Le Vieux Pin 2012 "Cuvée Violette" Syrah (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $29
Alcohol: 13.4%
Production: 616 cases
Date Tasted: December 30th, 2014
Tasting Notes: Over the past 4-5 years, Le Vieux Pin has established itself as one of the best producers of Rhone Valley varietal wines in the Okanagan. Most of their Syrah releases have been designed to be cellar-worthy time capsules. With the "Cuvée Violette" we get a wine focused more on 'the now' rather than on future development.
Beautifully layered, feminine aromas of flowers (yes, violets, as the name suggests), raspberry, vanilla, white pepper, pot-pourri, pink grapefruit, cherry dust and warm fuzzies. The medium-bodied palate offers a nice balance of elegant, smooth spices and clean, red fruit flavours supported by bright acidity and moderate, fine tannins. Ready to be enjoyed now but should hold over the next 2-4 years if you want to wait it out (why?). Drink now-2018.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2012 Pinot Noir (Lillooet) Fraser Canyon - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $26
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 475 cases
Date Tasted: December 29th, 2014
Tasting Notes: Sourced from their home vineyard in Lillooet, this Pinot Noir has a wildness on the nose from alpine berry fruit and raw herbs and spices. Dark raspberry and cherry aromas round out the lightly oaked bouquet.
The bright, mouth-watering palate follows with a little less pronounced fruit and an increased presence
of earthy, terroir-influenced flavours. The bone dry finish is a tad bitter but satisfying. Pair with game or a turkey roast. Drink 2015-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
SpierHead Winery 2013 Pinot Noir (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $24
Alcohol: 12.4%
Production: 600 cases
Date Tasted: December 27th, 2014
Tasting Notes: SpierHead has come a long way with their handling of Pinot Noir since their first vintage of estate grown fruit in 2010. Just three years later and the East Kelowna winery is making a name for itself with multiple Pinot Noir labels in their portfolio: some single vineyard, some blends. This release is their largest production at 600 cases and is a blend of their different East Kelowna vineyards, revealing a minimalist, fruit-forward approach with a pleasant balance of red fruit and earthy notes on the sweetly scented nose and the smooth, yet, mouth-watering palate. Dry herbs and spice add depth throughout. A hint of bitterness and sagebrush lingers on the moderate finish. Drink now-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Graham's N/V Six Grapes Reserve Port (Douro Valley) Portugal
Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores
Cost: $24-28
Alcohol: 20%
Date Tasted: December 22nd, 2014
Tasting Notes: The name "Six Grapes" is a reference to the winery's visual, quality classification for barrels of years past ('6' was the highest). This is a reserve ruby port, meaning it is a composition of multiple vintages of ruby port wines blended together to consistently represent the brand, year-in, year-out (not dissimilar to house-style Champagne). Whether the port was bottled this year or in 2011, it should taste the same, though, word to the wise, ruby port is not meant to be aged for future development like its famous sibling, vintage port. Drink it within a year or two from purchase.
Sourced from multiple estates in the Douro and compiled of the four noble Douro grapes, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroc, plus small parts of other native grapes, the 'Six Grapes' offers intense red fruit, plum and licorice aromas supported by notes of mint, flowers and Ferrero Rocher confections. The fully sweet palate offers good continuity from the nose, though, with more focus on sweet berry and cherry fruit flavours. The finish is long and boisterous. Drink now-2016.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
SpierHead Winery 2013 Pinot Noir Cuvée (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $33
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 100 cases
Date Tasted: December 23rd, 2014
Tasting Notes: A handsomely packaged, small lot Pinot Noir, made from a blend of the favoured barrels pulled from the winery's vineyards and aged in 100% French oak. On the engaging nose you'll find a lovely, feminine blend of red and dark berries, tea leaf, French vanilla cream, roses and a touch of wildness from boysenberry and huckleberry fruit that foreshadows the mouth-watering experience ahead.
The entry on the medium-bodied palate is lush, continuing the feminine, fruity'n'sensual theme from the nose until a wave of bright wild berry acidity temporarily overwhelms your mouth before a wave of spice, earth, leather, plum and raspberry flavours linger on the long finish. Intriguing. Drink 2015-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Bench 1775 Winery 2013 Whistler Late Harvest Chardonnay (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here or select VQA storesCost: $29.90 (375ml)Alcohol: 11.3%Date Tasted: December 22nd, 2014Tasting Notes: A fully sweet dessert wine that makes for a (relatively speaking) economical alternative to ice wine, this late harvest wine is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes that hung on their vines well into the Winter. Typical Chardonnay aromas and flavours are present, orchard and tropical fruit, with added notes of sweet honeycomb, raisins and peaches from the extended ripening and dehydration the grapes experienced on the vine. Lemon/lime acidity keeps the palate's sweetness from overloading your taste buds and improving this wine's function as an aperitif. Drink now-2016.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2012 Cabernet Franc (Lillooet) Fraser Canyon - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery hereCost: $27Alcohol: 14%Production: 482 casesDate Tasted: December 21st, 2014Tasting Notes: A quaffable Cabernet Franc with sweet, blue fruit puree and savoury, herb garden aromas to enjoy. Shows its masculinity side on the dry palate where the fruit'n'herb theme from the nose is matched with mineral, oak and bell pepper flavours. Wild berry acidity and firm tannins frame the long finish where tongue-tingling spice and toasted oak notes linger. Drink now-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
The following wines received the 25 highest scores on IconScores.ca during the calendar year of 2014. Release date was not considered with some wines sourced from the cellar or tasted at special events. For the list of our Top 25 Wines of 2014, where more than simply the tasting score is considered, please visit the main IconWines.ca site.
#1
Glaetzer Wines 2010 Amon-Ra - 97pts
This intense, impressive specimen begins its journey to your cellar via vineyards in the Ebenezer sub-region of the Barossa Valley whose dry-grown vines range from 50-130 years of age and are cropped to a measly 1-tonne per hectare. A paltry amount that yields crazy, OMG-concentration on the sublime, rabbit-hole deep nose and the powerful-yet-refined palate.
Full Review
#2
Bodegas Vega Sicilia 2008 Pintia - 94-95pts
Vega Sicilia's "affordable" wine is sourced from the Toro region of North-Western Spain and sees 12-15 months in French and American oak (usually a 70/30 split). This 100% Tempranillo wine yields a complex nose of espresso, minerals, red fruit, sweet tobacco, leather, toasted oak, dried grass and subtle spices.
Full Review
#3
Château de Beaucastel 2011 Chateauneuf-du-Pape - 94+pts
Perhaps lacking in the power department when compared to the opulent and dense 2010, the 2011 thrives on subtle layers of sweet red and dark fruit, dry rock, fragrant flowers, warm garrique and smooth tobacco aromas and flavours. Classic, quietly intense and long with ultra-fine tannins and an elegant character.
Full Review
#4
Bodegas Muga 2009 Selección Especial - 93-94pts
This beautiful, spicy, femme-fatale from Rioja is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo and 3% Graciano and oozes sex appeal on the nose with powerful, layered aromas of pot-pourri, raspberry, cherry, anise, cardamom, vanilla, dusty rocks and toasted oak.
Full Review
#5
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2012 Red Icon - 93+pts
Though the components change year-to-year, Painted Rock's Red Icon is an exceptionally consistent, high-end blend that successfully executes its but de vie to deliver complex, New World flavours wrapped in an elegant, Old World structure.
Full Review
#6
LaStella 2011 La Sophia - 93+pts
This is near, pitch-perfect, cool-climate Cabernet with a lovely balance between its concentrated, dark berry fruit and its complex, vegetal'n'herbs components. The feminine palate is smooth with fine, ripe tannins and hints of graphite, vanilla, coffee grinds and cherry-cola. Herbs and cassis purée linger on the long, long, smoky finish. Will evolve over a decade-plus.
Full Review
#7
2007 Château Troplong Mondot - 93pts
Smoky goodness oozes from the glass, enveloping your nose in a feminine, seductive blanket of chocolate mocha, floral and graphite aromas, through which, a column of gentle, pure red fruit presses its advance. It is a charming bouquet with some age, but ultimately, still in development.
Full Review
#8
LaStella 2011 Maestoso "Solo" Merlot - 93pts
Supremely elegant and nuanced, LaStella's flagship wine, Maestoso, proves that 100% Merlot wines can be just as memorable and complete as equally priced Cabernet Sauvignon when handled with as much care and detailed attention that the Osoyoos Lake winery applies to this beautiful wine.
Full Review
#9
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2013 Chardonnay - 93pts
My favourite words for the Painted Rock Chardonnay are "consistency", "pure" and "effortless". And its the last word of the bar-setting trio that makes this wine such a stand out. The nose is generous with layers of pure fruit (orchard, citrus, tropical) supported by French oak, minerals and light brioche aromas, but it is the effortless palate that is most memorable.
Full Review
#10
Bodegas Breca 2010 Old Vines Garnacha - 92+pts
At first sniff, you might think you're about to dive into a fine Port due to the intense and matured, spicy-plum, sweet-incense and anise aromas seeping from the glass. This 100% Garnacha (Grenache) is sourced from vineyards ranging from 70-100 years old and offers an equally intense palate where the spicy-plum profile continues supported by cherry-cola, vanilla-bean and mineral notes.
Full Review
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2013 Late Harvest Riesling (Lillooet) Fraser Canyon - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $20 (375ml)
Alcohol: 11.4%
Production: 450 cases
Date Tasted: December 18th, 2014
Tasting Notes: Also sourced from the winery's home vineyard in Lillooet, this late harvest Riesling makes for an intriguing (and cost effective) aperitif bridge between an off-dry white and a fully sweetened dessert wine.
Many late harvest wines are as sweet as their more expensive ice wine cousins, but the Fort Berens version, though bursting with intense, candied lychee and ripe peach flavours, does not overwhelm the palate with unctuous, syrupy fruit. Offers a pleasant 'grapey'-ness, like a fine, off-dry Muscat. Drink now-2016.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2013 Chardonnay (Lillooet) Fraser Canyon - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $20
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 602 cases
Date Tasted: December 18th, 2014
Tasting Notes: Another superb Chardonnay from Fort Berens' home vineyard in Lillooet that offers a nice blend of orchard and tropical fruit, citrus and mineral characters on the expressive nose and the mouth watering, yet, rounded palate. Pears, papaya, white peach, river stones, slate and lemon/lime aromas and flavours will match nicely with scallop dishes, while hints of French oak and spice on the long, tangy finish make you crave another sip. Drink 2014-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2012 Meritage (Lillooet) Fraser Canyon - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $29
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 844 cases
Date Tasted: December 17th, 2014
Tasting Notes: Once again for 2012, the Fort Berens Meritage is a blend of fruit from the winery's home vintage in Lillooet and from the famed Sundial vineyard on the Black Sage Bench. The components follow a Right-bank recipe of 72% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc, delivering a masculine wine with firm, blue fruit and underlying layers of savoury notes like toasted oak, cured meat and coffee grinds. Field berry acidity keeps the palate fresh and mouth watering with a touch of citrus peel on the long finish that is otherwise dominated by Christmas cake spices. Drink mid-2014-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Le Vieux Pin 2011 Retouche (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Sold out. Winery website here
Cost: $65
Alcohol: 13.7%
Production: 62 cases
Date Tasted: December 14th, 2014
Tasting Notes: The name for Le Vieux Pin's Retouche is a clever historical reference to a long forgotten practice when Bordeaux producers would secretly augment their Cabernet Sauvignon blends with Syrah from the Rhone Valley for much needed tannin structure, colour and depth. Essentially, it's a 80-20 split of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, (a blend now commonplace thanks to Aussie imports), but it's much more fun to reference sneaky Bordelais of centuries-past.
I found tasting the 2009 vintage of the Retouche to be less intriguing than the clever name, thankfully, for the 2011 vintage, the wine in the bottle measures up.
The nose showcases creamy dark fruit aromas spiked with lifted menthol notes while hints of cherry-cola and spice lie in weight. The palate will seem tight unless properly decanted (or bottle aged for a further 1-2 years), once it opens up, you'll enjoy classic Cabernet blackberry and cassis flavours with Syrah and oak barrel influences adding depth and a pleasant roundness to the wine. The long finish is chalk
full of smooth spices. Drink late-2015-2019.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Maison Louis Latour 2012 Bourgogne Chardonnay (Burgundy AOC) - FranceAvailability: BCLDB storesCost: $24.99Alcohol: 13%Date Tasted: December 13th, 2014Tasting Notes: This expressive and palate-pleasing wine is a blend of Chardonnay sourced from multiple vineyard sites throughout the Burgundy AOC, all with vines 30 years of age or older. Beyond malolactic fermentation (a naturally occurring secondary fermentation that softens the acid content of the wine) this Chardonnay is a very pure representation of the grape thanks to the minimalist approach employed by Maison Louis Latour (fermented and aged in stainless steel - no oak contact). The result is an honest, crisp, fruit'n'floral Chardonnay with a light kick of spice and river stones on the moderate-plus, mouth-watering finish.
Lean enough to pair with seafood and round enough to match with creamy pasta - exceptionally food friendly. Drink now-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Church and State Wines 2011 Coyote Bowl Series Syrah (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $35
Alcohol: 13.4%
Date Tasted: December 13th, 2014
Tasting Notes: A beautiful, spicy Syrah from a challenging, cool vintage that offers Northern Rhone-like, intense aromas of white pepper, cherry, vanilla-coke, violets and blueberry fruit. Similar flavours grace the masculine palate with the inclusion of light citrus, mineral and toasted oak flavours. Weight, tannins and length are only medium intense, though, the overall wine is well balanced and offers good typicity for the variety in BC. Drink 2014-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2012 Fortified Vintage Foch (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $25
Alcohol: 18%
Production: 394 cases
Date Tasted: December 10th, 2014
Tasting Notes: Marechal Foch makes a natural fit as the base for a fortified, Port-style wine like this tasty, after-dinner treat from Quails' Gate. Foch's unique combination of berry fruit and homey, camp fire aromas and flavours makes a solid foundation for the extended barrel ageing and Brandy fortification which imparts added layers of blue fruit, oak characters and exotic citrus fruit to the intense nose and sweet palate. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Chateau Des Charmes 2013 Vidal Icewine (Niagara-On-The-Lake) Niagara Peninsula - Ontario
Availability: Direct from the winery here and LCBO storesCost: $25.95 (200ml)Alcohol: 9%Production: 3309 casesDate Tasted: December 9th, 2014
Tasting Notes: This beautifully constructed, dense Vidal ice wine smells and tastes of a bowl of apricot and honeydew-infused custard adorned with shavings of candied lime peel. The unctuous, honeyed fruit is balanced nicely with lemon/lime acidity through to an everlasting finish. Divine. Drink now-2017+. - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Henschke 2013 Peggy's Hill Riesling (Eden Valley) South Australia - Australia
Availability: Limited
Cost: $17-20 (Australia)
Alcohol: 11.5%
Date Tasted: December 9th, 2014
Tasting Notes: Though it opens with an ambitious, aromatic nose of orange blossoms, rose water and citrus fruit, this Eden Valley Riesling becomes a demure, subtle charmer on its mineral and citrus infused, (mostly) dry palate.
Looks to be a good candidate for cellaring due to its light, tropical fruit notes on the palate that should evolve and become more prominent over the next 5 years or so. Drink 2018-2020+.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Grant Burge Wines 2012 Berryfield (Barossa Valley) South Australia - AustraliaAvailability: LimitedCost: $23 (Australia)Alcohol: 14%Date Tasted: December 7th, 2014Tasting Notes: Cherry and pepper galore on the nose of this Barossa Valley Shiraz with light menthol and oak aromas supported. This balanced combo carries through to the dry-yet-juicy, mouth-watering palate where the spices become more prominent on the moderate finish. Drink 2014-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Chris Ringland Wines 2012 Barossa Shiraz (Barossa Valley) South Australia - Australia
Availability: Limited
Cost: $25 (Australia)
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: December 5th, 2014
Tasting Notes: Fruit-forward, chewy and bursting with flavour, this Shiraz leans towards the 'too much' end of the residual sugar spectrum, but its proportioned acidity and mannered, fine tannins keep it balanced and allows the drinker to appreciate the layers of blackberry and cherry fruit complimented by eucalyptus and pepper on the nose and palate. Drink 2014-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Two Hands Wines 2012 Angel's Share Shiraz (McLaren Vale) South Australia - Australia
Availability: BCLDB stores, Costco (Washington State)
Cost: $40 (BC), $25 (WA)
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: December 4th, 2014
Tasting Notes: A cherry-cola'n'spice fuelled beauty from McLaren Vale with complimentary sweet and savoury aromas on the intense, layered nose. This 'big boy' Shiraz (mostly) handles its substantial residual alcohol (15.2%) thanks to intense, cherry and raspberry fruit flavours, a touch of residual sugar and savoury licorice and oak characters which create a rich texture to support the alcohol through to a long, spicy finish. Drink 2014-2019.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Two Hands Wines 2013 Gnarly Dudes Shiraz (Barossa Valley) South Australia - AustraliaAvailability: BCLDB stores, Costco (Washington State)Cost: $40 (BC), $25 (WA)Alcohol: 14.2%Date Tasted: December 3rd, 2014Tasting Notes: Dense, intense and... well, gnarly. Blackberry purée, maraschino cherry, menthol, mild cured meats, spicy dark chocolate, hot tar and sweet vanilla oak aromas grace the quaff-able nose. A wine for folks who crave a chewy, tannic palate with dense, dark red fruit, Christmas cake spice and mouth watering acidity - classic Barossa Shiraz. Drink 2014-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
