Poplar Grove Winery 2007 Syrah - 90+pts

Poplar Grove Winery 2007 Syrah (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here. VQA stores
Cost: $30
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: September 22nd, 2010

Tasting Notes: The fruit for this beautiful Syrah came from a Skaha Lake vineyard with excellent sun exposure. The resulting wine, handled expertly by winemaker Ian Sutherland, is fully ripe and bursting with concentrated red and dark fruit flavours and aromas. This is a serious Syrah, dark and brooding, with a good expression of terroir and spicy pepper notes. Oak treatment enhances the nose and palate without overshadowing the fruit characters.

Winner of a 2010 Lieutenant Governor Award of Excellence - well deserved. Enjoy on its own or with grilled meats. Drink now through 2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Poplar Grove Winery 2005 The Legacy - 92pts

Poplar Grove Winery 2005 The Legacy (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Now. Direct from winery and VQA stores.

Cost: $49.90 (VQA stores)
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: September 22nd, 2009

Tasting Notes: The Legacy is Naramata Bench producer Poplar Grove's signature wine and it is a stunner. A meritage blend of Merlot, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, and Malbec. This dark garnet wine offers delicate aromas of fresh floral and blackberry with flavours of floral and licorice on the palate. Smooth, well-structured tannins complement strong but tamed acidity which will make this wine the perfect cellar keeper for special occasions.

Writing that a $50 bottle of BC wine offers good value may be a difficult thing to read but this wine does deliver the goods and does represent good value for the complexity of taste on offer. Truly an Icon Wine of BC and one of our favourites.
 - Liam Carrier and Hugh Carter

Poplar Grove Winery 2006 Cabernet Franc - 91+pts

Poplar Grove Winery 2006 Cabernet Franc (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery and VQA stores.

Cost: $39.90 (Direct from winery)
Date Tasted: September 22nd, 2009

Tasting Notes: At $40 a bottle the Poplar Grove Cabernet Franc may be overpriced and out-of-reach for many consumers. However, fans of BC Cabernet Franc, of whose ranks grow daily, will likely pay the premium for this quality juice that exemplifies the aromatic and concentrated flavours of this varietal when grown in the cool, dry climate of the Southern Okanagan.

The nose is subtle and elegant with notes of plums, milk chocolate, pungent cheese and cigar box. The palate offers flavours of finely-ground pepper, chocolate covered cherries and Christmas spice. This medium-plus bodied wine has good acidity with strong but well-structured tannins and a long finish. Approachable now, but will improve with 1-2 years of aging.
 - Liam Carrier

Poplar Grove Winery 2006 Merlot - 90pts

Poplar Grove Winery 2006 Merlot (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Now. Direct from winery or VQA stores.

Cost: $29.90 (Direct from winery)
Date Tasted: September 22nd, 2009

Tasting Notes: If you ever visit the Naramata Bench appellation in the Okanagan Valley make sure you visit the Poplar Grove estate as the property has one of the most amazing views on the bench. Driving up the lane towards the tasting room, you will pass the estate's Merlot block on the left, home to this wine's grapes.

The Poplar Grove Merlot shows a beautifully complex nose of dusty chocolate and cherry. There are chalky flavours of spice and plum on the palate with a very long finish. This is a wonderfully structured wine with well rounded tannins and acid. This will do well down the road.
 - Liam Carrier and Hugh Carter

Poplar Grove Winery 2005 Syrah - 85pts

Poplar Grove 2005 Syrah (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Now.

Cost: $39.90 (Direct from winery)
Date Tasted: September 22nd, 2009

Tasting Notes: Medium intensity garnett colour, this 2005 Syrah shows strawberry and candied coffee beans on the nose. At $40 it's a pricey Syrah that has already had 4 years of aging, but it does deliver with a continuation of strawberry and mellowed tannins but overall was a bit of a let down on the palate.With no 2006 vintage, this is the only Syrah that Poplar Grove is offering until the 2007 vintage is ready.
 - Liam Carrier and Hugh Carter