Rolland Galarreta 2010 Tempranillo (Rioja DO) Spain
Availability: Limited.Cost: $35-45 + taxesAlcohol: 14%Date Tasted: September 30th, 2017Tasting Notes: From the cellar: A co-production from uber-Bordeaux consultant Michel Rolland and Rioja royalty Javier Galarreta, this is a big, maturing, tannin-drenched wine made from 100% Tempranillo grapes, offering concentrated, red and dark fruit with layers of scorched earth, leather, vanilla, light bacon grease and a plethora of spices on the nose and palate.
At 7 years of age, this wine is ready to go now, though, I'm inclined to let the remaining bottle age until 2020 to see how further ageing affects the still prominent tannins. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
Bench 1775 Winery 2016 Sauvignon Blanc (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Wine club only. Direct from the winery here
Cost: $24.90
Alcohol: 13.6%
Production: 1100 cases
Date Tasted: September 30th, 2017
@Bench1775
Tasting Notes: Hardly anyone handles Sauvignon Blanc as well as Bench 1775 - a true flagship variety for the Naramata Bench winery. Though there are echos of the Loire Valley and Marlborough, this is wholly BC Sauv Blanc with layers of pungent berries, straw, citrus fruit and ripe'n'crisp orchard fruit. The well-balanced finish is tangy and refreshing with stonefruit, light spice and lingering citrus peel notes. To be enjoyed on its own or as a confident companion to seafood dishes. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2015 Cabernet Franc (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here, BCLDB and VQA stores
Cost: $21.99
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 2270 cases
Date Tasted: September 29th, 2017
Tasting Notes: A delightful wine and perfect for when you're in the mood for something a little different. Bored with one-note, berry-rich Merlot? Tired of the predictability of tight tannin Cabernet Sauvignon? Unsure of the peppery-power of Syrah? Then give Cabernet Franc a try - especially, a BC Franc. And if I've convinced you thus far, why not try the wine that helped put BC Cabernet Franc on the map?
Pungent, aromatic and brooding are my favourite three words for this wine. Full of dark berry fruit, intense earthy-herbs and meaty-metallic aromas and flavours with plenty of mellow spice and feminine touches like candied fruit, mocha and floral notes. Enjoy now or over the next 3-4 years with some further development possible. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
Michel Torino 2014 Don David Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Calchaqui Valley) Argentina
Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $14.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: September 28th, 2017
Tasting Notes: Though the price for this budget Cab has gone up $1 over the past year, this is still a stinking good deal for what's in the bottle. Yes, it's a mass-produced wine from the New World with a pretty boring, easy-to-miss label, but, it's also made from grapes sourced from a single region and packed with intense, yet, never cooked, dark fruit flavours and plenty of spicy-smoky notes that add impressive complexity.
Residual sweetness is slightly scaled back from last year's vintage, a pleasant change. Fresh berry acidity and dusty tannins frame the moderate, well-balanced finish. Drink now-2019.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
River Stone Estate Winery 2016 Sauvignon Blanc (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $19.90 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 13.2%
Production: 240 cases
Date Tasted: September 27th, 2017
@drinkriverstone
Tasting Notes: A refreshing, stainless steel fermented Sauvignon Blanc with plenty of character, texture and good varietal typicity. Tropical, melon and citrus fruit combine nicely on the pleasantly pungent nose and slightly off-dry palate. A fabulous way to spend $20. Drink now-2019.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
Pascual Toso 2015 Malbec (Maipú District) Mendoza - Argentina
Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $13.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: September 26th, 2017
Tasting Notes: So consistent and so well priced, the Pascual Toso Malbec is ripe'n'tangy without tasting overdone or too sweet - like too many other wines do at this price-point. Though not overly complex, there is still plenty of dark berry fruit and spice characters to pick-out on the well balanced nose and palate, as well as, hints of earth, licorice and oak notes which linger on the moderate finish. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
Calliope Wines 2016 Sauvignon Blanc - BC VQA
Availability: Direct from the winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $15-17 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: September 24th, 2017
Tasting Notes: A pleasant, straight-forward Sauvignon Blanc with tangy green apple, hay and under-ripe apricot aromas on the nose and with raw citrus and tropical fruit acidity on the lemony-apple infused, lightly spiced, medium-bodied palate. Finish is moderate, well-balanced and refreshing - just as a Sauv Blanc should be. Drink now-2015.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
LaStella 2014 Espressivo (Okanagan Valley) BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $39.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 123 cases
Date Tasted: September 24th, 2017
@LaStellaWinery
Tasting Notes: A new, Super Tuscan inspired wine from LaStella with Cabernet Franc leading the way at 55% of the final blend with the balance consisting of 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Sangiovese, all sourced from multiple Southern Okanagan sub-regions. Offers a feminine-earthy profile, on the herbaceous, floral and brambly berry nose and on the medium-bodied, concentrated palate graced with vanilla'n'spice-kissed berry flavours and framed by mouth-watering, yet, effortless acidity and engaging, yet, refined tannins.
Ready to go now and should hold for many years. Further development is possible, however, the wine is showing beautifully now, so why wait? Drink now-2022+.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
On a side note: In the Summer of "Despacito", I'd much rather be drinking...
Es-spres-si-vo,
Choose to cellar if you want, that's nitto,
Or open one and serve it with beef-o,
Just don't invite me over when it's finito
Es-spres-si-vo!
Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards 2014 Chalk Hill Chardonnay (Sonoma County) California - USA
Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $27.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: September 11th, 2017
Tasting Notes: A wonderfully balanced Chardonnay with a solid mineral backbone on the joyful, sweetly-comforting, baked aroma scented nose and the refreshing, orchard and citrus fruit infused, full-bodied, oak-kissed palate. Finish is moderate-plus with some lingering spice, lemon peel and 'hot' alcohol notes. Drink now-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay (Sonoma County) California - USA
Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $22.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: September 10th, 2017
Tasting Notes: Though only 60% barrel fermented for 6 months, there is plenty of oak and malolactic fermentation influence at work in this blend of Chardonnay from numerous Sonoma County vineyards. Sweet nut and buttery notes grace the apple, pear and baked citrus scented nose with a lengthy, round'yet'vivacious palate following with similar flavours and slightly sharp, citrus peel acidity. Lees and spice linger with citrus notes on the finish. Drink now-2017.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars 2016 Sauvignon Blanc (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and private wine shops
Cost: $18.90
Alcohol: 11.5%
Date Tasted: September 8th, 2017
Tasting Notes: Tart and refreshing with citrus and stone fruit galore on the blossom and grass scented nose and the dry, mouth-watering, leesy palate. The 11.5% residual alcohol is pleasantly low while hints of spice and minerals add some complexity. Always one of the Province's best Sauv Blanc. Pair with Scallops or Oysters and enjoy this wine in its youth or over the next few years. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
Liquidity Wines 2015 Pinot Noir (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $26 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.7%
Production:1190 cases
Date Tasted: September 7th, 2017
Tasting Notes: A ripe and round bouquet of black raspberry, sweet cherry and light spice aromas greets you on the nose of this aromatic, Okanagan Falls Pinot Noir. A medium-plus bodied palate follows with similar flavours, brambly berry acidity and lingering spices and cola notes on the moderate finish. A solid, approachable Pinot. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
River Stone Estate Winery 2015 Cabernet Franc (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Sold out. Direct from winery here
Cost: $27.90 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 14.2%
Production: 153 cases
Date Tasted: September 2nd, 2017
@drinkriverstone
Tasting Notes: A herbaceous and woody Cabernet Franc, smelling and tasting of brambly berries, spicy herbs and evergreen needles. Youthful and tight, allow this Franc to age in your cellar to mellow the sour fruit and pine cone characters which dominate the profile today. A more balanced future awaits for this full-bodied and complex wine. Look for light menthol, vanilla and sweek oak flavours to emerge after 2 years. Drink 2019-2022.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2014 Oldfield Reserve Syrah (Okanagan Valley) BC
Availability: Not yet released. Direct from winery here
Cost: $31.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%Production: 859 cases
Date Tasted: September 4th, 2017
@TinhornCreek
Tasting Notes: A powerful, masculine expression of Syrah with oodles of rustic pepper and Chai spices; cloves, cinnamon bark and cardamon. Black cherry plays a supporting role on both the intense, Northern Rhone-ish nose and the dry, raw-tannin palate where layers of savoury flavours like coffee grinds, licorice and vanilla linger through to a long, spicy finish. Would benefit from one more year in bottle prior to opening. Drink 2018-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
Black Hills Estate Winery 2015 Chardonnay (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here, select VQA and private stores.
Cost: $30 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.8%
Date Tasted: September 4th, 2017
Tasting Notes: All of the elements of a classic, oaked BC Chardonnay are present, vibrant orchard fruit with undertones of vanilla, spice and oak, though, the integration of each component has yet to truly gel. Once it does, this will be a vivacious wine with layers of ripe fruit, refreshing acidity, spice and minerals. Drink 2018-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
Fort Berens Estate Winery 2016 Chardonnay - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $18.99
Alcohol: 14.1%
Production: 1400 cases
Date Tasted: September 2nd, 2017
Tasting Notes: A partially oaked (30%), multi-regional Chardonnay combining fruit from the home estate in Lillouet with smaller lots of Okanagan and Similkameen grapes, producing a vibrant, mouth-watering wine with edgy, refreshing Tropical and raw orchard fruit aromas and flavours with citrus vitality and a hint of oak in the background. Mineral notes and kiss of spice linger on the tangy, moderate finish. Drink 2017-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
