Fairview Cellars 2017 Gruner Veltliner - 89pts

Fairview Cellars 2017 Gruner Veltliner (McIntyre Bluff) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $22 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 11.3%
Date Tasted: October 30th, 2018
@FairviewCellars

Tasting Notes: With so few plantings of Gruner Veltliner in BC there isn't much to use by way of comparison for Fairview Cellars' second commercial vintage of the Germanic variety which hails from their Eagle Bluff vineyard towards the McIntyre Bluff in the Southern Okanagan Valley. As Gruner is predominantly grown in Austria and very little of that is exported to Canada, you'll be forgiven if you've never tried it before. 

Should you take a flyer on Fairview's Gruner you'll find a seafood and salad-friendly wine (Thai salad rolls anyone?) with a profile of citrus, pepper, celery root and lentils, yes, lentils (and in a good way). The palate has a touch of raw honey weight and taste, especially on the, otherwise, long, mouthwatering finish. Ready to go now. Drink 2018-2020. 
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2016 Old Vines Foch Reserve - 91pts

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2016 Old Vines Foch Reserve (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $46.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 1424 cases
Date Tasted: October 30th, 2018

Tasting Notes: I'm not sure your nose will ever come across a more intriguing and seductive wine than the Quails' Gate Old Vines Foch with its unique combination of smoky Kirsch liqueur, aromatic potpourri, blackberry and Christmas cake aromas. This Foch is less intense on its medium-plus bodied palate, a perception somewhat skewed by comparison to the enormity of its gorgeous bouquet, yet, there is a palatable vibrancy thanks to pomegranate and dark cherry flavours and acidity. 

Recommended as a fun alternative to accompany Pinot Noir-friendly dishes like game and meaty stews. Drink now-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Fairview Cellars 2016 Two Hoots - 89+pts

Fairview Cellars 2016 Two Hoots (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Contact winery directly here
Cost: $24.90 
Alcohol: 14.7%
Production: 600 cases
Date Tasted: October 28th, 2018

Tasting Notes: A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc sourced from Southern Okanagan Valley vineyards producing a dark fruit dominant wine with good structure, meaty tannins and tangy, wild berry acidity. There's a touch of residual sugar on the juicy palate, where you'll find some added savoury notes playing a supporting role: licorice, tar and oak spice.

Ready to go now, while you wait for your Fairview Premier Series wines to mature, or hold for another 3-4 years for some further development. Drink 2019-2023.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Dominio Del Plata 2016 BenMarco Malbec - 89pts

Dominio Del Plata 2016 BenMarco Malbec (Valle De Uco) Mendoza - Argentina

Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $18.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: October 26th, 2018

Tasting Notes: A very intense and concentrated Malbec from the Valle De Uco in the Mendoza. Fruit forward, though, with a decidedly acidic direction from the balsamic vinegar notes on the, otherwise, fruity/floral nose, through to the bright blackberry and apple cider flavours on the, otherwise, pepper'n'spice palate. Tannins are light and dominated by the fluidity created by the tangy texture and long-ish finish where nice, savoury spice notes linger. Ready to go now. Drink 2018-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Rust Wine Co. 2016 Cabernet Franc - 87pts

Rust Wine Co. 2016 Cabernet Franc (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here 
Cost: $25 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.2%
Date Tasted: October 20th, 2018

Tasting Notes: A rustic, fruit-forward Cabernet Franc with brambly, wild berry aromas and flavours supported by gritty spice and tannins, added depth from oak exposure (13 months, 20% new) and finishing with a kick of feral acidity and lingering, smoky spicebox. Sealed with a Stelvin cap enclosure to corral the fresh character of this well-price Franc. Ready to go now. Drink 2018-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards 2015 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir - 87pts

Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards 2015 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) Sonoma County - California

Availability: BCLDB 
Cost: $24-27 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: October 19th, 2018

Tasting Notes: Opens with a nice combination of red fruit, minerals and toasted oak aromas on the medium intense nose. A medium-everything, dry palate follows with a similar flavour profile and with added cedar chips, spice and forest floor/earthy notes through to the short-ish finish. Fine, smooth but not terribly refined. Drink now-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Rust Wine Co. 2014 Zinfandel - 91pts

Rust Wine Co. 2014 Zinfandel (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here 
Cost: $35 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.9%
Date Tasted: October 19th, 2018

Tasting Notes: Zinfandel doesn't always work in BC, the vintage conditions and handling of the variety in the vineyard have to be just right, but when it does work, its memorable and worth seeking out, like this full-throttle 2014 edition from Rust Wine Co. Big and bold, despite its medium body and tannin structure, with intense, exotic spice, sweet pipe tobacco and red fruit aromas and flavours on the spill-out-of-the-glass nose and the mouth-watering palate. Not for the faint of heart (though, ready to go now). Drink 2020-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

JoieFarm 2016 "En Famille" Reserve Pinot Noir - 92pts

JoieFarm 2016 "En Famille" Reserve Pinot Noir (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $34.70 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.4%
Date Tasted: October 19th, 2018

Tasting Notes: An intense Pinot Noir, in terms of complexity and power on the spiced-raspberry nose and the smoked, dark chocolate'n'cherry palate, not in terms of over-reduction or weight. The finish is long and elegant with savoury oak and a touch of forest floor notes making this beauty a great match for game or lean meats like Venison.

Certainly a stand-out BC Pinot for the 2016 vintage to be enjoyed today or over the next 3-4 years. Drink 2019-2023.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Rust Wine Co. 2016 Merlot - 89-90pts

Rust Wine Co. 2016 Merlot (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here 
Cost: $35 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: October 16th, 2018

Tasting Notes: A very spicy Merlot starting with a quiet, vanilla and blackberry-kissed nose followed by a gregarious, spice box palate bursting at the seems with tangy black cherry, white pepper, clove, vanilla and smoky cinnamon flavours. A Syrah-like profile, yet, structured with medium tannins and a juicy/fleshy texture that's classic BC Merlot. Finishes long, holding its spice through to the next sip.

Sealed with a cork under a wax-dipped top, so make sure you're careful with your corkscrew knife as you open it. Give this spiced-up Merlot another year or two in bottle to further integrate. Drink 2020-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2014 Winemaker's Reserve Summit - 89pts

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2014 Winemaker's Reserve Summit - BC VQA

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $50 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.9%
Date Tasted: October 14th, 2018

Tasting Notes: A blend of 43% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec and 3% Syrah, the Summit is a big, bold, showy wine sold in a ginormous, heavy glass bottle designed to sit prominently on the dinner table. What's inside the bottle mostly lives up to the impressive packaging with a complex array of both feminine and masculine aromas and flavours ranging from delicate, crushed violets and sweet berries on the nose to dark and brooding, cassis and toasted oak flavours on the rich, medium-plus bodied palate. 

The spicy finish is moderately long and the tannins have mellowed making leaner cuts of beef like filet mignon the right way to go with this food-friendly blend. Ready to go now. Drink 2018-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca 

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2016 Merlot - 88pts

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2016 Merlot - BC VQA

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $24.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.4%
Date Tasted: October 10th, 2018

Tasting Notes: A nice blend of grapes from Southern Okanagan and Similkameen Valley vineyards are sourced for this over-delivering, mid-range Merlot from Mt. Boucherie which combines both savoury and fruit elements nicely. Look for an array of aromas and flavours from exotic pipe smoke to spiced cherry. Ready to go now. Drink 2018-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca 

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon - 90pts

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Sold out at the winery. Website here
Cost: $33-35
Alcohol: 14.7%
Date Tasted: October 9th, 2018
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: Always intense and dense, no matter the vintage conditions, the Burrowing Owl Cabernet Sauvignon informs its consumer of the season's sunlight-rain-heat ratios through its flavour profile which can range from sagey-greeness in cooler years to a dark fruit purée in hotter years. The well-balanced, ready-in-its-youth 2015 edition falls somewhere comfortably in the middle of that spectrum with a blend of wild herbs, dark fruit, capsicum, mocha and mint aromas and flavours.

Ready to go now or hold for another 3-4 years for some continued development. Drink 2018-2022+.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca