La Frenz Winery 2011 Viognier - 87pts

La Frenz Winery 2011 Viognier (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $22
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: March 29th, 2013

Tasting Notes: White peach, sweet Bosc pear and pineapple are just some of the aromas you'll appreciate on the delicious nose of this Viognier from Naramata Bench producer La Frenz Winery. The fruit carries through to the slightly off-dry palate which is well balanced with citrus acidity and which offers added apple cider notes. Overall, not as full and juicy as the 2010 edition, but a pleasure to enjoy with your Easter brunch. Drink Now-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

La Frenz Winery 2011 Alexandria - 88pts

La Frenz Winery 2011 Alexandria (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $20
Alcohol: 12%
Date Tasted: March 25th, 2013

Tasting Notes: This Muscat captures the paradox of the Naramata Bench on a hot, yet windy day when the sun would cook your shoulders if not for the cool breeze coming off the cold lake: sweet, ripe tropical fruit juxtaposed with tart, citrus acidity keeping the off-dry palate refreshing and balanced. Muscat wines have the ability to most closely mimic the experience of biting into a bunch of grapes; it's exciting, sweet and fun.

Not a wine to hold in your cellar for long - best enjoyed in its youth, on a hot, sunny porch. Drink Now-2014.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Silverback Vineyards 2011 Chardonnay - 94+pts



Silverback Vineyards 2011 Chardonnay (Wallula Vineyard) Horse Heaven Hills AVA  - Washington State

Availability: Not yet available in BC. Contact winery direct here
Cost: $55 (USD)
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 250 cases
Date Tasted: August 12th, 2012
Re-tasted: March 22nd, 2013

Tasting Notes: From a barrel sample. A feminine, single-vineyard Chardonnay with layers of dried roses, orchard fruit, citrus and melon aromas on the clean, elegant nose.

Cropped to 3.5 tonnes per acre and aged in both French and Hungarian oak with only minimal lees agitation for 6 months. As a result, the palate is exquisitely balanced with a subtle, ever-present texture allowing the fruit, mineral and oak influence flavours to sing in harmony with the mouth-watering, citrus melody.

Fans of Penfold's Yattarna Chardonnay should take note as the Silverback matches the elegance and refinement of the "white Grange" at roughly half the expected price of around $50-60. Built to age with further development a guarantee. Sky's the limit. Drink 2013-2021+.
 - Liam Carrier (with Jordan Carrier) ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Re-tasting Notes: Exhibiting harmony and elegance on the nose with intense, yet gentle aromas when not served too cold and allowed time to open up. The palate starts soft with an even texture thanks to near perfect acidity, then builds to a greater intensity and length. Simply devine.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Silverback Vineyards 2010 Sangiovese - 92pts

Silverback Vineyards 2010 Sangiovese (Desert Hills Vineyard) Columbia Valley AVA - Washington State

Availability: Not yet available in BC. Contact winery direct here
Cost: $55 (USD)
Alcohol: 14.2%
Production: 200 cases
Date Tasted: August 12th, 2012
Re-tasted: March 21st, 2013

Tasting Notes: From a barrel sample. What Washington State Sangiovese wines have over their Italian counterparts is an inherent joie de vivre. They are fun to drink and the life of the party while their Old World cousins can come across a tad serious at times. Silverback's version continues the trend with vibrant acidity, wild berry aromas and captures the essence of biting into a freshly picked green tomato - pure joy.

Aged in 500L American oak puncheons and sourced from the Desert Hills Vineyard near Grandview, Washington, this Sangiovese also shows depth of character with layers of crayon, boysenberry, huckleberry and churchwood (worn, yet cared-for old wood). May not age as long as the fuller-bodied and finely structured Silverback Syrahs and blends, but some further evolution is possible, if not probable. Drink 2013-2017.
 - Liam Carrier (with Jordan Carrier) ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Re-tasting Notes: Now bottled and soon to be released, the Silverback Sangiovese remains a joy to drink; balanced, lively and bursting with wild berry flavours on the palate, while the nose offers layers of deep, red fruit aromas. Drinking beautifully now and should hold for another 3-4 years.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

2006 Chateau De Fieuzal - 89pts

2006 Chateau De Fieuzal (Pessac-Léognan) Bordeaux - France

Availability: Limited
Cost: $35-40
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: March 17th, 2013

Tasting Notes: With a modest amount of age under its belt, this charming Pessac-Léognan gem delivers the graphite, smoky oak and cassis aromas and flavours that Bordeaux lovers hope to find when then extract a patiently waiting bottle from their cellar. Doesn't have the complexity or length of a classed growth, yet, for the price, makes a nice, approachable wine, perfect for mid-term cellaring. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Stratus Vineyards 2006 Red - 90pts

Stratus Vineyards 2006 Red (Niagara-On-The-Lake) Niagara Peninsula - Ontario

Availability: Limited. Contact the winery directly here
Cost: $44
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasted: March 17th, 2013

Tasting Notes: The most Old World leaning of the winery's proprietary red blends that I have yet to taste from the Niagara-On-The-Lake property with mature red fruit aromas supported by savoury spice box and coffee grind notes followed by an austere and oaky palate reminiscent of cool-vintage Bordeaux (minus the appearance of spicy Gamay flavours). Has the texture and weight of a fine Pinot, yet the watery consistency reveals quiet intensity and complex layers.

A lighter, leaner style like the 2006 should hold nicely through to its 10 year anniversary, but I doubt you'll get any more improvement then what's in the glass today. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Chateau Des Charmes 2010 Equuleus - 91pts

Chateau Des Charmes 2010 Equuleus (St. David's Bench) Niagara Peninsula - Ontario

Availability: Direct from the winery here and LCBO stores
Cost: $40
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 1474 cases
Date Tasted: March 13th, 2013

Tasting Notes: Refined, complex and steeped in Old World charm, this Meritage blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Franc exudes elegance on its cassis, cocoa-butter and violet-infused nose and on its silk-textured, earthy, dark berry, bell pepper and mineral flavoured palate.

Produced only in vintages when the estate believes the quality meets the standard set for the label. Last produced in 2007, the 2010 raises the bar slightly with less austere characters, yet keeping with the house style of the wine and its Italian-esque blend of smoky, tomato-stalk and leather notes supporting the dark berry fruit. Should age beautifully for 7-10 years. Drink 2013-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Chateau Des Charmes 2011 Aligoté - 87pts

Chateau Des Charmes 2011 Aligoté (St. David's Bench) Niagara Peninsula - Ontario

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $13.95
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 1200 cases
Date Tasted: March 10th, 2013

Tasting Notes: Aligoté makes a nice alternative to its native regional cousin, Chardonnay. Certainly the lesser-known Burgundian white grape due to its more narrow spectrum of flavours, yet, can possess the same texture and pureness of fruit when handled minimally as they do at Chateau Des Charmes. Fresh, ripe, apple-medley flavours are complimented nicely by grapefruit acidity on the naturally, nearly full-bodied palate that finishes long with a touch of lime zest and light spice. Enjoy this wine in its youth as part of your regular summer patio-sipper rotation. Drink 2013-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Stag's Hollow Winery 2010 Renaissance Merlot - 87-89pts

Stag's Hollow Winery 2010 Renaissance Merlot (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $29.99
Alcohol: 14.2%
Production: 190  cases
Date Tasted: March 6th, 2013

Tasting Notes: This Renaissance Merlot, the winery's long-running flagship wine, opens with a lovely nose of wild blackberry, plum jelly, cardamon, sweet coffee beans and oak spice. The tightly wound palate follows with youthful and bright berry flavours that haven't yet fully integrated with the toasted oak notes suggesting more bottle age is needed. The long finish has the mouth-watering effect of an under-sized, under-ripe blackberry that's been freshly picked off the vine: its tart and a little sour.

In recent years, Stag's Hollow has been expanding its well-respected Renaissance line-up to accommodate more wines that show particularly well from any given vintage. 2009 saw a lovely Chardonnay introduced and 2011 brought us the winery's first reserve-level Sauvignon Blanc. These wines outshone their entry-level siblings by a margin worthy of the higher price tag, delivering unique flavours and expressions of their respective vintages. Perhaps, the winery should take the same approach with its Merlot program moving forward and only label it a Renaissance when vintage conditions truly align. Put this one down for another year or two. Drink 2014-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Silverback Vineyards 2010 Référence - 94+pts

Silverback Vineyards 2010 Référence (Wallula Vineyard) Columbia Valley AVA - Washington State

Availability: Not yet available in BC. Contact winery direct here
Cost: $105 (USD)
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 270 cases
Date Tasted: August 12th, 2012
Re-tasted: March 8th, 2013

Tasting Notes: From a barrel sample. When winemaker Charles Herrold worked at the Langley based Blackwood Lane winery (he left in 2010), two truly amazing, benchmark Canadian wines were produced under his direction: the 2006 and 2007 "Referènce". When deciding to go it alone and move his talents to Washington State, Herrold chose to recreate the essence of that ultra-premium blend and even elevate its execution (while correcting the spelling of the name).

The resulting wine is a familiar blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 12% Petit Verdot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec with Herrold's signature concentrated-yet-gentle and endlessly-layered graphite and dark fruit flavour profile. Classic Meritage berry fruit and savoury, gun powder and Christmas cake spice flavours add complexity to the finely tuned oak treatment and proprietary yeast program that Herrold employs. Ultra fine tannins and perfect acidity levels create a wine for enjoying in its youth or for aging 15+ years. Drink 2013-2025+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Re-tasting Notes: Now bottled and soon to be released, the Référence is showing its youth and needs a bit more time to unwind and integrate. Potential for further development remains grand and worthy of a cozy corner of your cellar. Drink mid-2013-2025+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Crowsnest Vineyards 2011 Stahltank Chardonnay - 87pts

Crowsnest Vineyards 2011 Stahltank Chardonnay (Cawston) Similkameen Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $17.99
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasted: March 3rd, 2013

Tasting Notes: "Stahltank" refers to the strict un-oaked, steel tank approach to this crisp, refreshing and very pure Chardonnay from Cawston producer Crowsnest Vineyards that delivers ripe green apple, Asian pear and stonefruit characters on the soft nose and vibrant, mouth-watering palate. Drink now-2015.
  - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Stag's Hollow Winery 2010 Cabernet Franc - 91pts

Stag's Hollow Winery 2010 Cabernet Franc (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $27.99
Alcohol: 13.4%
Production: 214 cases
Date Tasted: March 4th, 2013

Tasting Notes: Builds nicely on the success of the 2009 vintage with a turn towards more acidity for 2010 but remains effortlessly balanced. A great example of cool-climate Cabernet Franc with sweet floral and cherry cola candy aromas on the nose and layers of spice on the cool-berry, yet, feminine palate that exudes elegance and finishes very long with lingering cherry and vanilla notes.

Clearly the winemaking team at Stag's Hollow have this varietal dialed in. Perhaps we'll see a Renaissance level Franc from the warm, balanced 2012 vintage in the future. In the meantime, enjoy this beauty and its under $30 price tag over the next 4-6 years. Drink 2012-2019.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Antinori 2009 Tignarello - 93pts

Antinori 2009 Tignarello (Toscano IGT) Italy

Availability: BCLDB Signature Stores
Cost: $100
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: February 28th, 2013

Tasting Notes: This blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc delivers elegance in a glass with red fruit, cedar, spice box and anise aromas and flavours. Shows great restraint in its intensity on the smooth-textured palate delivering finesse and depth without the in-your-face concentration of its over-extracted peers.

This gorgeous wine calls for meety stews or roasts - although the thought of a $100 "food-wine" may be laughable to some. Tasting rather youthful today needing another 1-2 years of bottle age in a loving cellar to reach its full potential. Drink 2015-2021+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Mission Hill Perpetua 2010 Chardonnay - 90pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2010 Perpetua (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $35
Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: February 28th, 2013

 

Tasting Notes: A crowd-pleasing wine for when you want something very entertaining and well executed but perhaps not overly challenging - the Dan Brown novel of BC's top Chardonnay. The winemaking team allowed 50% of the blend to go through malolactic fermentation and used 25% new French oak to create the texture and body they were after and succeeded beautifully. Orchard fruit galore on the nose and palate with the oak treatment providing structure and the acid keeping you wanting more. Delicious. Drink now-2015.

- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Paul Hobbs Winery 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon - 92-93pts

Paul Hobbs Winery 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) California - USA

Availability: BCLDB Signature stores
Cost: $109.99
Alcohol: 14.8%
Date Tasted: February 28th, 2013

Tasting Notes: The blend changes slightly year-to-year, but the final product consistently delivers the uber-concentration and refinement we love in top-end Napa Valley Cabernets. The 2010 vintage sees 6% Cabernet Franc added which contributes light floral notes to the gorgeous nose and creates an overall more feminine profile. Mint & licorice flavours add depth to the layers of cassis and blackberry fruit supported by powerful, yet, fine tannins. Drinking well now, with proper decanting, but should develop further with patient cellaring. Drink now-2020+.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Antinori 2010 Cervaro Della Sala - 91+pts

Antinori 2010 Cervaro Della Sala (Umbria IGT) Italy

Availability: BCLDB Spec Listing
Cost: $60
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: February 28th, 2013

Tasting Notes: A curious selection from a country that mostly produces short-lived and spicy white wines. This is an age-worthy wine with gorgeous almond, crispy bread, orchard fruit and mineral characters aged in 100% new French oak that challenges where we expect top-notch Chardonnay to originate from. A blend of French cloned Chardonnay (90%) and Umbria's native white grape Grechetto (10%). Has the pedigree to cellar for 15-20 years though is ready to be enjoyed today with proper decanting. Drink 2013-2020+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Champagne Lanson N/V Extra Age Blanc de Blanc - 92pts

Champagne Lanson N/V Extra Age Blanc de Blanc (Champagne) France

Availability: Limited
Cost: $114
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasted: February 28th, 2013

Tasting Notes: Disgorged in 2010. A stunning Champagne made from 100% Chardonnay grapes sourced exclusively from Grand and 1er cru vineyards from the 2003-05 vintages offering sweet brioche, floral and mineral characters. Fresh, clean and crisp, the house style avoids all secondary Malolactic fermentation leaving the natural acidity high yet completely balanced. Ultra delicate on the pleasing fine-bubbled palate. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca