Fort Berens Estate Winery 2013 White Gold - 89pts

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2013 White Gold (Lillooet) Fraser Canyon - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $21.99
Alcohol: 12.9%
Date Tasted: April 30th, 2015

Tasting Notes: Fort Berens' White Gold is now made exclusively from Lillooet-grown grapes. It receives the full Reserve Chardonnay treatment with extended time in French oak barrels and a softening of the palate thanks to the malolactic fermentation process that contributes creamy textures and buttery-goodness. The lush orchard fruit on offer is grounded by a whispered chorus of cool green apple acidity, lime peel and light, stainless steel minerality. Notes of hazelnuts, toast and lingering spice add depth and character. Drink 2015-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2014 Chardonnay - 88pts

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2014 Chardonnay (Lillooet) Fraser Canyon - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $17.99
Alcohol: 12%
Date Tasted: April 27th, 2015

Tasting Notes: Tastes like a lean, mean, un-oaked Chardonnay, though, with the creamy-ish palate that comes from malolactic fermentation. Great combination of mineral, citrus and orchard fruit aromas and flavours with added layers of tropical fruit, clay and spice - great terroir notes from the Fraser Canyon that lasts a long time in your mouth. Drink 2015-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

La Frenz Winery 2012 Shiraz - 88pts

La Frenz Winery 2012 Shiraz (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Limited
Cost: $28
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: April 26th, 2015

Tasting Notes: A floral, peppery and minty nose opens this Shiraz from popular Naramata Bench producer La Frenz. A feminine expression of the Rhone Valley variety with ripe, red fruit and spicy-cola flavours, light cream weight, tangy, wild-berry acidity and soft, smoky tannins. Ready to be enjoyed now and over the next 3 years. Drink 2015-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2014 Pinot Gris - 88pts

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2014 Pinot Gris (Lillooet) Fraser Canyon - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $15.99
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 1016 cases
Date Tasted: April 23rd, 2015

Tasting Notes: Pinot Gris in BC usually fall into two categories: plump or lean. The Fort Berens edition falls into the later with no oak contact and little-to-no malolactic fermentation influence. What you get is a lean, mean, Pinot Grigio-style machine that, despite its display of ripe melon fruit on the nose, is otherwise a vessel for raw, intense, tart orchard and citrus fruit. There are also layers of herbs and minerals adding depth and length to the finish. Enjoy this wine in its youth. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2014 Riesling - 90pts

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2014 Riesling (Lillooet) Fraser Canyon - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here,  VQA stores and BCLDB stores
Cost: $15.99
Alcohol: 11%
Production: 1145 cases
Date Tasted: April 22nd, 2015

Tasting Notes: This single-vineyard Riesling is one to sip slowly, despite the urge you may have to take a big gulp of the finely balanced, off-dry fruit cup, cool stonefruit and zesty citrus characters. It evolves in the glass to reveal gentle, aromatic aromas of flowers and sweet orchard fruit as it warms up to room temperature. The palate sparkles with effervescent, green-apple acidity and steely minerality. The finish is long and mouth watering.

Enjoy this wine in its youth or, if you are proficient at delaying gratification, experiment with putting 1 or 2 bottles away for a few years and test for aged Riesling characters like honey nectar flavours or petroleum aromas. Drink now-2019+? - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2014 Rosé - 88pts

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2014 Rosé (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $18.14
Alcohol: 12.5%
Production: 7975 cases
Date Tasted: April 19th, 2015

Tasting Notes: A blend of  80% Gamy Noir, 10% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Gris offering a fresh, aromatic nose of Spring flowers, strawberry, watermelon, citrus peel and peppercorn seeds. The effervescent palate is juicy and refreshing with near off-dry levels of residual sugar balanced by plenty of wild berry and rhubarb acidity. Flavours of delicate red fruit, minerals and sweet citrus with bring a smile to your face. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2014 Pinot Noir Rosé - 87pts

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2014 Pinot Noir Rosé (Lillooet) Fraser Canyon - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $15.99
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 362 cases
Date Tasted: April 19th, 2015

Tasting Notes: There's the usual mix of sweet red fruit and tart cranberry aromas and flavours, but there's also nice sage-y, earthy layer on the appealing nose and a steely, mineral layer on the crisp palate. Not completely dry this year, though, the finish is long and refreshing. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars 2013 Chardonnay - 89pts

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

Availability: Direct from winery here and Private Wine Stores
Cost: $20.90
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: April 18th, 2015

Tasting Notes: An excellent, cool-climate Chardonnay that offers a nice, (nearly) 50-50 blend of grapes fermented and aged in French oak barrels and stainless-steel tanks producing a tasty combination of lush, orchard fruit and brioche aromas and flavours with tart citrus and mineral notes. 

The generous nose gives way to a crisp, mouth-watering palate with good purity and typicity for the Burgundian variety as grown in British Columbia. Finish is long and dry with a touch of lingering spice and vanilla flavours. Enjoy now and over the next 3-4 years with further development a possibility. Drink now-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

TIME Estate Winery 2012 Syrah - 88pts

TIME Estate Winery 2012 Syrah (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Select VQA and BCLDB stores
Cost: $35
Alcohol: 14.4%
Production: 100 cases
Date Tasted: April 18th, 2015
@TimeWinery

Tasting Notes: Opens with an aromatic, feminine nose of delicate layers of violet, raspberry, cherry-coke, sweet sage, and red licorice aromas. Dark purple in colour, this Black Sage Bench sourced Syrah, is smooth and easy-going on the creamy palate with light tannins, ripe red and dark fruit and mouth-warming spices.

Doesn't have the tannins to age, therefore, look to enjoy this beautiful wine in its youth, over the next 2 years. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2014 Chasselas Pinot Blanc Pinot Gris - 88pts

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2014 Chasselas Pinot Blanc Pinot Gris (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here, BCLDB Stores and VQA stores
Cost: $19.18
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 17,500 cases
Date Tasted: April 15th, 2015

Tasting Notes: "Flinty and floral" may best describes this proprietary blend of 45 % Chasselas, 30% Pinot Blanc, and 25% Pinot Gris, a signature wine for West Kelowna's Quails' Gate Winery. Popular for its approachable and affordable combination of refreshing orchard fruit and mineral flavours, this is the ultimate patio wine with some residual sweetness balanced by mannered acidity and grassy notes on the finish. Enjoy this wine in its youth. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2014 Dry Riesling - 87pts

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2014 Dry Riesling (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $17.11
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 2580 cases
Date Tasted: April 15th, 2015

Tasting Notes: A very consistent label for the West Kelowna winery, this Riesling is an exploration of the balance between the crisp and sweet facets of tart orchard fruit like green apples and lemon/lime. There's 12.6 g/l of residual sugar, yet, this Riesling finishes dry on the melon and stonefruit infused, refreshing palate. Certainly a wine for a sunny afternoon or as a perfect companion to your next seafood feast. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2014 Gewurztraminer - 88pts

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2014 Gewurztraminer (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $17.11
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 7700 cases
Date Tasted: April 7th, 2015

Tasting Notes: For 2014, the Quail's Gate Gewurztraminer showcases a little more of the opulent, tropical fruit we've come to associate with the Alsatian variety than from the 2013 release - especially on the off-dry palate where the initial citrus tartness is overtaken by lychee and papaya fruit through to the bright and spicy, mineral-infused finish. The nose offers a nice combination of light floral and peach skin aromas. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Noir - 90pts

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Noir (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $28.15
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 4345 cases
Date Tasted: April 5th, 2015

Tasting Notes: Essentially, this is everything you want from a BC Pinot Noir: expressive red fruit supported by earthy characters and hints of herbs and oak. The nose is generous and ripe and worth quaffing while you enjoy this mouth-watering, slightly smoky-tannin Pinot with classic, Pacific Northwest pairings of BBQ salmon and game birds.

Still youthful, this Pinot will benefit from another 6 months in the bottle prior to opening. Drink late-2015-2019.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Rombauer Vineyards 2011 Zinfandel - 91pts

Rombauer Vineyards 2011 Zinfandel (Napa Valley) California - USA

Availability: Limited. Private wine stores
Cost: $45-55
Alcohol: 15.9%
Date Tasted: April 4th, 2015

Tasting Notes: A powerful Zin with a robust, fruit-driven nose of blackberry, cherry, spearmint, herbs and chocolate covered cranberry aromas. A blend of 93% Zinfandel and 7% Petite Syrah sourced from vineyards in Napa Valley and beyond, this wine offers good continuity from the nose with added red fruit sweetness and peppery wood flavours on the intense, spicy palate. Manages its (nearly) 16% alcohol like a champ, never feeling 'hot' and staying well-balanced thanks to amble, raspberry acidity. The finish is long and mouth-watering with lingering peppercorn and plum notes. Drink 2015-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Sileni Estates 2013 Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc - 87pts

Sileni Estates 2013 Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) New Zealand

Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $14.79
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasted: April 2nd, 2015

Tasting Notes: A tart and vibrant Sauvignon Blanc with a strong mineral and citrus backbone and light layers of lees and peaches on the nose. Sits like a still, ultra-dry, Champagne, on the palate. Yet, this wine is very food-friendly and pro-sunny-deck. Enjoy this wine in its youth. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2008 Blanc de Noir - 89pts

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2008 Blanc de Noir (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $34.90
Alcohol: 12.9%
Date Tasted: April 1st, 2015

Tasting Notes: Produced from Pinot Noir grapes in the traditional Champagne method, this lightly bronze-hued sparkling wine is delightfully dry and nicely textured with medium, persistent bubbles and a sophisticated combination of lees and peach skin aromas and flavours. Finish is mineral-y and refreshing, though, a little short. Drink 2015-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Viña Montes 2011 Montes Folly - 94+pts

Viña Montes 2011 Montes Folly (Alpalta Valley) Colchagua Valley - Chile

Availability: BCLDB Signature and private wine stores
Cost: $87
Alcohol: 15.2%
Date Tasted: February 27th, 2015

Tasting Notes: Another killer Folly with an enchanting, sweetly scented nose of cherry, plum, blueberry, cola and pepper aromas complimented with elegant, toasted oak and warm earth characters. The palate is equally complex and smooth with solid structure from refined, developed tannins. Silky on the entry, creamy on the mid-palate and long'n'peppery on the finish. Fantastic. Drinking beautifully now with a cellar worthy track record that should keep this wine a fixture in your collection for 8-10 years. Drink 2015-2023+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca