Aces Okanagan Estate Winery 2009 Seven Deuce Red - 88pts

Aces Okanagan Estate Winery 2009 Seven Deuce (Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19
Alcohol: 13.7%
Date Tasted: November 11th, 2012

Tasting Notes: A solid follow-up to the 2008 vintage with a little more complexity on the nose and slightly rounder tannins on the palate. Listed as a Merlot-Shiraz-Cabernet blend, without the percentages of each, the wine exudes the dark berry and cherry characters of Merlot and Shiraz while cool-climate Cabernet grapes contribute notes of dark chocolate and mixed herbs. The overall flavour profile is well supported by its oak treatment (16 months in barrel) and 3 years of age has mellowed the tannins nicely leaving an easy-drinking, red-meat loving blend for any occasion. Drink 2012-2014.
 -  Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Aces Okanagan Estate Winery 2007 Pocket Kings - 89pts

Aces Okanagan Estate Winery 2007 Pocket Kings (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $35 (down from $65 release price)
Alcohol: 13.6%
Date Tasted: June 11th, 2011

Tasting Notes: Small boutique Naramata Bench winery, Aces Okanagan Estate, produced this Meritage style wine from grapes grown on the Osoyoos and Black Sage benches. A blend of 66% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc delivering a sublime nose of dark berries, graphite and savoury, toasted oak and light spice. The dry, tart palate impresses with good continuity of characters from the nose and a long, balanced finish with lingering spice but lacks some of the complexity available in BC's other top-end blends. Drink 2011-2013.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Church and State Wines 2007 Pinot Noir - 89pts

Church and State Wines 2007 Pinot Noir (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $25.90
Alcohol: 13.8%
Date Tasted: January 12th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Fans of Stoneboat's excellent middleweight Pinot Noir should consider trying this delicious, elegant and balanced example from Church and State (and vice versa). Medium garnet in colour, this Pinot offers superb concentration of raspberry, cherry, savoury spice and earth note characters on the sublime nose and silky palate. Fully dry, yet veins of sweet fruit linger with spice on the long and refined finish.

Produced from grapes grown at the Hollenbach Family Vineyard which overlooks Skaha Lake. Enjoy with your usual Pinot-friendly game or try a classic BC combination of BBQ Pacific Salmon. Drink 2011-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Peller Estates 2008 Private Reserve Riesling - 86pts

Peller Estates 2008 Private Reserve Riesling (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores
Cost: $15.99
Alcohol: 12%
Date Tasted: February 14th, 2011

Tasting Notes: This Riesling from Peller Estates’ Okanagan winery opens with a delicate and seductive nose of orange blossoms and sweet lemon drop aromas followed by notes of mandarin oranges and kiwi fruit. One could enjoy the nose for hours. On the dry palate things fall apart a bit with the balance’o’meter leaning too far to acidity with only the perception of sweetness from citrus fruits to right it. The finish ends abruptly with only a hint of lingering minerality. Overall a good effort and an appropriately priced food wine. Drink 2011-12.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Aces Okanagan Estate Winery 2008 Pocket Queens Chardonnay - 87pts

Aces Okanagan Estate Winery 2008 Pocket Queens Chardonnay (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: VQA stores
Cost: $18
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 300 cases
Date Tasted: Dec 11th, 2010

Tasting Notes: This un-oaked Chardonnay from Naramata Bench producer Aces Okanagan Estate Winery offers a fruity nose of pear and apples complimented by mineral notes and a touch of lees aromas. Happily, it's a fairly rich Chardonnay despite the lack of any oak contact during élevage. Concentrated flavours of pear, citrus and baked apples with some welcomed green-apple tartness mingle on the dry palate and create the rich texture and moderate-plus finish. Well made and very well priced at under $20. Drink 2010-2011.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 IconWines.ca

Jackson-Triggs Vintners 2006 Proprietors' Grand Reserve Cab-Shiraz - 85pts

Jackson-Triggs Vintners 2006 Proprietors' Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: VQA stores. BCLDB stores
Cost: $19.99
Alcohol: 14.1%
Production: 1300 cases
Date Tasted: October 20th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Recently price adjusted to $19.99 from $27.99 (and appropriately so) this inky-ruby coloured wine is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Shiraz. Aged in 50% French and 50% American oak barrels for 12 months, it offers medium intense aromas of cassis, dark cherry, spice box, dates, cedar, toasted oak and mineral notes on the nose.


The dry palate is unbalanced with tart acidity and too much heat. Overall, this is a decent wine with some nice spiciness and concentrated dark berry flavours which pair perfectly with braised ribs, but can't stand-up on its own. Drink 2010-2011.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Aces Okanagan Estate Winery 2008 Seven Deuce - 87pts

Aces Okanagan Estate Winery 2008 Seven Deuce (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery (web) and VQA stores
Cost: $17.90
Alcohol: 13.7%
Productin: 1000 cases
Date Tasted: July 14th, 2010

Tasting Notes: The Seven Deuce is the entry level red from one of the Okanagan's newest wineries: Aces Okanagan Estate Winery. A blend of Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon this easy-drinking wine opens with dark cherry, blueberry and vanilla aromas. A juicy and tannic palate follows with flavours of dark berries, oak, coffee grounds and vanilla.

The marketing, full of poker images and even a large quote on the front label, may be over-extracted, but happily, the juice is not. This is a quality, food-friendly, middle-of-the-week pleaser. Pair with braised ribs or standard BBQ fare. Drink now through 2014.
 - Liam Carrier