Averill Creek Vineyard 2017 Pinot Noir - 91pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2017 Pinot Noir (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Availability: Select VQA stores
Cost: $27-30 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: June 20th, 2022

Tasting Notes: Cowichan Valley's Averill Creek has become a leader in producing consistently excellent Island Pinot Noir. Strike that. Cowichan Valley's Averill Creek has become a leader in producing consistently excellent BC Pinot Noir! Both rich and intense, yet, utterly typical and true to the aloof, earthy qualities of the grape as grown in BC's (relatively) cool climate.

Look for black raspberry and ripe cherry fruit supported by forest floor and warm rock notes on the gorgeous nose with a wild berry medley of fruits, herbs, spice and cedar on the smooth, layered palate. Tasting beautifully now at 5 years of age. Drink now-2024.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2022 IconWines.ca

Averill Creek Vineyard 2017 Dry Gewurztraminer - 88pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2017 Dry Gewurztraminer (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Availability: Select VQA stores
Cost: $19-20 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: June 19th, 2022

Tasting Notes: An altogether different take on the traditional, gooey Gewurztraminer which usually gets produced in BC. The Averill Creek Dry Gewurztraminer is an explosion of aroma with fragrant blossoms and exotic fruits leading the way and a pleasant undercurrent of minerals playing supportive role. 

The subtle palate offers more in the way of texture than flavour with delicate notes of stone fruit and citrus amongst waves of refreshing acidity and cool steel. An atypical Gewurztraminer to be sure, but a memorable one. At five years of age, drink this interesting wine right away. Drink 2022.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2022 IconWines.ca

Averill Creek Vineyard 2015 Somenos Series Pinot Noir - 92pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2015 Somenos Series Pinot Noir (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Availability: Sold out. Other vintages available here
Cost: $50 + tax
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: March 12th, 2020

Tasting Notes: A beautiful Pinot Noir, both sultry and vibrant with a smoky profile of lightly charred spices, warm earth and racy, bright cherry and blood orange fruit. Refined and long on the palate with an overall elegance that places it on par with the best Pinots in the Province. Drink now-2023.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Averill Creek Vineyard 2014 Foch Eh - 87pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2014 Foch Eh (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $15.99 (including tax)
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 452 cases
Date Tasted: July 23rd, 2015

Tasting Notes: This tasty, cheekily-named wine is made from 100% Marechal Foch and makes an excellent, low-cost option for when you want to try something new and something a little different. Offers some classic and uniquely Foch aromas of toasted marshmallow, Grandma's grape jelly (including the canning wax), candied rhubarb, wild berry fruit and dried herbs. Palate is tangy, juicy and very raw with some prune-y fruit characters, smoke and spices on the moderate finish. Drink 2015-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Averill Creek Vineyard 2014 Gewurztraminer - 88pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2014 Gewurztraminer (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $15.82 ($18.20 including tax)
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 538 cases
Date Tasted: June 7th, 2015

Tasting Notes: Enjoy a classic, floral and lychee fruit infused nose on this Cowichan Valley-grown Gewurztraminer from Averill Creek with peach, steel, mandarin candy and light spice aromas supporting. The palate opens with upfront, plump pear and honeydew flavours followed by lean, mineral and citrus characters which lead to a rather dry finish thanks to its heightened acidity. A touch more residual sugar would be more 'typical' for the variety but perhaps not as unique - a pleasantly dry alternative to the often, 'sticky' Gewurztraminers on the market. Drink 2015-2016.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Averill Creek Vineyard 2008 Pinot Gris - 86pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2008 Pinot Gris (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19.90 (BC), $25.95 (AB)
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 900 cases
Date Tasted: December 22nd, 2010

Tasting Notes: 2008 must have been a tough year to ripen fruit in the Cowichan Valley. When compared to the excellent 2007 vintage of this Pinot Gris, the alcohol and sweetness is way down for the 2008 release which means the fruit prior to fermentation lacked sugar (brix). The acidity that Pinot Gris generates in a cool climate is formidable and the lack of enough sweetness leaves the wine a bit unbalanced and short on complexity. However, it is not all bad news for this wine as there are many things to like: a nice nose of citrus, baked apples and lees aromas with crisp, green apple tartness and pear, mineral and apple cider flavours. Drink 2011-2012.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Averill Creek Vineyard 2008 Prevost - 86pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2008 Prevost (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19.90 (BC), $25.95 (AB)
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 1100 cases
Date Tasted: December 31st, 2010

Tasting Notes: The nose of this Marechal Foch dominated blend is fresh and intense with field berry, chocolate, light oak, prune and rustic earth aromas which spill out of the glass. The cool and wet 2008 growing season has robbed the wine of equally intense flavours on the dry and acidic palate. This is a wine that would be best served with food as the right pairing will bring out the rustic berry fruit flavours delivering a unique drinking experience. Drink 2011-2012.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Averill Creek Vineyard 2009 Pinot Grigio - 88pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2009 Pinot Grigio (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here, BCLDB and VQA stores
Cost: $17.90 (BC), $24.95 (AB)
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 900 cases
Date Tasted: December 10th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Crisp texture, concentrated citrus fruit and refreshing acidity- everything you want from a Pinot Grigio. The only thing missing is a hot deck to enjoy it on. Ah, the tribulations of a white wine drinker in December. Stock-up and save some for next summer. In the meantime, enjoy this beauty as an aperitif to a big holiday meal. Nothing better to wake up your palate than a splash of a finely balanced citrus and mineral nectar.

One of the more impressive things about this Pinot Grigio is that it's not only about chilled-citrus-goodness. As the wine warms up in the glass many Pinot Grigio (un-oaked Pinot Gris, essentially) fall flat. The Averill Creek example offers layers of apricot and fig aromas as it warms in the glass - nice complexity for an otherwise straight-forward style of wine.

Averill Creek Vineyard is quietly becoming a provincial power in all things 'Pinot'. Producing a fine Pinot Noir and two of the best Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris (depending on the vintage) wines on the market. The Vancouver Island, Cowichan Valley winery is making a push to becoming more available in the Lower Mainland of BC and beyond by getting this excellent Pinot Grigio listed with the BCLDB stores. Many of the winery's products are also available in Alberta. Visit their website (link above) for more details on where to buy.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 IconWines.ca

Averill Creek Vineyard 2008 Cowichan Black - 86pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2008 Cowichan Black (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Cost: $18 (Direct from winery)

Date Tasted: September 5th, 2009

Tasting Notes: Made from 100% Vancouver Island grown blackberries this semi-sweet desert wine has a slight acidic finish that lingers. Intense nose of sweet berries and very smooth on the palate. Serve this full-bodied, 16% alcohol charmer over vanilla ice cream or sip it chilled on its own. - LC

SKU: 436600

Averill Creek Vineyard 2008 Somenos Rose - 87pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2008 Somenos Rose (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Cost: $17 (Direct from winery)

Date Tasted: September 5th, 2009

Tasting Notes: This is a blend of Marechal Foch, Pinot Noir and Merlot grapes. This wine has a wonderful balance of acidity to fruit flavours (appearance of sweatness) that make this wine a perfect patio sipper. A strawberry-apple nose and bright pink in colour. I wish I had discovered this wine, another winner from Averill Creek Vineyard, earlier in the year. Keep this Rose in mind for any remaining sunny summer days or save in the cellar for first sign of sun next year. - LC

SKU: 110148

Averill Creek Vineyard 2007 Prevost - 85pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2007 Prevost (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. VQA stores

Cost: $22

Date Tasted: September 5th, 2009

Tasting Notes: Named for the mountain on whose lower slopes the winery rests, this is a sly take on a Bordeaux-style blend. Made of 85% Marechal Foch, 10% Merlot and 5% Marechal-Cabernet Sauvignon hybrid, this wine shows many characteristics of a Meritage blend: dark-ruby colour, berry, licorise and tobacco flavours. This is full-bodied wine with soft tannins and acidity that would pair well with steak and other full-flavour dishes. - LC

SKU: 581140

Averill Creek Vineyard 2007 Pinot Noir - 87pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2007 Pinot Noir (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Decanted: 4hrs

Cost: $28 (Direct from winery)

Date Tasted: September 5th, 2009

Tasting Notes: This is a Pinot Noir that shows a lot of promise. Ready to drink now but would benefit from 2-4 years in the cellar to develop further. Dark ruby in colour with black cherry, dark fruit and smoky flavours. This oak-aged wine (mixture of new and one to four year old French oak) offers layers of fruit and leather on the palate. A long finish with fairly tidy tannins make it a joy to drink alone but would truly come alive paired with duck or light game in fruit or tea-based sauces.

I look forward to tasting future vintages of this wine as Averill Creek is headed in the right direction with this hardest-to-grow of grapes . - LC

SKU: 174763

Averill Creek Vineyard 2007 Pinot Gris - 90pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2007 Pinot Gris (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Cost: $23 (Direct from winery)
Date Tasted: September 5th, 2009

Tasting Notes: This is the barrel-fermented cousin to Averill Creek's Pinot Grigio. The 2006 vintage won Gold at the All-Canadian Wine Championships and if the 2007 doesn't enjoy similar success I will be very surprised. The nose offers melon and peach aromas. The palate is full of butter, creamy-fruit and mineral notes and despite going through a complete maloactic fermentation there is enough residual acid to cut the full oak flavours. This is a superbly balanced wine. A real winner that will pair nicely with seafood or light pastas or can be enjoyed on its own.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2009 IconWines.ca

Averill Creek Vineyard 2008 Pinot Grigio - 89pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2008 Pinot Grigio (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Cost: $18 (Direct from winery)

Date Tasted: September 5th, 2009

Tasting Notes: Fermented in stainless steel this wine, along with its Pinot Gris cousin, show the skills that the Averill Creek team have in the handling of white varieties. This is a gold medal winner at the All Canadian Wine Championships which showcases all the fruit and mineral flavours that an expertly made Pinot Gris can offer in the cool-climate appellation of Cowichan Valley.

The Averill Creek Vineyards offer a terroir of sometimes steep, south facing slopes at the base of Prevost Mountain in Canada's only Maritime Mediterranean climatic zone. The appellation has the warmest mean year-round temperature anywhere in Canada. All of the grapes are estate grown and managed. This is a winery to watch.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2009 IconWines.ca