Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2019 Athene - 89-91pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $40 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: September 11th, 2022
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: A blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon (52/48) sourced from the winery's Black Sage Bench vineyard, the Athene is an uber-dark and brooding wine with lovely eucalyptus notes adding levity the dark fruit, black pepper and toasted oak scented nose. 

The palate delivers great continuity, offering a similar flavour profile with plenty of mouth-watering, balsamic acidity and temperamental tannins in need of a nap (cellar time). Ready to go now (with a pairing of dark chocolate) if you want something fairly raw and gnarly, but best to wait another 2+ years for added development and integration. Drink 2025-2028.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2022 IconWines.ca

Black Hills Estate Winery 2016 Syrah - 89-91pts

Black Hills Estate Winery 2016 Syrah (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC 

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $39.90 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.9%
Date Tasted: November 1st, 2018

Tasting Notes: A dark and brooding Syrah, in its youth, with concentrated aromas of black cherry, peppercorn, tobacco leaf, mint, tar, oak spice and a hint of violets which should develop more prominently as it ages (as previous vintages have done). Palate is both juicy and dense with black and blue fruits complimented nicely by savoury notes, smoky, moderate tannins and waves of pepper, clove and tangy acidity.

Needs another 2-3 years in bottle to blossom. Drink 2020-2025.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca