Cassini Cellars 2018 Godfather Red - 93pts

Cassini Cellars 2018 Godfather Red (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Contact the winery direct here
Cost: $80
Alcohol: 15%
Production: 145 cases
Date Tasted: November 24th, 2021

Tasting Notes: "The Godfather" is Cassini Cellars' uber-refined, Icon-level red showcasing the best the Golden Mile Bench winery has to offer in any given year. For 2018, it takes the form of a Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend (67% and 33%, respectively) and presents a pretty, sophisticated expression of the varietals as grown and managed by the winery's winemaking team. Expect a silky-smooth, feminine wine with depth and balance; both on the aromatic nose and the fruit'n'savoury. Ready to go now at (nearly) 4 years of age, or, hold for another 3-5 years. Drink 2022-2027+.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2021 IconWines.ca

SpearHead Winery 2019 Pinot Noir Cuvée - 93pts

SpearHead Winery 2019 Pinot Noir Cuvée (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $42
Alcohol: 13.5%

Production: 430 cases
Date Tasted: August 26th, 2021

Tasting Notes: Opens with a stunning, generous nose of nicely integrated, earthy cherry, spiced plum and vanilla-kissed oak aromas which spill out of the glass without being overwhelming. A similar profile of flavours awaits on the elegant palate, enveloped by lively, bramble-berry acid, medium tannins and lingering, smooth, earthy spices. Possibly the winery's new benchmark release for its Pinot Noir portfolio. 

Ready to go now or hold for a few years. Bring this beauty out for a perfect Christmas turkey companion. Drink 2021-2026+

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2021 IconWines.ca

Cassini Cellars 2016 Collector's Series Cabernet Franc - 93pts

Cassini Cellars 2016 Collector's Series Cabernet Franc (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Sold out at the winery. Winery site here
Cost: $40 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.7%
Date Tasted: November 9th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Cassini Cellars makes a number of wonderful, 'big, full-bodied reds from memorable Merlots to award-winning blends. Yet, the true star of the portfolio is this consistently exquisite, single-vineyard Cabernet Franc. The depth of flavour and refinement speaks to the vineyard practices and the spare-no-expense barrel program Cassini employs to near-perfection. 

Its trademark menthol and eucalyptus aromas and flavours are on show, in spades, supported by a plethora of blue fruit, toasted oak, spices and savoury notes on the generous, seductive nose and the well-balanced, elegant palate. Ready to go now, with some decanting. Drink 2021-2026.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Villa Cafaggio 2010 Basilica Solatio Chianti Classico Riserva - 93pts

Villa Cafaggio 2010 Basilica Solatio Chianti Classico Riserva (Chianti Classico DOCG) Tuscany - Italy

Availability: Limited availability. Private wine shops like Everything Wine
Cost: $50-60 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: March 18th, 2020

Tasting Notes: At 10 years of age, this single-vineyard, Chianti Classico Reserva has matured beautifully and has started to peak, delivering nicely integrated, elegant and feminine, layers of smoke-kissed, dried red fruit and delicate, crushed flowers with a susarrus of rustic pine floating in the background. The structure is smooth and supple and finishes long. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2022.
  - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2015 The Creek - 92-93pts

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2015 The Creek (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $55 +taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 1474 cases
Date Tasted: March 7th, 2019
@TinhornCreek

Tasting Notes: Tinhorn's entry into the Icon Wine market, The Creek, will see its 2nd vintage of this Left Bank inspired, New World Meritage released this year. The 2015 edition is a gorgeous and beautifully layered blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 7% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. 

Opening with a perfumed nose of sun-warmed cherries, potpourri, sweet and savoury spices, blueberry compote, hazelnuts and vanilla, this charming, age-worthy wine offers good continuity of flavours with fine, lightly-smoked tannins and tangy, blackberry acidity framing the full-bodied, long-lasting palate. Simply delicious. 

This wine will develop further over the next 2-3 years, however, if you can't wait that long, enjoy a bottle now, but not too quickly as this beauty changes in the glass throughout the night. Drink 2019-2023.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Carpineto 2013 Riserva - 93-94pts

Carpineto 2013 Riserva (Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano DOCG) Tuscany - Italy

Availability: Private wine stores
Cost: $45-50
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: March 2nd, 2019

Tasting Notes: This is the ultimate steak wine. Now, if you are not steak (or meat of any kind) inclined than you might consider imagining a beautifully grilled, olive-oil kissed, portobello mushroom as you proceed with this review;)

What is pepper to salt? What is charred carbon to grease? Perfect companions? Brothers in arms? If the battle is to win 'taste', than let me put forth my twin-headed champion: the Carpineto Riserva and a lean, mean, beef tenderloin machine. 

The silky-smooth, Sangiovese blend, Carpineto is well-suited to grilled foods of all kinds with a balanced and complex profile which perfectly marries its red fruit and floral characters with layers of spice, worn leather and prominent iron notes like it had once been used to quench a burning blade of steel. Already 6 years of age, yet, still years from peaking with further development very likely. Drink now-2023.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Cassini Cellars 2014 The Godfather - 93pts

Cassini Cellars 2014 The Godfather (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Contact the winery direct here
Cost: $80
Alcohol: 15%
Production: 145 cases
Date Tasted: November 24th, 2018

Tasting Notes: "The Godfather" is Cassini Cellars' Icon level wine to rival wines such as Mission Hill's Oculus and LaFrenz Winery's Grand Total, but is it their Flagship wine? In previous vintages, this wine took the form of a Bordeaux/Meritage blend, matching the style of its peers, an assumption that the sum is always greater than the parts. But for the 2014 release, Cassini has chosen to focus on one variety, Cabernet Sauvignon, which just happens to be the grape the Golden Mile Bench winery excels at, year-in, year-out.

With 2% Cabernet Franc blended in to enhance the feminine notes on the nose, the 2014 Godfather is bursting with a complex array of seductive aromatics, sweet, ripe fruit and savoury notes of the sweet, cured meet and steak spice. The palate is intense, yet, gentle with ultra-fine, ripe tannins and a flavour profile layered with dark and blue fruits, exotic spices and dried herbs and fruit, namely, dates, clove and anise.

Ready to go now at 4 years of age, or, hold for another 3-5 years. Drink now-2024.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca