Top Rated Wines of 2016

The following wines received the 16 highest scores on IconScores.ca during the calendar year of 2016. Release date was not considered with some wines sourced from the cellar or sampled at special events. For the list of our Top 20 Wines of 2016, where more than simply the tasting score is considered, please visit the main IconWines.ca site.

#1 - Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery 2013 Gravel Bed Red - 96pts
A blend of Bordeaux varieties sourced from multiple Sonoma County vineyards all with one thing in common: rocky, gravely soils. Intense and refined on the nose with rabbit-hole depth; cassis purée, ripe blueberries, vanilla extract, chocolate covered coffee beans and light, rocky mineral aromas.
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#2 - Domaine La Barroche 2006 Pure - 95pts
Marketed as a 100% Grenache, "Pure", cuvée from the Domaine's Chateauneuf-du-Pape designated vineyards (though, at a tasting event a winery rep whispered to me that there were some small traces of other grapes in the final blend) which delivers immense intensity on the complex nose and ultra-smooth palate. Harmonious from all angles with a profile of ripe red berries, black fruit, cola, mint and a medley of cooking spices. Framed by silky-smooth, elegant tannins and effortless acidity.
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#3 - 2006 Château Pontet-Canet - 93-95pts
This was an exquisite vintage for Pontet-Canet and for a (relatively speaking) bargain price. At 10 years of age, this blend of 62%, Merlot 33%, Cabernet Franc 3% and Petit-Verdot 2% is still youthful but headed in the right direction with burgeoning graphite and iron notes integratingseamlessly with the pure black fruit profile and silky smooth tannins. So elegant and long with lingering spice on the finish.
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#4 - Painted Rock Estate Winery 2014 Red Icon - 92-94pts
Though tasting a little tight and wound-up today, the youthful 2014 Red Icon shows fantastic promise with excellent concentration and depth on the intense, masculine nose and the refined, long-lasting palate. This year's blend is comprised of 33% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 19% Malbec, 16% Petit Verdot and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, each contributing their own unique aromas and flavours to the collective.
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#T5 - Cassini Cellars 2013 The Aristocrat - 93pts
This is a world class, single-vineyard, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Southern Okanagan showing excellent typicity for the variety and aged in French oak barrels. Look for ripe cassis and elegant vanilla aromas on the nose with some added spicy-savoury notes providing more layers to explore. 
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#T5 - LaStella 2013 La Sophia - 93pts
Beyond its tell-tale, Southern Okanagan watermark of dried herbs,  LaStella's "La Sophia" is a doppelgänger for the top-end Cabernet Sauvignon that come out of Washington State's Walla Walla Valley. Both complex and ultra-refined with layers of dark fruit, vanilla extract, licorice, sweet coffee grinds, mint and a hint of graphite already developing.
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#T5 - LaStella 2013 Maestoso "Solo" Merlot - 93pts
LaStella's flagship wine, Maestoso, proves that 100% Merlot wines can be as elegant and nuanced as the valley's top Cabernet Sauvignon or its heralded red blends. Harmonious layers of ripe, blackberry and dark plum fruit, vanilla fudge, spiced oak, chocolate nibs, dried herbs and light menthol aromas make the developing bouquet as equally compelling as the complex. refined palate. Intense, ultra-ripe, dark fruit dominates, supported by savoury notes; toasted oak, vanilla mocha, smokey tannins and cooking spices.
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#T8 - Painted Rock Estate Winery 2015 Chardonnay - 92+pts
From a barrel sample. A standout Chardonnay, sourced from the winery's home vineyard along the Skaha Bench, harvested in small lots and fermented separately to preserve the unique qualities of each batch. In contrast to previous vintages, 20% of the wine was aged in stainless steel tanks and underwent a softening of the acids through a secondary, malolactic fermentation. The rest of the wine was aged in an even split of 1st and 2nd fill French oak barrels with no malolactic fermentation.
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#T8 - Painted Rock Estate Winery 2013 Syrah - 92+pts
Opens with the intensity of an extracted Aussie Shiraz on the nose, though, the developing bouquet more closely resembles Syrah of the Northern Rhone with a beautiful blend of floral, fruit and savoury aromas. Layers of violet, blue fruits, smoky, cured meats, toffee, cardamom and white pepper will keep you blissfully sniffing the glass.
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#T8 - Le Vieux Pin 2014 "Cuvée Classique" Syrah - 92+pts
Like its baby sister, the 2014 "Cuvée Violette", this is feminine Syrah at its flowery, perfumed best. Though, big sister is a complex and often times moody enchantress with a powerful undercurrent of iron and peppercorn beneath layers of inviting, sweetened black cherry, black raspberry, dried flowers, incense, RC Cola, vanilla and dark chocolate aromas.
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#T11 - Domaine Saint-Damien 2010 La Louisiane - 92pts
A superb Gigondas sourced from the Domaine's red alluvial soil plots in the appellation nicknamed "La Louisiane". Reliably a blend of 80% Grenache and 15% Mourvedre with the remaining 5% a split of Syrah and Cinsault, offering a robust, developed bouquet of ripe, spicy-blueberry, clove, anise, dried cherry, sweet coffee, cooking spice and stinky cheese aromas.
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#T11 - JoieFarm 2014 Viognier - 92pts
A new edition to the JoieFarm portfolio and affixed with a shiny, new label, this is a supple and supremely well-balanced Viognier loaded with apple, honeydew, ripe peach, apricot and citrus flavours. On the nose are similar melon and orchard fruit aromas enhanced by sweet, floral notes and hints of exotic, tropical fruits.
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#T11 - La Frenz Winery 2013 Reserve Pinot Noir - 92pts
Opens with a luxurious nose of big, California-ripe, red fruit aromas which instantly grab your attention, yet, this is BC Pinot Noir, through and through, with layers of both savoury and sensual notes like dried spices, sweet peat, spiced plum, French vanilla cream and dark chocolate. 
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#T11 - Michael David Winery 2012 Earthquake Zinfandel - 92pts
An Earthquake indeed. Your senses will be shaking after this one. Nose and palate are super intense with deep, dark fruit and menthol notes with added layers of liquorice allsorts candy, charred oak, flat spice, tobacco and plum sauce.
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#T15 - Domaine De Beaurenard 2012 Chateauneuf-du-Pape - 91-92pts
A harmonious and approachable Chateauneuf-du-Pape composed of 70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, 5% Counoise and 5% Cinsault with a nice balance of fruit and savoury characters on the smooth scented nose and the vibrant palate. The developing bouquet shows dark cherry, brambly berry and black plum aromas blended nicely with garrigue and sage oils, cocoa nibs and burnt herb notes.
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#T15 - LaStella 2014 Fortissimo - 91-92pts
The 2014 edition of the Fortissimo sees 57% Merlot, 21% Sangiovese 11% Cabernet Franc and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon blended to create a beautiful wine combining brambly berry fruit flavours and acidity, lush tannins, savoury notes and spicy oak. The finish is oh, so long and well balanced with cherry, dried herbs, vanilla and pipe tobacco lingering.
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