Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2013 Ehrenfelser - 88pts

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2013 Ehrenfelser (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19.95
Alcohol: 12%
Date Tasted: June 19th, 2014

Tasting Notes: Ehrenfelser, a cross of Riesling and Sylvaner, performs well in the cooler pockets of the Okanagan Valley and in the hands of East Kelowna's Summerhill is presented in a sweet, refreshing and juicy style with loads of Mott's fruit cup and honeydew aromas and flavours. With 32g/l of residual sugar, this is an off-dry wine with a capital 'Off'! Though, there is also plenty of residual grapefruit acidity to keep the palate from feeling too heavy. Nice undertones of spice and minerals linger on the finish.

Marketed by Summerhill as their 'Hot Tub Wine' and hard to disagree. Be forewarned that this wine goes down with extreme ease - when put to good use, it will jump-start the conversation of any stalled party. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Cedar Creek Estate Winery 2009 Ehrenfelser - 88pts

Cedar Creek Estate Winery 2009 Ehrenfelser (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Limited. Winery direct and select VQA stores
Cost: $18.99
Alcohol: 13.8%
Date Tasted: September 25th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Ehrenfelser is a cross of Riesling and Sylvaner and performs very well in the cooler parts of the Okanagan Valley. So well, in fact, that I'm surprised we don't see more of it. Cedar Creek's is the best of the bunch year-in, year-out. Perhaps due to the way they meticulously manage the vineyard or perhaps the vineyard site itself. Whatever the case, it's a fantastic wine, perfect for hot summer days and which easily sells out each year. My tip for the next vintage is to go into your local VQA store and ask for it at the counter rather than search the shelves. It sells so fast that some stores don't bother to stock it out front.

If you do get your hands on some you'll get a lovely aromatic wine with perfume, cooking spice, citrus and mineral aromas on the intense nose. The ever-so-slightly off-dry palate offers refreshing acidity and good continuity of flavours from the nose. Excellent balance with a long-ish finish. Drink this wine in its youth. Drink 2010-2012.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010