Painted Rock Estate Winery 2007 Syrah - 90+pts

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2007 Syrah (Skaha Lake) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Select private wine shops and VQA stores.

Cost: $39.90

Alcohol: 14%

Date Tasted: May 28th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Every Painted Rock wine of its inaugural vintage (2007 for the reds) is made from 100% estate-grown fruit and aged in 100% new French oak. For the winery's Syrah offering this practice has lead to a wine that successfully expresses a sense of terroir and acquaints the loveliness of French oak.

The palate starts with concentrated red fruit that quickly evolves into a medley of lasting, smoky cedar, vanilla mocha and pepper flavours. The nose enchants with smoky incense of dried fruit and touch of sweet nibs. The texture is silky and delectable. One imagines a warm, sun-drenched, Okanagan Valley hill when drinking it. An excellent first vintage that is approachable now but should have the legs to last another 3-4 years. Drink 2010-2014. http://www.paintedrock.ca/
 - Liam Carrier

Cedar Creek Estate Winery 2006 Platinum Reserve Merlot - 91+pts

Cedar Creek Estate Winery 2006 Platinum Reserve Merlot (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Limited. Select VQA and BCLDB stores.

Cost: $30

Alcohol: 14.5%

Date Tasted: May 20th, 2010

Tasting Notes: This Platinum Reserve Merlot from Cedar Creek Estate Winery barely shows any aging in its inky-ruby colour. The fine tannins and good acidity on the palate concur that this wine, at four years of age, has yet to peak. An exciting prospect for a top-quality Merlot that is currently on sale (a third off its original $39 price). Buy a couple now to open one and age another.

Enjoyed now, your nose and palate will be invigorated by the intense aromas and flavours of black fruit, mocha-chocolate, vanilla-spice and red berries. This is a bold New World wine through and through and makes no apologies for it. Far from a bland Merlot, it offers good complexity of flavour and excellent concentration. Drink now through 2015 with continued development through 2012.
 - Liam Carrier

La Frenz Winery 2009 Sauvignon Blanc - 89pts

La Frenz Winery 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery and select private wine shops.
Cost: $22-26
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: May 2nd, 2010

Tasting Notes: A nice expression of BC Sauvignon Blanc from Naramata Bench producer La Frenz Winery. An array of citrus aromas and flavours including lemon peel and candied-lime rind with grapefruit leading the charge. Also offers good sun-baked gravel notes and classic gooseberry aromas. Good complexity on the nose.

The palate is dry with a hint of sweetness coming from the concentrated fruit flavours. A mouth-coating, medium-plus bodied texture with a long-ish finish. Well balanced acid-to-fruit-to-alcohol with just a touch Vermouth-y hotness at the back of the palate. Pair with oysters and other savory seafood dishes. Drink now through 2012.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

La Frenz Winery 2009 Riesling - 90pts

La Frenz Winery 2009 Riesling (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Select private wine shops. Top restaurants.
Cost: $19-24
Alcohol: 11%
Date Tasted: May 18th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Naramata Bench's La Frenz Winery handle white wines as well as anyone in the Province. Their three previous vintages of Riesling have won prominent awards and in tasting the 2009 offering it's obvious that they have another winner on their hands.

The 2009 vintage is an intriguing coupling of restraint and blazing concentration. The nose is aromatic and delicate offering aromas of lime rind, green apples, honeycomb and wet stone. The palate has concentrated fruit flavours of crab apple, grapefruit and peaches with slate and intense acidity off-set by just the right amount of residual sugar. Drunk young, the texture is slightly effervescent adding an extra dimension to the complexity of the wine. A balanced, moderate-plus finish completes the experience.

This is a suberp BC Riesling - a varietal of growing importance in the Okanagan Valley. Drink now through 2012.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Domaine Saint-Damien 2007 Côtes du Rhône Vieilles Vignes - 90pts

Domaine Saint-Damien 2007 Côtes du Rhône Vieilles Vignes (Côtes du Rhône) Southern Rhône Valley - France

Availability: Limited availability. Private wine stores.

Cost: $21-25

Alcohol: 15%

Date Tasted: May 20th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Opening with a pungent and powerful nose of meaty, forest floor this fabulous Côtes du Rhône gem may overload the sense of some wine drinkers. However, those willing to to be patient with the wine to open up and then venture forth will be handsomely rewarded.

This Grenache, Carignan and Mouvedre blend warms your nose and palate with it's heated aromas of warm, sun-drenched, mossy stones and bold dark berries. The 15% alcohol is impressively masked by the concentration of fruit and savory flavors. The palate is dry with medium-plus acidity and tannins with a balanced, lingering finish. Seek-out this expressive and moderately priced Southern Rhône charmer at your local French wine specialist store. Drink one now and put one away for another 2-3 years for further development.
 - Liam Carrier

Fairview Cellars 2009 Sauvignon Blanc - 89pts

Fairview Cellars 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Select private wine stores.
Cost: $20-$25
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: May 16th, 2010, December, 5th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Each year winemaker Bill Eggert adds Semillon to his Sauvignon Blanc to round-out the flavours. This vintage, due to a hail storm at harvest time, the Semillon component took a dive and only makes a cameo appearance. Thus, the Sauvignon Blanc flavours are more prominent for 2009, which is alright by me. Aromas and flavours of gooseberries, grapefruit, stone fruit, and freshly-cut grass. This Sauvignon Blanc has body and a corpulent, complex texture. Layers of flavours peak through tart tinges of citrus acidity and chalky, mineral flavours.

Pair with simply-dressed seafood of all sorts. Excellent value for the price - especially when you order directly from Bill. Drink 2010-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 IconWines.ca

Lake Breeze Vineyards 2009 Pinot Blanc - 90pts

Lake Breeze Vineyards 2009 Pinot Blanc (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. VQA stores.
Cost: $17.90
Alcohol: 13.3%
Production: 2350 cases
Date Tasted: May 15th, 2010

Tasting Notes: A great example of BC Pinot Blanc at its most vibrant. Crisp, fruity and refreshing; a perfect wine for a hot patio or deck. Intense fruit aromas and flavours of grapefruit, orange blossoms, peach skins and ripe pears with tart citrus acidity and strong minerality. The soils of the Naramata Bench are well represented here giving this estate-grown wine a sense of place that lesser Pinot Blanc fail to deliver. Well-balanced with a long finish and vivacious mouth feel.

Look for this wine at your local VQA store in the Spring. Only 2350 cases were produced, so be sure to stock-up before they disappear.

Paired beautifully with the grilled-vegetable Panini I enjoyed at Lake Breeze's patio restaurant. This is a wine to be drunk now, not cellared. Enjoy 2010-2011. CSPC 500322
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Road 13 Vineyards and Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - 87pts

Road 13 Vineyards and Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. BCLDB stores. VQA stores.
Cost: $24-27
Alcohol: 14.1%
Date Tasted: March 18th, 2010

Tasting Notes: The 2007 vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon from Road 13 will be its last (at least for now). The winery has chosen to drop several of their popular single varietal wines, including this solid Cab Sauv, in favour of focusing on a tasty new red blend called Rockpile. Fans of this pleasing wine with intense aromas of cassis, dark cherries, pencil shavings and bell peppers, will have to stock up as it may be several years before they see it again, if ever (likely depending on the success of the Rockpile blend).

Like many BC Cab Sauvs, green aromas and flavours have crept into the mix here, but the wine has a lot going for it with a silky-smooth texture, solid fruit flavours, fine tannins and a long, balanced finish. Drink now through 2013.
 - Liam Carrier

Cedar Creek Estate Winery 2006 Estate Select Syrah - 89pts

Cedar Creek Estate Winery 2006 Estate Select Syrah (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: BCLDB stores. Private wine shops.

Cost: $26.90

Alcohol: 14.2%

Date Tasted: March 19th, 2010

Tasting Notes: A lively and bright, New World fruit-foward Syrah from top Kelowna-based producer Cedar Creek Estate Winery. Intense, developing aromas of cherry nibs, smoky oak, raspberry and a touch of white pepper. On the palate the nibs and oak carry through with added flavours of pencil shavings and vanilla with a long, lingering finish of spice. High-ish acid and tannins add to a vibrant yet smooth mouth feel that is big on fruit but far from jammy.

Peaking nicely now with legs to last another 2-3 years, this is a tasty treat that stands on its own or pairs nicely with roasted or grilled meats. Drink 2006 - 2013.
 - Liam Carrier

Chateau Quinault 2006 L´Enclos - 89-91pts

Chateau Quinault 2006 L´Enclos (St. Émilion) Bordeaux - France

Availability: BCLDB stores.

Cost: $65

Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: May 3rd, 2010

Tasting Notes: From the Right Bank of Bordeaux in Saint-Émilion, comes this Merlot-heavy, Michel Rolland-influenced beauty. Loads of new French oak was used to create subtle, fine-grained tannins and impart vanilla and fruit-cake aromas with a touch of spice on the palate. Classic flavours of dark berries and bitter chocolate with high acid and tannins. The scent of dark cherries is prominent on the nose.

Many of the 2006's are drinkable early, but some, like L'Enclos, have the legs to last another 10+ years. For the price and as a good example of Saint-Émilion, tuck one away in your cellar for at least 5 years.
 - Liam Carrier

Château Saint-Jean-Des-Graves 2008 Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc - 87-88pts

Château Saint-Jean-Des-Graves 2008 Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc (Graves) Bordeaux - France

Availability: BCLDB stores. Private wine shops.

Cost: $23.95

Alcohol: 12%

Date Tasted: May 3rd, 2010

Tasting Notes: White wines from Bordeaux rarely get the attention from casual wine enthusiasts that they should. Usually associating Bordeaux with giant reds, built to age, we forget that white Bordeaux wines aren't always sweet and can be bright and refreshing. That is certainly the case with this dry, Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc (50-50) blend from Graves.

Fresh aromas of green apples, minerals, grass, pears, grapefruit and honey on the nose continue through to the medium-bodied, well-balanced palate. Excellent acidity and mouth feel with a moderate-length finish. This is a bright and satisfying, good quality wine that tastes of Bordeaux. Drink now through 2014.
 - Liam Carrier

Coopers Creek Vineyard 2008 Cat's Pee on a Gooseberry Bush - 86pts

Coopers Creek Vineyard 2008 Cat's Pee on a Gooseberry Bush - New Zealand

Availability: Widely available. BCLDB stores.

Cost: $14-17

Alcohol: 12.5%

Date Tasted: May 4th, 2010

Tasting Notes: As an entry-level New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc this wine ticks all the right boxes and is very easy to drink. Not overly complex, but utterly enjoyable, capturing the classic aromas, as the name suggests, of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Aromas of cat's pee and gooseberries with some nice citrus fruit and minerality. Crisp grapefruit and tart apple with a touch of river stones make for a refreshing sensation on the palate. A medium finish completes the experience.

Many other complex and exciting New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc await you (and will cost you), but this example is a solid start and well priced.
 - Liam Carrier

Fairview Cellars 2007 The Bear - 91-93pts

Fairview Cellars 2007 The Bear (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Select private wine shops.
Cost: $35-42
Alcohol: 14.6%
Date Tasted: April 3rd, 2010

Tasting Notes: "The Bear" is Fairview Cellars' flagship red blend and one that adorns the wine lists of many top BC restaurants. It's also a wine that is popular with collectors due to it's ageability. This inky-ruby wine offers youthful aromas of caramel, cassis, nibs, light oak and some nice floral notes. The palate offers medium-plus tannins and acid with flavours of cassis, tangerine, dark berries, leather and loads of toasted oak. This is a complex and layered, full-bodied wine with a long finish. 1-2 hours of decanting is recommended.

This wine needs another year to truly be approachable but we recommend waiting another 2-3 years at which point you'll pull out of your cellar a superb example of a new world Meritage that will taste far more expensive than its original price. Drink 2012-2019
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 (with Hugh Carter)

Fairview Cellars 2004 Cabernet-Merlot - 91pts

Fairview Cellars 2004 Cabernet-Merlot (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Sold-out at the winery. Fine dining restaurants. Private collections.

Cost: $25 (original release price), $50-60 at restaurants like Pearl On The Rock.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: April 9th, 2010

Tasting Notes: As a special occasion (first date-night since the baby was born) my wife and I drove out to White Rock to visit the restaurant where my brother is the wine director; Pearl On The Rock. Jordan's Wine Enthusiast recognized wine list includes several back vintages of Bill Eggert's Fairview Cellers reds, of which we're big fans. We treated ourselves to Bill's 2004 Cab-Merlot (which in more recent releases is referred to as "Two Hoots").

Having been nicely aged, this wine has peaked beautifully and shows no signs of declining anytime soon. A lovely brick-garnet colour in the rim, the wine has a pleasing, friendly bouquet of classic Cab-Merlot aromas; cassis, red and dark berries. No hard edge, very round in character. Sublime smoothness on the palate that starts with a touch of sweetness from the concentrated fruit flavours and ends with satisfying, savoury notes of oak, leather and a very long finish.

If you have this wine in your cellar now would be a good time to open a bottle. However, as noted, you don't need to rush through your collection, it will last a few years yet.
 - Liam Carrier