Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2017 Pinot Gris (Okanagan Valley) BC
Availability: Direct from winery here, BCLDB and VQA stores
Cost: $18.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.5%
Production: 8700 cases
Date Tasted: June 28th, 2018
@TinhornCreek
Tasting Notes: The Tinhorn Creek Pinot Gris returns to form for the 2017 vintage featuring a near effortless balance of crisp apple and mineral-y citrus notes with more pungent aromas of ripe Tropical fruits. The palate offers a similar contrast with the textures of these fruits playing off one another elegantly, creating a complex mouthfeel, both vibrant and plump, like a perfectly ripe slice of honeydew melon. Baked lemon lingers on the moderate finish. Ready to go now. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2015 Oldfield Reserve Cabernet Franc (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $31.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 784 cases
Date Tasted: June 28th, 2018
Tasting Notes: Another stellar vintage for Cabernet Franc, handled with precision and care by Tinhorn Creek who have helped elevate the prestige of the less-planted Cab in the Okanagan Valley. This reserve Franc spends a year in oak before being blended with 15% Merlot sourced from the same Diamond Back Vineyard along the Black Sage Bench, then it's returned to barrel for another 6 months prior to bottling.
Absolutely seductive on the sweet herbs'n'spice and dark berry scented nose. A dry palate follows with a similar flavour profile, enhanced by cocoa and anise notes and boasting the unique ability to taste both smooth and vibrant with grippy tannins, lifted acidity and a long, silky finish where spice and a touch of blood orange lingers. Ready to go now. Drink 2018-2023.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2017 Gewurztraminer (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: (Upon release) Direct from winery here, BCLDB and VQA stores
Cost: $17.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: June 26th, 2018
Tasting Notes: Expressive and playful on the nose with aromas of lychee, minerals, kiwi skins, apricots and honey crisp apples. Plumpy palate is a bit 'hot' with alcohol notes on the fruit-forward entry and long, spiced and citrus-kissed finish. Drink now-2019.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Fairview 2016 Goats Do Roam (W.O. Western Cape) South Africa
Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $15.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: June 16th, 2018
Tasting Notes: This blend of 66% Shiraz, 20% Mouvedre, 8% Grenache, 5% Carignan and 1% Petite Sirah opens with a beautiful nose of ripe berries, dark cherries, incense, iron, Christmas spice, rhubarb and nut aromas. This is followed by a smooth-tannin, slightly 'hot' palate with a hint of sweetness beneath the concentrated red fruit, smokey oak and spice flavours. Spice and a touch of bitter, charred oak notes linger on the moderate finish. Ready to go now. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Black Hills Estate Winery 2016 Cellar Hand Red (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores and direct from the winery here
Cost: $24.90 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.2%
Date Tasted: June 13th, 2018
@blackhillswine
Tasting Notes: Sure to be a crowd pleaser at your next dinner party, this blend of 67% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Carmenere and 6% Syrah is a social-friendly wine with ripe, red and dark berry notes on the engaging nose and the slightly off-dry palate and warmed by nicely integrated layers of spice, alcohol and soft, silky tannins.
A drink-now vintage of the Baby Bene. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
The Grape Grinder 2016 Blue Moose (W.O Swartland) South Africa
Availability: Private wine stores
Cost: $13.99 +taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: June 8th, 2018
Tasting Notes: A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz from Swartland vineyards, the Blue Moose combines ripe berry fruit aromas and flavours with touches of rustic earthy notes, spice and oak. A solid combination, though, finished with too much residual sugar and short on length. Drink now-2019.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Black Hills Estate Winery 2016 Carmenere (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Limited. Wine club members only. Details here
Cost: $59.90 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.1%
Date Tasted: June 7th, 2018
@blackhillswine
Tasting Notes: Carmenere, in the hands of Black Hills, is consistently an intriguing mix of perfumed femininity and earthy masculinity. The nose and palate appear, simultaneously, both at odds with one another and intuitively linear. There is a rawness and power to the spicy, earthy palate and a seductive, femme fetale quality to the sweet berries'n'veg scented nose. You wouldn't expect the combination to work, but it does and this unlikely pairing is one of the reasons this wine is so beloved by the winery's wine club members (the wine's sole patrons). Ready to go now or hold for 2-3 mores years. Drink 2018-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Black Hills Estate Winery 2016 Roussanne (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $29.90 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.9%
Date Tasted: June 6th, 2018
@blackhillswine
Tasting Notes: A textural experience, this youthful Roussanne weaves layers of tangy citrus, prickly ginger and plump stone fruit together with a flood of mannered spice into an intriguing, dry, Summer sipper with a well-balanced, though, slightly short finish. Ready to go now. Drink 2018-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Black Hills Estate Winery 2017 Alibi (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and select VQA and private wine stores
Cost: $24.90 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: June 4th, 2018
@blackhillswine
Tasting Notes: Now in its 15th year, Black Hill's Alibi is ever changing, adapting to the vintage conditions, with the 2017 producing a leaner, crisper blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon (an 80/20 split) with plenty of texture and aromatic fruit on the grassy, stone fruit infused nose and on the zesty/lemony, dry'n'mineral-y palate. Pair with seafood and citrus-y salads and avoid rich, spicy dishes like Pad Thai. Drink now-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Black Hills Estate Winery 2017 Rosé (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $26.90 + taxes
Alcohol: 12%
Date Tasted: May 31st, 2018
Tasting Notes: Following the success of their first rosé in 2016, Black Hills' 2nd vintage is even better and now more readily available. Both perfumed and fruity on the nose with a susurrus of sweet and tangy pink grapefruit notes supporting.
Using the saignée method, this 100% Pinot Noir blush gets enough skin contact to acquire enhanced textural layers of grape flesh and tannins with some body coming from a pinch of residual sugar. This complex structure compliments the strawberry-citrus and rhubarb-herb profile nicely. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
