IconScores.ca: Pinot Noir

Showing posts with label Pinot Noir. Show all posts

SpearHead Winery 2021 Saddle Block Pinot Noir - 90pts

SpearHead Winery 2021 Saddle Block Pinot Noir (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $38 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 410 cases
Date Tasted: June 23rd, 2023

Tasting Notes: A beautifully earthy Pinot Noir from Pinot specialists, SpearHead Winery in East Kelowna. Look for savoury and forest notes to be well supported by vibrant red fruit and sour cherry skins on both the boisterous nose and the dry palate. Lots of texture to enjoy with both supple and energetic elements in the mouth and through to the long finish which offers lingering vanilla and spice. Ready to go now or hold for 3-4 more years. Drink 2023-2026.

Gold Hill Winery 2021 Charisma Pinot Noir Rosé - 86pts

Gold Hill Winery 2021 Charisma Pinot Noir Rosé (Golden Mile Slope) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $21.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 12%

Date Tasted: September 8th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A vibrant and refreshing rosé made from Pinot Noir grapes. Classic red fruit aromas grace the herb-encrusted nose while the watery, mouth-watering palate offers subtle flavours of cran-apple, steel and white peaches. A nice, Summer drink. Drink now-2023.

SpearHead Winery 2020 Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Noir - 89pts

SpearHead Winery 2020 Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Noir (Summerland) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $38 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 506 cases
Date Tasted: September 23rd, 2022

Tasting Notes: Sourced from a vineyard in Summerland, the Golden Retreat Pinot Noir is the art-school attending cousin to the classically training Saddle Block label. More quirky and outspoken but perhaps with a little less depth for this 2020 release. Sour plum and cherry notes throughout with brambly acidity, dusty tannins and earthy chocolate and spices in supporting rolls on the feminine nose and boisterous palate. Ready to go now or hold for 2-3 years. Drink 2022-2025.

SpearHead Winery 2020 Saddle Block Pinot Noir - 90pts

SpearHead Winery 2020 Saddle Block Pinot Noir (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $38 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 443 cases
Date Tasted: September 23rd, 2022

Tasting Notes: Keeps with the label's style of being the earthiest Pinot Noir in the winery's portfolio of single-vineyard bottlings. The 2020 Saddle Block offers the comfort of earth and forest notes beautifully supported by rich, pruny fruit and incense on the pleasant, elegant nose. A dry, medium-everything palate follows bringing similar flavours and layers of textures from dark chocolate tannins to Christmas spices to tangy, dried-cranberries. Vanilla and spice linger on the finish. Ready to go now or hold for 3-4 more years. Drink 2023-2026.

Averill Creek Vineyard 2017 Pinot Noir - 91pts

Averill Creek Vineyard 2017 Pinot Noir (Cowichan Valley) Vancouver Island - BC

Availability: Select VQA stores
Cost: $27-30 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: June 20th, 2022

Tasting Notes: Cowichan Valley's Averill Creek has become a leader in producing consistently excellent Island Pinot Noir. Strike that. Cowichan Valley's Averill Creek has become a leader in producing consistently excellent BC Pinot Noir! Both rich and intense, yet, utterly typical and true to the aloof, earthy qualities of the grape as grown in BC's (relatively) cool climate.

Look for black raspberry and ripe cherry fruit supported by forest floor and warm rock notes on the gorgeous nose with a wild berry medley of fruits, herbs, spice and cedar on the smooth, layered palate. Tasting beautifully now at 5 years of age. Drink now-2024.

Liquidity Wines 2019 Pinot Noir - 89pts

Liquidity Wines 2019 Pinot Noir (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $30 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: May 7th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A beautifully fragrant BC Pinot Noir with a robust nose of mellow blue fruit, savoury wild sage and sweet cedar. The medium-everything palate that follows offers more prominent fruit notes with a welcomed dash of spice adding complexity to the layers of plum, toasted earth, dried cranberries and vanilla-kissed oak. Drink now-2024.

SpearHead Winery 2021 Pinot Noir Rosé - 90pts

SpearHead Winery 2021 Pinot Noir Rosé (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $25 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 500 cases
Date Tasted: April 15th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A rich and opulent rosé made from Pinot Noir grapes, opening with a peachy-strawberry scented nose followed by a refreshing, yet, plump palate of similar flavours, additional mineraly, grapefruit notes and enough cranberry acidity to keep the finish light and crisp. Just about everything you want from a BC blush. Drink now-2024.

SpearHead Winery 2021 White Pinot Noir - 91pts

SpearHead Winery 2021 White Pinot Noir (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and select VQA stores

Cost: $28 + taxes

Alcohol: 13%

Date Tasted: April 23rd, 2022

Tasting Notes: This white is an absolute gem; rich, refreshing and unique. Made from the winery's signature grape, Pinot Noir, this beautiful, fleshy, Blanc de Noirs can attribute its lack of colour to the limiting of skin contract during the crush. Both full bodied and vibrant with white peach acidity and unctuous fruit characters of honeydew melon and papaya. Pair with a white fish dish or try it at a Mother's Day brunch with your eggs Benedict. Drink now-2022.

La Frenz Winery 2019 Reserve Pinot Noir - 91-pts

La Frenz Winery 2019 Reserve Pinot Noir (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $34.70 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.7%
Date Tasted: January 30th, 2022

Tasting Notes:

Opens with a luxurious nose of big, California-ripe, red fruit aromas which instantly grab your attention. Yet, this is a BC Pinot Noir, through and through, with layers of both savoury and fruit notes like dried spices, spiced plum, French vanilla cream, dark chocolate, black cherry and black plum.

The medium-weighted palate offers a similar fruit-to-savoury ratio with prominent, plum'n'cherry flavours leading the way. Fine tannins and effortless, wild berry acidity add structure and frame the long finish leaving your mouth watering and in-anticipation of the next sip. Ready to go now, though, holding for a further 2 years may yield additional development. Drink 2022-2025.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2022 IconWines.ca

SpearHead Winery 2019 Pinot Noir Cuvée - 93pts

SpearHead Winery 2019 Pinot Noir Cuvée (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $42
Alcohol: 13.5%

Production: 430 cases
Date Tasted: August 26th, 2021

Tasting Notes: Opens with a stunning, generous nose of nicely integrated, earthy cherry, spiced plum and vanilla-kissed oak aromas which spill out of the glass without being overwhelming. A similar profile of flavours awaits on the elegant palate, enveloped by lively, bramble-berry acid, medium tannins and lingering, smooth, earthy spices. Possibly the winery's new benchmark release for its Pinot Noir portfolio.

Ready to go now or hold for a few years. Bring this beauty out for a perfect Christmas turkey companion. Drink 2021-2026+

SpearHead Winery 2019 Coyote Vineyard Pinot Noir - 91pts

SpearHead Winery 2019 Coyote Vineyard Pinot Noir (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $36 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 350 cases
Date Tasted: July 18th, 2021

Tasting Notes: A nicely textured Pinot Noir with lively acidity, warmth from spices and alcohol, and well-integrated, complex aromas. Opaque and unfiltered the grapes for this wine were sourced from a single-vineyard near West Kelowna with volcanic soils and showcase a medley of scents and flavours from smokey herbs'n'spice and black raspberries on the nose to savoury'n'sweet earth and succulent wild berries on the palate. Ready to go now or hold for 3+ years. Drink 2021-2025.

SpearHead Winery 2019 Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Noir - 91pts

SpearHead Winery 2019 Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Noir (Summerland) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $36 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 440 cases
Date Tasted: July 15th, 2021

Tasting Notes: SpearHead's Golden Retreat Vineyard is located in Summerland and produces the most feminine of their three site-specific bottlings of Pinot Noir. Elegant and complex on the nose with aromas of ripe plum, sour cherry, crème de cassis and a variety of warm, dusty spices. Opulent on the equally complex palate where there is a lovely balance between bright, brambly acid, savoury flavours and round, juicy fruit. Ready to go now or hold for 4-5 years. Sealed with a Stelvin cap enclosure. Drink 2021-2025.

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2019 Pinot Noir - 87pts

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2019 Pinot Noir (Cawston) Similkameen Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $24.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.4%
Date Tasted: June 17th, 2021

Tasting Notes: A leaner, meaner vintage of Pinot Noir for 2019, but not without some joyful elements like the aromatic nose offering spiced plum and herbs. A textured, light-bodied palate follows with light tannins, racy, yet, food-friendly acidity and a medley of fruit flavours; plum, black raspberry and pomegranate. Light oak, herbs'n'spice and a hint of smoke add depth, especially on the finish. Ready to go now. Drink 2021-2023.

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2020 Modest Wines Pinot Noir Rosé - 87pts

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2020 Modest Wines Pinot Noir Rosé (Cawston) Similkameen Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $24.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.2%
Date Tasted: May 10th, 2021

Tasting Notes: An orangey-pink hued blush produced with Pinot Noir grapes sourced from Cawston in the Similkameen Valley offering a medley of delicate red fruit, blossom and white peach aromas and flavours. Marketed as a "dry rosé" despite its listed 8.2g/p of residual sugar and mostly lives up to this billing due to the balance of refined, peach and strawberry acidity. But you can taste the sweetness behind acid, and that is a good thing. Drink now-2022.

SpearHead Winery 2020 Pinot Noir Rosé - 87pts

SpearHead Winery 2020 Pinot Noir Rosé (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $23 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 542 cases
Date Tasted: April 15th, 2021

Tasting Notes: More robust and a touch dryer than recent vintages, the 2020 Pinot Noir Rosé opens with a peach and rhubarb-scented nose with subtle notes of wet stone and lime leaves adding depth. Palate is textured and refreshing, albeit, a bit short-lived beyond its initial attention-grabbing entrance. Pair it with your next backyard picnic spread and serve it in its youth. Drink 2021-2022.

SpearHead Winery 2018 Pinot Noir Cuvée - 91pts

SpearHead Winery 2018 Pinot Noir Cuvée (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $40
Alcohol: 13.5%

Production: 450 cases
Date Tasted: September 17th, 2020

Tasting Notes: SpearHead's flagship Pinot Noir is a barrel select blend of multiple clones and vineyard sites and checks all the right boxes for an outstanding BC Pinot Noir; brooding cherry notes, earth and forest tones, smoky tannins and wildberry acidity. Put this beauty down for 2 more years to further integrate and mature. Drink 2022-2028.

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2018 Pinot Noir - 88pts

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery 2018 Pinot Noir (Cawston) Similkameen Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $24.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: June 29th, 2020

Tasting Notes: The 2018 edition of Mt. Boucherie's Pinot Noir is a mouthful! Showcases a classic, BC Pinot profile of nicely integrated, spiced fruit and earth characters on the pretty, expressive nose and the robust, slightly 'hot' palate. Sourced from a single vineyard near Cawston in the Similkameen Valley, this is a BBQ-friendly Pinot that will match West Coast cuisine, especially, smoked salmon dishes. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2023.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

SpearHead Winery 2018 Saddle Block Pinot Noir - 90pts

SpearHead Winery 2018 Saddle Block Pinot Noir (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $35 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 450 cases
Date Tasted: May 16th, 2020

Tasting Notes: The East Kelowna based, home vineyard is the source of the winery's forest floor scented Pinot Noir, the "Saddle Block". The earthy bouquet is beautifully contrasted by feminine, aromatic notes and by well integrated, red and dark cherry, huckleberry and cooked plum flavours on the lively palate. A touch of spice and pomegranate lingers on the well-balanced, medium length finish. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2025.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

SpearHead Winery 2018 Coyote Vineyard Pinot Noir - 89+pts

SpearHead Winery 2018 Coyote Vineyard Pinot Noir (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $33 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 250 cases
Date Tasted: May 16th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Sourced from the West Kelowna located Coyote Vineyard, this release is the smoky-spicy edition of the winery's portfolio of single-vineyard Pinot Noirs for the 2018 vintage. A medley of red fruit aromas and flavours mingle comfortably with homey, toasty cooking spices on the graceful nose and the medium-everything palate. A gentle wave of smoke appears on the long finish enhancing the cozy appear of this Pinot. Ready to go now, though, may develop further over the next 1-2 years. Drink 2020-2025.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

SpearHead Winery 2018 Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Noir - 89-90+pts

SpearHead Winery 2018 Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Noir (Summerland) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $35 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 440 cases
Date Tasted: May 3rd, 2020

Tasting Notes: Keeping true to its feminine profile roots, the 2018 edition of SpearHead's Summerland-sourced Pinot Noir also offers a beautiful array of warm, savoury spices on the aromatic nose and on the brambly fruit and sun-kissed, earthy palate. Though the alcohol levels are actually a tad less than the previous vintage, the 2018's slightly more svelte body leaves more heat in the mouth without affecting the long, smoked-spice finish.

Currently, this youthful wine is better on the second night suggesting more time in the bottle should yield more further development and integration. Drink 2021-2024+.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

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