Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2019 Dry Riesling - 87pts

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2019 Dry Riesling (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $17.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.5%
Production: 3,600 cases
Date Tasted: April, 29th, 2020

Tasting Notes: A crisp, citrus'n'mellon fruit driven Riesling that finishes dry and tart thanks to plenty of lemon zest and crab apple acidity. The nose is generous, especially as it warms, showcasing mineral and yeast notes which also run through the mouth-watering palate. A touch of spice lingers through to the next sip.

Pair with a rich, slightly spicy and cream-infused dish like perogies with sausage and a creme fresh dressing. Ready to go this year. Drink now-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Winemaker's Cut 2019 Rosé - 90pts

Winemaker's Cut 2019 Rosé (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Look for release details here
Cost: $26 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 11.5%
Production: 700 cases
Date Tasted: April 24th, 2020

Tasting Notes: A nearly colourless rosé, made of 90% Cabernet Franc and 10% Syrah grapes sourced from the Deadman Lake Vineyard in Oliver. Both punchy and delicate with subtle, wispy red fruit notes throughout and effervescent, lemony-peach acidity on the well-balanced, vibrant palate.

A delightful blush that sits in the mouth beautifully and hold its own. Pair with a creamy, Poké rice bowl or superfoods salad. Drink now-2023.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2019 Chasselas Pinot Blanc Pinot Gris - 88pts

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2019 Chasselas Pinot Blanc Pinot Gris (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here, BCLDB Stores and VQA stores
Cost: $17.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 23,000 cases
Date Tasted: April 22nd, 2020
@Quails_Gate

Tasting Notes: Not surprisingly, this Chasselas-Pinot Blanc-Pinot Gris blend is the top selling, BC VQA white wine in BC. Certainly, in part, due to the sheer volume produced each vintage (there are more cases of this one label than the total output of many of the Province's boutique wineries), but mostly due to its impressive consistency, year-to-year and its versatility as a dinner companion to white meat dishes (of both the land and sea varieties).

Always clean, always crisp. Look for refreshing and vibrant notes of Asian pear flesh, grapefruit peel, lemon, peach pit and steel on the appealing nose and the mouth-watering palate. Drink now-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2019 Rosé - 86pts

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2019 Rosé (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $17.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 9600 cases
Date Tasted: April 19th, 2020

Tasting Notes: This pale-salmon hued wine is a blend of Gamay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (percentages withheld) and clocks-in with a modest 12% residual alcohol for the 2019 edition. Leaner and more citrus-y than recent vintages, but ever well-balanced and finished with a beautiful profile of delicate, red fruit, melon and mineral aromas and flavours. Crisp and refreshing. Perfect for salads, hot decks or a nice bag of crisps. Drink now-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2019 Gewurztraminer - 86pts

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2019 Gewurztraminer (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $17.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 5,900 cases
Date Tasted: April 16th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Leaner and balanced dryer than the average BC Gewurz, this 2019 edition keeps with the house style highlighting the stonefruit and Tropical fruit characters in its flavour profile which are framed nicely by ample, citrus peel acidity and a lively, bristly texture. Ready to go now. Drink now-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2019 Pinot Gris - 88pts

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2019 Pinot Gris (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $25
Alcohol: 13.4%
Date Tasted: April 15th, 2020

Tasting Notes: A partially-oaked Pinot Gris with nice texture and vivaciousness thanks to its lively combination of pear, melon and herbs on the pleasant nose and the citrus'n'mineral kissed, creamy palate. Pair with a sunny deck or a salty treat. Drink now-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2017 Merlot - 90pts

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2017 Merlot (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $32 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.8%
Date Tasted: April 9th, 2020
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: A supremely enjoyable and approachable Merlot with both impressive depth and concentration on its dark fruit/chocolate/licorice nose and its ripe, dark berry and vanilla/herbs/spice, hedonistic palate. Ready to go now or hold for 3-4 years. Drink 2020-2024.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Rust Wine Co. 2019 Chardonnay - 86pts

Rust Wine Co. 2019 Chardonnay (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here 
Cost: $22 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.6%
Date Tasted: April 11th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Though stainless steel ferented, this Chardonnay is fairly rich with a nice combination of orchard and citrus fruit characters and some rounded edges (likely) due to a partial, malolactic fermentation which softens the natural acidity and contributes a touch of melon and tropical fruit into the final profile. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Rust Wine Co. 2019 Pinot Grigio - 87pts

Rust Wine Co. 2019 Pinot Grigio (Cawston) Similkameen Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here 
Cost: $18 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.4%
Date Tasted: April 9th, 2020

Tasting Notes: A light, pinky-brass hued Pinot Gris thanks to extended skin contact during the press and fermentation stages. Though fermented and aged in only stainless steel, no oak, there's lots of texture on offer, contributing added dimension to the orchard and citrus fruit driven, well-balanced palate. Look for a medley of pear, peach, lemon skin and raw nut aromas on the nose. 

Pair with a salty snack and a sunny deck or an Easter roast. Drink now-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Rust Wine Co. 2019 Rosé - 89pts

Rust Wine Co. 2019 Rosé (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here 
Cost: $22 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.9%
Date Tasted: April 8th, 2020

Tasting Notes: The Rust Wine Co. rosé jumps to the Okanagan Valley for the 2019 edition, using Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the winery's young, South Rock Vineyard along the Golden Mile Bench. Though likely destined for red wine production when it comes of age, this new vineyard is producing a delicious blush in the meantime.

Off-dry, overall, yet beautifully balanced to finish near-dry with plenty of lip-smacking, bright raspberry and tangy, wild berry acidity. Red fruit flavours, a touch of tannin and a smattering of herbs and spice make this wine a perfect companion to complex salads or poke rice bowls. Drink now-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca 

Undurraga 2017 T.H. Cabernet Sauvignon - 93+pts

Undurraga 2017 T.H. Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley) Chile

Availability: Private stores like Everything Wine
Cost: $44-50
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: April 2nd, 2020
Production: 3158 cases

Tasting Notes: A fresh and vibrant alternative to your pricey, uber-extracted (and, occasionally, overly-serious) California Cab and to the hibernating Bordeaux in your cellar which you aren't yet ready to open, the Undurraga 'T.H.' (standing for Terroir Hunter) delivers the depth and concentration you desire from Cabernet Sauvignon, without the wait or the hefty price.

All darkiddy-dark on the licorice, cassis, eucalyptus and black pepper scented nose and the similarly flavoured, oh-so-long lasting palate. Touch of smokey tannin, pepper and blackberry puree linger through to the next sip. Ready to go now or hold for some further development. Drink 2020-2024.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca