Mission Hill Estate Winery 2016 Five Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc - 85pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2016 Five Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $13-15 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5
Date Tasted: April 14th, 2018

Tasting Notes: Soured from vineyards in Oliver and Osoyoos, this entry-level Sauvignon Blanc offers some variety typicity in the form of bright, green apple acidity and mineral-infused citrus notes on the nose and (mostly) dry palate, Beyond that, the dominant characteristics are 'lean, tart, white'. 

Could you add 'tasty' to the list? Yes, but classic Sauvignon Blanc it is not. Drink now-2019.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2014 Perpetua - 91-92pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2014 Perpetua (Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $55 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5
Date Tasted: December 31st, 2017

Tasting Notes: With the Perpetua shooting up in price over the past few years and its lavish presentation (the pewter, embossed label is a particularly rich touch) it's tempting to look only for faults to write about and jump to the conclusion that its not worth the hefty price tag. But 'worth' and 'value' are relative terms and this is one heck of a great Chardonnay. Damn it!

Sourced from the winery's most Southern vineyard near Osoyoos, this Chardonnay admirably showcases the flavours and aromas the grape can offer in BC. Pale gold, in colour, with a joyful blend of flowers, honey, orchard and citrus fruit aromas on the beautiful bouquet which carry through with excellent consistency to the ever-so-slightly off-dry and (nearly) full-bodied palate where added mineral and spice notes linger on the long, balanced finish.

Ready to go now or hold for further development. Drink now-2021.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Ganton and Larsen Prospect Winery 2012 Haynes Barn Merlot Cabernet - 85pts

Ganton and Larsen Prospect Winery 2012 Haynes Barn Merlot Cabernet (Okangan Valley) BC

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores
Cost: $13.29 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: February 8th, 2016

Tasting Notes: A blend of Merlot and both Cabernets offering a fruity, plump nose of ripe, sun-baked blueberries and prickly cassis aromas with light, menthol and vanilla notes in the background. The dry, blue fruit-infused palate lacks refinement and structure with acidity running amok and mild tannins failing to appear until the short finish. Drink now.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - 88pts

Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $25.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%

Date Tasted: January 19th, 2016

Tasting Notes: If you're looking for a fruit-forward, mouth-watering Cabernet Sauvignon with soft, rounded edges, then this is the one for you. Classic cassis and blackberry fruit supported by dark chocolate, mint, licorice and dried herb notes on the vibrant nose and (nearly) dry palate. Ready to go now. Drink now-2018.

- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Reserve Pinot Noir - 88pts

Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Reserve Pinot Noir (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $24.49 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: January 18th, 2016

Tasting Notes: A pleasantly perfumed and easy-drinking Pinot Noir with a splash of residual sugar on the well-balanced palate and candied red fruit highlighting the brambly, sweetly-aromatic, vanilla-infused nose. Drink now-2018.

- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Five Vineyards Cabernet-Merlot - 84pts

Mission Hill Family Estate 2013 Five Vineyards Cabernet-Merlot (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $15.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: January 18th, 2016

Tasting Notes: A Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon leading blend, with smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, sourced from Southern Okanagan Valley vineyards near Osoyoos and Oliver. Nose offers the expected Cab-Merlot aromas of dark berry fruit, cocoa nibs, Fall flowers and spiced oak but also some sharp, stem-y notes that sour the bouquet slightly and permeate through the dry, intense, dark fruit and charred oak-infused palate. Drink now-2017.

- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Fern Walk Vintners 2014 Sauvignon Blanc - 86pts

Fern Walk Vintners 2014 Sauvignon Blanc (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC 

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores
Cost: $14.99-16.99 + tax
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: October 15th, 2015

Tasting Notes: Produced by the Mission Hill conglomerate and sold exclusively through BC Liquor Stores, the Fern Walk label offers only two wines, so far, this tangy, Sauvignon Blanc and a keep-it-simple Pinot Gris.

A straight-forward wine, without any bells and whistles, this Sauvignon Blanc does offer a refreshing, pungent, punch of citrus and gooseberry aromas and flavours on the subtle nose and the vibrant palate, respectively. A masculine wine, finishing dry with a touch of spice and solid minerality lingering moderately. Enjoy this win in its youth. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Fern Walk Vintners 2014 Pinot Gris - 86pts

Fern Walk Vintners 2014 Pinot Gris (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC 

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores
Cost: $14.99-16.99 + tax
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: September 27th, 2015

Tasting Notes: Produced by the Mission Hill conglomerate and sold exclusively through BC Liquor Stores, the Fern Walk label offers only two wines, so far, this fresh, keep-it-simple Pinot Gris and a tangy, pungent Sauvignon Blanc.

The Pinot Gris, sourced from a Black Sage Bench vineyard, is made in the Pinot Grigio style with no oak contact, only stainless steel fermentation and ageing, though, some added colour and texture comes from some extended skin contact during the crush. A refreshing wine with nothing out-of-place and nothing too memorable either. A mix of orchard and tropical fruit with soft, mineral notes on the muted nose and the slightly off-dry, short, mouth-watering palate. Drink this Gris in its youth. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Mission Hill Perpetua 2010 Chardonnay - 90pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2010 Perpetua (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $35
Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: February 28th, 2013

 

Tasting Notes: A crowd-pleasing wine for when you want something very entertaining and well executed but perhaps not overly challenging - the Dan Brown novel of BC's top Chardonnay. The winemaking team allowed 50% of the blend to go through malolactic fermentation and used 25% new French oak to create the texture and body they were after and succeeded beautifully. Orchard fruit galore on the nose and palate with the oak treatment providing structure and the acid keeping you wanting more. Delicious. Drink now-2015.

- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2005 Oculus - 91pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2005 Oculus (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Sold out. Contact winery direct for library release
Cost: $70-90 est
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: December 16th, 2011

Tasting Notes: From the cellar. A blend of 42% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvigno, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot, the Mission Hill Oculus has lofty goals. Priced like a mid-range Bordeaux import, this dense, concentrated wine should knock your socks off with bold fruit, sublime French oak and effortless elegance. But a focus on longevity, with seemingly unnaturally high tannins, makes for a wine whose purpose is unclear. A cellar-dweller for sure, but eventually it must be opened and when it is the wine struggles in the glass, pleading to be returned to a cool, dark room where it may return to its hibernation. Three-plus hours of decanting helps to reveal the brooding, intense and worldly nose but the palate never fully awakens from its slumber and remains tight, closed off.

The nose alone is worth the effort and perhaps another year or two in the cellar will allow the palate to "finish", but I wouldn't bet on it. Best to enjoy it for what is now. Drink now-2015
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2004 Oculus - 92-93pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2004 Oculus (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Sold out. Contact winery direct for library release
Cost: $90-100 est
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: December 24th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Right Bank Bordeaux is served well in tribute with a brooding, Merlot driven blend (74% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot) with a dusty nose of dark fruit, toasted oak and licorice, but not in an organic, effortless way. An exceptional wine with powerful tannins and concentration, worthy of one's cellar, but one that it is slightly dishonest. The high tannins, crucial to longevity, seem a bit "by design" rather than a more natural by-product of the oak treatment and skin contact. Should your cellar already contain a bottle, I recommend another 2-3 more years before opening - an exceptional incubation time for a BC wine. Drink 2013+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2005 Quatrain - 91-92pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2005 Quatrain (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Restaurants. 2006 vintage widely available.
Cost: $40-45

Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: June 5th, 2010

Tasting Notes: From the cellar comes the inaugural vintage of Mission Hill's excellent Quatrain, a red blend of 57% Merlot, 28% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. At 5 years old this wine has not yet peaked and will benefit from another 2 years of patient cellaring. That said, it is drinking beautifully now showing incredible concentration of aromas and flavours.

Tasted blind there would be no confusion over its origin - a complement. This is an unabashed New World fruit explosion that has been artfully treated with new French oak and given time to gel: the 2005 vintage was released in the Fall of 2008. Big tannins and strong acidity never over-power the fruit or texture of this inky-ruby gem. The Syrah is prominent on the nose and palate adding a peppery spiciness to what would otherwise be a straight-forward Meritage blend. Cassis, plums, blackberries, chocolate and coffee beans

this wine requires careful decanting as there is quite a bit of sediment in the bottle. 1-2 hours prior to drinking should do nicely. Seek out this 2005 vintage and treat yourself to a 1st class BC red blend - the 2006 (tasted at the release party in Oct '09) left us a bit bored on the palate. Some VQA stores may still have a few '05s hanging around. Drink now through 2015.
 - Liam Carrier

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2007 Reserve Pinot Noir - 86 pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2007 Reserve Pinot Noir (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Widely available. Direct from winery. BCLDS stores. VQA stores

Cost: $21.99

Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: December 26th, 2009

Tasting Notes: The Mission Hill tier of wines can be tough to navigate. At the top is the Legacy series which features their flagship Oculus Bordeaux-style wine. Next is the "SLC" series which stands for Select Lot Collection which are sometimes one-off releases and experiments and are often excellent wines. Below the SLC comes the "Reserve" flight of wines of which this Pinot Noir is a prominent member. The Reserve series are better-priced and more widely available than their SLC cousins and yet they can sometimes be their equal in taste and quality.

This Reserve Pinot Noir is tasty and very drinkable but is as straight and narrow as they come. No fun surprises or deep complexity here and yet I can happily recommend it due to its pleasant nose and palate. Medium intense aromas of blueberries, plums and vanilla with flavours of dark berries, vanilla, light oak and medium tannins and acidity. Drink now through 2011. - LC

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2007 Perpetua - 90pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2007 Perpetua (Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: New release for October, 2009

Cost: $32.99

Alcohol: 13%

Date Tasted: October 7th, 2009

Tasting Notes: Mission Hill's Perpetua is designed as a vineyard-specific, terroir-driven wine meant to showcase the flavours and aromas a BC Chardonnay can offer. The 2007 vintage does this admirably but not as well as the 2006.

This light straw coloured wine has youthful aromas of honey, butter, orchard fruit and notes of citrus acidity. Flavours of lemon, pears, apple mix with mineral notes on the palate.

This wine has excellent fruit intensity and flavour complexity which balances well with the acidity and creates a lovely, long finish. This Chardonnay will benefit from a year in your cellar before opening. Drink 2010-2015. - LC

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2006 Quatrain - 89-90pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2006 Quatrain (Oliver & Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: New release for October, 2009

Cost: $47

Alcohol: 13%

Date Tasted: October 7th, 2009

Tasting Notes: The 2006 release increases the amount of Syrah and lowers the Merlot creating a final blend of Syrah 41%, Merlot 32%, Cabernet Franc 14% and Cabernet Sauvignon 13%. The spicy Syrah aromas are prominent on the very lovely and inviting nose. Aromas of pepper, chocolate, pencil shavings and floral notes seduce the nose in anticipation of the palate to come. However, the complexity and intensity of the nose does not entirely carry through to the palate where flavours of cassis, sour cherries and pepper are on offer.

The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 15 months, with 45% new oak leading to milder tannins than the wine's Legacy Series red cousins. Approachable now. Drink within 5 years. - LC

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2006 Oculus - 93+pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2006 Oculus (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: New release for October, 2009

Cost: $70
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: October 7th, 2009

Tasting Notes: Mission Hill's signature wine carries huge expectations. The winery wants this wine to gain international recognition and wants it to complete on the world stage. Very high expectations indeed. The 2005 vintage did not live up to these expectations but I am happy to report that the 2006 vintage does. Where the 2005 tasted washed-out and limp, the 2006 is full of vibrant complexity and tastes of a wine that has had each grape cluster hand-picked and selected.

Great concentration of flavours on the nose and palate with a final blend of 51% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. Each component is aged separately in 100% French oak barrels for 14.5 months. The seductive nose offers youthful aromas of dark berries, chocolate and cassis. The palate displays flavours of candy nibs, coffee, leather, cassis and has a very long and elegant finish.

This is a wine that will need some time in the cellar before opening; 2-3 years. With good tannin structure and acidity this wine will easily last 10-12 years. Drink 2011-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2006 Compendium - 92pts

Mission Hill Estate Winery 2006 Compendium (Oliver & Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: New release for October, 2009

Cost: $40

Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: October 7th, 2009

Tasting Notes: A Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that spent 13 months aging in 100% French oak separately before the final blend (52%, 19%, 19% and 10% respectively). This medium-ruby coloured elegant wine then spent another 12 months at the winery aging in the bottle before its release this month. You can immediately appreciate the aging and care that went into this wine on the nose and palate.

The nose is approachable and enticing offering youthful aromas of cherry nibs, raspberries, pencil shavings, vanilla and floral notes. The palate offers loads of cassis and dark berries with a touch of earthy notes and pencil shavings. Well structured tannins and acidity contribute to a long and satisfying finish. Very approachable now and drinkable over the next 4-5 years. - LC