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Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2021 Chardonnay - 89pts

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2021 Chardonnay (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here upon release
Cost: $34 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: October 3rd, 2023

@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: True to the house style, delivering an oaked, ripe Chardonnay with a pleasing juxtaposition of plump, popcorn-melon, malolactic fermentation notes and vibrant, citrus'n'stonefruit tangy characters that keep the nose fresh and the palate crisp. Oak influence is deliciously employed throughout this food-friendly, full-yet-refreshing Chardonnay which should be enjoyed in its youth. Drink now-2026.

Wild Goose Vineyards 2020 Red Horizon - 89pts

Wild Goose Vineyards 2020 Red Horizon (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $31.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: July 5th, 2023

Tasting Notes: An engaging, proprietary blend of Merlot (58%), Petite Verdot (13%), Cabernet Sauvignon (13%) and lesser parts of Malbec, Cabernet Franc and German cross called Dunkelfelder. The nose is rich and joyful with ripe red and black fruit, vanilla bean and sweet incense. The palate takes a dramatic turn towards smoky-dusty-tarry land by way of the most delicious of routes with the fruit along for the ride, but playing quietly in the backseat.

A pleasantly complex and unique blend that is ready to be enjoyed in its youth while your big, tannin-heavy reds mellow in your cellar (or closet). Drink now-2025.

Wild Goose Vineyards 2022 Gewurztraminer - 89pts

Wild Goose Vineyards 2022 Gewurztraminer (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $17.99
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: June 19th, 2023

Tasting Notes: An off-dry, candied-fruit scented and flavoured Gewurztraminer beautifully grounded by tropical and orchard fruit acidity creating a crisp, refreshing finish. Loads of texture on the rich palate with a touch of classic, Gewurz spice adding depth. Pair with spicy noodle dishes like ramen or with spicy sushi. Drink now-2025.

River Stone Estate Winery 2022 Sauvignon Blanc - 89pts

River Stone Estate Winery 2022 Sauvignon Blanc (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $23.90 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 12.7%
Production: cases
Date Tasted: June 10th, 2023
@drinkriverstone

Tasting Notes: This is a Sauvignon Blanc for lovers of the grape's pleasantly pungent qualities that are most often found in examples from New Zealand or the Loire Valley. Punchy and zippy on both the seductively stinky nose and potent palate. Look for lime zest and lime leaf, green apple, kiwi skin, cheese rind, chives and white peach notes with plenty of honeydew and lime acidity. The finish is both long and very crisp. Pair with oysters. Drink 2023-2025.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2020 Viognier - 89pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here (new vintage available)
Cost: $40
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: June 7th, 2023

@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: The Burrowing Owl Viognier is both (nearly) full-bodied and crisp thanks a lovely balance of weight and acidity. Consistent with recent vintages, you'll find the characters of Asian pear, honeydew melon, papaya, hard peach, citrus and spice on the subtle, aromatic nose and the aforementioned, well-balanced palate. Ready to enjoy now or hold for up to another two years. Drink 2023-2025.

Winemaker's Cut 2020 Bohemian Petit Verdot - 89pts

Winemaker's Cut 2020 Bohemian Petit Verdot (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $37 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: June 1st, 2023

Tasting Notes: A big, spicy and dark wine with toasted, blackened notes of blue fruit, charred oak and singed earth. All around, dense and brooding with bright, intense acidity. A wine to which you might want to say, "Dude, chill already." Open this one for the adventure seekers in your life, not the faint of heart or the romantics. Drink 2023-2025.

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.

JoieFarm 2020 A Noble Blend - 89pts

JoieFarm 2020 A Noble Blend (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here, BCLDB stores and VQA stores
Cost: $24 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.6%
Date Tasted: August 24th, 2022
@JoieFarm

Tasting Notes: Though best served chilled to highlight its crispness and texture, this is a wine that can sit in your glass and evolve. The pleasant aromatics work at any temperature but the palate grows more exotic as it warms, mixing stone fruit and citrus characters with lush, Tropical fruit. Spice lingers on the lemon peel-kissed finish. Ready to go now. Drink 2022-2024.

Gold Hill Winery 2016 Grand Vin - 89pts

Gold Hill Winery 2016 Grand Vin (Golden Mile Slope) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $65 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.4%
Date Tasted: October 6th, 2022

Tasting Notes: Marketed as the winery's 'flagship wine', the Grand Vin is meant to represent Gold Hill's highest achievement in winemaking but sometimes the individual parts shine brighter than the whole and that is the case with this Meritage blend when compared to some of their single-varietal bottlings of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Overall, there's lots to like from the layers of red and dark berry fruit on the nose and palate to the lovely, smokey notes that show throughout. Palate sweetness is mostly balanced by the plentiful, wild berry acidity and the dusty, fine tannins, but not entirely. Lacking complexity and longevity for the price point, this wine has already peaked and should be consumed by 2023. Drink now.

Gold Hill Winery 2018 TerreLab Tempranillo - 89pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $35.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.3%

Production: 50 cases
Date Tasted: October 4th, 2022

Tasting Notes: Tempranillo will never become a signature grape of the Okanagan Valley, there's just too little of it and the name recognition is low but it does do well in certain areas and can produce some memorable, small-batch releases like this tasty example from Gold Hill. Both juicy and savoury with plenty of ripe cherry and plum notes pairing nicely with sweet tobacco, tomato and spices. Lots of sweet fruit and spice flavours linger on the low-tannin finish making this a nice pairing for anything drenched in sweet'n'spicy, BBQ sauce. Drink now-2023.

Winemaker's Cut 2020 Bohemian Cabernet Franc - 89pts

Winemaker's Cut 2020 Bohemian Cabernet Franc (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $37 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: October 3rd, 2022

Tasting Notes: An aromatic, food-friendly Cabernet Franc whose grapes were sourced from two distinctly different vineyards outside Oliver; the elevated Quails' Wayside vineyard West of the city and the winery's own Deadman Lake vineyard towards Osoyoos Lake in the South. Lots to like here as a pleasant, feminine nose of violet, blossom and ripe, wild berry aromas is followed by a vibrant palate where the wild berry theme continues in the form of lively acidity and flavours of herb-infused fruit. Oak treatment seems spot-on for the medium-bodied weight, light tannins and the lip-smacking finish. Drink 2022-2024.

Winemaker's Cut 2020 Bohemian Riesling - 89pts

Winemaker's Cut 2020 Bohemian Riesling (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $26 + taxes
Alcohol: 11%
Production: 200 cases
Date Tasted: September 27th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A vibrant and well-balanced Riesling with an expressive nose of pineapple, nectarine and unpasteurized honey aromas followed by an off-dry, yet, dry-finishing palate with similar fruit flavours and additional notes of tangy peach, lemon-lime and a hint of ginger. A refreshing wine to be served on its own or as a nice counter-balance to hard, white cheeses like Gruyère. Drink 2022-2024+.

Gold Hill Winery 2018 Syrah - 89pts

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

Availability: Direct from winery here

Cost: $42.99

Alcohol: 15%

Date Tasted: September 26th, 2022

Tasting Notes: Intensely aromatic and dense on the nose with concentrated, black cherry, violet, lavender and blackened spice aromas. Equally intense and concentrated on the dry, full palate where high levels of blood orange acidity and bold, blackened tannins make this Syrah less of an elegant, standalone sipper and more of a fancy, accompagnement to your favourite BBQ meats. Still tasting youthful and fresh at 4 years of age due to the Stelvin enclosure. Should hold for 3-4 more years but don't expect much development. Drink 2022-2026.

SpearHead Winery 2020 Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Noir - 89pts

SpearHead Winery 2020 Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Noir (Summerland) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $38 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 506 cases
Date Tasted: September 23rd, 2022

Tasting Notes: Sourced from a vineyard in Summerland, the Golden Retreat Pinot Noir is the art-school attending cousin to the classically training Saddle Block label. More quirky and outspoken but perhaps with a little less depth for this 2020 release. Sour plum and cherry notes throughout with brambly acidity, dusty tannins and earthy chocolate and spices in supporting rolls on the feminine nose and boisterous palate. Ready to go now or hold for 2-3 years. Drink 2022-2025.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 20219 Viognier - 89pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here (new vintage available)
Cost: $40
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: August 31st, 2022

@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: A pleasantly aromatic and vibrant Viognier with a nose that offers blossom, melon, Asian pear and a medley of orchard fruit followed by a mouth-watering, full-ish palate with similar flavours and an impressive wave of spice and citrus on the bright finish. Ready to go now thanks to 3 years of ageing. Drink 2022-2023.

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.

Chateau Haut-Bergey 2012 Grand Vin - 89pts

Chateau Haut-Bergey 2012 Grand Vin (Pessac-Leognan) Bordeaux - France

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores
Cost: $40-50
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasted: July 24th, 2022

Tasting Notes: At 10 years of age, the 2012 Haut-Bergey has developed lovely, dense, prune and eucalyptus notes on the dark fruit nose which carry through to the peaking palate. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot with, predictably, mellowed tannins and acid. A well-balanced, albeit, shorted finish completes the sip down memory lane. Drink now-2023.

La Frenz Winery 2021 Sémillon - 89pts

La Frenz Winery 2021 Sémillon (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $23 + taxes
Alcohol: 11.6%
Date Tasted: May 31st, 2022

Tasting Notes: Look for aromas and flavours of grapefruit, honeydew, kiwi, mango skin, lemongrass, and Asian pear on the fragrant nose and the mouth-watering, yet, oily palate of this Naramata Bench sourced Sémillon. Ready to go now of hold for the potential of further evolution. Drink 2022-2026.

Tenuta Il Poggione 2020 Lo Sbrancato Rosé - 89pts

Tenuta Il Poggione 2020 Lo Sbrancato Rosé (Montalcino) Tuscany - Italy

Availability: Marquis Wine Cellars in Vancouver
Cost: $21-28 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasted: May 15th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A juicier, fuller blush when compared to the light and lean, minimalist style which dominates most restaurant menus. Made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, this is robust rosé without ever feeling heavy and one that can pair with fresh pasta and white meats. Typical blush characters of red fruit, floral and citrus throughout, with just a hint of Sangiovese' unique tomato stock on the nose and a touch of fleshy, cumquat on the palate. Drink now-2024.

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2020 Lucy's Block Rosé - 89pts

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2020 Lucy's Block Rosé (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $29.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 11.5%
Date Tasted: May 21st, 2022

Tasting Notes: Quails' Gate's premium blush, Lucy's Block, is a subtle and mineraly rosé which gets its light salmon colour from brief skin contact of its Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes (a 70-30% split, respectively) sourced from the winery's East Kelowna vineyard. Though delicate and pretty, this is a very refreshing rosé with layers of rose water, fresh red fruit, steel and lime zest aromas and flavours and impressively low alcohol. Drink now-2023.

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