Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon - 91 pts

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery

Cost: $38.00

Alcohol: 14%

Tasting Notes: A beautiful example of a Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit concentration for this wine was excellent. This wine was opaque, clear, and concentrated. The nose had strong cassis, licorice, pepper, vanilla, and light floral. The vanilla and cassis continued on the palate. The finish was long.

This is a beatiful, balanced wines, with soft tannins and good acid. This wine is complex. Great with steak and other meat dishes. HC

La Frenz Winery 2007 Reserve Pinot Noir - 91 pts

La Frenz Winery 2007 Reserve Pinot Noir (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery

Cost: $32.99

Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: October 24th, 2009

Tasting Notes: A true Icon Wine. La Frenz is one of the best wineries in Canada. They consistently produce amazing wines at incredible prices. The Pinot Noir is no exception. If you don't know La Frenz you need to.

The appearance was clear ruby with medium intensity. The nose exhibits chocolate, plum, cement, and pepper. The palate is savory with milk chocolate and cherry. The finish was long and spicey. A gorgeous wine, medium plus body, balanced, medium tannins, medium acid, and very complex. I'm glad I have a couple of these in the cellar. HC

Stoneboat Vineyards 2008 Chorus - 89pts

Stoneboat Vineyards 2008 Chorus (Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Winery only

Cost: $18.00

Tasting Notes: What a steal. This is a great value wine. If you can get a hold of it, buy as much as you can. The more I drink Stoneboat wines the more I am impressed.
The appearance was straw and clear. The nose was mineral with hints of pear, lemon, melon, and honey. The palate also had the lemon, pear, and mineral. This wine had great acid and would be a great summer time patio drinker. The finish was long, and overall this wine was balanced and fresh. HC

Blackwood Lane 2005 Vicuna Roja - 88pts

Blackwood Lane 2005 Vicuna Roja (Southern Okanagan) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Sold out at the winery. Private wine stores

Cost: $24.00

Date Tasted: November 7th

Tasting Notes: Blackwood Lane is a winery any wine lover should know. While the wines are not widely available, these are worth going out of your way for. Their winery is located in Langley BC and conversations with Carlos are always great. The Vicuna Roja is the product of the quality control and perfectionism of this winery. While trying to put together a Pinot Noir for the winery it did not come out to the standard of Carlos and Charles. The end result is a Pinot Noir blend which is quite rare and quite beautiful.

The appearence is ruby with a concentrated core. the nose exhibits dill notes, caramel and candied strawberries. These notes continue onto the pallate with some pepper and slight cassis. The finish is medium plus. Overall this blend is well balanced, fresh, and straight forward. HC

Beyerskloof 2007 Pinotage - 87 pts

Beyerskloof 2007 Pinotage (Stellenbosch) South Africa

Availability: BC Liquor Store

Cost: $15.99 (BC Liquor Store)

Tasting Notes: A very nice and unexpected wine from South Africa. The appearance was clear and light ruby. The nose exhibited bandaid (in a good way) and coffee which continued onto the palate with notes of strawberry. The finish was decent and overall this was a very nice wine, it was unique as well as light and flavourful.

My good friend from South Africa has been schooling me on the offerings from his homeland. His advice is that there are only a few good ones on the shelves these days so to really get the top notch stuff you'll have to visit. - HC

Hillside Estates 2004 Reserve Series Merlot - 90 pts

Hillside Estates 2004 Reserve Series Merlot (Naramata Bench) Okanagan - BC

Availability: Winery

Cost: $30.00 (Direst from the winery)

Tasting Notes: A developing merlot from a great BC producer. The appearance was opaque and garnet. The nose had blackberry, plum and chocolate notes. The palate had more developed tastes of plum, pepper, and olive. The finish had nice length and a touch of spice. Overall this wine is smooth, balance, and complex. Very nice and pairs well with pasta or dark chocolate.

This wine was saved for about three years from the time of purchase and seems to be performing well. Another year or two may develop this one well. - HC

Dunham and Froese 2005 Night Hawk Merlot - 86pts

Dunham & Froese Estate Winery 2005 Night Hawk Merlot (Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: VQA Stores. Fraser Valley: The Wine Emporium

Cost: $21.95

Alcohol: 14%

Date Tasted: October 19th, 2009

Tasting Notes: Dunham & Froese Estate Winery is a newcomer to the Southern Okanagan wine scene. They are a small boutique producer with a limited production of wines thus far. As I have never tried their wines before I decided my first foray into the Dunham & Froese flight should start with their first vintage, 2005, and be what I believe to be BC's signature red varietal, Merlot.

Being only minimally filtered, this wine requires decanting to allow the wine to settle and open-up. The first impression is the wine's dark-ruby colour followed by a lovely nose of dark berries and bitter chocolate. On the palate you get flavours of cassis, plum, coffee grinds, with just a touch of cigar box spice and well-structured, smooth tannins with medium acidity. A pleasing and balanced finish completes the experience.

As first vintages go, this is a solid wine which suggests greater things to come. I look forward to trying the more recent vintages of their Merlot.

On a side note, you can follow the winery's blog here. - LC

Township 7 Vineyards and Winery 2008 Viognier - 84pts

Township 7 Vineyards & Winery 2008 Viognier(Penticton) Okanagan Valley - BC Wine

Availability: Direct from winery
Cost: $19.99

Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: October 17th, 2009

Tasting Notes: This dry Viognier from Naramata Bench producer Township 7 offers aromas of honey-dew and lemon on the nose. The pale-gold-straw wine displays flavours of citrus, minerals and tropical fruit with moderate acidity and finish on the palate. Drink now. - LC

http://www.township7.com/index.php

Township 7 Vineyards and Winery 2006 Merlot - 87pts

Township 7 Vineyards & Winery 2006 Merlot (Penticton) Okanagan Valley - BC Wine

Availability: Direct from winery, BCLDB stores

Cost: $24.99

Alcohol: 13.9%

Date Tasted: October 17th, 2009

Tasting Notes: Naramata producer Township 7 Vineyards & Winery have produced a Merlot that is both a cheerful, fruit-forward charmer and a structured, smokey sex-kitten. Aromas of dark fruit, plums and baking spice followed by flavours of black cherry, smoke, cigar box and dark chocolate on the palate.

Visit the firm at two BC locations: Naramata and Langley. While visiting the winery, treat yourself to a bar of "Salt & Pepper" dark chocolate to match with this Merlot. The pairing makes for a fantastic desert. Drink 2009-2012. - LC

http://www.township7.com/index.php

Blackwood Lane 2005 Chardonnay - 88pts

Blackwood Lane 2005 Chardonnay (Southern Okanagan) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery

Cost: $19.00

Alcohol: 13.9%

Date Tasted: October 17th, 2009

Tasting Notes: Blackwood Lane will only make a couple of wines each vintage: their fabulous Bordeaux blends "Alliance" and their flagship "Reference". To produce their other wines they use whatever grapes they can secure that meet their very high standards. As the quality of the source grapes and availability changes each year they are not able to offer the same flight of wines each year. Such is the case for their 2005 Chardonnay which has yet to see another vintage.

The 2005 Chardonnay is a butter-bomb tour-de-force. On the nose you get an intense bouquet of butter and oak with some orchard fruit notes and minerality. On the palate this gold-straw hued wine offers more oak and butter flavours with good acidity and pear, apple and slate notes.

Pair with butternut squash and ricotta ravioli with pesto sauce (add a bit of the Chardonnay to the sauce, yum). This wine is peaking now and should be enjoyed within a year. - LC

Wild Goose Vineyards 2006 Merlot - 87pts

Wild Goose Vineyards 2006 Merlot (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: VQA Stores and direct from winery

Cost: $17.99 (The Wine Emporium)

Alcohol: 14.5%

Date Tasted: October 17th, 2009

Tasting Notes: A smooth-talking, fruit-forward Merlot from Okanagan Falls producer Wild Goose Vineyards. The firm is perhaps best known for excellent white single-varietal and blends, but this Merlot proves they are very capable at making reds as well.

This wine has typical Merlot aromas of plum and cassis aromas with flavours of dark-berries, chocolate and plums with medium acidity. Where this wine excels, especially at the under-$20 price point, is with its impressively smooth tannins that speaks to its refinement and quality. Drink 2009-2011. - LC

SKU: 497305
http://www.wildgoosewinery.com/

Peller Estates Private Reserve 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon - 85pts

Peller Estates Private Reserve 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Southern Okanagan) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Widely available at private and BCLDB stores

Cost: $19.99 (BC Liquor Stores)

Alcohol: 13.4%

Date Tasted: October 9th, 2009

Tasting Notes: This wine requires 3 hours+ of decanting to open-up. Once it has decanted, the nose becomes quite lovely and complex. With 2+ years already in the bottle the aromas are developing nicely with scents of licorice, dark fruits, pencil shavings and a hint of leather. The palate offers good tannins and acidity which have preserved the flavours of cassis, bitter chocolate, graphite and dark berries nicely.

Look for the 2006 vintage to be marked-down at some BC Liquor Stores to the bargain price of $13.99 to make way for the 2007 vintage which was release earlier this year. Drink now. - LC

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2007 Perpetua - 90pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2007 Perpetua (Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: New release for October, 2009

Cost: $32.99

Alcohol: 13%

Date Tasted: October 7th, 2009

Tasting Notes: Mission Hill's Perpetua is designed as a vineyard-specific, terroir-driven wine meant to showcase the flavours and aromas a BC Chardonnay can offer. The 2007 vintage does this admirably but not as well as the 2006.

This light straw coloured wine has youthful aromas of honey, butter, orchard fruit and notes of citrus acidity. Flavours of lemon, pears, apple mix with mineral notes on the palate.

This wine has excellent fruit intensity and flavour complexity which balances well with the acidity and creates a lovely, long finish. This Chardonnay will benefit from a year in your cellar before opening. Drink 2010-2015. - LC

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2006 Quatrain - 89-90pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2006 Quatrain (Oliver & Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: New release for October, 2009

Cost: $47

Alcohol: 13%

Date Tasted: October 7th, 2009

Tasting Notes: The 2006 release increases the amount of Syrah and lowers the Merlot creating a final blend of Syrah 41%, Merlot 32%, Cabernet Franc 14% and Cabernet Sauvignon 13%. The spicy Syrah aromas are prominent on the very lovely and inviting nose. Aromas of pepper, chocolate, pencil shavings and floral notes seduce the nose in anticipation of the palate to come. However, the complexity and intensity of the nose does not entirely carry through to the palate where flavours of cassis, sour cherries and pepper are on offer.

The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 15 months, with 45% new oak leading to milder tannins than the wine's Legacy Series red cousins. Approachable now. Drink within 5 years. - LC

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2006 Oculus - 93+pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2006 Oculus (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: New release for October, 2009

Cost: $70
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: October 7th, 2009

Tasting Notes: Mission Hill's signature wine carries huge expectations. The winery wants this wine to gain international recognition and wants it to complete on the world stage. Very high expectations indeed. The 2005 vintage did not live up to these expectations but I am happy to report that the 2006 vintage does. Where the 2005 tasted washed-out and limp, the 2006 is full of vibrant complexity and tastes of a wine that has had each grape cluster hand-picked and selected.

Great concentration of flavours on the nose and palate with a final blend of 51% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. Each component is aged separately in 100% French oak barrels for 14.5 months. The seductive nose offers youthful aromas of dark berries, chocolate and cassis. The palate displays flavours of candy nibs, coffee, leather, cassis and has a very long and elegant finish.

This is a wine that will need some time in the cellar before opening; 2-3 years. With good tannin structure and acidity this wine will easily last 10-12 years. Drink 2011-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2006 Compendium - 92pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2006 Compendium (Oliver & Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: New release for October, 2009

Cost: $40

Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: October 7th, 2009

Tasting Notes: A Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that spent 13 months aging in 100% French oak separately before the final blend (52%, 19%, 19% and 10% respectively). This medium-ruby coloured elegant wine then spent another 12 months at the winery aging in the bottle before its release this month. You can immediately appreciate the aging and care that went into this wine on the nose and palate.

The nose is approachable and enticing offering youthful aromas of cherry nibs, raspberries, pencil shavings, vanilla and floral notes. The palate offers loads of cassis and dark berries with a touch of earthy notes and pencil shavings. Well structured tannins and acidity contribute to a long and satisfying finish. Very approachable now and drinkable over the next 4-5 years. - LC

Deutz NV Brut Classic - 87pts

Deutz Non Vintage Brut Classic (Marne) Champagne - France

Availability: Widely available at private and BCLDB stores

Cost: $64.99

Alcohol: 12%

Date Tasted: October 5th, 2009

Tasting Notes: The Deutz Brut Classic is a quality Champagne with strings of fine pearl bubbles that offers aromas of cabbage, citrus, yeast and canned-mushrooms fried in butter. Made with the three permitted Champagne grape varietals, Chardonnay (1/3), Pinot Noir (1/3) and Pinot Meunier (1/3), each component adds texture or flavour to the wine. On the palate this light-gold coloured wine has a developed autolytic character with intense flavours of green banana, lemon peel, cabbage with toasty notes.

Despite aging for only 15 months on the lees, the autolytic flavours dominate the palate yet the wine offers layers of complexity that will endear it to many. Drink now. - LC

Sku: 56358 UPC: 3359952005005

Majella Wines 2005 Sparklng Shiraz - 88pts

Majella Wines 2005 Sparkling Shiraz (Coonawarra) South Australia - Australia

Availability: Limited quantities available at BCLDB stores

Cost: $39.99

Alcohol: 14%

Date Tasted: October 5th, 2009

Tasting Notes: South Australia producer Majella Wines has created a unique and delicious treat with their Sparkling Shiraz. This inky-ruby coloured Shiraz with persistent medium bubbles is made in the traditional method of sparkling wine and spends 48 months aging on the lees . Vintage Port is added during the dosage step which gives the wine its off-dry sweetness.

Developing aromas of leather, cassis, cigar box and loads of licorice create an intriguing bouquet for the nose to enjoy. Followed on the palate with flavours of leather, fig, cherry, tobacco, candied fruit with medium tannins and acidity. The high alcohol is masked by the depth of complexity this wine offers. Sealed with a crown cap, this high quality wine is approachable now and will hold for up to ten years in the cellar. - LC

SKU: 350595 UPC: 9331138000206

Segura Viudas NV Brut Reserva - 82pts

Segura Viudas Non Vintage Brut Reserva (Penedès) - Spain

Availability: Widely available in private and BCLDB stores.

Cost: $15.99 (BC Liquor Stores)

Alcohol: 11.5%

Date Tasted: October 5th, 2009

Tasting Notes: This dry Cava is made in the traditional method of sparkling wines and spends up to 2 years aging with the residual yeast from the second fermentation. The final blend is 50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada, 15% Xarel.lo which are all grapes native to Spain's Penedès region.

On the nose this light straw coloured wine offers aromas of minerals, butter, rubber, forest floor and notes of citrus fruit. On the palate the high acid does not have enough fruit flavours to blend with leaving the wine slightly unbalanced. Pair with an acidic and fatty cheese as an appetizer and the palate flavours of lemon, green strawberry and mint will come forth.

Non vintage sparkling wines are not meant to age and should be enjoyed within a year of purchase. - LC

Inniskillin 2005 Dark Horse Vineyard Chardonnay - 85pts

Inniskillin 2005 Dark Horse Vineyard Chardonnay (Osoyoos Lake Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC


Availability: Widely available while supplies last. 2007 vintage should available in late 2009.


Cost: $15-17


Alcohol: 14%


Date Tasted: October 4th, 2009


Tasting Notes: This single vineyard Chardonnay from Vincor brand Inniskillin is made from grapes grown at the 25 acre Dark Horse Vineyard located on the Osoyoos Lake Bench; a sub-appellation of Southern Okanagan Valley. The 2005 vintage is a medium intensity gold coloured wine that is starting to show sings of aging with developing aromas of melon, butter, wet stone, lemon and tropical fruits.

On the palate this French oak-aged Chardonnay offers malo-lactic flavours of butter, tropical fruits, minerals and a touch of lemon. The medium-plus acidity has kept the flavours in check and this wine has aged nicely. Drink now or within another 1-2 years. Pair this wine with the new 2007 release, which should be on shelves soon, for an interesting comparison at how BC mid-range Chardonnay can age (likely of interest to wine geeks only). - LC

Mionetto NV Il Prosecco - 84pts

Mionetto Non Vintage Il Prosecco (Prosecco Zone) Veneto - Italy

Availability: Widely available at private and BCLDB stores.

Cost: $17.99 (BC Liquor Stores)

Alcohol: 10.5%

Date Tasted: October 5th, 2009

Tasting Notes: A refreshing treat of moderate complexity with a touch of residual sugar. The nose of this Northern Italian medium-bubbles sparkling wine offers pleasing aromas of orchard fruits. On the palate medium-plus acidity and citrus flavours of lemon and grapefruit peel dominate the low alcohol making this light-bodied wine a perfect hot-weather sipper. Or try it as a appetizing at Thanksgiving to wake-up the taste buds of your guests. Pair with antipasto or a fresh salad with prosciutto and dried-cranberries. - LC

Kettle Valley Winery 2006 Old Main Red - 90pts

Kettle Valley Winery 2006 Old Main Red (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery.

Cost: $34.90

Alcohol: 14.5%

Date Tasted: September 22nd, 2009

Tasting Notes: The Old Main Red from Naramata producer Kettle Valley is the winery's take on a Bordeaux-style blend and it is a winner. The deep garnet coloured charmer is elegant on the nose and palate and has a long, balanced finish.

On the nose this Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc heavy blend shows dark fruit, tomato stalk, barnyard and some floral notes. On the palate you will taste developing flavours of cassis, leather, pencil shavings, some light vanilla highlights. Aged for 20 months in French Oak, the tannins and acids are well-structured; present yet integrated. Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec grapes, grown on the winery's "Old Main" and "King Drive" vineyards, complete the final blend.

You will find this wine on the lists of many top BC restaurants and wine bars but to purchase a bottle you will have to contact the winery directly. The Old Main Red is showing well now but will develop further in the bottle over the next 2-3 years. - LC