River Stone Estate Winery 2016 Corner Stone - 91+pts

River Stone Estate Winery 2016 Corner Stone (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here

Cost: $36.89

Alcohol: 14%

Date Tasted: August 18th, 2019

Tasting Notes: A Right Bank inspired composition of 42% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot showcases Oliver-grown fruit in a beautiful way with a harmonious blend of ripe, dark fruit, minty-goodness, light oak, vanilla, savoury herbs and feminine notes of flowers and incense. Mannered, berry acidity lingers with the herbs and light spice on the finish with just a hint of blood orange citrus. Ready to go now, but library releases of older vintages have shown this wine to develop as it matures. Just don't wait too long. Drink 2019-2024.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Winemaker's Cut 2018 Gruner Veltliner - 89pts

Winemaker's Cut 2018 Gruner Veltliner (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Sold out at the winery, details here
Cost: $28 + taxes
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 80 cases
Date Tasted: August 15th, 2019

Tasting Notes: Medium-bodied with a nice balance between refreshing, grapefruit and Golden Delicious apple flavours and acidity and the rich, savoury characters of nuts, raw honey and light spices. A crisper style of BC Gruner compared to more oily offerings (admittedly, the sample size is small). Ready to go now and be paired with cheese fondue or sausages. Drink now-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

JoieFarm 2018 A Noble Blend - 90pts

JoieFarm 2018 A Noble Blend (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here, BCLDB stores and VQA stores
Cost: $22.52 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.6%
Production: 4780 cases
Date Tasted: August 13th, 2019
@JoieFarm

Tasting Notes: The 2018 edition of A Noble Blend stays pretty consistent with recent vintages of the (lightly) off-dry, food-friendly wine, though, last year Pinot Blanc was missing and it has now been returned to the fold. The final blend is 47% Gewurztraminer, 31% Riesling, 9% Pinot Auxerrois, 8% Pinot Blanc and 4% Muscat sourced from Naramata Bench, Summerland and East Kelowna vineyards, as per usual.

Though best served chilled to highlight its crispness and texture, this is a wine that can sit in your glass and evolve. The pleasant aromatics work at any temperature but the palate grows more exotic as it warms, mixing stone fruit and citrus characters with lush, Tropical fruit. Spice lingers on the lemon peel-kissed finish. Ready to go now. Drink 2019-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

River Stone Estate Winery 2016 Stones Throw - 89pts

River Stone Estate Winery 2016 Stones Throw (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $28.90 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 860 cases
Date Tasted: August 7th, 2019

Tasting Notes: River Stone's Merlot-leading blend (78%) is a well-balanced, fruit-forward wine with layers of ripe, black cherry, blueberry and blackberry aromas on the feminine nose and similar flavours on the bright, mouth-watering palate which is nicely structured with smooth, light tannins. 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot round out the blend and contribute secondary notes of spices and fleshy dark fruits. Would make a good companion for leaner meats or enjoy it on its own, in its youth. Drink now-2022. 
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

JoieFarm 2018 "En Famille" Reserve Muscat - 89pts

JoieFarm 2018 "En Famille" Reserve Muscat (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC 

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $24.26 + taxes
Alcohol: 11.1%
Production: 401 cases
Date Tasted: August 5th, 2019

Tasting Notes: Continuing the dryer trajectory of the reserve muscat from last year, the 2018 is lean and focused on the palate with delicate, peach and mineral flavours and supported with crisp acidity over a touch of oily mouthfeel. Perfumed and aromatic on the equally delicate nose, this wine should be allowed to warm-up and open-up in order to be coiffed properly when served with a slow, relaxed brunch. Ready to go now. Drink now-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

JoieFarm 2016 "En Famille" Reserve Riesling - 90-91pts

JoieFarm 2016 "En Famille" Reserve Riesling (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here 
Cost: $24.26 + taxes
Alcohol: 11.4%
Date Tasted: September 20th, 2018
Re-tasted: August 5th, 2019

Tasting Notes: Sourced from a block of Riesling planted in the St. Hubertus vineyard in 1978, the En Famille is both concentrated and delicate with a lovely, rich-yet-fluid texture thanks to off-dry residual sugar, effortless citrus acidity and fresh, pitted fruit flavours. Ginger, peach, mineral and dessert-friendly herbs notes add complexity to the nose and palate. Ready to go now or hold for another 2-4 years to wait for honeycomb characters to develop. Drink 2020-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Re-Tasting Notes: A year-on from its release, Joie's reserve Riesling is showing development of kerosene notes and enhanced minerality on the nose. The palate has integrated further and the balance has shifted dryer. Though evolved some, there is more to come, so keep to the original, suggested drinking window: 2020-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Rust Wine Co. 2017 Cabernet Franc - 89+pts

Rust Wine Co. 2017 Cabernet Franc (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here 
Cost: $25 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.3%
Date Tasted: August 3rd, 2019

Tasting Notes: Packs quite a punch for a medium-bodied wine with good intensity and a layered profile of concentrated, fresh mixed berries and dried fruit'n'herbs, a touch of vanilla-kissed oak and some dusty tannins. Sealed with a Stelvin cap to lock in the freshness, but I would love to see how this wine ages as there's potential for more development. Drink now-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

River Stone Estate Winery 2017 Cabernet Franc - 89-90pts

River Stone Estate Winery 2017 Cabernet Franc (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $31.90 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 13.7%
Production: 143 cases
Date Tasted: August 3rd, 2019
@drinkriverstone

Tasting Notes: Just released and approachable in its youth, this Cabernet Franc opens with a gorgeous nose of pretty aromatics and savoury herbs, brambly berries and just a hint of evergreen needles. The palate is fresh and crisp with focused, wild berry fruit flavours and acidity, a touch of oak and layers of support, savoury notes; herbs'n'spice, vanilla and chalky earthiness. Ready to go now or hold for another 2-3 years for further development. Drink 2019-2025. 
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca