Rombauer Vineyards 2011 Zinfandel - 91pts

Rombauer Vineyards 2011 Zinfandel (Napa Valley) California - USA

Availability: Limited. Private wine stores
Cost: $45-55
Alcohol: 15.9%
Date Tasted: April 4th, 2015

Tasting Notes: A powerful Zin with a robust, fruit-driven nose of blackberry, cherry, spearmint, herbs and chocolate covered cranberry aromas. A blend of 93% Zinfandel and 7% Petite Syrah sourced from vineyards in Napa Valley and beyond, this wine offers good continuity from the nose with added red fruit sweetness and peppery wood flavours on the intense, spicy palate. Manages its (nearly) 16% alcohol like a champ, never feeling 'hot' and staying well-balanced thanks to amble, raspberry acidity. The finish is long and mouth-watering with lingering peppercorn and plum notes. Drink 2015-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Franciscan Estate 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - 91pts

Franciscan Estate 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville) Napa Valley - California

Availability: Costco in WA State. Private wine shops in Canada
Cost: $28-45
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: June 16th, 2011
Re-tasted: August 9th, 2013

Tasting Notes: An extracted powerhouse of a Cabernet Sauvignon-heavy blend with 13% Merlot, 3% Syrah and 1% Petit Verdot which retains its feminine charm with intense dark fruit and spot-on oak treatment characters. On the gorgeous nose are refined, warm aromas of cassis, licorice, toasted oak, eucalyptus, black olives and mint. Followed by an equally attractive palate of round, integrated tannins, mouth-watering acid and similar flavours.

An impressive wine offering great value for the price, all things considered. Add a few to your cellar to impress your guests over the next 6-7 years. Drinking well now, but would benefit from another year of aging. Pair with peppercorn fillet. Drink 2012-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Re-tasting Notes: This Napa Valley blended Cabernet Sauvignon hasn't lost any of its impressive power on the intense, dark fruit'n'oak nose and concentrated palate, though, the finish is fading more quickly now. Corrective score down to 91pts from an estimated range of 92-93pts as the wine has failed to truly meld over the years. Still attractively intense and attention getting but the complexity has peaked and is now beginning to simplify. Drink now-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Paul Hobbs Winery 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon - 92-93pts

Paul Hobbs Winery 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) California - USA

Availability: BCLDB Signature stores
Cost: $109.99
Alcohol: 14.8%
Date Tasted: February 28th, 2013

Tasting Notes: The blend changes slightly year-to-year, but the final product consistently delivers the uber-concentration and refinement we love in top-end Napa Valley Cabernets. The 2010 vintage sees 6% Cabernet Franc added which contributes light floral notes to the gorgeous nose and creates an overall more feminine profile. Mint & licorice flavours add depth to the layers of cassis and blackberry fruit supported by powerful, yet, fine tannins. Drinking well now, with proper decanting, but should develop further with patient cellaring. Drink now-2020+.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Cakebread Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - 90-92pts

Cakebread Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) - California

Availability: BCLDB Signature Stores
Cost: $100
Alcohol: 14.4%
Date Tasted: August 26th, 2012

Tasting Notes: At five years of age this Cabernet is still quite youthful in appearance, a dark ruby hue, and in its development. Concentrated, sweet cassis and blackberry pie fruit aromas blend nicely with French vanilla, mocha, licorice and toasted oak notes on the intense nose. The concentration and youthful flavour profile continues on the dry palate with added spice and an iron backbone. Tannins are fine but moderate with bright acidity that leans the overall balance a bit towards tart. Best served by waiting another 1-2 years before opening to make the most of your investment. Drink 2014-2020+.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Paul Hobbs Winery 2009 Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard - 95-97pts

Paul Hobbs Winery 2009 Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard (St. Helena) Napa Valley - California

Availability: Limited
Cost: $180-200
Alcohol: 15.2%
Date Tasted: March 1st, 2012

Tasting Notes: Dense, complex and focused to the nth degree, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon single vineyard release nears perfection. Aged in 100% new oak for 20 months, the wine seems to have soaked-up every once of character it could extract from the barrel and blended it, effortlessly, with the naturally endowed spectrum of dark fruit and earth flavours bestowed upon the Beckstoffer Dr, Crane Vineyard fruit. A special occasion wine for the celebration you're expecting sometime in 2014 when this wine will start to come into its own. Drink 2014-2022+.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Paul Hobbs Winery 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon - 92+pts

Paul Hobbs Winery 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) California - USA

Availability: BCLDB Signature stores
Cost: $100
Alcohol: 15%
Date Tasted: March 1st, 2012

Tasting Notes: A Cabernet Sauvignon with great concentration and refinement produced from fruit sourced from multiple AVAs in Napa Valley. 2% Petite Verdot added to the blend adds a touch of spice to the dense blackberry and cassis fruit flavours. Though concentrated and powerful, the wine is anything but over-done showing impressive restaint and beauty. To get any more focus from a Napa Cab you'd have to go to a single vineyard release. Aged in 74% new oak for 20 months resulting in a stunning wine with length and depth. Drinking well now but should develop further with patient cellaring. Drink now-2019.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Clos Du Val 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon - 90pts

Clos Du Val 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) California

Availability: BCLDB Signature Stores and Private Wine Shops
Cost: $38
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 36,000 cases
Date Tasted: February 11th, 2012

Tasting Notes: From the cellar. Not a Napa Cab that immediately floors you with intensely ripe fruit or exquisite smoothness, rather, a subtle charmer with hidden depth for the patient who take their time to quaff the many layers of cassis, spice and toasted oak on offer. Tart acidity helps keep the dry palate fresh and composed with well structured tannins and juicy dark fruit completed by a lengthy finish of plums and oak spice. Drinking well now, but to get the most of this beauty I recommend you squirrel it away for another year. Drink 2013-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Truchard Vineyard 2008 Syrah - 88pts

Truchard Vineyard 2008 Syrah (Careros) Napa Valley - California
Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $24.99
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: January 24th, 2012

Tasting Notes: An interesting cross between a full bodied and jammy Australian Shiraz with a more herbal, mineral and oaky Rhone Valley Syrah. Not the most pleasant of bedfellows but the wine does come together in the end with a fairly concentrated expression of the dually named variety. Tannins are fine and surprisingly mild yet the colour, a deep violet-ruby, remains as intense as ever. A pleasant wine to pair with BBQ beef or dark chocolate. Drink now-2013.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Flora Springs Winery 2005 Trilogy - 92pts

Flora Springs Winery 2005 Trilogy (Napa Valley) California - USA

Availability: Private wine stores
Cost: $50-70
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: January 8th, 2010

Tasting Notes: From the cellar. At seven years of age this Meritage blend from Napa Valley's Flora Springs has really come into its own. The enchanting bouquet has developed a smoke-laced blend of mixed berries, charred cedar, vanilla, white chocolate, pepper and savoury spices. The concentrated, dry palate follows with amble acidity, mellowed fine tannins and a lovely perception of sweetness from intense, ripe red and black fruit flavours. The finish is moderate but very well balanced with lingering blackberry and cassis fruit and a hint of oak. Be sure to decant prior to serving and avoid the sizeable deposits. Drink now-2015+
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Stag's Leap Winery 2007 Chardonnay - 87pts

Stag's Leap Winery 2007 Chardonnay (Napa Valley) California

Availability: BCLDB Signature Stores
Cost: $30-35
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: January 11th, 2012

Tasting Notes: With a brilliant gold hue, showing some development, this Chardonnay from famed Napa Valley producer Stag's Leap Winery offers a nice expression of orchard fruit with well balanced acidity and texture. What it doesn't offer is value for money, at least, not when sourced in BC with the punitive provincial mark-ups. At $30-plus in this market one expects a more memorable experience, not "a nice wine". If you're saving a bottle, better open it relatively soon as this wine has peaked. Drink now-2013.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Stag's Leap Winery 2007 Petite Sirah - 90pts

Stag's Leap Winery 2007 Petite Sirah (Napa Valley) California

Availability: BCLDB Signature Stores
Cost: $38-50
Alcohol: 14.3%
Date Tasted: December 31st, 2011

Tasting Notes: Dense, smoky and spicy with abundant dark-fruit on the concentrated nose and palate. A blend of Petite Sirah (86%), Syrah (8%), Grenache (4%) and Viognier (2%) this powerful wine pays homage to its hot and sunny Napa Valley origins and intrigues with layers of pepper and cigar box complexity. An ideal BBQ wine, but at this price one would be better off showcasing it alone to savour the intricacies and hedonistic qualities of the unique flavour profile. Drink now-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

St. Supery Vineyards and Winery 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon - 89pts

St. Supery Vineyards and Winery 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) California - USA

Availability: Private wine shops
Cost: $25-40
Alcohol: 13.9%
Date Tasted: August 20th, 2011

Tasting Notes: A dense, tart Cabernet Sauvignon with a fruity, cassis-dominant entry followed by savoury, toasted oak notes and a moderate, mouth-watering finish with lingering allspice. Showing nearly no signs of aging, this wine will live happily undisturbed in your cellar for another 3-4 years, but development may only be minimal. Drink 2011-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Flora Springs Winery 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon - 91pts

Flora Springs Winery 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) California - USA

Availability: Private wine stores
Cost: $25-45
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: January 8th, 2010

Tasting Notes: An intense, concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon blend of Rutherford and Oakville fruit offering potpourri of dark berries, licorice, vanilla, oak and dried fruit aromas. Followed by a palate that starts juicy and audacious then finishes dry and savoury with lingering fruit and herbs. By 2011, the wine has really come of age with mellowed tannins and acidity. Drink 2011-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Robert Mondavi Winery 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - 90+pts

Robert Mondavi Winery 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) California - USA

Availability: Costco in WA State. Private wine shops in Canada
Cost: $20-40
Alcohol: 15.3%
Date Tasted: June 15th, 2011

Tasting Notes: This is a massive wine, well worth a look, but it will take some more time to truly tame it and enjoy the multi-tiered layers of dark fruit, vanilla and toasted oak characters. Bright acidity and big, firm tannins greet you on the dry palate of this regional blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon 8% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc 1% Petite Verdot and 1% Malbec. Very ripe, dark fruit flavours and aromas are complimented well by the oak treatment influenced savoury notes.

Certainly, a Napa Valley Cab through and through, but not the foundation block to build a cellar of the same upon. Enjoy now for the pure masochistic pleasure of a young Napa Cab but the highly extracted nature of this wine needs time to mellow. Drink 2012-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Sterling Vineyards 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - 90pts

Sterling Vineyards 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) California - USA

Availability: QFC. BCLDB stores and private wine shops
Cost: $25-45
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: June 18th, 2011

Tasting Notes: The Sterling Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Savignon takes a more subdued approach to the blockbuster 2007 vintage with this regional blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Gros Verdot and 1% Petit Verdot. The nose is more subtle than other its peers with medium intense aromas of cassis, blackberry, plum and licorice supported by a steady foundation of French and American oak.

The palate lacks the concentration of a typical Napa Cab, yet works, delivering its dark chocolate, licorice, cassis and oak flavours in a more masculine, cool and straightforward way. The watery texture finishes long with a touch of lingering bitterness. All-in-all a very good wine, but not one for those looking for a massive, powerhouse of a Cab and certainly not for one paying import prices in Canada. Drink 2011-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Nine North Wine Co 2006 Hullabaloo - 87pts

Nine North Wine Co 2006 Hullabaloo (Napa Valley) California - USA

Availability: Select BCLDB sotes and fine wine shops.

Cost: $20-25

Alcohol: 14.6%

Date Tasted: March 27th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Zinfandels are a love'em or hate'em sort of wine - the Woody Allen of the wine world one might say. Personally, I love Zins (and Woody - although completely unrelated) but judging Zins is tough. Some standouts offer great complexity and the elite single-vineyard variety can offer a sense of place (often a warm and cozy place). However, many Zins are blended and their grapes are picked from multiple vineyards which dilutes the complexity, leaving us to judge the quality of the source fruit and the vinification.

This Zinfandel, named Hullabaloo, from Napa Valley vintners Nine North Wine Co is a wine that does not offer layers of complexity or a sense of place but it does come from excellent fruit that was handled skillfully. A classic Zinfandel in both aroma (boysenberry, dark cherries, nibs, anise and white pepper) and taste (red and dark berries with lingering spice). A solid wine that Zin lovers will enjoy - others may not. Drink now through 2014.
 - Liam Carrier

Hendry 2007 Pinot Gris - 87 pts

Hendry 2007 Pinot Gris (Redwood Creek) Napa Valley - CA

Availability: Private wine shops

Cost: $23-27

Alcohol: 13.8%

Date Tasted: January 19th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Light gold with a touch of brass in appearance, this tasty Pinot Gris from Napa Valley producer Hendry delivers elegant floral notes and crisp, refreshing tastes.

Developing aromas of apples, lime zest, slate and delicate, perfumed flowers on the nose. The palate has crisp, clean acidity with flavours matching the nose. A lovely texture and medium-plus finish complete the experience.

This wine may be hard to get a hold of in BC, but seek it out and enjoy side-by-side with a great local Pinot Gris (one of the Province's signature wines) to compare their unique expression of terroir. Serve chilled with shellfish salad and lighter foods or let it warm up a touch to enjoy alone and fully appreciate the lovely nose. Drink 2010-2013.
 - Liam Carrier

Edge Wines 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - 91+pts

Edge Wines 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) California

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $32.99
Alcohol: 14.4%
Date Tasted: January 1st, 2010

Tasting Notes: An excellent full-flavour and full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon (with a touch of Merlot blended in) from Napa Valley producer Edge Wines. You'll find youthful aromas of raspberry, cassis and plum with toasty oak notes on the nose of this American and French oaked wine (16 months).

On the palate this deep, deep ruby coloured wine offers youthful, intense fruit flavours of dark berries with smooth, fully integrated tannins. Pairs beautifully with beef tenderloin with peppercorn sauce and braised vegetables. (See New Year's Day Dinner Wine Pairing Challenge)

High acidity and tannins make it an excellent candidate for aging however, the wine is sealed with a synthetic cork which can sometimes affect aging negatively.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010