Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2008 Blanc de Noir - 89pts

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2008 Blanc de Noir (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $34.90
Alcohol: 12.9%
Date Tasted: April 1st, 2015

Tasting Notes: Produced from Pinot Noir grapes in the traditional Champagne method, this lightly bronze-hued sparkling wine is delightfully dry and nicely textured with medium, persistent bubbles and a sophisticated combination of lees and peach skin aromas and flavours. Finish is mineral-y and refreshing, though, a little short. Drink 2015-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2013 Ehrenfelser - 88pts

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2013 Ehrenfelser (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19.95
Alcohol: 12%
Date Tasted: June 19th, 2014

Tasting Notes: Ehrenfelser, a cross of Riesling and Sylvaner, performs well in the cooler pockets of the Okanagan Valley and in the hands of East Kelowna's Summerhill is presented in a sweet, refreshing and juicy style with loads of Mott's fruit cup and honeydew aromas and flavours. With 32g/l of residual sugar, this is an off-dry wine with a capital 'Off'! Though, there is also plenty of residual grapefruit acidity to keep the palate from feeling too heavy. Nice undertones of spice and minerals linger on the finish.

Marketed by Summerhill as their 'Hot Tub Wine' and hard to disagree. Be forewarned that this wine goes down with extreme ease - when put to good use, it will jump-start the conversation of any stalled party. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2011 Pinot Noir - 88pts

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2011 Pinot Noir (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $26.95
Alcohol: 12.3%
Date Tasted: June 9th, 2014

Tasting Notes: This medium brick-hued Pinot Noir opens with a complex, feminine nose of raspberry, boysenberry, cherry cola, cooking spice, sweet peat and light oak aromas - lots to pick-out and enjoy. A full-ish palate follows with similar, generous fruit and oak spice flavours upon entry, but transitions quickly to a showcase of the wine's austere characters like minerals, grippy tannins, raspberry seed notes and wild berry acidity through to the moderate-to-short finish. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2013 Organic Riesling - 89pts

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2013 Organic Riesling (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19.95
Alcohol: 8.6%
Date Tasted: June 7th, 2014

Tasting Notes: Fans of the "Dr. L" Riesling, and there are many of you, should take note of Summerhill's Organic Riesling as a locally made alternative, made in a similar, opulent, fruity, fully off-dry style (36.5 g/l of residual sugar). At only 8.6% alcohol, this is a refreshing Riesling perfect for mid-day consumption that won't put you to sleep in the afternoon. Though, quite sweet upon entry, with intense apricot, peach and key lime flavours, the palate gets balanced nicely with mineral notes and plenty of green apple and grapefruit acidity. The wine also boast a pleasant bouquet of green apple skins, peach and steel aromas. Drink now-2019.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2013 Organic Gewurztraminer - 88pts

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2013 Organic Gewurztraminer (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $19.95
Alcohol: 12.8%
Date Tasted: May 31st, 2014

Tasting Notes: Summerhill's certified organic Gewurztraminer has an eye-catching, brassy-golden hue closely reflecting the natural colour of the Germanic varietal on the vine. Off-dry, with a whopping 17.9 g/l of residual sugar, offering juicy peach and ripe lychee fruit on the nose and palate with supporting layers of citrus peel and dry herbs (especially on the moderate finish). Crab apple and kumquat acidity balance the residual sugar nicely, keeping the mouth-feel full, yet, fresh. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2010 Riesling - 89pts

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2010 Riesling (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $19.95
Alcohol: 8.5%
Date Tasted: July 18th, 2012

Tasting Notes: This is an ultra-low alcohol, off-dry example of the Germanic variety with a concentrated, vibrant nose of apples, nectarines, flowers and steel aromas. The sweet and tangy palate follows with intense apricot, gooseberry and fruit cup flavours with green apple tartness. The acid is pleasantly mouth-watering though doesn't fully support the residual sugar, yet the pure and powerful expression of fruit is highly engaging and memorable. Enjoy this wine now or over the next 3-4 years. Drink 2011-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2009 Riesling - 90+pts

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2009 Riesling (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $19.95
Alcohol: 10.5%
Date Tasted: July 15th, 2012

Tasting Notes: Is doppelgänger a German word? Yes, obviously... and how apporpriate. In consuming this excellent, low-alcohol Riesling from Summerhill you would think you were drinking a fine wine from the German region of Mosel. Off-dry, yet supremely well-balanced with ample citrus acidity that allows the wine to finish crisp leaving your mouth watering and eager for more. The Mosel similarities are aided by the use of regional clones that were imported to Summerhill's Kelowna vineyard in the 70's and which help express terroir-driven characters of stainless steel minerality, stonefruit and a touch of Okanagan silver sage.

This Riesling has aged beautifully, with apricot aromas starting to bloom suggesting that future development is almost a certainty if properly cellared. Riesling fans are likely already familiar with the nectar-like evolution the top examples can achieve. For the uninitiated, this Summerhill release is an inexpensive option to start with. Expect, at least, solid mid-term cellaring evolution with this beauty. Though, if you can't wait, it's ready to be enjoyed now with your sun-drenched patio. Drink now-2017+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 IconWines.ca

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - 87pts

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and select VQA stores
Cost: $26.95
Alcohol: 14.6%
Date Tasted: May 10th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Classic Cabernet Sauvignon aromas of cassis, plum, toasted oak and mint mingle with rustic pine cone and dusty herb notes on the spicy nose. The dry palate starts juicy and playful with flavours of blackberry, licorice, vanilla and oak then finishes a bit awkward with moody tannins and a slightly tart balance making a pairing with food a happy, if not necessary, alliance. Good concentration – a solid Cab Sauv priced appropriately. Drink 2011-2013.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 IconWines.ca

Summerhill Pyramid Winery NV Cipes Rosé - 87pts

Summerhill Pyramid Winery NV Cipes Rosé (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $29.95
Alcohol: 12%
Date Tasted: December 29th, 2010

Tasting Notes: A well balanced, fresh and vibrant Rosé sparkler with fine, persistent bubbles that delivers subtle cherry and tart cranberry characters and a touch of sweetness on the otherwise dry palate. Made in the traditional Champagne method with Pinot Noir grapes, the Cipes Rosé offers a nice mixture of fruity fun supported by an underlying richness which adds some depth and complexity. Gorgeous light cranberry hue makes for a lovely splash of colour on any table. Drink 2010-2012.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 IconWines.ca

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2007 Get To Know Series Merlot - 89pts

Summerhill Pyramid Winery 2007 Get To Know Series Merlot (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $29.95
Alcohol: 15%
Date Tasted: December 9th, 2010

Tasting Notes: The "Get To Know" in the title refers to Summerhill's partnership with famed wildlife painter Robert Bateman's ‘Get to Know your Wild Neighbors’ non-profit society who have provided images for the labels and profit from the sale of the wines. The most impressive art involved, however, is in the handling of the massive 15% alcohol - the art of balancing a wine. Sure, the end result is still a touch "hot" but it's handled remarkably well, being obscured by the concentrated dark berries on the dry palate.

The nose of this certified organic wine has intense blackberry, vanilla, plum and candied, dried fruit aromas with toasted oak and Christmas Cake spice notes. This is followed by a continuity of flavours from the nose to the mouth starting as a New World, fruit-forward wine with the perception of sweet dark berries on the front palate. The wine finishes with the savoury and oaky character of an Old World Merlot. A fabulous juicy-mouth-feel-to-savoury-finish dichotomy of texture.

This wine has the tannins and acid to last and will peak in another 1-2 years. Nevertheless, it is drinking beautifully now. Drink early-2011-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 IconWines.ca