Painted Rock Estate Winery 2016 Red Icon - 92+pts

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2016 Red Icon (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $54.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.9%
Production: 1487 cases
Date Tasted: April 19th, 2019

@PaintedRockWine

Tasting Notes: There has yet to be a disappointing Red Icon produced and the 2016 does not balk that trend with its quality and depth. But that isn't to say that this label presents as thought it were made from a mould each year, it isn't. Its crafted using whatever the vintage has delivered and from what the vineyard team could influence.

This year, a blend of 44% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 16% Petit Verdot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Malbec combine to showcase the lively, fruitier elements of each varietal with fewer brooding characters than is previous years. Still refined and elegant, as always, with layers of savoury goodness (oak, spice, herbs and a touch of leather) but also cheerful and aromatic, very feminine.

Though its ready to be enjoyed today, there is usually further development ahead for the Red Icon, especiallay in the mid-term. Look to enjoy this beauty over the next 3-4 years. Drink 2019-2023.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Also see:

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2015 Red Icon

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2014 Red Icon

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2012 Red Icon

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2011 Red Icon

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2010 Red Icon
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2009 Red Icon

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2015 Red Icon - 93pts

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2015 Red Icon (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $47.79 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.6%
Production: 1487 cases
Date Tasted: December 5th, 2017

@PaintedRockWine

Tasting Notes: The 2015 edition of the uber-popular Red Icon sees 45% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, 11% Malbec, 11% Petit Verdot and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon expertly combined to create the refined, yet, powerful Bordeaux-inspired wine we've all come to admire. It's a flagship product for the BC wine industry exported around the world thanks to the desire of the family owned and operated winery wishing to prove the merits of the Province's homegrown wines to the international market.

Always complex and layered, look for brambly berries, cool cassis, licorice'n'mint, fresh tobaco, spiced herbs and brooding, smokey oak notes on the glass escaping nose and the elegant, dry palate where fine, grippy tannins linger on a long, spicy finish.

This vintage is very approachable in its youth, much more so than recent vintages, though, it should hold well for 7-8 years in your cellar. Drink now-2024.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2014 Red Icon - 92-94pts

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2014 Red Icon (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $47.79 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.3%
Production: 1153 cases
Date Tasted: December 8th, 2016

@PaintedRockWine

Tasting Notes: Though tasting a little tight and wound-up today, the youthful 2014 Red Icon shows fantastic promise with excellent concentration and depth on the intense, masculine nose and the refined, long-lasting palate. This year's blend is comprised of 33% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 19% Malbec, 16% Petit Verdot and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, each contributing their own unique aromas and flavours to the collective.

Look for black fruits, caramel, dried herbs'n'spice, graphite, tobacco, tar, vanilla-mocha and oak characters throughout with fine, grippy tannins and smooth acidity.  

With further ageing, expect the nose to bloom and evolve towards the more feminine and warm end of the spectrum with red fruit and pencils shaving notes to come.

When one invests in a wine like this, it is best to wait for its peak window prior to opening; around year 7 or 8. However, if you can't wait quite that long, do give it at least two years in the bottle for further integration and development, it will be well worth the effort. Drink 2019-2024+.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2012 Red Icon - 93+pts

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2012 Red Icon (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $55
Alcohol: 14.9%
Date Tasted: September 17th, 2014

@PaintedRockWine

Tasting Notes: Though the components change year-to-year, Painted Rock's Red Icon is an exceptionally consistent, high-end blend that successfully executes its but de vie to deliver complex, New World flavours wrapped in an elegant, Old World structure.

This year's Icon sees 31% Malbec blended with 28% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc and 15% Petit Verdot, offering a gorgeous, feminine nose of spiced plum, sweet red fruit, light vanilla-mocha and floral aromas. The understated, refined, palate follows with both dark and red fruit flavours creating the perception of sweetness upon entry, supported by silky-smooth tannins, rich savoury notes and effortless acidity through the very long, dry and balanced finish.

As with the 2011, the 2012 is approachable in its youth and should enjoy a long life in your cellar with further development a bankable commodity. Drink 2015-2022+.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca


Also see:
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2011 Red Icon

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2010 Red Icon
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2009 Red Icon

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2011 Red Icon - 93+pts

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2011 Red Icon (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $55
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: April 16th, 2014

Tasting Notes: The ever changing components of Painted Rock's flagship wine, Red Icon, sees the 2011 vintage favour Malbec (30%) for the first time while the rest of the classic Bordeaux blending partners come in at 27% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot and just 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is a slightly more playful nose with sweet berry fruit highlights supported by gorgeous perfume, vanilla and floral aromas - very feminine and joyful.

The palate, as expected, is complex and offers a great combination of both powerful and delicate flavours - a trademark of the wine's lineage. Dark and red fruits, savoury and sweet flavours all wrapped in the loving embrace of ultra-fine tannins and effortless acidity.

More approachable in its youth than previous vintages, the 2011 is ready to go now (with proper decanting, of course) and will likely improve as its predecessors have proved, with another 2-3 years of bottle age. Drink 2014-2019+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca


Also see:
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2010 Red Icon
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2009 Red Icon

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2010 Red Icon - 93-94pts

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2010 Red Icon (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $55
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: June 1st, 2013

Tasting Notes: For the 2010 edition, Painted Rock are taking their time releasing their flagship red blend and having finally tasted it I can now appreciate why. Not yet released, it's a seductive beast that, despite its "cool vintage" provenance, is altogether, big, brawny and supremely delicate. It's also very youthful despite being already 3 years of age. The wine tasted better, more complete, on the second night, which (helps) suggest a lengthy drinking window of 2015-2020 to fully appreciate the future development on the concentrated, raw dark fruit and oak treatment elements when they will meld into the seductive bouquet one has learned to expect from the Skaha Bench vineyard.

The 2010 sees 39% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 18% Petit Verdot, 11% Malbec and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon blended to produce an aromatic nose of dark berries, violets, mint, licorice, cedar and dark chocolate aromas while the dry palate charms with intense dark fruit puree flavours supported by fine tannins, mouth-watering acidity, warm earth and toasted oak notes. So well balanced and memorable - a true icon and destined to become the next must-have, collectible cult wine of BC. Drink 2015-2020+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca