Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2012 Oldfield Series Kerner Icewine - 88pts

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2012 Oldfield Series Kerner Icewine (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $57.99 (375ml)
Alcohol: 10.5%
Production: 90 cases
Date Tasted: December 12th, 2013

Tasting Notes: Delivers what we all expect from BC Icewine with intense, sweet, baked fruit on the nose and palate. Apple cider, apricot, peach and lime fruit galore with light mineral and nut characters. Texture is more of the 2% variety than the homo milk mouth feel that other Icewines offer, yet the balance is good and the finish is long. Drink 2013-2017+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

On a side note: With the release of the 2012 edition of their Kerner Icewine, Tinhorn Creek now has their whole portfolio sealed with screw caps with the final hold-out being their 375ml icewine bottle that took a few years to procure

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2011 Oldfield Series Kerner Icewine - 89-90pts

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2011 Oldfield Series Kerner Icewine (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $29.99 (200ml)
Alcohol: 13.3%
Date Tasted: November 8th, 2012

Tasting Notes: A remarkably consistent product from Tinhorn that boasts apricot, apple cider, lime and canned peach aromas on the gentle nose and similar flavours on the sweet and tangy palate. It's the juxtaposition of the sugary, fruit puree syrup and mouth-watering acid that makes for the uniquely icewine experience: an intense, lively texture, worth the price of admission. Palate also offers light nut flavours making this year's edition a great pairing for pecan pie or similar desserts. Put this icewine away for a few years and reap the benefits of a richer and more tropical palate. Drink 2012-2017+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

SummerGate Winery 2009 Kerner - 88+pts

SummerGate Winery 2009 Kerner (Summerland) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Inquiries can be made direct to the winery here and Liberty Wine Merchants
Cost: $19.90
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 61 cases
Date Tasted: March , 2011

Tasting Notes: Wisely, the winemaker for new Summerland winery, SummerGate, fermented this certified organic Kerner to a manageable 13.5% leaving ample residual sugar to balance the crisp acidity native to the cool-climate loving Riesling-Trollinger cross. The result is a full, off-dry charmer with abundant tropical and citrus fruit character. May lack the sublime subtlety and long finish of the winery's amazing Riesling Two, but it makes up for it with a joyful expression of lush fruit.

Conventional wisdom would suggest a pairing of spicy, Asian food, which is hard to disagree with. However, my ultimate pairing suggestion would be a secluded hot deck in the apex of the summer sun, wearing nothing but an ice bucket over your doo-da and soaking up the rays. Has the residual sugar to age, but I would recommend enjoying this beauty in its youth. Drink 2011-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2009 Oldfield Series Kerner Icewine - 86-88pts

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2009 Oldfield Series Kerner Icewine (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here. Select VQA stores
Cost: $29.99 (375ml)
Alcohol: 12.6%
Production: 302 cases
Date Tasted: September 30th, 2010

Tasting Notes: When conditions cooperate Tinhorn Creek produces icewine from their block of Kerner grapes (a winter-hearty cross of Riesling and Trollinger). In 2009 conditions were met and the result from the Golden Mile winery is a tasty treat of a dessert wine but one that lacks the overall intensity of the top icewines produced in BC.

The nose offers aromas of apricot, lemon rind, maple, slate mineral and smoky notes. The fully-sweet palate follows with a citrus medley of tangerine, orange rind and lemon flavours. This Oldfield Series release is appropriately priced as an entry-level icewine - one that can be enjoyed on its own or served over vanilla ice cream. Drink 2010-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010