IconScores.ca: August 2022

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2020 Syrah - 90pts

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2020 Syrah (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery and private wine shops
Cost: $35 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: August 31st, 2022
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: A cherry Coke-scented, youthful Syrah with black cherry, cola, black plum and black pepper notes leading the way while aromas of toasted oak and charred meat play a supporting role. Sourced from the winery's vineyards in Oliver and Osoyoos, the 2020 Syrah is dense and meaty with a rustic, iron and charred-oak edge to its cherry cola'n'spice flavoured, dry palate. Should be used to dress-up cheaper cuts of meat with nicely charred fat and big, bold sauces. Ready to go now or hold for 2-3 years. Drink 2022-2026.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2020 Chardonnay - 89pts

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2020 Chardonnay (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here upon release
Cost: $30
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: August 25th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A peaches'n'cream styled Chardonnay with a lovely nose delivering, fresh stonefruit, ripe melon, Golden apple and warm bread aromas. Stonefruit and melon are most prominent on the well-balanced, full-ish palate made pleasantly tangy thanks to copious amounts of citrus acidity. Oak influence is deliciously employed throughout this food-friendly, full-yet-refreshing Chardonnay which should be enjoyed in its youth. Drink now-2024.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2020 Merlot - 90pts

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2020 Merlot (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $32 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: August 23rd, 2022
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: The Burrowing Owl Merlot is back to its intense, yet, elegant self with the newly released 2020 vintage which elevates the label's rich'n'racy style to more familiar heights. Always a beautiful blend of blackened berries, licorice-spiced oak and punchy acidity, the 2020 offers more depth and length on the palate and finish with added notes of eucalyptus, cooking spice and iron. Ready to go now thanks to fine, supportive tannins and a well-integrated flavours. Drink 2022-2026.

Gold Hill Winery 2021 TerreLab Tempranillo Rosé - 86pts

Gold Hill Winery 2021 TerreLab Tempranillo Rosé (Golden Mile Slope) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $24.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 11.4%

Production: 40 cases
Date Tasted: August 8th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A mellow and mineraly blush made from Tempranillo grapes sourced from the winery's Golden Mile Slope home vineyard. Subtle, red fruit notes grace the floral and steel scented nose. The dry palate offers nice, food-friendly acidity and continues the reserved, subtle presentation of light, red fruit and mineral characters. Drink now-2023.

Gold Hill Winery 2021 Cabernet Franc Rosé - 88pts

Gold Hill Winery 2021 Cabernet Franc Rosé (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $29.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: August 16th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A big, high-glycerol blush with a touch of pruny notes on the notes. Not the typical opening line of a review for a successful rosé, yet, that's exactly what this Cabernet Franc based wine is. The balance skews towards refreshing with a nice amount of fresh, cranberry acidity keeping the residual sugar and alcohol in check. There's also a touch of spice and tannin on the finish which should help this wine pair with BBQ meats and side dishes. Drink now-2024.

Gold Hill Winery 2021 Sauvignon Blanc - 88pts

Gold Hill Winery 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $29.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: August 15th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A ripe Sauvignon Blanc with plenty of subtle layers of passionfruit, citrus rind, bell pepper and stainless steel on the otherwise stonefruit-leading nose. Crisp and mouth-watering on the similarly stonefruit-flavoured palate with a touch of refreshing tartness and grape skin notes on the medium-plus finish. Ready to go now with your favourite seafood dishes like shrimp alfredo pasta. Drink now-2024.

Gold Hill Winery 2017 Cabernet Franc - 90pts

Gold Hill Winery 2017 Cabernet Franc (Golden Mile Slope) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Not yet released. Direct from winery here
Cost: $42.99
Alcohol: 14.1%
Date Tasted: August 12th, 2022

Tasting Notes: Already peaking at 5 years of age, this is a refined, yet, intense Cabernet Franc with an expressive nose of crushed blossoms, violets, vanilla and lots of brambly fruit. Smooth on the palate, this medium-tannin wine from the newly designated Golden Mile Slope region of the Southern Okanagan offers layers of ripe, verging-on-pruny fruit and elegant, savoury flavours without ever feeling heavy or over extracted. Ready to go now as the aging has been done for you by the winery. Drink 2022-2025.

Gold Hill Winery 2018 Merlot - 92pts

Gold Hill Winery 2018 Merlot (Golden Mile Slope) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Not yet released. Direct from winery here
Cost: $42.99
Alcohol: 15.3%
Date Tasted: August 12th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A big Merlot with a beautiful, intense nose of ripe, mixed-berries and rich, savoury notes offering impressive depth and opulence. The intensity continues on the plump, high-alcohol palate, though, the luscious layers of plum, black cherry, mocha, toasted oak and cigar box keep the balance in check and the finish tasting smooth where refined tannins and a touch of spice linger. Ready to go now as your high-tannin reds mellow in the cellar. Drink 2022-2028.

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