IconScores.ca: November 2020

Rust Wine Co. 2017 Syrah - 90pts

Rust Wine Co. 2017 Syrah (Cawston) Similkameen Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $37 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.9%
Date Tasted: November 21st, 2020

Tasting Notes: Sourced from the winery's Cawston vineyard in the Similkameen Valley, this is one of three Syrahs the winery makes and it's their most playful with uber-ripe, cherry, raspberry and plum fruit, Christmas Cake spices and candied fruits showing throughout. Palate's balance is just a tad sweet with the medium tannins and acidity unable to fully off-set the super-concentrated berry flavours. A touch of toasted oak and wild spice add depth and more food pairing options like game served with a fruit sauce. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2024.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Rust Wine Co. 2017 Syrah - 91pts

Rust Wine Co. 2017 Syrah (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $37 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.9%
Date Tasted: November 20th, 2020

Tasting Notes: One of three Syrahs that Rust Wine Co. produces, this one, sourced from the Golden Mile Bench, is the most masculine of the group with a nice balance between its dark fruit and savoury characters. 'Medium-plus' on all fronts; body, tannins, length and mouthfeel. Yet, there's amble generosity without weighting down your palate. Plenty of complexity on offer with aromas and flavours of baking spices, cured meats, dried rocks and salty tapenade. Ready to go now or hold for several more years. Drink 2020-2024.

Rust Wine Co. 2017 Syrah - 92pts

Rust Wine Co. 2017 Syrah (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $37 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.9%
Date Tasted: November 20th, 2020

Tasting Notes: This Syrah, sourced from the Black Sage Bench, is the most well-rounded and impressive of the three Rust Wine Co. produce. A little more intense than its Golden Mile Bench cousin and more refined than its Similkameen Valley kin. It all seems to come together in this beautiful Syrah with excellent concentration on the ripe berry and potpourri scented nose and the long-lived, elegant, yet, bold palate. Classic Syrah characters are on offer here: dark and red fruits, white pepper and hints of mint and cola. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2024.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Cassini Cellars 2017 Maximus - 91+pts

Cassini Cellars 2017 Maximus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $44 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 15.3%
Production: 550 cases
Date Tasted: November 18th, 2020

Tasting Notes: The 2017 edition of the Maximus is a compilation of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 8% Malbec. As a wine built to last, at only 3 years of age its showing a youthful, brooding nose today which needs plenty of time to open up. Look for concentrated, ripe dark fruit like cassis, black cherry and sun-soaked blackberry aromas to be supported by subtle, toasted oak and blackened vanilla notes. Spices and oak show more prominently on the, otherwise, similarly-flavoured palate where youthful, grippy tannins and fresh acidity add plenty of structure and texture. Best to wait another year or two. Drink 2022-2027.

Cassini Cellars 2016 Maximus - 91-92pts

Cassini Cellars 2016 Maximus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Sold out. Look for the 2017 vintage direct from winery here
Cost: $44 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 15.4%
Production: 550 cases
Date Tasted: November 15th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Both beautiful and brooding, the 2016 Maximus is now a year on from its release and still showing youthful vitality. Robust, minty Cabernet Sauvignon takes the lead here, with supporting roles played by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec which add juicy, ripe, dark berry flavours and aromatic notes of incense, spa spice and a hint of cola. 14 months in 2 year old barrels (both French and American) have nicely fused the fruit and savoury elements while refining the tannins and mouthfeel to silky levels. This blend should last for many years in your cellar with some further refinement to come. Or, enjoy now with a long decant. Drink 2021-2026.

Bodegas Luzon 2018 Finca Luzon - 88pts

Bodegas Luzon 2018 Finca Luzon (Jumilla D.O.) Spain

Availability: Private stores like Everything Wine
Cost: $22-25
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: November 9th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Structured as an Old World, dry, savoury-first, wine made from Monastrell (Mourvedre) grapes sourced from vineyards in the Jumilla region of Spain, the overall profile, happily, isn't desolate of fruit, offering nice blue fruits on the pruny nose and the plum sauce-flavoured palate. Yet, it is the savoury, earthy notes of leather, oak, spice and sun-drenched rocks which linger and feature most prominently. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2023.

Cassini Cellars 2016 Collector's Series Cabernet Franc - 93pts

Cassini Cellars 2016 Collector's Series Cabernet Franc (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Sold out at the winery. Winery site here
Cost: $40 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.7%
Date Tasted: November 9th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Cassini Cellars makes a number of wonderful, 'big, full-bodied reds from memorable Merlots to award-winning blends. Yet, the true star of the portfolio is this consistently exquisite, single-vineyard Cabernet Franc. The depth of flavour and refinement speaks to the vineyard practices and the spare-no-expense barrel program Cassini employs to near-perfection.

Its trademark menthol and eucalyptus aromas and flavours are on show, in spades, supported by a plethora of blue fruit, toasted oak, spices and savoury notes on the generous, seductive nose and the well-balanced, elegant palate. Ready to go now, with some decanting. Drink 2021-2026.

Gold Hill Winery 2017 Cabernet Merlot - 88pts

Gold Hill Winery 2017 Cabernet Merlot (Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $24.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.9%
Date Tasted: November 8th, 2020

Tasting Notes: This Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend offers a lively nose and palate of bright, blackberry, cherry and plum fruit with some dark, broody characters and light, floral notes adding some depth to the fruit-forward profile. Light tannins and lip-smacking acidity keeps the mouthfeel fresh and fluid, though, the finish looses its intensity quickly. Pair with a range of BBQ fare, but nothing too fatty or smoky. Drink now-2022.

Cassini Cellars 2017 Collector's Series Cabernet Sauvignon - 91pts

Cassini Cellars 2017 Collector's Series Cabernet Sauvignon (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Directly from the winery's site here
Cost: $36 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.7%
Date Tasted: November 6th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Seductive, dark and sexy, this is a Femme Fatale of a Cabernet with a developing bouquet of ripe cassis fruit, minty cocoa, sweet pipe smoke and light, perfume notes. A smooth palate follows with refined, elegant tannins, lingering spice and similar flavours - truly, quite impressive continuity from the nose. Ready to go now and should make a fine pairing for leaner cuts of beef or venison. Drink now-2025.

Casa Santos Lima 2017 Red Blend - 88pts

Casa Santos Lima 2017 Red Blend Portugal (Lisboa) Portugal

Availability: Private wine shops like Everything Wine
Cost: $17-21
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: November 5th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Exceptional value on offer in this blend of multiple, native and international grapes - even with the crazy import taxes imposed in the BC market which can push this wine above $20. Easy-drinking thanks to its fruit-to-acid balance, subtle complexity and just enough tannic structure. Enjoy on its own or with cheaper cuts of beef. Drink now-2016.

Pascual Toso 2019 Toso Estate Malbec - 87pts

Pascual Toso 2019 Toso Estate Malbec (Mendoza) Argentina

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB store
Cost: $11.99-14.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: October 30th, 2020

Tasting Notes: An extremely well-price, rustic Malbec with pruny berries, licorice, subtle oak and light savoury notes. Full-ish in body with lingering barrel smoke and joyful spices on the moderate-plus finish. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2022.

Blasted Church Vineyards 2018 Hatfield's Fuse - 86pts

Blasted Church Vineyards 2018 Hatfield's Fuse (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here. BCLDB stores
Cost: $16-20 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.5%
Production: 7025 cases
Date Tasted: October 28th, 2020

Tasting Notes: A white blend of Germanic and French aromatic varietals (a whopping 11 grape varieties in total) with a pleasant, bright offering of orchard and citrus fruit supported by layers of spice and fleshy, grapiness. Very snack-food friendly. Drink now-2022.

Cassini Cellars 2016 The Aristocrat - 92pts

Cassini Cellars 2016 The Aristocrat (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $40 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 15.2%
Production: 300 cases
Date Tasted: December 4th, 2018

Re-Tasted: November 4th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Another stellar vintage of the complex, long-lasting, single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon known as The Aristocrat. Balanced and ripe, the 2016 shows excellent typicity for the label with telltale notes of mint and Fig Newton nicely integrated into the dark fruit and oak influence layers on the masculine, invigorating nose and the full-bodied, beautifully structured palate.

Would benefit from another 1-2 years in bottle to mature further. With more prominent tannins than its Collector's Series cousin, this Cab is ready to take on more marbled cuts of beef like a fine, charred, rib eye steak. Drink 2020-2026.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Re-Tasting Notes: Coming into its own just as its drinking window opens. Tannins have mellowed and integrated beautifully. Mint notes are still deliciously prominent with a touch of licorice and charcoal now showing on the finish.

Gold Hill Winery 2014 Grand Vin - 90pts

Gold Hill Winery 2014 Grand Vin (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $64.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 15.9%
Date Tasted: November 3rd, 2020

Tasting Notes: An intense, mature, Meritage blend featuring fully integrated, black and blue fruits, pretty aromatics and smooth, savoury notes. There is impressive, long-lived, lively acid on the lightly tannic palate which offers similar flavours as the nose. At already 6 years old and sealed with a synthetic cork, this wine won't likely develop further and should be enjoyed over the next 12-18 months. Drink now-2021.

Cassini Cellars 2017 Quattro - 90+pts

Cassini Cellars 2017 Quattro (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $34
Alcohol: 14.7%
Production: 500 cases
Date Tasted: November 2nd, 2020

Tasting Notes: What was once an entry-level blend for the Cassini portfolio, the Quattro has evolved into a robust, powerhouse of a wine; full-bodied, intense and dense. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot opens with concentrated dark fruit and berry liqueur aromas with a susurrus of licorice and anise notes. The seductive nose precedes an equally dense and food-friendly palate which showcases similar flavours and additional layers of savoury goodness; charred oak, black cherry and dark spices. Ready to go now or hold for further development. Drink 2021-2026+

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