Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2019 Meritage - 92pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $53 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: May 28th, 2023
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: The assemblage of Burrowing Owl's hand-harvested and barrel-aged 2019 Meritage is consistent with the 2018 with just a little more Cab Franc and a little less Merlot and Petit Verdot. The final blend is made up of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec all sourced from the winery's Oliver and Osoyoos vineyards. 

True to its lineage, this vintage of the winery's flagship wine is powerfully feminine with excellent intensity on the bold, black fruit and mint-scented nose and on the smooth, yet, mouth-watering, dark fruit and spice-infused palate. Approachable in its youth, enjoy with nicely salted, leaner cuts of beef or with your best dark chocolate for an after-dinner treat. Drink 2023-2027.

- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2023 IconWines.ca

Wild Goose Vineyards 2022 Pinot Gris - 88pts

Wild Goose Vineyards 2022 Pinot Gris (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $19.99
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: May 26th, 2023

Tasting Notes: An off-dry, refreshing Pinot Gris with plenty of crisp, orchard fruit acidity to keep the palate nicely balanced. Classic white peach and nectarine aromas are enhanced with malolactic fermentation notes of buttery, candied fruit. There is also a nice vein of minerals throughout, but most prominently showing on the mouth-watering palate where similar flavours mingle with citrus notes. Ready to go now. Drink now-2025.

  - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2023 IconWines.ca

Wild Goose Vineyards 2020 Merlot - 89pts

Wild Goose Vineyards 2020 Merlot (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $25.99
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: May 25th, 2023

Tasting Notes: A dry, medium-plus bodied Merlot with lots of spice and mint accompanying the classic, mixed berry fruit and cacophony of savoury notes on the boisterous nose and the medium tannin palate. 

Lots to like here at this price point with many pairing options and no chewy, residual sugar to deal with. Lamb with mint sauce or lean cuts of beef are a good start or go for something more bold like duck served with a wild berry reduction. Enjoy this one in its youth. Drink now-2025.

  - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2023 IconWines.ca

SpearHead Winery 2022 Pinot Gris - 91pts

SpearHead Winery 2022 Pinot Gris (Summerland) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and BC Liquor Stores
Cost: $22
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: May 7th, 2023

Tasting Notes: Another stellar vintage for East Kelowna's SpearHead Winery of the often underappreciated Pinot Gris grape. When executed with precision and care as SpearHead consistently does, Pinot Gris can yield a crisp, yet, generous wine with aromas and flavours of white peach, mellon, pears, citrus and gravel. The result is a wine which drinks - simply - beautifully. 

You can find this underappreciated and overlooked white in most BC Liquor stores these days. Sure, you might get two, cheap bottles of Italian Pinot Grigio for the same price, but they will be plain and forgettable. You will remember yourself enjoying this wine and you will find yourself buying more. Drink now-2025.

  - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2023 IconWines.ca

SpearHead Winery 2021 Chardonnay Clone 95 - 90pts

SpearHead Winery 2021 Chardonnay Clone 95 (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $30
Alcohol: 14%

Production: 450 cases
Date Tasted: May 7th, 2023

Tasting Notes: A rich and robust Chardonnay sourced from the Naramata Bench which offers a boisterous nose of both Tropical and orchard fruit with zesty lemon notes, a touch of minerality and malolactic, buttery goodness, . Lots of texture on the equally intense, leesy palate thanks to time in oak and to its mouth-watering acidity from crisp apple and citrus flavours. A peaches'n'cream, wrap-you-in-a-warm-blanket-but-keep-you-awake-with-a shot-of-lemon Chardonnay to be sure. Drink now-2025.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2023 IconWines.ca