Rollingdale Winery 2008 Organic Merlot - 88pts

Rollingdale Winery 2008 Organic Merlot (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $28.90
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 213 cases
Date Tasted: July 9th, 2010

Tasting Notes: This certified organic offering from Rollingdale is in a bit of an awkward phase at this time creating a split personality. The nose is amazing. Inviting, bright, ripe cherry fruit dominates with vanilla and oak aromas supporting. The palate seems to come from another wine. A chalky texture with muted red fruit flavours, good but little continuity from the nose.

With several hours of decanting the tightness on the palate softens and reveals more of the warm fruit still shining on the nose. Another year of development in the bottle should allow the wine to merge the two personalities into one, creating a lovely, quality Merlot. Drink 2011-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 (with Hugh Carter)

Rollingdale Winery 2007 Reserve Pinot Noir - 90pts

Rollingdale Winery 2007 Reserve Pinot Noir (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $19.90
Alcohol: 12.7%
Production: 1010 cases
Date Tasted: July 3rd, 2010

Tasting Notes: With their 2007 Reserve Pinot Noir, boutique (and mostly Organic) Kelowna winery Rollingdale, have delivered an exciting and unique wine that leans Old World terroir-driven rather than New World fruit-forward. The subtle nose evolved in the glass offering aromas of pine, forest floor, violets, plum and raspberry. The aromas continue through to the bone-dry, medium-bodied palate where earthiness and sour cherry flavours are prominent. A long, balanced finish lingers with a hint of spice.

The tannins and acidity are strong and suggest good aging potential but never over-power the flavours on the palate. Very well-balanced - an excellent effort that will develop further in the bottle over the next 2 years and should enjoy a long life.

If you're a Pinot Noir fanatic who finds too-many New World attempts far too fruity then you'll love this Reserve Pinot from Rollingdale. It's a steal at $20! Drink now through 2016.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 (with Hugh Carter)

Re-tasted November 2011: Score reduced (was 91-92pts). Wine still holding beautifully and offers amazing value at the new lower price of only $20 (was $25) but hasn't blossomed quite as well as we'd predicted with another 1+ years in the bottle.

Rollingdale Winery 2007 Pinot Noir Ice Wine - 93-94pts

Rollingdale Winery 2007 Pinot Noir Ice Wine (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $69.90 (200 ml)
Alcohol: 12%
Date Tasted: March 20th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Pinot Noir is an unusual choice to use as the source grapes for an ice wine as the fragile berries are not ones to like the extreme cold needed to make the world famous sweet wine (-8 degrees C). However, in the hands of the Rollingdale winemaking team under the direction of Steve Dale, it delivers big.

Massive concentration of fruit aromas and flavours (apricot jam, strawberry, fuzzy peaches candy and raspberry cremesicle) are nicely contrasted with impressively high acidity. This leads to a very long, balanced and satisfying finish.

Minute skin contact and stainless steel fermentation result in an eye-catching strawberry-amber colour to this exquisite wine rather than a more traditional Pinot Noir colour like Garnet. This just adds to the uniqueness of the wine, one that will be the talk of any dinner party you take it to. Ready to enjoy now or lay down for up to 10 years to build further complexity. Drink 2010-2020. Ordering info at http://www.rollingdale.ca/
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Rollingdale Winery 2007 "La Gauche" Cabernet Sauvignon - 91+pts

Rollingdale Winery 2007 "La Gauche" Cabernet Sauvignon (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $39.90
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasting: March 20th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Rollingdale is a relatively new and little-known Okanagan Valley producer from West Kelowna who source grapes from top Valley growers to craft unique and sometimes exquisite wines. The name of their Cabernet Sauvignon-heavy meritage blend, "La Gauche", is a clever homage to the Left Bank of the Gironde river in Bordeaux (the firm also produce a Merlot-heavy "La Droit") and clearly the wine is structured to emulate those superb Médoc beauties. The most impressive thing, however, is not the creative marketing but that they have managed to pull it off. The palate, especially, successfully mimics the terroir-driven character of an Old World wine while the nose remains grounded in New World brightness and flare.

Intense aromas of mocha espresso, cherry nibs, dark berries, cassis and licorice on the nose are followed by meaty flavours of leather, oak, earthy minerality and vanilla with a touch of dark fruits on the palate. Moderate alcohol, high acidity and integrated tannins contribute to a medium-bodied palate. A medium-plus finish with lingering spice completes the experience.

This wine has been built to age and should do so nicely. At three years old, it's still showing a bit young. Give it another two years in your cellar to maximize enjoyment. Drink 2011-2016.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 (with Hugh Carter)