Monte Creek Ranch 2013 Hands Up Red - 85pts

Monte Creek Ranch 2013 Hands Up Red (Kamloops) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $15.50 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 13.6%
Date Tasted: January 31st, 2016

Tasting Notes: Though a blend of hybrid and Bordeaux varieties, the Hands Up Red opens with a traditional, albeit muted, Cab-Merlot nose of cassis and blackberry aromas with a pleasant, susurrus of earthy, oak-spice in the background. 

The palate is a little less traditional with a palpable wildness to the blend of berry fruit, oak and dry herbs'n'spice. The backbone of this wine is its tangy, wild berry acidity, rather than its tannins, which are very light indeed. As recommended by the winery, the right pairing for this wine is BBQ Salmon. Drink 2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Intrigue Wines 2014 Riesling - 87pts

Intrigue Wines 2014 Riesling (Lake Country) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and BC VQA stores
Cost: $16.90 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 12.9%
Production: 501 cases
Date Tasted: January 30th, 2016

Tasting Notes: A sweet, aromatic nose of peach and blossom aromas and mineral undertones opens this tasty, single-vineyard Riesling originating from the Okanagan Valley's Lake Country district. The off-dry palate is equally sweet and expressive with a balanced, mouth-watering combination of ripe, white peach, honey crisp apple and lemon/lime rind characters. Finish is uber-tangy with a touch of lingering spice. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

The Painted Wolf Wines 2012 The Den Pinotage - 85pts

The Painted Wolf Wines 2012 The Den Pinotage (W.O. Coastal Region) South Africa

Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $14.99
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: January 25th, 2016

Tasting Notes: The nose of this Coastal Region Pinotage blends wild berry fruit with sweet, cured meat and light incense aromas. Red and blue fruits are more prominent on the dry, full palate with toasty oak and spices filling in the flavour profile. A little rough around the edges but well priced for the intensity of fruit and solid typicity for the variety on offer. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca 

Cassini Cellars 2013 Roussanne Marsanne - 89pts

Cassini Cellars 2013 Roussanne Marsanne (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Unknown. Contact winery here
Cost: $TBA
Alcohol: 14.4%
Date Tasted: January 24th, 2016

Tasting Notes: Impressively lively for a Roussanne/Marsanne blend, successfully combining the essence of tropical and citrus fruit to create a full-bodied'yet'mouth-watering wine bursting with pineapple, mango skin, lemon, lychee, mandarin and stonefruit aromas on the generous nose and tangy, steely palate. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Road 13 Vineyards 2013 VRM - 90pts

Road 13 Vineyards 2013 VRM (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Contact winery here for more information
Cost: $29
Alcohol: 13.8%
Production: 145 cases
Date Tasted: January 21st, 2016

Tasting Notes: A blend of white, Rhone Valley varieties, Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne, the VRM is delightfully feminine and textured with an aromatic nose of orchard, citrus and tropical fruit, blossoms and French vanilla cream. The palate starts full and fruity with consistent flavours matching the nose, then a wave of citrus acidity livens things up without washing away any of the body. Finishes long with lingering lemon curds notes and a touch of spice. Delicious. Drink now-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - 88pts

Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $25.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%

Date Tasted: January 19th, 2016

Tasting Notes: If you're looking for a fruit-forward, mouth-watering Cabernet Sauvignon with soft, rounded edges, then this is the one for you. Classic cassis and blackberry fruit supported by dark chocolate, mint, licorice and dried herb notes on the vibrant nose and (nearly) dry palate. Ready to go now. Drink now-2018.

- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Reserve Pinot Noir - 88pts

Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Reserve Pinot Noir (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $24.49 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: January 18th, 2016

Tasting Notes: A pleasantly perfumed and easy-drinking Pinot Noir with a splash of residual sugar on the well-balanced palate and candied red fruit highlighting the brambly, sweetly-aromatic, vanilla-infused nose. Drink now-2018.

- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Five Vineyards Cabernet-Merlot - 84pts

Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Five Vineyards Cabernet-Merlot (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $15.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: January 18th, 2016

Tasting Notes: A Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon leading blend, with smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, sourced from Southern Okanagan Valley vineyards near Osoyoos and Oliver. Nose offers the expected Cab-Merlot aromas of dark berry fruit, cocoa nibs, Fall flowers and spiced oak but also some sharp, stem-y notes that sour the bouquet slightly and permeate through the dry, intense, dark fruit and charred oak-infused palate. Drink now-2017.

- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Maverick Estate Winery 2013 Rubeus - 89pts

Maverick Estate Winery 2013 Rubeus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $25
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 500 cases
Date Tasted: January 13th, 2016

Tasting Notes: An intense, fruit-forward blend of Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with a rustic, smoky under-current on the dark berry and pipe tobacco-infused nose and on the spicy-plum and blackberry flavoured palate where a touch of residual sugar is whisked away by the bright, wild berry acidity and fine, mannered tannins to finish dry.

Showing well now with proper decanting and should drink well for another 2-3 years. Drink now-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2014 Chardonnay - 88pts

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

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19.99
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 4500 cases
Date Tasted: January 10th, 2016

Tasting Notes: A crowd-pleasing, slightly off-dry Chardonnay with a good balance of orchard fruit flavours, oak influenced characters and tangy, citrus acidity. Look for baked apple, pear, brioche, pineapple, mango and stonefruit on the nose and palate. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Maverick Estate Winery 2013 Syrah - 90pts

Maverick Estate Winery 2013 Syrah (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $32
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 200 cases
Date Tasted: January 8th, 2016

Tasting Notes: A masculine, peppercorn-infused, powerful Syrah with an expressive nose of cherry, raspberry and floral aromas with light, sweet cured meat notes rounding out the developing bouquet. The palate is equally bold and masculine with red fruit supported by loads of pepper, oak and metallic, iron-y flavours.

Ready to go now with ample decanting, though, if you can give it time, you will be rewarded by further integration of flavours on the palate. Drink late-2016-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Maverick Estate Winery 2014 Pinot Noir - 89-90pts

Maverick Estate Winery 2014 Pinot Noir (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $29
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 550 cases
Date Tasted: January 6th, 2016

Tasting Notes: A robust Pinot Noir sourced from the Golden Mile Bench with both juicy and earthy characters on the ripe, inviting nose and the well-balanced palate. Opens with black raspberry and cherry-cola flavours followed by a wave of rich, wood and soil notes and finishes dry with fine tannins and a touch of lingering spice - just enough to know it's there.

Will improve with moderate cellaring; 2-3 more years prior to opening. Drink 2018-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Calliope Wines 2013 Figure Eight Red - 86pts

Calliope Wines 2013 Figure Eight Red (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $15.99
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: January 4th, 2016

Tasting Notes: Should appeal to drinkers of Apothic Red with its mellowed tannins, front-loaded red and dark berry fruit and mouth-watering, bright acidity on the finish. Yet, there's more to work with here in this blend of 58% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 8% Malbec and 4% Syrah with additional aromas and flavours of vanilla bean, white pepper, spicy plum sauce and oak. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca