. Impressive effort and very true to the site.Prices:| BC | $19.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Moraine Pinot Gris 2018
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMoraine has been making some impressive wines in the last few years. Tightly wound with mineral underpinnings, this PG lives on the edge of lean and juicy. This is an excellent example of the mid-valley Okanagan style with apricot and lemon infused with a stony mineral current. The vineyard sits on an old moraine deposit that is responsible for its tight, juicy, orchard fruit flavours. Think crabcakes, fish tacos, or Chinese duck.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Abbazia di Novacella Pinot Grigio 2017
Trentino- Alto-Adige, ItalyThe abbey of Novacella has been around since the 12th century at the Northern end of Alto Adige’s Isarco Valley. If only walls could talk. Viticulture itself is 850 years old in the region. The Abbey owns many vineyards and works with many others based on ancient relationships. It is classic pinot grigio from very cool high altitude sites. The aromas and flavours reflect a tighter mineral style with mouthwatering lemony acidity, minerality and freshness from front to back. Stony, resiny, bright and lively, it is the match made in heaven for fresh shellfish.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Santa Julia Pinot Grigio del Mercado 2018
Mendoza, ArgentinaWine aficionados will be drawn do this dirt cheap but delicious Argentine PG that comes in a fresh, citrus, pear jacket and was made by a winery that knows minerality. Clean and crisp, it's a perfect mid-week white for most any seafood dish you can think about serving. Chill down and serve all summer on the patio. Super value.Prices:| BC | $13.49 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $13.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $10.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $11.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Santa Julia Pinot Grigio Julia Zuccardi 2018
Mendoza, ArgentinaI want to say this Argentine pinot grigio is more reminiscent of the BC style, but I'm not sure anyone knows what that is except for British Columbians. This is slightly more intense than expected, with bright fruit and even a little stony minerality. The palate is medium long, salty, dry, to a lightly bitter finish. Serve with your favourite seafood entrée that you can squeeze some lemon over. Good value.Prices:| BC | $13.49 | 750ml |
| AB | $13.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $13.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $10.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $11.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
03 July 2019
88PTS
Kitsch Pinot Gris 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Kitsch PG is a fresh, savoury affair with more body than you might expect, yet it remains somewhat taut. It is super dry with a mix of green apple, pears, and citrus, with a supporting stony/chalky undercarriage. The vines – all clone 52 – are young, but they are going to thrive in the sandy-silty soils that cover the estate in East Kelowna. Another wine made for fresh shellfish or halibut with fruit salsa.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Spearhead Chardonnay Clone 95 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaClone 95 is a unique bottling of a single French clone from two sites: one on the Naramata Bench as well as Spearhead's home site in southeast Kelowna. The attack is leesy, resiny and creamy with peach, pear, hazelnut, and a creamed corn finish. Set against that drier image is a vibrant red apple flecked with spice in the back end. There's a touch of bitterness in the oaky finish that can be off-putting but I like the style and expect it will all resolve over the next year. It’s whole cluster pressed, fermented and aged in French oak (40 percent new) for 11 months. Drink now with richer foods or hold into early 2020.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Rust Wine Co Chardonnay 2018
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom Okanagan Falls' Lost Horn Vineyard, this 1998-planted clone 76 chardonnay was native fermented and aged in stainless. Super ripe and round, with baked yellow apples, pear compote, ripe honeydew, and ample woodsy, cinnamon spices. Sweet and plump on the palate, this lacks the verve and energy needed, especially when it wears the appellation of prized chardonnay region Okanagan Falls.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
2018_Crop.jpg)
87PTS
JoieFarm Chardonnay Un-Oaked (ii) 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOne of two chardys released yearly from JoieFarm, the unoaked version comes off three sites: Skaha Bluff's Con Vida Vineyard (and 1989 planted vines), nearby Hollenbach Family Vineyard, and Oliver Twist Vineyard, in Oliver. It’s fermented and aged in stainless, with regular battonage. The attack is bright and tropical, with pineapple, yellow apple, green apple, sweet corn, and ample spice. There's a sizeable bump of sweetness here that will appeal to the masses. We suggest you give it a brisk chill and serve it with spicier dishes and have a drink-now attitude.Prices:| BC | $24.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Mission Hill Terroir Collection No. 8 Jagged Rock Vineyard Chardonnay 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom MHFE Terroir Series, this chardy comes from Oliver's Jagged Rock Vineyard, a warm sandy / loamy site surrounded by towering and steep rocky cliffs. The vineyard sits around 400 m in altitude, and this comes from clone 76. This spent 16 months on the lees in a blend of French oak, foudre, and clayver. Toast and lemon curd lead this fuller bodied white, one that has absorbed the sun of its southern Okanagan site. There's a lovely white flower / lemon blossom note that lifts, and a stony grip that firms. The finish is flush with warmth and a medicinal white cherry. As it stands, still too much on the blousy wooded style at this young stage, but moving very much in the right (tight) direction. One to watch.Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2017
West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaQuails' Gate's regular chardonnay is a classic BC label, delivering at a high level year in and year out. The reg is a mix of estate blocks using French clones. It is mostly fermented in stainless steel with a small portion spending time in used French oak. Look for an inviting smooth entry with yellow fruits, stony mineral and hazelnut aromas. There’s a hint of vanilla at every end. Perfect for lobster, crab or creamy fish dishes.Prices:| BC | $26.44 | 750ml |
| AB | $24.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $24.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $24.95 | 750ml |
| NS | $23.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $25.98 | 750ml |
| NB | $24.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $23.50 | 750ml |
| NL | $24.98 | 750ml |
| PE | $24.99 | 750ml |
| YK | $24.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Kitsch 7 Barrel Chardonnay 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGrant Biggs is the winemaker at Kitsch, and these early releases look promising. In 2017 he made 7 barrels of chardonnay and it's documented for all on the label. This is clone 95 planted on silty loam over sand. The winemaking begins with a whole cluster press, followed by a native ferment and ten months ageing in French oak; 69 percent of the wood is new. The result is a medium yellow colour with a vanilla baked apple nose. Thankfully it’s brighter on the palate with more citrus and savoury notes that tame the oak and the weight. A little less is more would take this wine to another level, but all in all, it’s an excellent start, and it’s a style many chardonnay consumers like. Try this with roasted chicken or crab.Prices:| BC | $40.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
JoieFarm En Famille Reserve Chardonnay 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe En Famille Reserve is one of two chardonnays JoieFarm releases each year, this one comprised of their special old vine block of Skaha Bluff's Con Vida Vineyard, as well as fruit from their Plain de Vine vineyard on the Naramata Bench. This was partially native fermented in Bourgogne barrels and puncheons, 30 percent new, which is certainly felt. This remained in wood for ten months with regular battonage, and then a further nine months in bottle prior to release. Vanilla permeates the whole, the floral blossoms reflecting the fact this is chardonnay musqué. Lemon curd, green apple, lime pith, roasted hazelnuts is a bit overwhelmed by the warming wood omnipresent at this young stage. Best enjoyed now with corn risotto to match the richness.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $38.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Trius Showcase Wild Ferment Chardonnay Watching Tree Vineyard 2017
Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaWinemaker Craig McDonald is behind this tight, citrus lined chardonnay that is wild fermented. The texture is creamy and layered but punctuated by lemon and lees to lend it a complex nature. Look for bright apple and pear with a subtle line of baked apple caramel and fresh, sour apple mash finish. Taut enough for creamy dishes, and I'm leaning towards mushroom risotto or a roasted turkey. No rush to drink this through 2022.Prices:| ON | $55.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Bordertown Chardonnay 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe fruit here is all estate, meaning all Osoyoos. The attack is soft and creamy, reflecting its full MLF and ageing for eight months in French oak. Rich, buttery and round with a thread of guava underneath that helps to tighten up the middle just a bit and keep it from being overbearing. The finish is long and opulent with a touch of sweetness. Try this old style chardonnay with veal chops with mushrooms.Prices:| BC | $23.15 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Bordertown Unoaked Chardonnay 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaReady to drink, that probably offers all you could want in an unoaked chardonnay. The nose is fresh, reminiscent of a fruit salad. Its skinny, stainless steel styling hems in the citrus-splashed orchard fruits that dominate the palate and finish. Crisp, clean and affordable.Prices:| BC | $17.49 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Tantalus Bear Chardonnay 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA new label for Tantalus it replaces the Juveniles Chardonnay whose vines are gaining age now seven years in the ground. The ‘Bear’ tag is a nod to the nickname of owner Eric Savics’ eldest son. The fruit is natively fermented and aged in a mix of stainless and older French barrels. The result is a lovely mix of crystalline lemon, verbena, polished stone, pineapple rind, green apple, guava and a thin cushion of fine lees and a scent of smoky flint. The balance is impeccable, and the acidity pitch-perfect. Smart, tidy, and ready to drink, but also capable of sitting on for a couple of years. Try this with fresh cracked crab and butter.Prices:| BC | $19.30 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
92PTS
MacIntyre Heritage Reserve Astra 2016
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaI did not see 2015 of this label, but 2016 is a significant improvement on the first 2014 release. The fruit comes off the Lake Breeze Naramata Bench vineyard, strategically centred in the middle of the Okanagan Valley where daytime temperatures are warm and the night is comfortably cool: perfect acidity for making premium white wine. Before I highly recommend this wine, know that production is tiny, and it is virtually snapped up via the McIntyre mailing list, so if you want some, you had better get signed up. The difference is this year is a more subtle tone, letting the bright fruit shine while the lees and oak add support for texture and length. The palate is a mix of citrus, pears, and spicy hazelnut. The nose is a mix of bright green apple and citrus with some spicy hazelnut notes — less Napa, more Burgundy this year. Lobster or crab would be the perfect match. Owner Drew Macintyre’s father was a member of the RCAF, so when he decided to launch two high-end wine labels, the names Astra and its merlot brother Ardua were an ode to his father and the Royal Canadian Air Force motto: Per Ardua ad Astra - through adversity to the stars.Prices:| BC | $60.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Blue Mountain Chardonnay 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWhen you are slogging through some fairly mundane chardonnay, it's always a pleasure to come across wine appropriately made such as this vibrant toasty, buttery regular label Blue Mountain. Actually, it is not so ordinary, from its five clone blend to its aged (11-28-year-old) estate vines. The attack is broader than 2016 thanks to the use of foudres to build texture and creaminess, and a higher percentage of malolactic fermentation. Lemon curd, flowers, smoked pears and apples mark the flavour favourably. Think creamy pasta or chicken dishes now.Prices:| BC | $20.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $27.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $24.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $23.95 | 750ml |
| NB | $26.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $26.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Black Hills Chardonnay 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe 2017 version is not entirely up to 2016. Although the initial fruit component is fresh and lively, it is smothered in a sheen of vanilla that tends to blur the picture. The fruit intensity is big and rich with tropical, pineapple, peach, crème caramel, hazelnuts, butter and oranges. It’s the full meal deal, and it will have its fans, but it is on the edge of being an over-the-top New World Chardonnay. It seems like an easy fix, and I am guessing that the recently arrived winemaker Ross Wise will fine tune all the Black Hils wines and bring them into the modern era. For now, think lobster or butter drenched crab.Prices:| BC | $29.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Fort Berens Reserve Chardonnay 2016
Lillooet, British Columbia, CanadaA blast from the past, this chardonnay relies on a heavy dose of oak to build the palate, and it almost gets away with it given the pure, ripe fruit involved. The apple is cloaked in a honey and oak jacket that is spicy and rich but somewhat flat on the palate. The intensity is excellent, and if you like a big, oaky chardonnay, this is for you. I would love to see a gentler hand here and let the fruit speak first. At 12.6 percent alcohol, this wine has plenty to give. It needs only be set free from wood to tell its story. Ready to drink. Best with a turkey.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
01 July 2019
89PTS
Kitsch Pinot Gris 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpicy ginger seasons this savoury pinot gris, from first sniff through the lingering warming finish. The interior is packed with pear, green apple, nutmeg, and spiced lemongrass, riding along a stony river bed base. From their sandy and silty Kelowna estate, this is clone 52, planted in 2014, whole cluster pressed and fermented plus one additional month on lees. A friendly, hedging serious pinot gris that offers more than the typical BC fruit basket norm. Thankfully. Yum.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Mission Hill Reserve Pinot Gris 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom two of MHFE's estate vineyards, Black Sage Road and Naramata Ranch, this is a mix of 60 different blocks, and was one quarter fermented in French oak (five percent of which was new). Potent primary pear, yellow apple, white peach, and spice rides along a silky palate, slightly plump via lees and wood to a bitter pear skin, lime pith finish. There's a stately structure to this gris, making it proper for drinking alongside white-fleshed proteins.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
90PTS
Clos du Soleil Winemaker's Series Whispered Secret Vineyard Pinot Gris 2018
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe first time for this wine, a pinot gris from Keremeos' Whispered Secret Vineyard, and it's fair to say that the secret is out. After a whole cluster press, this was fermented in stainless and French oak for more than a month, and then aged on the lees for an additional four months before bottling with a light filtration. The light touch is welcome in this beautifully balanced, zippy white, full of orchard fruit and bright and juicy with lime and lemon pith acidity. Super expressive in the mouth, with citrus sherbet and a fine zesty texture. No boring BC gris here; well done for creating your own, distinct Similkameen style. We are no longer surprised that Olivier Humbrech got involved with Phantom Creek's new vineyard in the Similkameen to grow pinot gris. The Similkameen is more than exceptional.Prices:| BC | $21.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
91PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Pinot Gris 2018
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaFrom their estate vineyard and neighbouring Cowichan fruit, the 2018 pinot gris is electric with juicy acidity, lighting up pear, quince, crunchy Asian pear streaming along the slender, stony palate. There's a lovely balance here, embracing both coastal freshness, and Cowichan sunshine (Cowichan translates to 'the warm lands' in the local First Nations language). River stones, grapefruit pith, green apple and joy rocket through this vibrant wine. Wine Islands classic. Consistently fine.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Chic Fille Pinot Gris 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaChic Fille (translating as cool girl) is Heidi Noble's natural wine side project, and this year she's released two wines in the line, this amber gris, as well as a pinot noir rosé. Peach in hue, this pinot gris comes from Skaha Bluff's Lakeside Vineyard, was destemmed and soaked with skins for three days before a light pressing, bringing some of gris' skin tannins along for the cool settling and native ferment in barrel. It was left on gross lees in barrel before bottling, unfiltered, and with minimal sulphur. Apricot, peach, kiwi is cured with astringent orchard fruit peels, and scented with floral apple and pear blossoms on the watery palate. This finishes with a gentle bergamot hug. Bone dry, with lowish acidity, though feels tight and scripted from the time with skins.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
Sperling Vineyards Amber Pinot Gris 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis orange / peach hued wine reminds us that pinot gris is firmly footed in the pinot camp. From young vines off their biodynamically farmed home Kelowna vineyards, this natural wine in their Vision Series has "nothing added nor taken away", and is bottled unfiltered with its lees. This is truly all pinot gris, whole clusters, destemmed berries, native yeasts, and natural MLF. Nothing else happens to this wine until bottling. Hazy in the glass this strikes with tight apricot and orange oils, nimble and nervy on the taut frame. Astringent bergamot, peach fuzz, bitter lime leaf snaps along the palate to a zesty citrus finish. Firmly, unapologetically, and properly natural, and fully BC.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Bordertown Pinot Gris 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Bordertown gris is sourced from three vineyard parcels on the family estate. The wine is stainless steel fermented, and it presents in a soft tropical ripe fruit style offering honey and apples with a dusting of bananas and oranges. It's ready to drink — best with spicy foods.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
89PTS
50th Parallel Estate Pinot Gris 2018
Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe name 50th Parallel says it all: cool, refreshing, lively, and fun to drink. What more do you need? The fruit is all hand harvested, and the fruit is whole bunch pressed. It's left to settle in an oxygen-free environment to up its primary aromatic ante. The ferment is an 80/20 split of stainless steel / three-year-old French oak barrels which appears to be the perfect mix of freshness and texture. I love the fresh orchard fruit mix of peach, nectarine and citrus, with a dash of figs in the back end. Grilled salmon, chicken samosas or grilled prawns shine with a glass of this gris.Prices:| BC | $19.90 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Spearhead Pinot Gris Golden Retreat Vineyard 2018
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCrunchy and fresh pink grapefruit, passionfruit and tangerine mark this eminently drinkable pinot gris from Summerland's Golden Retreat Vineyard. Whole bunch pressed, this was partially fermented in French oak, with the remainder fermented cool in stainless steel. Fully ripe and balanced orchard fruit flavours are tipped with a bump residual sugar in the punchy finish. Fun and ready to drink all summer with any number of classic summer dishes, especially green curries.Prices:| BC | $19.00 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
92PTS
Blue Mountain Reserve Pinot Gris 2016
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOne is rarely disappointed by the Reserve Gris from Blue Mountain, especially in a great year like 2016. It opens with its signature cool, creamy textures and understated leesy fruit. The reserve is the result of two French clones planted 30 years ago. For 2016, the amount fermented and aged in French oak for eight months is back to 30 percent, but you should expect nothing less than a delicious white wine. Look for orchard fruits mixed with floral, mineral, creamy lees and a quiet, salty, orange finish. Pesto pasta would be a fun match.Prices:| BC | $27.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $31.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
88PTS
Arterra Pinot Gris 2018
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaA first release for the Arterra folks, this Niagara PG opens with a mix of vanilla and peach tones that carries on to its soft, round palate. The style is smooth and textural, but it would be nice to have a bit more acidity, and mid-palate lift to carry the waves of honey, peach and crème caramel. Try this with more sumptuous seafood dishes.Prices:| BC | $26.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $26.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Hester Creek Pinot Gris 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe 2018 Pinot Gris was sourced from both Hester Creek's estate Road 7 Vineyard, and contract farms in neighbouring Oliver. Fermented and aged briefly in stainless, this was intended to be a juicy, fruity, friendly orchard fruited white, and that's achieved. Melon, yellow and red apple, pear and a light dusting of gingery spice on the snappy finish, this is bumped with a bit of residual sugar to make it even more accessible. Drink this summer with a chill and a patio party.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
87PTS
Fort Berens Pinot Gris 2018
Lillooet, British Columbia, CanadaThe 2018 Pinot Gris is based on estate Lillooet fruit, with a swig from the Similkameen. The whole was fermented in stainless, with a partial native ferment for added local layers. Sweeter and ripe with melon, baked yellow apple, peach blossoms and spicy gingerale on the finish, this is a friendly gris for chilling and enjoying this summer.Prices:| BC | $17.99 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
86PTS
Inniskillin Discovery Series East West Pinot Grigio 2017
CanadaThis is part of Inniskillin's upper Discover Series tier, though it's impossible from the front or back label to discover anything about this wine, including the most important details : where it is from. We do know, from the East-West title, that it contains some fruit from both BC and Ontario. After that, it's a hazy mystery. In the glass, pear puree, apple butter, yellow apple, and nutmeg spicing riding a glossy palate to a warm finish. Simple, soft, sweetish. And, clunkily, under cork. Not much to discover here.Prices:| ON | $16.95 | 750ml |
Read Full Note
August 2019