1999 Château Potensac - 88pts

1999 Château Potensac (Médoc) Bordeaux - France

Availability: Limited
Cost: $40 (BC)
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: February 18th, 2012

Tasting Notes: From the cellar. At 13 years of age this Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel classed blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from the Médoc region of Bordeaux has matured gracefully and is still going strong. A round, blooming bouquet of lush blackberry fruit, cinnamon and clove aromas offers a smoky character on the nose that carries through to the dry, mellowed and well balanced palate.

Lighter in body than many wines from the Médoc, the Potensac delivers impressive age-related complexity and development for the classification. Proving that it is worth putting away some of your Cru Bourgeois wines to experience the unique characters that can only develop with a controlled and patient environment. Drink now-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Blasted Church Vineyards 2010 Hatfield's Fuse - 88pts

Blasted Church Vineyards 2010 Hatfield's Fuse (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here. BCLDB stores
Cost: $17.99
Alcohol: 13.3%
Production: 6000 cases
Date Tasted: January 20th, 2012

Tasting Notes: This blend of aromatic varietals with Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc in the lead, offers a truly gorgeous, floral nose with light citrus and orchard fruit aromas. The palate follows with a nice balance of acidity to concentrated fruit flavours producing the perception of sweetness. This refreshing wine screams Summer Sipper, but don't let that keep you from enjoying it during the height of winter. Drink now-2013.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Tahbilk 2007 Shiraz - 88pts

Tahbilk 2007 Shiraz (Nagambie Lakes) Victoria - Australia

Availability: Limited. BCLDB Stores
Cost: $18-25
Alcohol: 15%
Date Tasted: February 20th, 2012

Tasting Notes: This 2007 vintage Shiraz, from one of Australia's oldest estate wineries, has already enjoyed 18 months in oak and a further 3+ years in the bottle to mellow and meld. The acid is crisp and the tannins are fine resulting in a wine that offers good balance between its black fruit and oak characters with a full but not gooey mouth feel. The developing bouquet greets you with pleasing green spice, oak, cherry cola, anise and chocolate aromas. The finish is moderate with tart red fruits flavours and some lingering cracked black pepper notes. Drink now-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Wolf Blass Wines 2009 Yellow Label Riesling - 85pts

Wolf Blass Wines 2009 Yellow Label Riesling (South Australia) Australia

Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $12-15
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: February 14th, 2012

Tasting Notes: This gold-hued, dry and quite tart Riesling from South Australia makes a fine addition to any dinner which requires a refreshing white wine to complete the appropriate pairing. Granny Smith apples, lemon/lime and apricot characters mingle nicely with a touch of minerality in the straight-forward presentation. The finish is a bit short and tart, lacking the complexity of more accomplished Rieslings. Drink now-2013.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Clos Du Val 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon - 90pts

Clos Du Val 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) California

Availability: BCLDB Signature Stores and Private Wine Shops
Cost: $38
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 36,000 cases
Date Tasted: February 11th, 2012

Tasting Notes: From the cellar. Not a Napa Cab that immediately floors you with intensely ripe fruit or exquisite smoothness, rather, a subtle charmer with hidden depth for the patient who take their time to quaff the many layers of cassis, spice and toasted oak on offer. Tart acidity helps keep the dry palate fresh and composed with well structured tannins and juicy dark fruit completed by a lengthy finish of plums and oak spice. Drinking well now, but to get the most of this beauty I recommend you squirrel it away for another year. Drink 2013-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Finca Sophenia 2009 Reserve Malbec - 87+pts

Finca Sophenia 2009 Reserve Malbec (Tupungato) Mendoza - Argentina

Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $14-16
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: February 11th, 2012

Tasting Notes: This is the wine to seek out for folks who are tired of overly juicy and predictable Mendoza Malbecs that are generally available at this price point. Consultant winemaker extraordinaire, Michel Rolland, has his signature major extraction and structured tannins stamped all over this textured and well balanced Malbec. Subtle earth and mineral notes are also present amongst the concentrated plum fruit and French oak characters of spicy vanilla. Ready to drink now and may development further over the next 2 years. Drink now-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Graham Beck Wines 2010 The Game Reserve Sauvignon Blanc - 86pts

Graham Beck Wines 2010 The Game Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Robertson) South Africa

Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $10-15
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: February 8th, 2012

Tasting Notes: Clean, crisp and focused, this South African Sauvignon Blanc has a lot going for it with good varietal expression of lemon/lime and kiwi fruit with typical grassy notes wrapped within a tart, mouth watering embrace of green apple acidity. No regional distinction to speak of, but for the $10, or near $10 price point on offer, this can be forgiven. Enjoy this wine in its youth. Drink now-2012.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Gemtree Vineyards 2009 Bloodstone Shiraz - 88pts

Gemtree Vineyards 2009 Bloodstone Shiraz (McLaren Vale) South Australia - Australia

Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $15.99
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: February 6th, 2012

Tasting Notes: A nice change from the standard in-your-face fruit-bomb intensity that you may have grown accustomed to from Aussie Shiraz. This McLaren Vale product has an appealing nose of sweet cherry fruit, menthol and mineral notes but it is the intriguingly moderate and terroir-driven palate that makes this a wine worth seeking out. This middleweight, masculine Shiraz offers blackberry, sour cherry, rhubarb and oak flavours with loads of savoury spice making the most memorable impression. Mineral characters float behind the spice and fruit suggesting the winemakers wanted to express more than ultra-ripe fruit with this wine. Drink now-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Township 7 Vineyards and Winery 2009 Syrah - 89pts

Township 7 Vineyards and Winery 2009 Syrah (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery and VQA Stores
Cost: $24.99
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 400 cases
Date Tasted: January 24, 2012

Tasting Notes: A crowd-pleasing BC Syrah that delivers the big cherry cola and black pepper characters that one expects and desires from the Rhone Valley grape with a solid structure of robust tannins and balanced acidity. The winery credits Côte-Rôtie as inspiration for the style of Syrah on offer with 8% Viognier added during the fermentation process adding nice floral notes to the lively nose, yet the wine is not terroir-driven like those of the Northern Rhone appellation. Nor is it a jammy, over-done Aussie Shiraz. Simply put, it's a ripe, juicy, quality Syrah that shows good typicity for the region but one that lacks the depth and complexity of the regional standouts from La Frenz and Sandhill. Drink now-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Hess Select 2009 Chardonnay - 85pts

Hess Select 2009 Chardonnay (Monterey) California

Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $17-20
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: February 2nd, 2012

Tasting Notes: A solid California Chardonnay with a full, juicy and tangy palate of popcorn, pineapple, green apple, river stones and big, oaky characters. The nose is a bit muted - you won't be patiently sniffing and appreciating the developing bouquet, but you will have a satisfied mouth and so will the guests you serve this to over dinner. Pair with a hearty, mushroom risotto. Drink 2012-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Mitolo Wines 2009 Jester - 90pts

Mitolo Wines 2009 Jester (McLaren Vale) South Australia - Australia

Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $25
Alcohol: 14.9%
Date Tasted: January 29th, 2012

Tasting Notes: Aged in 2nd, 3rd and 4th fill French oak for only 9 months, this potent Shiraz seems to get most of its character and tannin bite directly from the sunny, dry McLaren Vale vineyards. This makes for a more approachable wine than many of its high tannin, overly oaked, down-under cousins, though the expected intensity is still present. Produced by Ben Glaetzer for Mitolo Wines, the wine offers some classic Aussie Shiraz notes of cherry-cola, blackberry, eucalyptus, anise and pepper with a finish that is long and well balanced. Drink 2012-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Perrin et Fils 2009 Les Cornuds - 90+pts

Perrin et Fils 2009 Les Cornuds (Vinsobres) Rhone Valley - France

Availability: Private wine stores like Everything Wine in BC
Cost: $20-23 (BC)
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: January 30th, 2012

Tasting Notes: This is a well made Côtes du Rhône Village blend of 50% Syrah and 50% Grenache from the town of Vinsobres which yielded subtle notes of dark fruit and cool rocks on the reserved nose and then surprised with a massive concentration of plum, sour cherry, pepper, clove and oak characters on the mouth watering palate. The Syrah is the dominant component despite the equal quantities of Grenache and yet the tannins are fairly mild, though don't let that deter you from laying down one or two bottles for further development. Drink 2012-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca