Chateau Des Charmes 2016 Vidal Icewine (Niagara-On-The-Lake) Niagara Peninsula - Ontario
Availability: Direct from the winery here and LCBO stores
Cost: $27.95 (200ml)
Alcohol: 9.5%
Production: 3665 cases
Date Tasted: November 28th, 2018
Tasting Notes: Imagine the aromas and flavours of honey-drenched, canned apricots and melons and you'll be ready to sip this tasty Vidal ice wine from Niagara's Chateau Des Charmes. Unctuous, sweet and long, with a touch of citrus acidity mid-palate to add some balance to the custard-y texture. Drink now-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2017 Late-Harvest Optima (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $28.99 + taxes (375ml)
Alcohol: 10.5%
Production: 791 cases
Date Tasted: November 27th, 2018
Tasting Notes: Late harvest humidity created the perfect environment for the block of Optima to be afflicted with Noble Rot (botrytis) which severely dehydrates the grapes producing a super-concentrated, fruit cocktail and citrus flavoured, fully off-dry dessert wine with good acidity and a touch of light minerals and savoury nuts on the finish. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2016 Old Vines Foch (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $24.99
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 2809 cases
Date Tasted: November 27th, 2018
Tasting Notes: A consistently well-made and intense example of Foch with a unique combination of smokey dark fruit, exotic spices, wild berry acidity, astringent tannins and a touch of Kirsch liqueur on the spice-laced finish. Pair with venison or lean cuts of beef dressed in a spicy jus or sauce. Drink now-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Cassini Cellars 2014 The Godfather (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Contact the winery direct here
Cost: $80
Alcohol: 15%
Production: 145 cases
Date Tasted: November 24th, 2018
Tasting Notes: "The Godfather" is Cassini Cellars' Icon level wine to rival wines such as Mission Hill's Oculus and LaFrenz Winery's Grand Total, but is it their Flagship wine? In previous vintages, this wine took the form of a Bordeaux/Meritage blend, matching the style of its peers, an assumption that the sum is always greater than the parts. But for the 2014 release, Cassini has chosen to focus on one variety, Cabernet Sauvignon, which just happens to be the grape the Golden Mile Bench winery excels at, year-in, year-out.
With 2% Cabernet Franc blended in to enhance the feminine notes on the nose, the 2014 Godfather is bursting with a complex array of seductive aromatics, sweet, ripe fruit and savoury notes of the sweet, cured meet and steak spice. The palate is intense, yet, gentle with ultra-fine, ripe tannins and a flavour profile layered with dark and blue fruits, exotic spices and dried herbs and fruit, namely, dates, clove and anise.
Ready to go now at 4 years of age, or, hold for another 3-5 years. Drink now-2024.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Bench 1775 Winery 2015 Cabernet Franc Malbec (Okanagan Valley) BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $34.90 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: November 20th, 2018
@Bench1775
Tasting Notes: Another successful, unique blend from Bench 1775, this time a Cabernet Franc and Malbec concoction which marries juicy, blue and black fruit with savoury, smokey and spicy characters together on the potpourri-scented nose and the generous, full-bodied palate. Refined, mannered tannins linger with a plethora of mild, yet, persistent spices on the long finish. Sealed with a Stelvin cap and ready to go now. Drink now-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Bench 1775 Winery 2014 Merlot (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $29.90 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 1000 cases
Date Tasted: November 18th, 2018
@Bench1775
Tasting Notes: An aromatic and feminine, full-bodied Merlot with a creamy entry on the intense, long-lived palate where flavours of black currant and acai berries pair beautifully with coffee, spice and toasted oak notes. Finishes with waves of wild berry acidity and fine, dusty tannins which strips the creamy texture away leaving a lingering perception of charred spice and sweet pipe smoke.
After 4 years of age (12 months in French oak and 2+ years of bottle age) this Merlot is ready to go now and should hold for another few years if cellared appropriately. Drink now-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Stag's Hollow Winery 2016 Pinot Noir (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $21.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: November 17th, 2018
Tasting Notes: A medium-everything Pinot with even parts fruit and savoury on the black raspberry and spicy-earthy nose and on the rustic, yet, juicy, slightly 'hot' palate where red fruit and bright huckleberry flavours are complimented by layers of spice, leather, herbs and dusty rock notes.
Imagine a New Zealand Pinot Noir and a Gigondas Grenache blend having a baby and you'll be prepared for this unique wine. Ready to go now. Drink now-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Stag's Hollow Winery 2017 Albariño (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $18.99
Alcohol: 13.8%
Date Tasted: November 15th, 2018@Stagshollow
Tasting Notes: Still priced at under $20 and fulfilling that inner desire for something a little different, the Stag's Hollow Albariño is the wine you need tonight. A textural pleasure, this wine is both fleshy and firm with mouth-watering citrus and chubby melon characters coexisting beautifully. Sprinkle in some spice and exotic fruit notes and you have one complex, long-lasting white, perfect on its own or with your favourite white fish dish. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Stag's Hollow Winery 2016 Syrah (Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $25.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: November 15th, 2018
Tasting Notes: A feminine, single-vineyard Syrah, proudly aromatic and spicy, though, not without a solid layer of red and black berry fruits on the herb-encrusted nose and the plump, yet, mouth-watering palate. Not a powerhouse Syrah, like some of its Southern Okanagan cousins, but nothing out of place and very food-friendly. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Rust Wine Co. 2016 Syrah (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $37 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.9%
Date Tasted: November 14th, 2018
Tasting Notes: This youthful Syrah shows excellent potential for further evolution in the bottle with a lovely combination of both masculine and feminine characters on the seductive nose and the layered'n'long, mouth-watering palate. Look for complimentary aromas and flavours of brooding black cherry, salty tapenade, rosemary, violets, potpourri and black raspberry. Ready to go now with a long decant, but best to wait another 18 months for further integration and development. Drink 2020-2024.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2016 Merlot (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $25.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: November 14th, 2018
Tasting Notes: A lively, bright Merlot, upon first sip, that blooms on the palate to reveal layers of red and blue fruit and savoury notes of worn leather, cigar box and spice just as the nose reveals added dimension when the wine is afforded time in the glass to breath.
A fine pairing for saucy BBQ dishes or even lean, simply seasoned cuts of beef with fine tannins and a full-ish body to match the weight of the meat and compliment iron notes. Ready to go now, though, decanting of several hours is recommended. Drink now-2022.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Bench 1775 Winery 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah (Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $29 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.8%
Production: 550 cases
Date Tasted: November 10th, 2018
@Bench1775
Tasting Notes: A blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46.5% Syrah (with a 5.5% addition of Merlot) sourced from the Osoyoos area and producing port-like intensity on the nose with pruney blue fruits, molasses and caramel aromas. The dusty-tannin palate is more savoury, with less intense dark fruits supported by layers of black pepper, clove, vanilla and toasted oak. Finishes long and dry with a touch of smoke lingering.
Sealed with a Stelvin cap and ready to go now. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Cassini Cellars 2015 Maximus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $40 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 14.7%
Production: 550 cases
Date Tasted: November 10th, 2018
Tasting Notes: Another stellar vintage for Cassini's Maximus which sees 56% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 28% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec to produce a brooding wine with intense dark fruit and layers of savoury notes on the nose and palate. Look for ripe cassis and wild blackberry elements harmoniously integrated with oak spice, light menthol, All Sorts licorice, vanilla and fine, grippy tannins. Wild berry acidity keeps the long finish lively and your mouth wanting more.
Excellent today, with plenty of decanting, but best to wait another 1-2 years for the wine to develop further. Drink 2020-2025.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Bench 1775 Winery 2017 Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $25.90
Alcohol: 13.3%
Date Tasted: November 8th, 2018
@Bench1775
Tasting Notes: The new Estate Sauvignon Blanc label is 100% sourced from the winery's Naramata Bench vineyard and meticulously vinified in 5 separate lots (2 of which were aged in oak) prior to blending. Care and attention only rarely awarded to Sauv Blanc in BC.
This new release leans more towards the Loire Valley in profile when compared to the multi-site blends of previous vintages. Less pungency and more laser-focused fruit and minerality, though, a touch of exotic fruit shows on the otherwise, stonefruit and citrusy-peach flavoured finish. Enjoy on its own or as a confident companion to seafood dishes. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Okanagan Valley) BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $34.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 3000 cases
Date Tasted: November 8th, 2018
Tasting Notes: Most of the fruit for this cool-climate Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the winery's estate in West Kelowna with additional fruit from the Black Sage Bench producing a robust, masculine wine with classic, cassis and oak influence aromas and flavours complimented by notes of worn leather and dry herbs.
This isn't a tannin-heavy Cab, relying more on depth and length to impress. Should pair beautifully with leaner cuts of beef like a rare steak of filet mignon thanks to a touch of iodine on the spicy, slightly-greenish finish. Ready to go now or hold for a few more years. Drink now-2022.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
JoieFarm 2017 Chic Fille Pinot Blanc (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $30.35 + taxes
Alcohol: 11%
Production: 45 cases
Date Tasted: November 4th, 2018
Tasting Notes: 'Chic Fille' is a new side label from JoieFarm's proprietor and winemaker, Heidi Noble, with a goal to make fun wines using experimental techniques. The 2nd release under this label is a golden hued, herbaceous and dry Pinot Blanc with a savoury, salty-mineral-citrus flavour profile and loads of texture. What it doesn't have is a sense of whimsy or effortless consumption due to a lack of ripe'n'round orchard fruit and too much astringency. Drink now-2019.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
Black Hills Estate Winery 2016 Syrah (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $39.90 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.9%
Date Tasted: November 1st, 2018
Tasting Notes: A dark and brooding Syrah, in its youth, with concentrated aromas of black cherry, peppercorn, tobacco leaf, mint, tar, oak spice and a hint of violets which should develop more prominently as it ages (as previous vintages have done). Palate is both juicy and dense with black and blue fruits complimented nicely by savoury notes, smoky, moderate tannins and waves of pepper, clove and tangy acidity.
Needs another 2-3 years in bottle to blossom. Drink 2020-2025.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca
