Calliope Wines 2019 Gewurztraminer - 86pts

Calliope Wines 2019 Gewurztraminer (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Private and VQA stores in BC
Cost: $16.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: May 31st, 2020

Tasting Notes: An off-dry, subtlety-scented, Gewurztraminer whose spicy, mouth-watering finish balances the natural sweetness nicely thanks to plenty of crisp, lemon/lime acidity and a hint of minerals. Pair with Indian dishes or fried, Asian noodles. Drink now-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Winemaker's Cut 2018 Syrah - 91pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $34 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 600 cases
Date Tasted: May 30th, 2020

Tasting Notes: An uber-spicy, masculine Syrah offering a dense nose pairing white and black pepper with black plum, vanilla, licorice and beef jerky aromas. A meaty, raw palate follow with layers of spice intertwining bright black cherry, cool iron, black and green peppercorn and toasted oak flavours. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2023.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2017 Cabernet Franc - 90pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $35 (taxes included)
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: May 29th, 2020
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: A beautiful and complex Cabernet Franc sourced from the estate vineyard along the Black Sage Bench, offering classic notes of wild berries, dried herbs, licorice, vanilla-spice, toasted oak, pipe tobacco and menthol on both the floral-accented nose and the dusty, lightly tannic palate. Finishes long and with good balance between its fruit and savoury characters. Ready to go now and makes a sophisticated companion to pizza or spaghetti nights. Drink 2020-2024.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2018 Chardonnay - 89pts

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2018 Chardonnay (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here upon release
Cost: $30
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: May 28th, 2020

Tasting Notes: A peach'n'cream styled Chardonnay with a blockbuster nose that spills out of the glass delivering sweet melon fruit, Golden apple and warm, bread crust aromas. A wisp of fresh citrus and a hint of mineraly, stonefruit on the developing bouquet adds dimension and forms the connected tissue that bridges beautifully to the mouth-watering, pleasantly tangy palate. Oak influence is deliciously employed throughout this food-friendly, full-yet-refreshing Chardonnay. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Winemaker's Cut 2019 Boho Zen - 86pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $26 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 12.5%
Production: 700 cases
Date Tasted: May 22nd, 2020

Tasting Notes: The Boho Zen is a 90/10 split of Syrah and Merlot which saw zero oak contact and relied on a naturally accumulated yeast on the skins to spontaneous fermentation. The lack of time in the barrel enhances the youthful, juicy nature of this wine which offers a Beaujolais Nouveau-like profile on the fresh and casual nose where mixed berry and floral notes dominate and on the vibrant, spicy palate where racy acidity makes a lively pairing with the underlying savoury and wild berry flavours.

A casual wine for casual foods. Think BBQ favourites with fresh slices of tomatoes. Enjoy in its youth. Drink now-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Winemaker's Cut 2019 Boho Beat - 89pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $18-22 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 12.5%
Production: 1500 cases
Date Tasted: May 21st, 2020

Tasting Notes: An effortlessly enjoyable blend of Gewurztraminer, Viognier, Riesling and Kerner (percentages omitted) with a well-balanced, vivacious palate that shines when paired with a salty and/or tangy main dishes or snack food. Mouthfeel is lively with a hint of sweetness and an effervescent, citrus twang dancing above exotic, Tropical fruit and mineral flavours. Finishes a tad short, on its own, but comes alive when accompanying food. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2019 Chenin Blanc - 89pts

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2019 Chenin Blanc (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here, BCLDB and VQA stores
Cost: $24.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.2%
Production: 3900 cases
Date Tasted: May 18th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Such a consistently, well-produced wine, the Quails' Gate is always fresh and vibrant with refreshing, tangy acidity and an appealing combination of mouth-watering citrus, stonefruit, lemon grass and fresh-off-the-tree peach. The 2019 edition offers a particularly long, satisfying finish.

A flexible white to pair with, from savoury, rice bowls to fish to salads. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

SpearHead Winery 2018 Saddle Block Pinot Noir - 90pts

SpearHead Winery 2018 Saddle Block Pinot Noir (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $35 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 450 cases
Date Tasted: May 16th, 2020

Tasting Notes: The East Kelowna based, home vineyard is the source of the winery's  forest floor scented Pinot Noir, the "Saddle Block". The earthy bouquet is beautifully contrasted by feminine, aromatic notes and by well integrated, red and dark cherry, huckleberry and cooked plum flavours on the lively palate. A touch of spice and pomegranate lingers on the well-balanced, medium length finish. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2025.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

SpearHead Winery 2018 Coyote Vineyard Pinot Noir - 89+pts

SpearHead Winery 2018 Coyote Vineyard Pinot Noir (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $33 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 250 cases
Date Tasted: May 16th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Sourced from the West Kelowna located Coyote Vineyard, this release is the smoky-spicy edition of the winery's portfolio of single-vineyard Pinot Noirs for the 2018 vintage. A medley of red fruit aromas and flavours mingle comfortably with homey, toasty cooking spices on the graceful nose and the medium-everything palate. A gentle wave of smoke appears on the long finish enhancing the cozy appear of this Pinot. Ready to go now, though, may develop further over the next 1-2 years. Drink 2020-2025.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

SpearHead Winery 2018 Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Noir - 89-90+pts

SpearHead Winery 2018 Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Noir (Summerland) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $35 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 440 cases
Date Tasted: May 3rd, 2020

Tasting Notes: Keeping true to its feminine profile roots, the 2018 edition of SpearHead's Summerland-sourced Pinot Noir also offers a beautiful array of warm, savoury spices on the aromatic nose and on the brambly fruit and sun-kissed, earthy palate. Though the alcohol levels are actually a tad less than the previous vintage, the 2018's slightly more svelte body leaves more heat in the mouth without affecting the long, smoked-spice finish.

Currently, this youthful wine is better on the second night suggesting more time in the bottle should yield more further development and integration. Drink 2021-2024+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Winemaker's Cut 2019 Gruner Veltliner - 87pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $26 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 11.5%
Production: 300 cases
Date Tasted: May 14th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Subtle, on the apple skin scented nose, this Oliver-sourced Gruner Veltliner is more boisterous on the mineral and marzipan flavoured, ever-so-slightly effervescent palate. Clean, crisp and refreshing this sun-drenched deck companion finishes with the citrusy kick of a lemon twist. Ready to go now. Drink now-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Winemaker's Cut 2019 Muscat Canelli - 88pts

Winemaker's Cut 2019 Muscat Canelli (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $24 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 11.5%
Production: 250 cases
Date Tasted: May 10th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Sourced from vineyards in Naramata and North of Oliver, this well-balanced Muscat offers a delicate and effervescent profile with a harmonious blend of orchard and Tropical fruit on the graceful, subtle nose and on the lemon drop-kissed, slightly, off-dry palate. This low alcohol wine makes an elegant addition to any Sunday brunch (or any other meal that you want to emulate a Sunday brunch). Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

La Frenz Winery 2017 Malbec - 88-89pts

La Frenz Winery 2017 Malbec (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $24.26 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.4%
Date Tasted: May 7th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Blended with 14% Syrah, this is a full bodied Malbec with a lovely run of spice through the black plum, sun-ripe blackberry and sweet earth scented nose and the similarly flavoured palate. Finish is a touch hot and short, but the overall balance of fruit-to-savoury characters is spot on. Give this one a rest until the Summer of 2021 to allow for further integration. Drink 2021-2024.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

La Frenz Winery 2019 Sauvignon Blanc - 90pts

La Frenz Winery 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $19.91 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.1%
Date Tasted: May 1st, 2020

Tasting Notes: Sourced from multiple vineyards in the Central and Southern Okanagan Valley, the La Frenz Sauvignon Blanc bursts out of the glass with intense, pungent aromas of gooseberries, grapefruit, yeasty-brioche, stone fruit, and grass. The palate is bright and lip-smacking with plenty of texture and a hint of sugar, mid-palate, then finishes dry with citrus peel, minerals and a touch of lingering spice. To be enjoyed in its youth. Drink 2020-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Winemaker's Cut 2019 Sauvignon Blanc - 89pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $26 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 800 cases
Date Tasted: April 30th, 2020

Tasting Notes: BC Sauvignon Blanc is underrated. Sure, there is sub-par BCSB in the market, but a number of producers have chosen the right sites for this ancient variety and it has rewarded them handsomely. The Winemaker's Cut Blanc is sourced from a single vineyard in Oliver and, thankfully, it brings The Funk. Not overtly, like some of the stinkier versions from New Zealand. This one is more subtlety funky, like a punchy baseline you air-guitar along with at an afternoon, Jazz-Funk festival. Especially on the crisp'n'tart, grassy-citrus, mineral-kissed finish. 

Full of texture, on the palate, and offering a medley of citrus, tropical and orchard fruit notes throughout with raw honey aromas showing on the nose after a chance to open up. Ready to go now or hold for another year or two. Drink now-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca