Blasted Church Vineyards 2018 Hatfield's Fuse - 86pts

Blasted Church Vineyards 2018 Hatfield's Fuse (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here. BCLDB stores
Cost: $16-20 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.5%
Production: 7025 cases
Date Tasted: October 28th, 2020

Tasting Notes: A white blend of Germanic and French aromatic varietals (a whopping 11 grape varieties in total) with a pleasant, bright offering of orchard and citrus fruit supported by layers of spice and fleshy, grapiness. Very snack-food friendly. Drink now-2022.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Blasted Church Vineyards 2016 Nectar Of The Gods - 89-90pts

Blasted Church Vineyards 2016 Nectar Of The Gods (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $55 + taxes
Alcohol: 15%
Production: 1073 cases
Date Tasted: July 12th, 2020

Tasting Notes: A fleshy, masculine blend of 49% Petit Verdot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cot Noir (Malbec), offering a robust, developed bouquet and maturing palate of black cherry, kirsch, pipe tobacco, saddle and peppery, charred oak spice. Full-bodied with leathery tannins and a long, black pepper-infused finish, this cellar worthy wine spent 20 months in oak (3 months in varietal lots and 17 months post-blend) prior to bottling. Sealed with a Stelvin cap enclosure, it should continue to evolve over the next 2-3 years. Ready to go now with a lengthy decant (and watch for plenty of sediment). Drink 2020-2023.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

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 2016 Syrah - 91+pts

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

Availability: Not yet released. Direct from the winery here
Cost: TBA
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: March 2nd, 2019

Tasting Notes: An intense and ripe, dark and red fruit driven Syrah with prominent spice notes on the New World fashioned profile with added layers of sun-dried earth, blood orange, mint, toasted oak and vanilla. With time in the glass to open up, a susurus of cola and chocolate aromas show on the developing nose and cigar box and black pepper flavours linger on the long finish. 

Could improve with further time in the cellar, but, ready to go now and through the next 5-6 years. Drink 2019-2024.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2015 Merlot - 91pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here upon release
Cost: $34.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.7%
Date Tasted: February 26th, 2019

Tasting Notes: True to the house style, Painted Rock's Merlot is a sensual, feminine wine with an appealing profile of ripe and tangy blackberry fruit, dark chocolate covered blueberries, vanilla macaron, light spice and herbs on the layered nose and the lifted, grippy palate. 

The finish deserves its own paragraph even though you'll be done reading this long before the intense, mixed dark fruit, licorice and dark cocoa notes fade away. Though mouth-watering and brambly, at first, a wave of darkness emerges adding depth and delight.

Pair with a plate of your best dark chocolate or cocoa-rubbed filet mignon or enjoy this beautiful wine on its own. Ready to go now with a long decant, however, to make the most of your investment, give it another year in the bottle. Drink 2020-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2015 Syrah - 92-93pts

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

Availability: Not yet released. Direct from the winery here
Cost: $34.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.9%
Date Tasted: December 10th, 2017

Tasting Notes: Though Painted Rock is best known for its ripe and complex Red Icon blend, the wine gaining ground as the flagship product is the winery's estate-grown Syrah. Mind-blowing intense, yet, without ever feeling over-extracted or jammy. This youthful Syrah displays ripe cherry and plum fruit with integrated white pepper, pepperoni and floral aromas followed on the dry, grippy-tannin palate with similar flavours and added layers of blood orange, mint and vanilla.

Finishes long with lingering spice and cigar box notes. Ready to go now, with 4+ hrs of decanting, though, the best results will come with patience and mid-term cellaring. Drink 2019-2025.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Blasted Church Vineyards 2012 OMG - 87pts

Blasted Church Vineyards 2012 OMG (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here. BCLDB stores
Cost: $27
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 800 cases
Date Tasted: December 7th, 2017

Tasting Notes: The playfully labeled OMG is a blend of 67% Pinot Noir, 22% Chardonnay and 11% Pinot Blanc and produced with the traditional, in-bottle second fermentation method. This process imparts yeasty-goodness into the bouquet and texture of the wine from the long exposure to its spent lees and the Blasted Church OMG offers these characters in spades. What it might be lacking is a touch more fruit and residual sugar with a racy profile focused more on mineral and nut flavours and plenty of raw acidity. Drink now-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

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 Merlot - 89+pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here upon release
Cost: $34.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 15.3%
Date Tasted: December 1st, 2017

Tasting Notes: The sensory contact of the 2014 Painted Rock Merlot is dialed up to "11", especially on the palate where the sensation of acidity is higher than any previous vintage of the otherwise feminine and well balanced wine. Look for integrated blackberry, vanilla, cocoa, oak and dried herbs on both the sweet berry kissed nose and the bright, smooth tannin palate. Enjoy now or file away in your cellar for some further development. Drink now-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Blasted Church Vineyards 2015 Big Bang Theory - 89pts

Blasted Church Vineyards 2015 Big Bang Theory (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here. BCLDB stores
Cost: $21.50 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 4500 cases
Date Tasted: June 1st, 2017

Tasting Notes: Blasted Church's Big Bang Theory is a slightly off-dry blend of 50% Merlot, 15% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Pinot Noir, 9% Lemberger and 6% Syrah which have created an approachable, easy-to-love, unique wine with both expected, ripe blackberry and cassis aromas and flavours, and unexpected notes of cranberry, balsamic and spices which help this wine stand-out from the other >$25 reds in the market. Ready to go now. Drink 2017-2019.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Blasted Church Vineyards 2015 Pinot Gris - 90pts

Blasted Church Vineyards 2015 Pinot Gris (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here. BCLDB stores
Cost: $22
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 2911 cases
Date Tasted: April 28th, 2017

Tasting Notes: A carefully crafted Pinot Gris produced with fruit sourced from 3 vineyards, each fermented separately and then blended at bottling with 5% Chardonnay, 3% Viognier and 2% Gewurztraminer. Both aromatic and fruity with lifted aromas of pear, melon, flowers, hay and citrus fruit on the nose. Palate entry is lush and juicy then a deliciously vibrant wave of citrus and peach acidity rushes through, driving to a dry finish where spice and lemon/lime notes linger. Drink now-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2014 Syrah - 93+pts

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

Availability: Soon to be released. Direct from the winery here
Cost: $34.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 15.1%
Date Tasted: April 27th, 2017

Tasting Notes: The 2014 edition of Painted Rock's Syrah presents stunning intensity on its ripe berry, pepper and floral scented nose and on its brooding, black cherry and endless-spice themed palate. 

Still quite youthful, with grippy, fine tannins and layered with hints of citrus fruit, Mojito mint, vanilla extract and savoury notes. Manages its 15.1% alcohol effortlessly and finishes long, oh so long, with lingering toasted oak and peppercorn flavours. Ready to go now, with 4+ hrs of decanting. Though, best results will come with patience and mid-term cellaring. Drink 2019-2024.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2014 Cabernet Franc - 92pts

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2014 Cabernet Franc (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $44.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.3%
Production: 1153 cases
Date Tasted: January 5th, 2017

@PaintedRockWine

Tasting Notes: A longtime, prominent component of the winery's flagship Bordeaux blend, the Red Icon, the estate grown Cabernet Franc is showcased here, for the first time, as a single-varietal release and delivers a stand-out performance. 

Rich and complex with sweet, aromatic aromas and ripe, brambly berry notes on the vanilla and menthol-infused nose, this Franc offers a well-structured palate with dry, grippy tannins, smooth acidity and a medley of dark fruit and savoury flavours: coffee beans, cooking spices, cigar paper, plums, cherry-cola and charred oak. Finishes long with lingering spice and oak notes. 

Drink now or hold for the potential of further development. Drink 2017-2022.

 - 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 2013 Merlot - 90+pts

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2013 Merlot (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here and select VQA stores
Cost: $34.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.8%
Date Tasted: July 16th, 2016

Tasting Notes: Complex and feminine with sweet berry, licorice, oak and menthol aromas on the nose followed by a dry palate brimming with flavours of blackberry puree, vanilla, spice, cocoa powder, toasted oak and livened by bright, red currant acidity and nicely framed by fine tannins. Enjoy now with a lengthy decant or file away in your cellar for further development. Drink 2017-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2015 Chardonnay - 92+pts

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

Availability: Direct from winery here and private wine shops
Cost: $35
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: June 14th, 2016

Tasting Notes: From a tank sample. A standout Chardonnay, sourced from the winery's home vineyard along the Skaha Bench, harvested in small lots and fermented separately to preserve the unique qualities of each batch. In contrast to previous vintages, 20% of the wine was aged in stainless steel tanks and underwent a softening of the acids through a secondary, malolactic fermentation. The rest of the wine was aged in an even split of 1st and 2nd fill French oak barrels with no malolactic fermentation.

The finished wine is as complex as it is ever-evolving, multifaceted, production recipe with aromas and flavours of honeydew, pear, tangerine, lemon/lime, vanilla, stonefruit, spice and brioche. Pure, refined and elegant with a harmonious balance of its core elements: fruit, acid and texture. An effortless intensity which will help the wine hold for many years and develop further over time as the intensity is slowly dialled back to reveal layers of dried and candied fruit aromas and flavours. Drink 2017-2022+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2014 Rosé - 88pts

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

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $21.69 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 419 cases
Date Tasted: June 10th, 2016

Tasting Notes: This light brick-hued rosé is a blend of 39% Merlot, 29% Cab Franc, 23% Malbec and 9% Petit Verdot produced using the traditional, saignee method with skin contact limited to one day. To say it's a mouthful is an understatement. With 14.5% residual alcohol and uber-ripe grapes at hartvest, this rosé bursts out of the glass with both sweet and tart red fruit characters on the femme fatale nose and on the hot, glycerol-coated, slightly off-dry palate. 

A nice kick of rhubarb acidity helps balance the weighty texture through to a long finish where dried cranberry and wild herbs linger. Serve chilled to help keep the alcohol in check. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2013 Syrah - 92+pts

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2013 Syrah (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $34.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.9%
Production: 1622 cases
Date Tasted: May 31st, 2016

Tasting Notes: Opens with the intensity of an extracted Aussie Shiraz on the nose, though, the developing bouquet more closely resembles Syrah of the Northern Rhone with a beautiful blend of floral, fruit and savoury aromas. Layers of violet, blue fruits, smoky, cured meats, toffee, cardamom and white pepper will keep you blissfully sniffing the glass.

Palate is equally intense, with similar complexity and flavours, though, peppercorn spice plays a more prominent role and lasts for several minutes on the finish with a hint of fresh citrus and mint. Despite the nearly 15% alcohol and grippy tannins, there's no fat, this Syrah stays lean with excellent viscosity and a vibrant mouthfeel.

Look for this stunning, spicy Syrah to age gracefully over the next 3-5 years and last for 10 or more. Drink 2017-2022+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2009 Red Icon - 93pts

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2009 Red Icon (Skaha Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $55
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: October 20th, 2011
Re-Tasted: May 27th, 2016

Tasting Notes: I love this wine for its uniqueness in the world of cookie-cutter big reds. The first vintage (2007) had Petit Verdot as the leading grape in the blend... yeah, Petit Verdot! None of the corporate wineries would ever try that. (And to be fair, I doubt proprietor John Skinner would ever again either... the bane of originality.) These bold risks have mostly all paid off delivering a unique blend from a picture perfect vineyard offering honest vintage variation.

The 2009 is a harmonious blend of 30% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot and 1% Syrah delivering massive complexity and concentration that never overloads the dry palate rather evolves slowly in the glass to reveal layers of the flavour profile. The wine is impressively approachable now but I still recommend a further 6 months or longer of cellaring prior to opening. Drink mid-2012-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Re-Tasting Notes: At seven years of age, the 2009 Red Icon is tasting beautifully and appears to be still a couple of years away from peaking, challenging my original drinking window. Tannins have mellowed, turning ultra creamy and the nose is now a fully integrated bouquet - feminine, sensual and mysterious. Finish is long and supple. Drink now-2020
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2014 Chardonnay - 92+pts

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

Availability: Direct from winery here and private wine shops
Cost: $35
Alcohol: 14.1%
Date Tasted: June 20th, 2015

Tasting Notes: As the vines age at Painted Rock's picturesque vineyard along the Skaha Bench, the resulting wines will mature as well, making future development more of a reality than ever before. The 2014 edition shows signs of a long life thanks to the harmonious balance of its core elements: fruit, acid and textural characters. There is also an effortless intensity which will not only help the wine hold for many years but actually help the wine improve as the intensity is slowly dialled back to reveal layers of dried and candied fruit aromas and flavours.

The nose offers pure, orchard, citrus, tropical and melon fruit aromas supported by French oak, minerals and light brioche notes. The palate is refined, complex and both round and refreshing at the same time, offering a vibrant texture and intense flavours of honeydew, pear, tangerine, lemon/lime, vanilla, spice and warm brioche. This is contrasted, lovingly, by green apple and stonefruit notes through to its long, balanced finish. Drink 2015-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca