Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2011 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red - 90pts

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2011 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA wine shops
Cost: $29.99
Alcohol: 13.4%
Production: 1446 cases
Date Tasted: October 30th, 2014

Tasting Notes: An always pleasing blend of Bordeaux varietals with the new edition consisting of 39% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot, delivering the winery's signature sweet tobacco and blackberry aromas complimented by lifted floral and light spice notes on the nose.

The (technically) dry palate has just a whisper of residual sugar adding a little weight to the juicy, mixed berry fruit, herbs and spicy plum flavours, while mouth watering wild berry acidity and fine, smoky tannins add texture.

The long, cool growing season of 2011, paired with Tinhorn's patient élevage program, (barrel fermented and aged in French oak for 18 months and then aged a further 16 months in bottle prior to release) has produce a complex, yet, approachable, drink-now style of Meritage that should appeal to wine veterans and newbies alike. Drink now-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Bodegas Alamos 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon - 88pts

Bodegas Alamos 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Uco Valley) Mendoza - Argentina

Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $14.99
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: October 29th, 2014

Tasting Notes: An over-achieving Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza produced under the direction of the Catena Family of wineries that delivers excellent value for money and good varietal typicity. Ripe, robust, dark fruit carries the appealing, sweet nose with smoky oak, vanilla and menthol notes adding depth.

The palate is full of flavour, though, less-so in body, weighing in more as a middleweight-+ with plenty of cassis, blackberry and blueberry fruit flavours supported by ripe, dusty tannins and a layer of background spice. Perfect for BBQs and steaks. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2012 Pinot Noir - 89pts

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2012 Pinot Noir (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $24.99
Alcohol: 13.9%
Production: 7000 cases
Date Tasted: October 26th, 2014

Tasting Notes: Intense aromas of huckleberry, sweet rhubarb, raspberry, smoky spice, celery root, tobacco and forest floor spill from the glass of this Pinot Noir from Quails' Gate. Good continuity flows through to the equally intense, dry, mouth-watering palate. Though, light in body and tannins, the palate is rich in character with wild berry acidity and a vibrant mouth feel. Drink now-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon - 90+pts

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $40
Alcohol: 14.6%
Date Tasted: October 25th, 2014

Tasting Notes: A tasty, dense example of cool-climate Cabernet Sauvignon that showcases the dry herbs aromas and flavours the Bordeaux grape expresses in BC vineyards. Classic cassis and blackberry liqueur accompany the herbs on the intense nose and dry palate while lovely French oak notes add depth and structure.

This Cabernet needs time in your cellar to fully bloom. The fine tannins should evolve nicely after a further 2 years. Drink 2016-2022.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

JoieFarm 2012 Pinot Noir - 90pts

JoieFarm 2012 Pinot Noir (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $22.90
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 900 cases
Date Tasted: October 23rd, 2014

Tasting Notes: A delicious Pinot Noir that showcases the lovely balance between fruit and earth characters the Burgundian grape can achieve in BC when handled with care and cropped low. The Joie example is generous on the nose with gorgeous red fruit, spice and sweet forest floor aromas and light notes of vanilla, dried fruit and dried flowers. 

Excellent continuity carries through from the nose to the dry, medium-plus bodied palate where the trio of red fruit, spice and earthy flavours shine. Tannins are mild, yet refined and structure the palate nicely while wild berry acidity keeps the finish refreshing and your mouth salivating for more. Enjoy this Pinot in its youth or over the next 2-3 years. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

On a side note: The Naramata Bench based winery has made the difficult decision (financially speaking) to hold back their "En Famille" reserve wine an extra year starting with the 2012 vintage releases which means the firm's reserve Pinot won't be released until the Fall of 2015.

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2012 Merlot - 91-92pts

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2012 Merlot (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here and select VQA stores
Cost: $40
Alcohol: 14.8%
Date Tasted: October 23rd, 2014

Tasting Notes: Not so much as improves on the outstanding 2011 vintage, but rather, dials up the intensity of certain elements, like the robust tannins and dense blackberry purée on the nose and palate, thanks to the hotter growing season which delivered more sun and heat units for the vineyard team to work with.

Sweet berry fruit, licorice, vanilla, spices, cocoa, French oak and lifted floral aromas creating a layered, expressive, feminine nose worth quaffing for hours. The palate is intense, yet, refined and well balanced with rich dark fruit supported by savoury flavours and finishes with vibrant acidity and a kick of spice that lingers through to the next sip.

Enjoy now with a lengthy decant or file away in your cellar for further development. Drink 2015-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars 2013 Pinot Gris - 90pts

Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars 2013 Pinot Gris (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and private wine shops
Cost: $20.90
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: October 19th, 2014

Tasting Notes: Some Okanagan Valley Pinot Gris are fermented and aged in oak barrels and others see no oak at all. Both styles can produce outstanding versions of BC's most planted white variety (2011 acreage report). Blue Mountain successfully combines the best of both worlds with 60% of the fruit fermented and aged in stainless steel and the remaining 40% in new-to-3 year old French oak. The blended wine brings together lively, citrus, apple, kiwi and white peach aromas and flavours with beautiful, rounded characters of orange blossom, wheat, vanilla, light spice and just a hint of warm brioche in the background. A lemon/lime acidic kick keeps the finish crisp and clean. A delightful Pinot Gris to be enjoyed now, or over the next 2-3 years. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Time Estate Winery 2012 The Girls Voluptuous Red - 88pts

Time Estate Winery 2012 The Girls Voluptuous Red (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $24.99
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: October 17th, 2014

Tasting Notes: The sister release to The Girls' rosé, the Voluptuous is an easy-drinking, round, sweetly scented blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. 

Produced in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, this blend has impressive ripeness with berry and cherry fruit flavours paired nicely with French oak and South Okanagan wild herb notes. A nice kick of acid and spice on the finish helps make the wine a perfect dinner companion. Drink 2014-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Time Estate Winery 2013 The Girls Vivacious Rosé - 87pts

Time Estate Winery 2013 The Girls Vivacious Rosé (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $19.99
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasted: October 17th, 2014

Tasting Notes: Produced in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, the aptly named "The Girls" is a beautiful, light pink hued rosé that opens with pleasant strawberry, raw honey, rose water and cherry aromas. A blend of 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, producing playful, sweet berry fruit flavours on the lightly off-dry, mineral'n'citrus-kissed palate. Drink 2014-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Stag's Hollow Winery 2012 Tempranillo - 90pts

Stag's Hollow Winery 2012 Tempranillo (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $30
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 305 cases
Date Tasted: October 15th, 2014

Tasting Notes: Be sure to spend ample time appreciating the nose of this fragrant Tempranillo. Search through the layers of baked plum and raspberry fruit, Autumn flowers and pipe tobacco aromas and try to imagine which scents are linked to the three distinct vineyard sites from which the grapes are sourced (Naramata Bench, Osoyoos and Okanagan Falls) and which scents owe their fealty to winemaking practices such as 15 months in American oak barrels or 50% whole berry fermentation.

The dry, fruity palate has the texture and weight of a fine, village Beaujolais, with light, smooth tannins, red and blue fruit flavours and a long finish balanced nicely by fresh berry acidity and lingering savoury notes. Enjoy this wine now and over the next 3-4 years. Drink 2014-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Gold Hill Winery 2013 Rosé - 85pts

Gold Hill Winery 2013 Rosé (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC 

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $18.90
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: October 14th, 2014

Tasting Notes: BC's darkest rosé, by far, nearing a medium-purple hue, opens with black currant liqueur, peach pit and cherry-cola aromas on the nose. Off-dry and fruit-forward, the palate skews a little 'hot', leaning on wild berry acidity and chewy, spicy plum flavours and texture to balance the 14.2% residual alcohol. 

To achieve such a dark hue, the winery lets the crushed grapes have extended contact with the juice to extract maximum colour and deep, red wine-like aromas and flavours. As suggested by the winery, this is an ode to the darker rosé wines of Bordeaux, though, I've yet to come across one of those quite as dark as the Gold Hill version. Undeniably, this wine pushes the envelop of what would be considered a traditional rosé to most consumers - some will love it and some simply will not. Drink now-2015.
  - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

La Frenz Winery 2013 Sémillon - 89-90pts

La Frenz Winery 2013 Sémillon (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $22
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasted: October 12th, 2014

Tasting Notes: The La Frenz' house style of Sémillon remains a celebration of the Bordeaux variety's unique juxtaposition of mouth-watering, citrus tang and palate-coating, lush melon fruit. Each sip sees both parts of the wine's melody played harmoniously, creating a memorable experience - well-worth the price of admission. 

Look for aromas and flavours of grapefruit, honeydew, mango, lemongrass, hay and Asian pear. Has the bones to age well for another 2-3 years with unctuous, nectar qualities likely to develop, though, the synthetic cork enclosure puts longer cellaring at risk. Drink 2014-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Chateau Des Charmes 2012 '1951' Unoaked Chardonnay - 86pts

Chateau Des Charmes 2012 '1951' Unoaked Chardonnay (Niagara Peninsula) Ontario

Availability: LCBO
Cost: $13.95
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: October 11th, 2014

Tasting Notes: Refreshing and relatively plump, for an unoaked Chardonnay, the wine opens with a pleasant, subtle nose of melon and orchard fruit aromas and follows-up with similar flavours on the round palate and an added kick of citrus fruit and mineral notes. Finishes a tad sharp and short, though, a pairing with hard cheeses will do nicely.

Produced, along with a red blend, to support a fundraising campaign for the Missisauga Lakeshore Rotary association that was founded in 1951, hence the branding on the label. Drink now-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Maverick Estate Winery 2012 Rubicon - 88pts

Maverick Estate Winery 2012 Rubicon (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $25
Alcohol: 14.1%
Production: 360 cases
Date Tasted: October 10th, 2014

Tasting Notes: This medium-bodied, spicy, herbal wine is a blend of 60% Syrah, 25% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon all sourced from the Golden Mile Bench in the Southern Okanagan Valley. Deep ruby-purple in colour, the Rubicon is a mild-mannered, feminine expression of Syrah with enhanced aromatics from the Cabernet Franc and an easy-going tannic backbone from the Cabernet Sauvignon.

There's impressive depth on the nose with aromas of white pepper, clove, cola, black cherry, mocha and alpine flowers. A mouth-watering kick of berry acidity on the palate keeps the balance lively while flavours of blackberry, wild herbs, cherry, spices, cured meats and minerals help to broaden the wine's food-pairing possibilities; stews, red meat roasts and even turkey dinner. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Chateau Des Charmes 2011 '1951' Cabernet Merlot - 85pts

Chateau Des Charmes 2011 '1951' Cabernet Merlot (St. David's Bench) Niagara Peninsula - Ontario

Availability: LCBO
Cost: $14.95
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: October 8th, 2014

Tasting Notes: Created as a fundraiser to support the Missisauga Lakeshore Rotary association that was founded in 1951, hence the name. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with a flavour profile of red berries, sappy-garrigue, rosemary, brine-y cured meats and toasted oak. Pairs well with medium-hard cheeses like Swiss Emmental. Drink now-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Bodegas Escorihuela 2013 '1884' Reservado Malbec - 86pts

Bodegas Escorihuela 2013 '1884' Reservado Malbec (Mendoza) Argentina

Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $16.99
Alcohol: 13.8%
Date Tasted: October 8th, 2014

Tasting Notes: A crowd-pleasing, sweet-smelling Malbec with a tasty combination of smoke-infused blue fruit and spicy-vanilla aromas and flavours. Zesty citrus notes keep the palate clean, tidy and food-friendly, though, some added tannins and body would be welcomed to better balance the acidity and lengthen the finish where mocha and spice linger, moderately. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Gold Hill Winery 2013 Cabernet Merlot - 85pts

Gold Hill Winery 2013 Cabernet Merlot (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $19.90
Alcohol: 14.4%
Date Tasted: October 5th, 2014

Tasting Notes: This inky-ruby coloured blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon opens with an unexpected nose of dates, prunes, spicy black plum, black cherry and cinnamon aromas. Palate offers good continuity from the nose with flavours from the ripe, dried fruit theme and added berry fruit contrasting with a light blanket of acidity.

Some will be put-off by the prune-y character of the wine while others may embrace the uniqueness on offer - judge for yourself. Definitely a drink-now wine, as advertised, and consider exotic, spicy food pairings to match the exotic aroma and flavour profile. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright Icon Wines 2014

Three Thieves 2013 The Show Malbec - 87pts

Three Thieves 2013 The Show Malbec (Luján de Cuyo) Mendoza - Argentina

Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $18.99
Alcohol: 14.1%
Production: 17,000 cases
Date Tasted: October 4th, 2014

Tasting Notes: A consistent performer with a boisterous nose of classic Argentina Malbec, berry'n'spice aromas and a fruity, mouth-watering palate that balances glycerol fullness from (some) residual sugar with tangy, wild berry acidity and smoky, mesquite tannins, allowing the wine to finish moderately long and spicy.

BBQ pork or beef dishes are a great bet for this wine (think Argentina cuisine). Enjoy it in its youth over the next 2-3 years. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

On a side note: At the time of this review, the 2012 vintage is still selling at BCLDB stores. See our notes on that vintage here. Look for the (slightly) enhanced 2013 vintage to show up on the shelves when the 2012's sell through.

Chateau Des Charmes 2012 St. David's Bench Vineyard Merlot - 89+pts

Chateau Des Charmes 2012 St. David's Bench Vineyard Merlot (St. David's Bench) Niagara Peninsula - Ontario

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $29.95
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 553 cases
Date Tasted: October 2nd, 2014

Tasting Notes: Stands-out from its juicier Merlot peers with an Old World appeal of leather and oak characters, grippy tannins and earthy-brine-y goodness. Dark berry and spicy plum notes add a touch of sweetness and depth on the nose and balance the savoury elements on the palate nicely. Should hold well for 3-5 more years with some further development. Drink 2015-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca