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Wild Goose Vineyards 2021 Riesling - 87pts

Wild Goose Vineyards 2021 Riesling (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $19.99
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: June 21st, 2023

Tasting Notes: Feminine with sweet, canned peach and apricot aromas on the delicate nose and a nice blend of ripe orchard fruit and refreshing, citrus acidity on the slightly off-dry palate. Finish is dry and crisp with hints of lemon peel. Drink now-2024.

Calliope Wines 2022 Figure 8 White - 87pts

Calliope Wines 2022 Figure 8 White - BC VQA

Availability: Direct from the winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: June 9th, 2023

Tasting Notes: The Calliope brand is produced by the same family behind Okanagan Valley's iconic Burrowing Owl and offers well-made, approachable wines at entry-level prices. The Figure 8 White is a blend of 57% Sauvignon Blanc, 23% Gewürztraminer, 15% Riesling and 5% Viognier sourced from vineyards in both the Similkameen and Okanagan Valleys.

The style is crisp and dry with energetic notes of apple, lemon-lime, stonefruit, lime zest and peach pit. Pair with shrimp and prawn dishes and enjoy it in its youth. Drink now-2024.

Wild Goose Vineyards 2020 Riesling - 87pts

Wild Goose Vineyards 2020 Riesling (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $23 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.6%
Date Tasted: September 14th, 2022

Tasting Notes: Sourced from winery's 37-year-old Riesling vines on their Okanagan Falls vineyard, this wine offers a subtle expression of the variety on the nose with a combination of peach pit and other stone fruit aromas and light, joyful aromatic notes. The star here is the slightly, off-dry palate with lots to enjoy from tangy, fresh peach acidity to playful, lemony-spices and a touch of herbs. Ready to go now. Drink 2022-2024.

Kris 2020 Pinot Grigio - 87pts

Kris 2020 Pinot Grigio (Delle Venezie IGT) Italy

Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $15-19 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasted: June 20th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A consistently well-produced, easy-drinking Pinot Grigio with a joyful nose packed with beautiful floral aromas supported by Bosc pear and citrus. Palate is both crisp and a little creamy with some leesy notes beneath the tangy, lemon/lime and apple flavours. Pair with hard, white cheeses or your favourite salads. Drink now-2023.

Stoneboat Vineyards 2020 Pinot Gris - 87pts

Stoneboat Vineyards 2020 Pinot Gris (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: VQA stores and select BCLDB stores
Cost: $19.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.3%
Date Tasted: April 27th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A delicious, effervescent and lively Pinot Gris with the pleasing flavour of sweet, fresh peaches nicely contrasting the refreshing minerality on the (slightly) off-dry palate. Finishes with crisp citrus notes making it a perfect companion to seafood dishes. Drink now-2023.

Calliope Wines 2019 Figure Eight Red - 87pts

Calliope Wines 2019 Figure Eight Red (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19-21 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: March 4th, 2022

Tasting Notes:

Juicy and approachable with food-friendly, brisk acidity, the Figure Eight is a straight-forward, entry-level, red blend of 73% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Syrah and 1% Petit Verdot.

A flavourful blast of berries opens both the otherwise, nicely savoury nose and palate where the intense fruit is balanced with notes of licorice, tobacco and toasted oak and herbs. Pair with all-things BBQ'd or appies. Drink now-2024.

Spier 2020 Signature Chenin Blanc - 87pts

Spier 2020 Signature Chenin Blanc (W.O. Western Cape) South Africa

Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $12.99-14.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: July 22nd, 2021

Tasting Notes: A crisp, clean and straight-forward Chenin Blanc from the Western Cape with a touch of RS on the refreshing, citrus and exotic fruit flavoured palate and with a generous nose of honeydew melon, Golden Delicious apple, peach pit and macadamia nut aromas. Ready to go now. Drink now-2023.

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2019 Pinot Noir - 87pts

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2019 Pinot Noir (Cawston) Similkameen Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $24.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.4%
Date Tasted: June 17th, 2021

Tasting Notes: A leaner, meaner vintage of Pinot Noir for 2019, but not without some joyful elements like the aromatic nose offering spiced plum and herbs. A textured, light-bodied palate follows with light tannins, racy, yet, food-friendly acidity and a medley of fruit flavours; plum, black raspberry and pomegranate. Light oak, herbs'n'spice and a hint of smoke add depth, especially on the finish. Ready to go now. Drink 2021-2023.

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2018 Modest Wines The Green Red - 87pts

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2018 Modest Wines Little Green Red (Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $29.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.9%
Date Tasted: June 15th, 2021

Tasting Notes: Modest Wines' Little Green Red is anything but little, with a bold, spicy nose and bright, racy acidity on the equally spicy palate. But, it is a tad green, with under-ripe, rustic tannins and flavours of green pepper and raw peppercorn mingling amongst the juicy black fruit notes. A touch of lovely aromatics on the developing bouquet add an element of class to this meat-friendly, dinner companion. Drink 2021-2023.

Gold Hill Winery 2020 Cabernet Franc Rosé - 87pts

Gold Hill Winery 2020 Cabernet Franc Rosé (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $25.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.9%
Date Tasted: June 11th, 2021

Tasting Notes: An intriguing, off-dry, medium-copper hued rosé, made from Cabernet Franc grapes sourced from multiple sites in the Okanagan Valley. Offers a delicate nose of peach skin, orange blossom and nectarine aromas, followed by a plump palate of orchard fruit flavours and enough tannin and citrus acidity to finish balanced where a touch of spice lingers. Ready to go now as most blush wines are. Drink 2021-2022.

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2020 Modest Wines The Elder Vicar - 87pts

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2020 Modest Wines The Elder Vicar (BC VQA)

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $21.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 11.9%
Date Tasted: May 13th, 2021

Tasting Notes: An off-dry blend of Muscat, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Gewurztraminer (percentages withheld) which finishes somewhat dry thanks to plenty of sweetness-balancing, crabapple and citrus acidity. Muscat and Gewurztraminer lead the way, tonally, with plenty of candied grape and gooey gooseberry aromas and flavours. Look for additional notes of blossoms, spice and pears and mid-palate minerality. Ready to go now. Drink now-2022.

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2020 Modest Wines Pinot Noir Rosé - 87pts

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2020 Modest Wines Pinot Noir Rosé (Cawston) Similkameen Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $24.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.2%
Date Tasted: May 10th, 2021

Tasting Notes: An orangey-pink hued blush produced with Pinot Noir grapes sourced from Cawston in the Similkameen Valley offering a medley of delicate red fruit, blossom and white peach aromas and flavours. Marketed as a "dry rosé" despite its listed 8.2g/p of residual sugar and mostly lives up to this billing due to the balance of refined, peach and strawberry acidity. But you can taste the sweetness behind acid, and that is a good thing. Drink now-2022.

SpearHead Winery 2020 Pinot Noir Rosé - 87pts

SpearHead Winery 2020 Pinot Noir Rosé (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $23 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 542 cases
Date Tasted: April 15th, 2021

Tasting Notes: More robust and a touch dryer than recent vintages, the 2020 Pinot Noir Rosé opens with a peach and rhubarb-scented nose with subtle notes of wet stone and lime leaves adding depth. Palate is textured and refreshing, albeit, a bit short-lived beyond its initial attention-grabbing entrance. Pair it with your next backyard picnic spread and serve it in its youth. Drink 2021-2022.

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.

Upper Bench Estate Winery 2019 Pinot Gris - 87pts

Upper Bench Estate Winery 2019 Pinot Gris (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $20 + taxes
Alcohol: 11.1%
Production: 293 cases
Date Tasted: August 10th, 2020

Tasting Notes: A clean and crisp, unoaked Pinot Gris with a focus on mouth-watering, orchard fruit flavours and aromas. Look for a medley of green and golden apples, citris fruit and plump, fleshy peache on the yeasty nose and the mineral-kissed palate. Refreshing for a hot Summer's day. Drink now-2022.

Lakeside Cellars 2019 Portage White - 87pts

Lakeside Cellars 2019 Portage White (East Bench Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $22 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: July 15th, 2020

Tasting Notes: A blend of 71% un-oaked Chardonnay and 29% Sauignon Blanc, the orchard fruit-scented Portage White is nicely balanced with an emphasis on playful acidity livening the oily body/texture, creating a crisp and lifted finish. Will make an excellent Summer Sipper which can be enjoyed on its own or with patio favourites; tapas, Mexican or salads. Drink now-2021.

Lakeside Cellars 2019 Pinot Gris - 87pts

Lakeside Cellars 2019 Pinot Gris (East Bench Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $21 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: July 12th, 2020

Tasting Notes: A pleasant, fruit-forward Pinot Gris with some roundness and a touch of weight. Stone fruits lead the way on the nose and palate with lifted, nectarine and peach characters aplenty. Finish is long, balanced and mouth watering, making it very food-friend. Drink now-2021.

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2019 Riesling - 87pts

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2019 Riesling (Cawston) Similkameen Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $17.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 11.8%
Date Tasted: June 25th, 2020

Tasting Notes: An off-dry Riesling sourced from the winery's Lazy River vineyard near Cawston. It opens with a subtle nose of white peach, Bosc pear, raw honey and candied lime aromas followed by a light-ish bodied, yet, lengthy palate of mineral-y orchard fruit and sweetened citrus flavours. Pair with roasted chicken or pork. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2022.

Calliope Wines 2018 Figure 8 Red - 87pts

Calliope Wines 2018 Figure 8 Red - BC VQA

Availability: Direct from the winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: June 7th, 2020

Tasting Notes: For an entry-level red blend, the Figure 8 Red offers impressive density on the dark fruit, spice and black licorice scented nose. The medium-plus bodied, slightly smoky palate is food-friendly with bright, mixed-berry acidity which cleanses the mouth between bites and should pair nicely with BBQ favourites. Drink now-2022.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Calliope Wines 2018 Sauvignon Blanc - 87pts

Calliope Wines 2018 Sauvignon Blanc - BC VQA

Availability: Direct from the winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $17.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: May 31st, 2020

Tasting Notes: This well-priced Sauvignon Blanc offers just the right amount of 'stink' on its expressive nose layered with green apple, raw honey and lemongrass aromas. Refreshing with racy acidity and crisp, Tropical and citrus fruit flavours. Bitter lemon zest notes and a touch of spice linger on the finish. A great pairing for oysters and other shellfish. Drink now-2015.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

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