Le Vieux Pin 2014 Équinoxe Syrah - 93pts

Le Vieux Pin 2014 Équinoxe Syrah (Osoyoos Lake) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $79.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.6%
Production: 242 cases
Date Tasted: August 20th, 2017

Tasting Notes: Always in the debate for BC's best Syrah, this year's Équinoxe benefited from the near-perfect 2014 vintage (for big reds) creating a stunning wine of refinement and powerful elegance. Densely packed, yet approachable with layers of black cherry, ripe blackberry, white pepper, red plum, pipe tobacco, nectar, mild licorice and violet notes on the enchanting nose and the spicy, cola'n'cocoa nibs infused palate where ultra-fine, slightly smoky tannins and smooth, berry acidity add structure and length. Drink 2017-2024+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

LaStella 2014 Maestoso "Solo" Merlot - 92+pts

LaStella 2014 Maestoso "Solo" Merlot (Osoyoos Lake Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $89.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.9%
Production: 217 cases
Date Tasted: June 10th, 2017
@LaStellaWinery

Tasting Notes: Can Okanagan Merlot perform as a solo act? LaStella's Maestoso certainly suggests it can, in the right circumstance. The 2014 edition is quite masculine and incredibly dense with concentrated blackberry purée and kirsch aromas and flavours and plenty of supporting notes from extended French oak contact and from the vineyard sites themselves: fine, grippy tannins, vanilla, licorice, charred oak, spices, herbs and a touch of minerals. 

This full-bodied, hedonistic wine should age gracefully, therefore, ideally, give it another 2-3 years of bottle age prior to opening. Drink 2019-2024+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

LaStella 2015 Fortissimo - 90+pts

LaStella 2015 Fortissimo (Osoyoos Lake Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $29.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 1711 cases
Date Tasted: May 2nd, 2017

Tasting Notes: LaStella's ode to the tradition-challenging blends of Tuscany, the Fortissimo sees 63% Merlot blended with 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Sangiovese and 9% Cabernet Franc and strives for harmony and balance.

This is a pretty wine, with delicate fruit and pleasing herbs and sweet pipe tobacco aromas on the nose and good balance between fruit and savoury flavours on the food-friendly palate. 

Missing a little depth and length compared to recent, outstanding vintages, but we're nitpicking, nothing is out of place. There's oak and spice and everything nice. Drink 2018-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Le Vieux Pin 2013 Équinoxe Syrah - 92+pts

Le Vieux Pin 2013 Équinoxe Syrah (Osoyoos Lake) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $79.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.4%
Production: 267 cases
Date Tasted: September 2nd, 2016

Tasting Notes: A feminine and moody Syrah with densely packed layers of ripe black cherries, peppercorn, spiced plums, licorice, sweet pipe tobacco aromas and lovely floral notes of potpourri, nectar and violets. The palate is equally dense and concentrated, bursting with mouth-watering, cherry-cola and smoky, black pepper flavours with fine tannins and red berry acidity contributing structure and balance. The finish is long with lingering dark berry notes and smoky goodness. Drink 2017-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

LaStella 2013 Maestoso "Solo" Merlot - 93pts

LaStella 2013 Maestoso "Solo" Merlot (Osoyoos Lake Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: (Not yet released) Direct from the winery here
Cost: $89.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.7%
Production: 188 cases
Date Tasted: June 19th, 2016
@LaStellaWinery

Tasting Notes: LaStella's flagship wine, Maestoso, proves that 100% Merlot wines can be as elegant and nuanced as the valley's top Cabernet Sauvignon or its heralded red blends. Harmonious layers of ripe, blackberry and dark plum fruit, vanilla fudge, spiced oak, chocolate nibs, dried herbs and light menthol aromas make the developing bouquet as equally compelling as the complex. refined palate. Intense, ultra-ripe, dark fruit dominates, supported by savoury notes; toasted oak, vanilla mocha, smokey tannins and cooking spices. Has the structure to age gracefully, though, with several hours of decanting you can enjoy this wine today. Ideally, 2-3 more years of bottle age would maximize your investment. Drink 2018-2024+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Le Vieux Pin 2014 Petit Rouge - 88pts

Le Vieux Pin 2014 Petit Rouge (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $21.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.9%
Production: 460 cases
Date Tasted: April 24th, 2016

Tasting Notes: Predominantly a Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend with a splash of Syrah, sourced from multiple vineyards in the Southern Okanagan Valley. The Petit Rouge is a social wine. It has the right combination of approachability, by way of ripe, berry and dark fruit and complexity, thanks to underlining savoury-earthy herbs and dusty tannins, making it a perfect match for both a busy dinner party or amongst your close, wine-savvy friends, Drink now-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

LaStella 2014 Fortissimo - 91-92pts

LaStella 2014 Fortissimo (Osoyoos Lake Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $29.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.2%
Production: 1374 cases
Date Tasted: April 20th, 2016

Tasting Notes: The 2014 edition of the Fortissimo sees 57% Merlot, 21% Sangiovese 11% Cabernet Franc and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon blended to create a beautiful wine combining brambly berry fruit flavours and acidity, lush tannins, savoury notes and spicy oak. The finish is oh, so long and well balanced with cherry, dried herbs, vanilla and pipe tobacco lingering.

Ready to go now, but will improve with another 2 years of ageing. Drink 2018-2021 for best results..
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

LaStella Winery 2012 Allegretto Pie Franco Merlot - 91-92pts

LaStella Winery 2012 Allegretto Pie Franco Merlot (Osoyoos Lake Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $60.78 ($64.90 including taxes)
Alcohol: 14.4%
Production: 206 cases
Date Tasted: June 22nd, 2015
@LaStellaWinery

Tasting Notes: The "Pie Franco" in the name of this excellent Merlot from LaStella, translates from the Italian meaning "on its own feet", a reference for wines made from "ungrafted" vines - a rarity in the Okanagan and most everywhere else, except Chile. The uniqueness factor aside, the resulting wine can honestly claim to be a pure expression of Merlot, especially when the winery employs non-invasive winemaking techniques. 

A sturdy backbone of fine-grained tannins supports all of the other elements of this Merlot, from the ripe, dark plum flavours, to the dusty, Christmas cake spice notes, to the mouth-watering, wild berry acidity. The complexity and depth on the nose is impressive and needs to be explored, yet, takes hours to open up. A few years of bottle age will do wonders for this wine and let it live-up to its full potential. Drink 2017-2020+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Le Vieux Pin 2014 Petit Blanc - 89pts

Le Vieux Pin 2014 Petit Blanc (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $19.04 ($21.90 including taxes)
Alcohol: 13.3%
Production: 308 cases
Date Tasted: June 11th, 2015

Tasting Notes: A well balanced blend of mostly Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc (with other, unlisted, aromatic varieties) that plays the natural body and fullness of Pinot Gris off the inherent crispness and raciness of the Sauvignon Blanc. Yum.

Melon, apple, pear, hay, lemon-grass, spice, mineral and lemon-lime aromas and flavours, delivered via a seductive and comforting nose and a pleasantly textured and mouth-watering palate. Seafood salad and Spanish tapas come to mind for food pairing options, though, this wine will manage well on its own. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

LaStella 2012 Maestoso "Solo" Merlot - 93+pts

LaStella 2012 Maestoso "Solo" Merlot (Osoyoos Lake Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $86.81 ($99.90 including taxes)
Alcohol: 14.6%
Production: 263 cases
Date Tasted: June 5th, 2015
@LaStellaWinery

Tasting Notes: True to its impressive lineage, the 2012 Maestoso represents the peak of Merlot production in the Okanagan Valley. Elegant, layered and supremely complex. Look for dark berry, sweet plum, toasted oak, dark chocolate, fresh herbs, mocha, vanilla toffee, menthol and warm spice aromas followed by a medley of similar flavours on the ultra-dry palate with a strong focus on the juxtaposition of the berry and savoury characters. Berry, spice and smoke notes linger and linger and linger on the finish. Sublime.

With several hours of decanting you can enjoy this wine today, though, 2-3 more years of bottle age would maximize your investment. Drink 2018-2023+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

LaStella 2011 La Sophia - 93+pts

LaStella 2011 La Sophia (Osoyoos Lake Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $85
Alcohol: 14.7%
Date Tasted: November 14th, 2014

Tasting Notes: Early in its development, La Sophia is a little closed today, yet, signs of its future glory are unmistakable when appreciated after a lengthy decant of 4+ hours. This is near, pitch-perfect, cool-climate Cabernet with a lovely balance between its concentrated, dark berry fruit and its complex, vegetal'n'herbs components. The feminine palate is smooth with fine, ripe tannins and hints of graphite, vanilla, coffee grinds and cherry-cola. Herbs and cassis purée linger on the long, long, smoky finish. Will evolve over a decade-plus. Drink 2016-2021+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

LaStella 2012 Fortissimo - 91+pts

LaStella 2012 Fortissimo (Osoyoos Lake Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $35
Alcohol: 14.9%
Production: 833 cases (750ml), 113 cases (375ml), 96 magnums, 12 dbl magnums
Date Tasted: November 2nd, 2014

Tasting Notes: I never like to quote a winery's marketing material, but Fortissimo's tag line "Old world meets the New World" is hard to beat. The wine is equal parts, ripe, BC Meritage and savoury, traditional Chianti. When combined, the result is an Okanagan version of a modern, 'Super-Tuscan', with fragrant, feminine aromas of sweet berry purée, floral incense, anise and oak spice coupled with comforting notes of tapenande and tomato stock. 

The palate offers good continuity from the nose and showcases flavours and structural elements from each of the blended components: 39% Merlot (juicy, mixed-berry fruit, alcohol viscosity), 38% Cabernet Franc (plum, vegetal, rustic tannins, texture), 17% Cabernet Sauvignon (dark berry notes, extra tannins) and 6% Sangiovese (savoury, huckleberry acidity).

The wine is aged for 19 months in French and Hungarian oak prior to bottling. Be sure to decant properly for 2+ hours if you plan to open a bottle this year. Drink 2015-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

LaStella 2011 Maestoso - 93pts

LaStella 2011 Maestoso "Solo" Merlot (Osoyoos Lake Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $100
Alcohol: 14.4%
Production: 329 cases
Date Tasted: March 7th, 2014

Tasting Notes: Supremely elegant and nuanced, LaStella's flagship wine, Maestoso, proves that 100% Merlot wines can be just as memorable and complete as equally priced Cabernet Sauvignon when handled with as much care and detailed attention that the Osoyoos Lake winery applies to this beautiful wine. Disciplined vineyard practices and a precise oak ageing program attained the desired complexity and quality; producing a sublime nose layered with dark berry, plum, chocolate-mocha, vanilla toffee and warm spice aromas with an invigorating vein of menthol lifting the developing bouquet. Similar flavours follow on the richly textured and rounded palate supported by fine, ripe tannins and balanced acidity. The finish lingers effortlessly and meaningfully. 

With several hours of decanting you can enjoy this wine today, though, 2-3 more years of bottle age would maximize your investment. Drink 2016-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

LaStella 2011 Fortissimo - 90-91pts

LaStella 2011 Fortissimo (Osoyoos Lake Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $35
Alcohol: 14.2%
Production: 857 cases
Date Tasted: February 27th, 2014

Tasting Notes: Sweet, warm and feminine on the nose, LaStella's ode to establishment-challenging Tuscan wines is a blend of 71% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 5% Sangiovese. The sweetness comes from ripe red fruit and fragrant oak aromas that put a smile on your face instantly, setting the stage for the dry palate to follow with similar fruit and oak flavours and added complexity from coffee grind, tapenande and light mineral notes. Fine, smooth tannins and mouth-watering acidity structure the wine well and will help it age and improve over the next 2-3 years. Be sure to decant properly for 2+ hours if you plan to open a bottle this year. Drink 2015-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Osoyoos Larose 2009 Petales d'Osoyoos - 90+pts

Osoyoos Larose 2009 Petales d'Osoyoos (Osoyoos Lake) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Widely available in BCLDB stores
Cost: $25
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: September 14th, 2012

Tasting Notes: The best Petales since 2006 with a complex profile of dark fruit, toasted oak, sweet anise, and light graphite aromas and flavours. The palate offers well structured, ripe tannins and starts with a very dry, gripping texture that succumbs nicely to the juicy fruit flavours resulting in a balanced wine with a long, decently refined finish. May develop further with mid-range aging possibilities. Drink 2013-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 IconWines.ca

LaStella 2009 La Sophia - 93+pts

LaStella 2009 La Sophia (Osoyoos Lake Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $75
Alcohol: 15.1%
Production: 48 cases
Date Tasted: October 16th, 2012

Tasting Notes: A stunning Cabernet Sauvignon that grips your attention from the first sniff of sweet, concentrated dark berry fruit and deep licorice aromas. The truly gorgeous palate follows with a near perfect balance between the ripe, silky tannins, elegant texture and smooth acidity.

Complex, captivating and feminine this beautiful Cabernet should last and evolve over a decade yet is tasting very well today. Drink 2012-2019.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

LaStella 2009 Maestoso - 92pts

LaStella 2009 Maestoso (Osoyoos Lake Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $100

Alcohol: 15.2%
Production: 148 cases
Date Tasted: October 16th, 2012

Tasting Notes: The Maestoso is a massive wine that seeks to knock your socks off with its unapologetic, Old World, heavy tannins and bone-dry texture. Comprised of 100% Merlot sourced from old vines on the Osoyoos Lake and Golden Mile benches producing intense dark berry fruit, huge ripe tannins and a touch of cool menthol. This wine needs a further 5-7 years to mature in order to properly appreciate the nuances of fruit, terroir and oak that are only barely perceptible today beneath the tannins. Bottled promise. Drink 2016-2019+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca