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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.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon - 91+pts

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

Availability: Website here
Cost: $43 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: July 5th, 2023
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: An elegant and smooth Cabernet Sauvignon with a sensual nose of both dark berry fruits and savoury spices and a delicate susón of cedar planks and olives. The similarly flavoured, dry palate offers a heightened presence of its fruit component and beautiful, silky tannins. The finish is long and effortlessly acidic. Pair with a modestly seasoned filet mignon. Ready to go now or hold for another 3-4 years for some continued development. Drink 2023-2027+.

Calliope Wines 2022 Figure 8 White - 87pts

Calliope Wines 2022 Figure 8 White - BC VQA

Availability: Direct from the winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: June 9th, 2023

Tasting Notes: The Calliope brand is produced by the same family behind Okanagan Valley's iconic Burrowing Owl and offers well-made, approachable wines at entry-level prices. The Figure 8 White is a blend of 57% Sauvignon Blanc, 23% Gewürztraminer, 15% Riesling and 5% Viognier sourced from vineyards in both the Similkameen and Okanagan Valleys.

The style is crisp and dry with energetic notes of apple, lemon-lime, stonefruit, lime zest and peach pit. Pair with shrimp and prawn dishes and enjoy it in its youth. Drink now-2024.

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.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2019 Meritage - 92pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $53 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: May 28th, 2023
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: The assemblage of Burrowing Owl's hand-harvested and barrel-aged 2019 Meritage is consistent with the 2018 with just a little more Cab Franc and a little less Merlot and Petit Verdot. The final blend is made up of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec all sourced from the winery's Oliver and Osoyoos vineyards.

True to its lineage, this vintage of the winery's flagship wine is powerfully feminine with excellent intensity on the bold, black fruit and mint-scented nose and on the smooth, yet, mouth-watering, dark fruit and spice-infused palate. Approachable in its youth, enjoy with nicely salted, leaner cuts of beef or with your best dark chocolate for an after-dinner treat. Drink 2023-2027.

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.

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 Syrah - 90pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery and private wine shops
Cost: $35 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: August 31st, 2022
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: A cherry Coke-scented, youthful Syrah with black cherry, cola, black plum and black pepper notes leading the way while aromas of toasted oak and charred meat play a supporting role. Sourced from the winery's vineyards in Oliver and Osoyoos, the 2020 Syrah is dense and meaty with a rustic, iron and charred-oak edge to its cherry cola'n'spice flavoured, dry palate. Should be used to dress-up cheaper cuts of meat with nicely charred fat and big, bold sauces. Ready to go now or hold for 2-3 years. Drink 2022-2026.

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.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2020 Merlot - 90pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $32 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: August 23rd, 2022
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: The Burrowing Owl Merlot is back to its intense, yet, elegant self with the newly released 2020 vintage which elevates the label's rich'n'racy style to more familiar heights. Always a beautiful blend of blackened berries, licorice-spiced oak and punchy acidity, the 2020 offers more depth and length on the palate and finish with added notes of eucalyptus, cooking spice and iron. Ready to go now thanks to fine, supportive tannins and a well-integrated flavours. Drink 2022-2026.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2021 Rosé - 92pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $30
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: July 26th, 2022
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: A sublime, deceptively simple blush carefully constructed by a combination of fruit sourced from multiple Southern Okanagan sites and with the use of multiple rosé techniques. A blend of 93% Cabernet France and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, the majority of the Franc is purpose picked for this wine and spends 6 hours on the skins before pressing leaving a delicate, gentle pink hue and a romantic, aromatic nose.

The palate offers everything you would hope to get out of a blush wine with excellent balance of delicious red fruit, vibrant citrus rind, light tannin and effortless acidity. Ready to go now. Drink 2022-2023.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2019 Cabernet Franc - 91pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $36
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: March 8th, 2022
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: The unsung hero of the current Burrowing Owl portfolio. The 2019 Cabernet Franc is a beautiful, feminine wine with a lovely expression of fragrant, floral aromas and ripe, red fruit notes. The balance between pretty and elegant elements on the palate is spot on with excellent structure coming from refined tannins, playful, wild berry acidity and supporting, savoury flavours. Ready to go now, on its own or as a sophisticated companion to a simple meal like pizza or spaghetti. Drink 2022-2026.

Calliope Wines 2019 Figure Eight Red - 87pts

Calliope Wines 2019 Figure Eight Red (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19-21 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: March 4th, 2022

Tasting Notes:

Juicy and approachable with food-friendly, brisk acidity, the Figure Eight is a straight-forward, entry-level, red blend of 73% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Syrah and 1% Petit Verdot.

A flavourful blast of berries opens both the otherwise, nicely savoury nose and palate where the intense fruit is balanced with notes of licorice, tobacco and toasted oak and herbs. Pair with all-things BBQ'd or appies. Drink now-2024.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2019 Syrah - 89pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery and private wine shops
Cost: $35 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: February 28th, 2022
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: Sourced from the winery's vineyards in Oliver and Osoyoos, the 2019 Syrah is complex and dense with a rough, charred edge to its black plum and black cherry scented nose and on the full-bodied, textured palate that follows.

Not as versatile in the food-pairing department as recent vintages. Look to this Syrah to balance out cheaper cuts of meet with nicely charred fat and big, bold sauces. Ready to go now or hold for 2-3 years. Drink 2022-2025.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2018 Meritage - 90-91pts

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2018 Meritage (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $50 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: March 4th, 2022
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: Burrowing Owl's 2018 Meritage is a blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec sourced from the winery's Oliver and Osoyoos vineyards. Hand-harvested and barrel aged for 15 months prior to the assemblage whereupon the wine is then aged a further 3 and a half months in oak before bottling. The resulting wine is big, yet, supremely approachable, with a rounded nose and palate offering bold, red and dark fruit characters, supported by savoury, spicy notes of wild herbs, dried earth, anise and toasty, aromatic wood.

A pretty and elegant wine to open now or to put away for a rainy day within the next 3-4 years. Enjoy with nicely salted, leaner cuts of beef or with your best dark chocolate for an after-dinner treat. Drink 2022-2026.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2019 Merlot - 88pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $32 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: February 17th, 2022
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: Elegant on the dark fruit and charred, licorice-oak scented nose which precedes a rich'n'racy palate with good continuity of flavours framed by punchy acid, blackened tannins and a finish loaded with spice and iron. This is a Merlot to pair with dark chocolate or raw tenderloin, rather than with BBQ'd meats. Ready to go now or hold for 2-3 years. Drink 2022-2025.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2018 Merlot - 90pts

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2018 Merlot (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $32 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: March 27th, 2021
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: Both elegant and approachable, this Merlot captures the hot Okanagan sun and effortlessly combines its savoury, terroir and barrel flavours into a supremely enjoyable wine which can stand on its own as a juicy, refined sipper or as beautiful pairing for roasted or BBQ'd meats. Look for ripe berry, semi-dark chocolate, vanilla and licorice on the nose and palate and with a plethora of herbs'n'spice on the mouth-watering finish. Ready to go now or hold for 3-4 years. Drink 2021-2024.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2018 Syrah - 90pts

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2018 Syrah (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery and private wine shops
Cost: $35 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: March 27th, 2021
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: A layered Syrah that opens with a developing bouquet of black cherry, light cola and sweetened peppercorn aromas followed by a mouth-watering, red and dark fruit flavoured palate whose depth of spice is revealed in the delayed, long-lasting finish. Extremely food-friendly with no overwhelming elements and the right amount of oak and tannin to pair with Striploin or Ribeye steaks (peppercorn encrusted, of course). Ready to go now or hold for 2-3 years. Drink 2021-2024.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2016 Meritage - 92pts

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2016 Meritage (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $50 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: June 24th, 2020
@BurrowingOwlBC

Tasting Notes: Burrowing Owl's Meritage is a blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec sourced from the winery's Oliver and Osoyoos vineyards. Once each component is hand-harvested they ferment in barrel and spend 14 months ageing in oak separately prior to the assemblage whereupon the wine is then aged a further 4 months in oak before bottling. Its a patient, ever-adapting process to deliver the best expression of the vintage whilst keeping with the house style of big, yet, supremely approachable, rounded red wines bursting with New World, bold fruit characters, supporting, savoury notes and feminine, sweet spices.

A pretty and elegant wine to open now or to put away for a rainy day within the next 3-4 years. Enjoy with nicely salted, leaner cuts of beef. Drink 2020-2024.

Calliope Wines 2018 Figure 8 Red - 87pts

Calliope Wines 2018 Figure 8 Red - BC VQA

Availability: Direct from the winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: June 7th, 2020

Tasting Notes: For an entry-level red blend, the Figure 8 Red offers impressive density on the dark fruit, spice and black licorice scented nose. The medium-plus bodied, slightly smoky palate is food-friendly with bright, mixed-berry acidity which cleanses the mouth between bites and should pair nicely with BBQ favourites. Drink now-2022.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

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