Van Westen Vineyards 2008 Vino Grigio - 88pts

Van Westen Vineyards 2008 Vino Grigio (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Private wine shops.
Cost: $19-23
Production: 333 cases
Date Tasted: April 17th, 2010

Tasting Notes: This is Pinot Gris made in an Italian Pinot Grigio style, which is to say un-oaked and full of fruit intensity. Aromas and flavours of melons, orchard fruits and river stones with tropical fruit characters and acidity.

You can taste the Naramata Bench soils in this fully estate-grown wine. When drinking it you can easily imagine a beautiful, hot Okanagan summer day sitting on a sunny deck overlooking the lake. If you've never been to the Okanagan Valley, then find any scorching porch and pop-open a bottle of this wine for a virtual vacation.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Van Westen Vineyards 2008 Vivacious - 89pts

Van Westen Vineyards 2008 Vivacious (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Private wine shops.
Cost: $19-23
Production: 230 cases
Date Tasted: April 17th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Two words describe this wine accurately: "Yum" and "Eee". Accurate, perhaps, but not very thorough so let me continue... "Vivacious" primarily consists of Pinot Blanc with a touch of Pinot Gris added to the blend to help round-out the flavours and texture and it succeeds in doing just that. Pinot Blanc never tasted so complete. Excellent concentration of orchard fruits on the nose and palate with brawny mineral characters. Crisp, natural acidity helps balance out the wine and does not interrupt the long-ish finish.

You can't improve on the name, this wine is lively, spirited and cheerful.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Van Westen Vineyards 2008 Viognier - 90pts

Van Westen Vineyards 2008 Viognier (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Private wine shops.
Cost: $25-29
Production: 120 cases
Date Tasted: April 12th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Good crispness of citrus acidity with a complex nose of ripe apricots, peach candies, cooking spice and floral notes. A full-ish, concentrated palate of tropical fruits, rich texture and a lengthy finish. Very well balanced.

This is one of the best Viognier in the Provence currently on offer. This varietal is growing in popularity with consumers and growers alike and anyone jumping on the bandwagon should certainly give Van Westen's a try.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Road 13 Vineyards and Winery 2008 Viognier Roussanne Marsanne - 89pts

Road 13 Vineyards and Winery 2008 Viognier Roussanne Marsanne (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availablity: Direct from winery. VQA stores like Kensington Square.
Cost: $23.99
Alcohol: 13.8%
Date Tasted: April 22nd, 2010

Tasting Notes: Grown in the winery's holdings on Black Sage Bench, this blend of Viognier, Rousanne and Marsanne (46%, 44% and 10% respectively) captures the essence of a warm, tropical island complete with fresh pineapple and sweet mellon aromas.

The aromas of the delicate nose continue through to the creamy palate with added flavours of grapefruit, slate and a touch of clove spice on the long finish. Strong citrus acidity has the affect of a cool breeze refreshing your face on a hot beach - a nice balance.
 - Liam Carrier

JoieFarm 2009 Rosé - 88pts

JoieFarm 2009 Rosé (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Private wine shops like Marquis Cellars.
Cost: $21 (winery website), $27 (Marquis).
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasted: April 17th, 2010

Tasting Notes: The colour reminds me, nostalgically, of raspberry Jello. Aided, I'm sure, by the raspberry seed and strawberry puree aromas on the nose. Made, primarily, of Pinot Noir and Gamay (42% and 33% respectively) with the balance being 15% Pinot Meunier and 10% Pinot Gris. This is another blending masterstroke by winemaker Heidi Noble with classic Pinot Noir aromas and Beaujolais spice and liveliness from the Gamay.

Solid fruit concentration on the palate with slightly effervescent citrus acidity makes for a bright, refreshing drinking experience. A touch of tannic astringency rounds out the texture and fills-out the body. This is refined sangria in a bottle, that will pair nicely with many foods.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

JoieFarm 2009 Muscat - 88pts

JoieFarm 2009 Muscat (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Sold-out at the winery. Private wine stores like Marquis Cellars.
Cost: $23-27
Alcohol: 10.5%
Date Tasted: April 17th, 2010

Tasting Notes: "Light" would be this wine's definitive word: light-bodied, light alcohol, light in colour and light textured. It is not, however, a lightweight when it comes to taste, focus and refreshment. Far from a push-over.

Made from 100% estate grown Yellow Muscat, the wine has good fruit concentration of pear, tangerine and fresh, wet grape aromas with a touch of soap and floral notes. The palate offers ripe, juicy peaches and tangy, citrus fruit acidity which cuts the touch of residual sugar. This is a very refreshing wine - one that would pair very nicely with a picnic lunch of light salads on a hot, hot day.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 (with Hugh Carter)

JoieFarm 2009 Riesling - 89 pts

JoieFarm 2009 Riesling (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Private wine shops like Marquis Cellars.
Cost: $23 (winery website), $27 (Marquis).
Alcohol: 11%
Date Tasted: April 17th, 2010

Tasting Notes: This an Okanagan Riesling that will remind you, pleasantly, of the mineral and citrus, off-dry Riesling of Mosel, Germany. The subtle nose displays aromas of lemon, gooseberry, smooth slate and kumquat with dried-ginger spice. The off-dry palate offers a full, oily texture with flavours of tangerine, lemon/lime, green apple and pineapple. Crisp acidity balances the concentrated sweet fruit flavours and helps create a bright, refreshing wine with a long, satisfying finish.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 (with Hugh Carter)

JoieFarm 2009 Un-Oaked Chardonnay - 89pts

JoieFarm 2009 Un-Oaked Chardonnay (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Private wine shops like Marquis Cellars.
Cost: $23 (direct)
Alcohol: 13.2%
Date Tasted: April 17th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Un-oaked Chardonnays offer the drinker a glimps at the Burgundian white grape's raw characteristics as opposed to traditional oaked Chardonnays which often do a better job at highlighting the winemaker's skill and quality of the winery's barrels. The JoieFarm example shows how the versatile Chardonnay grape can offer impressive complexity of fruit and mineral flavours without the aid of barrel fermenting or aging.

Careful attention to the blending of grapes from Naramata, Oliver and Osoyoos as well as the addition of 16% Chardonnay Musque presents a complex and balanced wine with aromas of green apple skins, sweetened shredded coconut and canned pineapple. The palate offers orchard fruits, pineapple, lees and the minerality of polished riverbed stones. A quality and tasty, full-textured wine with good acidity and fruit concentration and just an echo of residual sugar. Definitely a Chardonnay for the A-B-C (Anything But Chardonnay) crowd.
 - Liam Carrier and Hugh Carter

See also:
JoieFarm 2008 Reserve Chardonnay
JoieFarm 2008 PTG

Bodega Renacer 2008 Punta Final Malbec - 88pts

Bodega Renacer 2008 Punta Final Malbec (Mendoza) Argentina

Availability: Widely available.
Cost: $15.99 (BCLDB Stores)
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: April 8th, 2010

Tasting Notes: This inky-purple Malbec from Argentina producer Bodega Renacer is a full-on fruit-forward and food-friendly pleaser with just a touch of French oak aging added for complexity of aroma and flavour. Big, juicy dark fruits on the nose and on the medium+ bodied palate with a splash of Cabernet Franc aromatics.

Easy-drinking and friendly with a velvety, soothing texture. A slightly shortened finish is very smooth and does leave your mouth with a lingering and tongue-tingling spice. This would be a great wine to match with smoky BBQ ribs. Drink now through 2012.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Francois Crochet 2005 Le Chêne Marchand - 89pts

Francois Crochet 2005 Le Chêne Marchand (Sancerre) Loire Valley - France

Availability: Fine wine shops like Marquis Wine Cellars.

Cost: $39

Alcohol: 12.5%

Date Tasted: March 16th, 2010

Tasting Notes: This is a great Sauvignon Blanc for those wine lovers who are fans of the typical New Zealand offering but want to try an old-world, terroir-driven example of the varietal. Produced by Sancerre vigneron Francois Crochet, this Sauvignon Blanc comes from a hillside site with small chalky stones (caillottes) and from 40+ year old vines. The result is a fresh, crisp wine full of subtle stone and mineral notes with aromatic fruits wrapped around a core of lemon citrus acidity and a lingering, balanced finish. Drink now.
 - Liam Carrier

Blackwood Lane 2007 Merlot 90-92pts

Blackwood Lane 2007 Merlot (Langley) Fraser Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery, select private wine shops
Cost: $40-45
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: April 3rd, 2010

Tasting Notes: Wine lovers who find Merlot boring or incomplete will be happily rewarded with this example from Fraser Valley producer Blackwood Lane. Winemaker Charles Herrold has rounded out the flavours and aromas with a splash of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The result is a more complete experience than drinking a straight varietal.

Big, fruity aromas of dark cherries, toasted oak, milk chocolate, maple syrup, a hint of slate and notes of Cabernet Franc funk await you on the nose. The palate offers intense flavours of dark fruits and oak with strong tannins and acidity which require another year of aging to fully integrate. Drink 2011-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 (with Hugh Carter)

Undurraga 2008 Sibaris Pinot Noir - 86pts

Undurraga 2008 Sibaris Pinot Noir (Maipo Valley) Chile

Availability: Widely available

Cost: $14-16

Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: April 4th, 2010

Tasting Notes: A pleasant Pinot Noir from Chilean producer Undurraga that is easy to drink and easy on the pocket book. Perfect for a night when you want a laid-back, fruity Pinot with a splash of oak and don't want to spend a bunch for something more complex and challenging.

Nice fruit intensity on the nose of wild berries , light cedar and a hint of spice. Red berries, ripe tannins, medium acidity, medium body and a decent finish greet you on the palate. Pair with traditional Pinot Noir fare like lamb and medium fish. Drink now through 2011.
 - Liam Carrier