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Tastings: April 2025
18 April 2025
88PTS
Château la Grolet Cuvée Classique Rouge Côtes de Bourg 2022
Cotes de Bourg, Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, FranceChâteau La Grolet is a 17th century manor house at the bottom of a valley surrounded by its 50 hectare estate, including 38 hectares of vines. The Hubert family acquired the estate in 1997 and began its conversion to biodynamics, with Demeter certification coming in 2000. Château La Grolet Cuvée Classique Rouge blends 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec. The vines at Grolet are 50ish years, and this wine was native fermented and aged in a mixture of concrete and wooden vessels (20%) before being bottled without fining or filtration, and minimum sulphur. Dusty cherry, plum, and raspberry fills the compact palate, with blocky tannins framing through a bretty, bitter cherry finish. Best enjoyed with grilled meats or tourtière to meet the strident nature of this red.Prices:| ON | $32.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Bartier Bros. The Goal 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Goal is winemaker and Pentictonite Michael Bartier's ode to the 1955 World Champion Penticton Vees, a team that excelled through sheer hard work. Bartier, a closet Montreal Canadian fan, credits the Habs for allowing him to get into the vineyard and work hard most every spring, given their penchant for missing the playoffs. The Goal is predominantly merlot and cabernet franc with the odd addition of syrah as needed. The '22 is on point, fresh, red fruited, mineral scented, and silky smooth in the same way Guy Lafleur used to patrol the wings in the old Montreal Forum. But enough hockey talk. The Goal is a ready to drink, versatile red from an excellent vintage. You can serve this with many favourites, including chicken, beef, or grilled vegetables. An early spring evening around a fire with a piece of Brie would be fun, too.Prices:| BC | $38.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Maison Smith Montpetit The Journey 2023
Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaErich Smith-Peter is the president, the winemaker, and a director and owner of Maison Smith Montpetit Bottega & Vineyards in the Similkameen Valley. His early releases have been impressive, and you can add his latest label, "The Journey", to the list. This cabernet franc/merlot is a winner from its attractive, fragrant nose to its youthful, balanced, layered and perfectly ripened savoury, red and black cherry fruit flavours. Expect this to age effortlessly. Smith Peter has a light hand and has found a special place in the Similkameen to make magic. Local industry veterans Jim Bagan and Richard Goodine have joined forces to launch "The Journey," a series of select wines emanating from global producers, in this case, Smith Montpetit that embodies the spirit of community and commitment to giving back. It's a statement of support for the British Columbia Hospitality Foundation, and $40 a case — $20 on behalf of the buyer/seller and $20 on behalf of the winery — will be donated to the BCHF's fundraising campaign. Interested restaurants, retailers and consumers can contact Jim at 604.551.6911 or Richard at 778.778.9475 or buy the wine directly online from Maison Smith Montpetit. You won't be sorry.Prices:| BC | $33.99 | 750ml |
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09 April 2025
92PTS
Mac Forbes Chardonnay 2022
Yarra Valley, Victoria, AustraliaThis is Mac Forbes Yarra Valley chardy overview, with fruit crom grower and winery-farmed vineyards across the Upper Yarra and valley floor. Destemmed and crushed fruit was native fermented in old barriques on lees, aging 11 months in older oak of varying sizes, and going to bottle without fining. Kisses of alluring flinty reduction are easily woven throughout this smart, slight (11.5%) white, carrying crystalline lemon, green apple, pencil shavings, and flake salt along the lees-decked palate. A lovely, serious Yarra overview.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Bartier Bros. Pristine Chardonnay 2024
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThe Pristine Chard is grown at Soaring Eagle Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington State. The replacement wine was made in Oliver, BC, by winemaker Michael Bartier, known for his pristine wines. Bartier chose 40 year old vines grown in hot, fine, sandy loam soils with a southern aspect, not unlike much of the south Okanagan. It was night harvested, destemmed, crushed, and pressed immediately before being transported to Bartier Bros, arriving in BC before lunch. The wine could not be made any simpler. It was fermented in stainless steel and spent a modicum of time on its fine lees before being bottled. The nose has an attractive, sweet, red apple aroma. The palate is a pure, pristine green apple and citrus affair with a short finish. It is ready to drink at 12.5% alcohol. Perfect for spaghetti vongole, especially at $19.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Domaine Artema Chardonnay 2023
CanadaDomaine Artema has taken over the old Desert Hills property on Black Sage Road across from Phantom Creek and Burrowing Owl Vineyards. This village chardonnay is made from hand picked, destemmed fruit that is pressed and fermented in a 50/50 mix of stainless steel and neutral French oak barrels, mixing indigenous and selected yeasts. The final blend spent some time in new French oak before bottling up the mouthfeel. The nose is fresh, pitching apple orchard fruit that spills onto the palate. The flavours vacillate between apricots and citrus, with a dusting of sagebrush and yellow fruit at the end. Clean, simple, austere, and ready to drink, it is best served now with creamy pasta or fish dishes.Prices:| BC | $34.90 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Maison Smith Montpetit Chardonnay 2023
Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Cawston Flats are home to this Similkameen Valley chardonnay grown at the estate Champs Alizés vineyard. The chardonnay is handpicked at 2 tons per acre, whole cluster pressed and cold fermented in oak for 7 weeks. The wine and fresh lees goes to barrel to finish the ferment before ageing in 50% new French oak barrels that get regular bâtonnage every 2 weeks. Full malolactic provides this wine with a magical, creamy texture mixing with nutty stone fruit, bright acidity, and rich toasted oak. It's an impressive start for this winery, making it well worth watching. The Similkameen is beginning to fulfill its wine promise, making wild and excellent wines. The Valley is surrounded by high elevation mountains, oriented north-south, allowing maximum sunlight but with no lake impact to moderate temperatures. By mid-afternoon, the winds howl, keeping the vineyard fresh and dry. Summer brings dramatic diurnal effects, with temperatures rising and falling some +/- 20C in 24 hours. The soils mix poor, deep sandy loams and rich valley bottom soils, along with rocky hillsides and benchlands dotted with alluvial fans. Maison Smith Montpetit soils sit at Cawston Flats located at the 49th parallel. They are marked by a mix of heavy, rich soil over river rock with loam, sand and gravel (2-5 ft deep). It has some river/water table influence and is part of the windiest area. Diminished vigour enhances grape quality, helps organic viticulture, and gives some frost protection.Prices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Stag's Hollow Renaissance Chardonnay Herrera Vineyard 2022
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Stag's Hollow Renaissance has changed neighbourhoods, but the wine is fine. The last time out in 2021 was Naramata based, but in 2022, the winery has turned to the windswept vineyards of the Similkameen Valley, namely Herrera Vineyard. It's a softer version that will appeal to a particular crowd with more oxidative almond notes and a smooth finish. It has all the earmarks of a ripe chardonnay, yet it sits at a perfectly light 12.6% alcohol. It would be a fine match for lobster, a creamy seafood dish, or an equally soft and creamy cheese.Prices:| BC | $36.87 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2022
West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Quails’ Gate Chardonnay is a friendly introduction to serious BC chardonnay. It comes from several family owned sites and is fermented in a mix of vessels from stainless steel tanks to neutral French oak. It goes through partial malolactic fermentation to add a creamy character while retaining freshness. The attack is a balanced mix of citrus and creamy bakery notes spiked with fresh pear and barrel spice. The stylish, round, and easy to drink white is the perfect chardonnay at a price point you can serve to crowds. Shellfish, halibut, and roasted chicken all work here.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $26.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $24.95 | 750ml |
| NS | $26.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $25.98 | 750ml |
| NB | $24.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $25.50 | 750ml |
| NL | $24.98 | 750ml |
| PE | $24.99 | 750ml |
| YK | $24.90 | 750ml |
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