Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2017 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $39.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: approx 1100 cases
Date Tasted: March 31st, 2019
Tasting Notes: Oh so elegant and smooth, this French oak kissed Chardonnay is both rich and focused with a full-ish body, juicy peach and nectarine aromas and flavours supported by concentrated minerality on the nose and palate which elevate the balance and structure. A long-lasting finish offers lingering citrus zest, signature macadamia nuts and a hint of exotic spices.
A versatile Chardonnay that will pair with classic, white pasta and seafood dishes, hard cheeses and be comfortably served alone. Ready to go now or hold for further development over the next 3-4 years. Drink 2019-2024.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca
Bodegas Escorihuela 2017 '1884' Malbec (Mendoza) Argentina
Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $17.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: July 23rd, 2018
Date Re-Tasted: March 31st, 2019
Tasting Notes: Keeps to the house style of a feminine and spicy Malbec with concentrated, blue fruit and sweet pipe tobacco characters and smoky tannins, yet the mouthfeel is slightly watered-down for the 2017 vintage which tends to heighten the spiciness without enough body to fully even the overall balance. Still, for the price, we're nitpicking here and this Malbec offers excellent value. Drink now-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca
Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2017 Chardonnay (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $22.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 10,600 cases
Date Tasted: March 28th, 2019
Tasting Notes: An elegant, cool-climate Chardonnay with integrated mineral and stonefruit aromas and flavours supporting the clean, crisp, apple and pear fruit on the lemon scone-scented nose and the well balanced, citrus-leaning palate. Oh so drinkable and well-priced for the under $25 market. Drink now-2022.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca
Stag's Hollow Winery 2018 Syrah Rosé (Okanagan Valley) BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $21.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.3%
Date Tasted: March 26th, 2019
Tasting Notes: The Stag's Hollow rosé is a blend of two lots of Syrah, one grown specifically for this blush, crushed and then allowed only minimal skin contact and another lot used in the production of the winery's Syrah label, blended with Viognier then bled in the traditional saignée method to drain off lightly tinted juice.
The result of all of this effort is a beautifully delicate, yet, expressive rosé with a hint of residual sugar nicely balanced by fresh, but never overwhelming acid. Flavour profile will remind you of Provence with lifted, red fruit, a touch of minerals and a supporting, savoury backbone. Finish is a tad short compared to previous, stellar years - more of a reflection of their high standards. Drink now-2019.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca
Black Hills Estate Winery 2017 Pinot Noir (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Wine club exclusive. See winery for details here
Cost: $39.90 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: March 27th, 2019
Tasting Notes: A new edition to the portfolio, this playful, rounded Pinot Noir is exclusive to wine club members and sourced from Naramata Bench vineyards offering a youthful nose of black cherry ice cream and raspberry seed aromas followed by a smooth, medium-bodied palate where some classic, earthy Pinot characters support its red fruit components. A touch of toasted herbs notes linger on the moderate finish. Drink 2019-2022.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca
Achaval Ferrer Winery 2017 Malbec (Mendoza) Argentina
Availability: Private wine stores like Everything Wine
Cost: $34.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: March 23rd, 2019
Tasting Notes: This is an uber extracted, smokey, seductress of a Malbec with an intense, aromatic, black fruit'n'incense scented nose and an equally intense, chewy palate with rounded tannins, dense, dark fruit, smokey spices and bright, fresh blackberry acidity. A fantastic wine for BBQ meats or dark chocolate. Drink 2019-2025.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca
Mascota Vineyards 2015 Unanime (Maipú District) Mendoza - Argentina
Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $28.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: March 22nd, 2019
Tasting Notes: A hedonistic blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec and 15% Cabernet Franc, the Unanime shows lively, dark and red fruit aromas on the fruit-forward, expressive nose with notes of vanilla, sweet incense smoke and herbs in the background.
The palate that follows is equally fruit-forward with concentrated mixed berry fruit suggesting off-dry levels of residual sugar, yet, the wine is (mostly) dry with a wave of savoury goodness enveloping the fruit mid-palate and through to the long, smoke'n'spice flavoured finish.
At four years of age, this tasty blend is ready to g now. Drink 2019-2022.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca
Michel Torino 2018 Cuma Organic Torrontés (Cafayate Valley) Salta - Argentina
Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $13.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: March 20th, 2019
Tasting Notes: A pleasant, crisp and clean Torrontés with a floral and pear scented nose followed by a dry, citrus and Tropical fruit themed palate. Nothing out of place or overdone. Touch of spice on the tangy, moderate finish. Ready to go now, in its youth. Drink 2019-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca
Poplar Grove Winery 2017 Pinot Gris (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and BCLDB stores
Cost: $18.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.2%
Date Tasted: March 12th, 2019
Tasting Notes: A refreshing and crisp, though, somewhat light-weight Pinot Gris with a concentrated, Sauvignon Blanc-ish nose followed by a thin, short-lived palate with some nice pear and citrus fruit flavours and acidity, but not quite enough. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca
Black Hills Estate Winery 2017 Addendum (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Wine club exclusive. See winery for details here
Cost: $49.90 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: March 12th, 2019
Tasting Notes: Black Hills new Addendum is its Right Bank inspired, Merlot-dominant cousin to their flagship, and Left Bank influenced, Nota Bene. Dark and broody with an inky-black, violet core and a masculine-leaning profile of black cherry, cassis, mint, dark chocolate, herbs and French vanilla. Full bodied and concentrated with fine, medium tannins, good acidity and decent length. Ready to go now. Drink 2019-2022.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2015 The Creek (Okanagan Valley) BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $55 +taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 1474 cases
Date Tasted: March 7th, 2019
@TinhornCreek
Tasting Notes: Tinhorn's entry into the Icon Wine market, The Creek, will see its 2nd vintage of this Left Bank inspired, New World Meritage released this year. The 2015 edition is a gorgeous and beautifully layered blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 7% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot.
Opening with a perfumed nose of sun-warmed cherries, potpourri, sweet and savoury spices, blueberry compote, hazelnuts and vanilla, this charming, age-worthy wine offers good continuity of flavours with fine, lightly-smoked tannins and tangy, blackberry acidity framing the full-bodied, long-lasting palate. Simply delicious.
This wine will develop further over the next 2-3 years, however, if you can't wait that long, enjoy a bottle now, but not too quickly as this beauty changes in the glass throughout the night. Drink 2019-2023.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca
SpearHead Winery 2017 Club Consensus Pinot Noir (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Club members only. Winery website here
Cost: $25
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 100 cases
Date Tasted: March 4th, 2019
@spearheadwinery
Tasting Notes: As the story goes, SpearHead invited its wine club members to participate in a blending session for a club-only Pinot label, selecting from barrels of different Pinot clones from the winery's two primary vineyards; their home vineyard in East Kelowna and the Golden Retreat Vineyard in Summerland.
Percentages of the 667, 777 and 828 clones selected for the finale blend have been withheld, but tasting the finished product, the consensus was, seemingly, to construct a vibrant, yet, approachable, red fruit and floral scented Pinot with front-loaded weight on the palate and a clean, crisp finish. Ready to go now. Drink now-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca
Carpineto 2013 Riserva (Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano DOCG) Tuscany - Italy
Availability: Private wine stores
Cost: $45-50
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: March 2nd, 2019
Tasting Notes: This is the ultimate steak wine. Now, if you are not steak (or meat of any kind) inclined than you might consider imagining a beautifully grilled, olive-oil kissed, portobello mushroom as you proceed with this review;)
What is pepper to salt? What is charred carbon to grease? Perfect companions? Brothers in arms? If the battle is to win 'taste', than let me put forth my twin-headed champion: the Carpineto Riserva and a lean, mean, beef tenderloin machine.
The silky-smooth, Sangiovese blend, Carpineto is well-suited to grilled foods of all kinds with a balanced and complex profile which perfectly marries its red fruit and floral characters with layers of spice, worn leather and prominent iron notes like it had once been used to quench a burning blade of steel. Already 6 years of age, yet, still years from peaking with further development very likely. Drink now-2023.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2016 Syrah (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Not yet released. Direct from the winery here
Cost: TBA
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: March 2nd, 2019
Tasting Notes: An intense and ripe, dark and red fruit driven Syrah with prominent spice notes on the New World fashioned profile with added layers of sun-dried earth, blood orange, mint, toasted oak and vanilla. With time in the glass to open up, a susurus of cola and chocolate aromas show on the developing nose and cigar box and black pepper flavours linger on the long finish.
Could improve with further time in the cellar, but, ready to go now and through the next 5-6 years. Drink 2019-2024.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca
