Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2015 Oldfield Reserve Merlot - 91pts

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2015 Oldfield Reserve Merlot (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: (Not yet released) Direct from winery here
Cost: $28.99 + taxes (Est.)
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: January 26th, 2019

Tasting Notes: An engaging, full-bodied, Okanagan Merlot with layers of sweet blossoms, savoury cured meats, roasted chestnuts, brambly berries, vanilla and a touch of mint and the dusty, rustic-tannin palate and the floral-steeped nose. Spice and cocoa show on the moderate-plus finish.

Supports its 14.5% alcohol beautifully and at nearly 4 years of age, this wine is ready to go now with Tinhorn having done all of the bottle ageing on your behalf. Enjoy on its own or pair with a Blue Cheese topped Rib-eye steak. Drink now-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2017 Chardonnay - 89pts

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2017 Chardonnay (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $20.99
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 3022 cases
Date Tasted: January 25th, 2019
@TinhornCreek

Tasting Notes: The 2017 edition of this Black Sage Bench sourced Chardonnay is more subtle and a touch more elegant than recent releases with a lovely, stonefruit'n'mineral leading profile framed by plump, Tropical and orchard fruit aromas and flavours with brioche, honeycomb and canned peach notes. The oak treatment pokes its head up and says 'hi' on the moderate finish, in a polite, matter-of-fact way. Enjoy this Chardonnay on its own, with medium cheeses or with seafood pasta dishes. Drink now-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Domaines Ott 2016 Chateau De Salle - 92pts

Domaines Ott 2016 Chateau De Salle (Côtes De Provence) Rhone Valley - France

Availability: Private wine shops
Cost: $50-55 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: January 17th, 2019

Tasting Notes: Fineness and effortless balance drive this blend of 57% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 5% Mourvedre, 2% Syrah and 6% other regional grapes from the famed, and still family-run, Domaines Ott. The Chateau De Salle rosé, though muted and subtle on the strawberry skin and fresh pineapple scented nose, the dry-ish, lively palate is both vivid and restrained, which sounds like posh, mumbo-jumbo wine-ponce jargon, yet, once you take a sip, you'll know exactly what is meant; intensely satisfying and at the same time, harmoniously mellow. Finishes long with texture to spare. Drink now-2020. 
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Domaines Ott 2017 BY.OTT - 90pts

Domaines Ott 2017 BY.OTT (Côtes De Provence) Rhone Valley - France

Availability: Private wine shops
Cost: $30-35 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: January 16th, 2019

Tasting Notes: An elegant, understated, pale-pink hued blush that sits effortlessly in the mouth with a touch of tannin, a hint of RS and a kiss of effervescence. Well-balanced and decently complex, yet, leaves room to reach for the top-end, Château de Selle cuvée, should you want to take the experience up a notch. Look for both exotic and familiar, orchard fruit throughout and pair with just about anything. Drink now-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Château Cap De Faugeres 2015 Castillon Cotes De Bordeaux - 88pts

Château Cap De Faugeres 2015 (Castillon Cotes De Bordeaux) Bordeaux - France

Availability: Private wine shops
Cost: $35-40
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: January 16th, 2019

Tasting Notes: A rustic-ish Bordeaux with brambly berry fruit and raw spice'n'herbs on the licorice-tinged nose and the full-bodied, powerful palate where youthful, prickly tannins meets blood orange acidity and a touch of bitterness on the long, spicy finish. A (relatively speaking) inexpensive Bordeaux which announces its presence proudly. Drink now-2025.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Château Haut-Bergey 2016 Pessac-Leognan - 91pts

Château Haut-Bergey 2016 (Pessac-Léognan) Bordeaux - France

Availability: Private wine shops
Cost: $45-55
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: January 15th, 2019

Tasting Notes: This youthful, inky-purple wine offers an intense nose of both dark berry fruit and earthy, iron aromas. A generous, fruit-leading palate follows with good structure and mouthfeel, firm tannins and added notes of toasted oak. Needs several hours to open up, improving the balance between its masculine and feminine characteristics. Best to give this wine another 2-3 years to resolve this balance in bottle. Drink 2021-2026.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Domaine Rossignol-Trapet 2014 Bourgogne - 88pts

Domaine Rossignol-Trapet 2014 Bourgogne (Bourgogne AOC) Burgundy - France

Availability: Private wine shops
Cost: $35 est
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasted: January 14th, 2019

Tasting Notes: Opens with muted nose of both fruit and savoury notes (black cherry, mineral-y earth notes, spices and vanilla) followed by a bright, refreshing palate, layered with a slightly effervescent, medium bodied texture. Blended from multiple vineyards and sites in Burgundy and thus labeled with the more generic and entry-level designation of Burgundy AOC. Ready to go now with a long-ish palate. - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Pierre Lamolte 2014 Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes De Beaune - 85pts

Pierre Lamolte 2014 Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes De Beaune (Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes De Beaune AOC) Burgundy - France

Availability: Private wine shops
Cost: $25 est
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasted: January 13th, 2019

Tasting Notes: An effervescent, youthful Pinot Noir, despite its 5 years of age, with a rustic, earth'n'herbs nose and palate. A touch of tangy raspberry flavour and acidity lingers on the moderate, spice laden finish. Ready to go now. Drink 2019-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Bouchard Pere et Fils 2014 Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes De Beaune - 87pts

Bouchard Pere et Fils 2014 Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes De Beaune "Cuvee Les Versants" (Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes De Beaune AOC) Burgundy - France

Availability: Private wine shops
Cost: $25 est
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasted: January 12th, 2019

Tasting Notes: An entry-level Pinot Noir from a lesser Burgundy AOC with a fruit-to-savoury balance skewed firmly towards earthy-meaty thanks to layers of forrest floor, spice, minerals and herbs and just a touch of brambly red fruit on the nose and palate. Ready to go now. Drink now-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

J. Hauller et Fils 2007 Vendanges Tardives Riesling - 89pts

J. Hauller et Fils 2007 Vendanges Tardives Riesling (Alsace) France

Availability: Limited. Specialty import
Cost: N/A
Alcohol: 12.1%
Date Tasted: January 13th, 2019

Tasting Notes: From the cellar... At 12 years old, the hue of this late harvest Riesling is decidedly golden and the bouquet, though muted, is showing lovely signs of age: lanolin, beeswax and apricot pits. Off-dry, yet, mostly stonefruit driven, rather than the Mott's fruit cup appeal of other late harvest Rieslings. Unctuousness grows as the wine rests and lowers to room temperature. Finish has shortened, but, remains long. Ready to go now or hold for a further 3-4 years. Drink now.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca