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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+.

Cassini Cellars 2018 Malbec - 91pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here upon release
Cost: $40
Alcohol: 14.8%
Production: 200 cases
Date Tasted: November 20th, 2021

Tasting Notes: An impressive, textured Malbec with a nice blend of ripe, dark berry fruit and meaty, savoury notes of spicy tobacco, sweet tar and leather. Look for flavours of menthol and pencil shavings on the kirsch-kissed, uber-long finish where robust, refined tannins linger to the next sip.

Best to let this beautiful beast sit for another year prior to opening. Drink early-2022-2026.

Cassini Cellars 2018 Cabernet Franc - 91pts

Cassini Cellars 2018 Cabernet Franc (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Sold out at the winery. Winery site here
Cost: $40 + taxes
Alcohol: 15.3%

Production: 275 cases
Date Tasted: November 12th, 2021

Tasting Notes: Cabernet Franc is always a stand-out variety in Cassini's portfolio of 'big reds'. This single-vineyard release shows off the winery's touch with the Bordeaux grape allowing its innate funkiness and seductive aromatics to shine. Look for trademark menthol and eucalyptus aromas and flavours to be supported by a plethora of blue fruit, tobacco, toasted oak, spices and savoury characters on the generous, expressive nose and the well-balanced, pleasantly textured palate. Ready to go now, with decanting. Drink 2022-2027.

Cassini Cellars 2018 Merlot - 91pts

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

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $TBD
Alcohol: 15.4%
Date Tasted: November 8th, 2021

Tasting Notes: A dark and brooding Merlot with a masculine, film noir profile of dark fruit, black menthol smoke, kirsch, sweet tar and subtle, seductive spice - a nose to appreciate, patiently. The palate is dry with good balance thanks to uber-refined, yet, grippy tannins and a long, long finish with lingering smoky-goodness.

Ready to go now, enjoy this sexy beast with your special someone as an after-dinner treat, paired with fine, dark chocolate. Drink 2021-2028.

Cassini Cellars 2017 The Aristocrat - 92+pts

Cassini Cellars 2018 The Aristocrat (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $40 + taxes (est.)
Alcohol: 14.9%
Production: 275 cases
Date Tasted: October 27th, 2021

Tasting Notes: An excellent expression of The Aristocrat from Oliver's Cassini Cellars which has long been a source of exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon in the Okanagan Valley. The 2018 is true to its roots and to its vintage with plenty of its signature mint and Fig Newton cookie aromas and flavours and with a slightly harder, masculine edge. The oak influence is near perfect and supports the ripe fruit, creating a firm, yet, refined structure and adding plenty of texture.

Pair this beauty with a lean, mean tenderloin of beef and decant for several hours. Drink now or hold for further integration and development. Drink 2023-2028.

Cassini Cellars 2018 Maximus - 92pts

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

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $40 + taxes (est.)
Alcohol: 15.5%
Production: 500 cases
Date Tasted: October 26th, 2021

Tasting Notes: The 2018 Maximus is a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot, 4% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. It opens with a feminine, refined nose of both dense, dark fruit and cheerful, sun-drenched red fruit aromas and supporting notes of sweet tar, cherry nibs, anise and vanilla spice.

The palate needs another year or two in the bottle or a massive decant to unlock the elegance within. Look for a similar flavour profile as the nose with additional complexity thanks to the very present and balanced influence of oak. Best to be patient to maximus your investment and wait another year or two. Drink 2023-2028.

Cassini Cellars 2018 Quattro - 90pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $34
Alcohol: 14.1%
Production: 1300 cases
Date Tasted: October 21st, 2021

Tasting Notes: This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah opens with a sexy nose of dark fruit and berry liqueur aromas and a supporting cast of licorice, vanilla and spice notes. The seductive nose is followed by a dense palate with a similar, dark fruit-leading flavour profile and a good amount of savoury goodness in its toasted oak, spicebox and peppery characters. Ready to go now or hold for further development. Drink 2021-2025+

Cassini Cellars 2017 Maximus - 91+pts

Cassini Cellars 2017 Maximus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $44 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 15.3%
Production: 550 cases
Date Tasted: November 18th, 2020

Tasting Notes: The 2017 edition of the Maximus is a compilation of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 8% Malbec. As a wine built to last, at only 3 years of age its showing a youthful, brooding nose today which needs plenty of time to open up. Look for concentrated, ripe dark fruit like cassis, black cherry and sun-soaked blackberry aromas to be supported by subtle, toasted oak and blackened vanilla notes. Spices and oak show more prominently on the, otherwise, similarly-flavoured palate where youthful, grippy tannins and fresh acidity add plenty of structure and texture. Best to wait another year or two. Drink 2022-2027.

Cassini Cellars 2016 Maximus - 91-92pts

Cassini Cellars 2016 Maximus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Sold out. Look for the 2017 vintage direct from winery here
Cost: $44 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 15.4%
Production: 550 cases
Date Tasted: November 15th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Both beautiful and brooding, the 2016 Maximus is now a year on from its release and still showing youthful vitality. Robust, minty Cabernet Sauvignon takes the lead here, with supporting roles played by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec which add juicy, ripe, dark berry flavours and aromatic notes of incense, spa spice and a hint of cola. 14 months in 2 year old barrels (both French and American) have nicely fused the fruit and savoury elements while refining the tannins and mouthfeel to silky levels. This blend should last for many years in your cellar with some further refinement to come. Or, enjoy now with a long decant. Drink 2021-2026.

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.

Cassini Cellars 2017 Collector's Series Cabernet Sauvignon - 91pts

Cassini Cellars 2017 Collector's Series Cabernet Sauvignon (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Directly from the winery's site here
Cost: $36 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.7%
Date Tasted: November 6th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Seductive, dark and sexy, this is a Femme Fatale of a Cabernet with a developing bouquet of ripe cassis fruit, minty cocoa, sweet pipe smoke and light, perfume notes. A smooth palate follows with refined, elegant tannins, lingering spice and similar flavours - truly, quite impressive continuity from the nose. Ready to go now and should make a fine pairing for leaner cuts of beef or venison. Drink now-2025.

Cassini Cellars 2016 The Aristocrat - 92pts

Cassini Cellars 2016 The Aristocrat (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $40 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 15.2%
Production: 300 cases
Date Tasted: December 4th, 2018

Re-Tasted: November 4th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Another stellar vintage of the complex, long-lasting, single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon known as The Aristocrat. Balanced and ripe, the 2016 shows excellent typicity for the label with telltale notes of mint and Fig Newton nicely integrated into the dark fruit and oak influence layers on the masculine, invigorating nose and the full-bodied, beautifully structured palate.

Would benefit from another 1-2 years in bottle to mature further. With more prominent tannins than its Collector's Series cousin, this Cab is ready to take on more marbled cuts of beef like a fine, charred, rib eye steak. Drink 2020-2026.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Re-Tasting Notes: Coming into its own just as its drinking window opens. Tannins have mellowed and integrated beautifully. Mint notes are still deliciously prominent with a touch of licorice and charcoal now showing on the finish.

Cassini Cellars 2017 Quattro - 90+pts

Cassini Cellars 2017 Quattro (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $34
Alcohol: 14.7%
Production: 500 cases
Date Tasted: November 2nd, 2020

Tasting Notes: What was once an entry-level blend for the Cassini portfolio, the Quattro has evolved into a robust, powerhouse of a wine; full-bodied, intense and dense. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot opens with concentrated dark fruit and berry liqueur aromas with a susurrus of licorice and anise notes. The seductive nose precedes an equally dense and food-friendly palate which showcases similar flavours and additional layers of savoury goodness; charred oak, black cherry and dark spices. Ready to go now or hold for further development. Drink 2021-2026+

Cassini Cellars 2017 Unoaked Chardonnay - 88pts

Cassini Cellars 2017 Unoaked Chardonnay (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $20
Alcohol: 13.8%
Production: 778 cases
Date Tasted: July 4th, 2019

Tasting Notes: Though unoaked, this is a rich Chardonnay with, at least, partial malolactic fermentation, providing balance the naturally high acid level in the Burgundian grape and supporting the medley of orchard fruit on offer; apples, pears and peaches. Refreshingly crisp, but never harsh, with a touch of RS on the palate, this is an excellent Chardonnay to pair with Greek food like pork souvlaki with all the fixins'. Ready to go now. Drink 2019-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Cassini Cellars 2016 Collector's Series Cabernet Sauvignon - 90pts

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

Availability: Not yet released. Winery site here
Cost: $TBD
Alcohol: 14.7%
Date Tasted: December 5th, 2018

Tasting Notes: A ripe and perfumed Cabernet Sauvignon. Mellow and feminine with some lush, blue and dark fruit aromas mingling, gently, with aromatic high notes and a kiss of toasty oak on the nose. Tannins are fairly mellow on the dry, yet, juicy palate with good continuity of flavours from the nose and with nicely integrated alcohol. Cocoa nibs and a touch of flat spice linger on the long finish.

Ready to go now and should make a fine pairing for leaner cuts of beef or venison. Drink now-2022.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 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

Cassini Cellars 2015 Maximus - 91-92pts

Cassini Cellars 2015 Maximus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $40 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 14.7%
Production: 550 cases
Date Tasted: November 10th, 2018

Tasting Notes: Another stellar vintage for Cassini's Maximus which sees 56% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 28% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec to produce a brooding wine with intense dark fruit and layers of savoury notes on the nose and palate. Look for ripe cassis and wild blackberry elements harmoniously integrated with oak spice, light menthol, All Sorts licorice, vanilla and fine, grippy tannins. Wild berry acidity keeps the long finish lively and your mouth wanting more.

Excellent today, with plenty of decanting, but best to wait another 1-2 years for the wine to develop further. Drink 2020-2025.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Cassini Cellars 2015 Malbec - 91-92pts

Cassini Cellars 2015 Malbec (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Not yet released (Winter 2018). Direct from the winery here upon release
Cost: $TBA
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 70 cases
Date Tasted: July 3rd, 2018

Tasting Notes: Often only grown in the Okanagan Valley to be a complimentary component in a Bordeaux-styled blend, Cassini's inky-purple Malbec can stand alone with a profile of upfront berry fruits and impressive backend structure.

French oak influence is well integrated, supporting the plumy-blackberry scented nose and the grippy,-tannin and licorice-menthol kissed palate. Savoury spice and pipe tobacco add depth on the long finish. A scrumptious red to be sure. Awaiting a December 2018 release. Drink mid-2019-2025.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Cassini Cellars 2016 Pinot Noir - 89pts

Cassini Cellars 2016 Pinot Noir (Osoyoos East Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $24 including taxes
Alcohol: 14.6%
Production: 2103 cases
Date Tasted: July 3rd, 2018

Tasting Notes: A full-ish, full-flavoured Pinot Noir that does a nice job appealing to both typicity-seeking Pinotphiles and lovers of 'bigger' reds. Cherry liqueur, vanilla bean, light spice, oak and red currant aromas grace the nose while the palate offers a vibrant mouthfeel with plenty of concentrated cherry and cassis flavours and lively, blood orange acidity. Ready to go now. Drink now-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Cassini Cellars 2015 Cabernet Franc - 91-93pts

Cassini Cellars 2015 Cabernet Franc (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Not yet released (Winter 2018). Direct from the winery here upon release
Cost: $TBA
Alcohol: 14.7%
Production: 117 cases
Date Tasted: July 5th, 2018

Tasting Notes: Winemaker and proprietor Adrian Cassini has a knack for producing ripe, elegant Cabernet Franc, year-to-year. The 2015 is no exception, though, in truth, it is quite exceptional. It is both true to the variety with an enchanting combination of savoury-floral and blue fruit aromas and flavours and confidently delivers the signature menthol/Eucalyptus notes of the house, or, rather, its essential Cassini-ness.

This intensely concentrated, full-bodied Franc can stand on own, or pair with a wide range of dishes, from lean, simple filets to spicy, roasted game thanks to its mouth-watering, spice-infused, long, long finish.

Only recently bottled, I'm giving this wine a ranged rating reflecting where it is today and where it will undoubtedly be in due time. Look for this excellent Cabernet Franc to become available around December. Drink mid-2019-2025.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

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