Fairview Cellars 2012 The Bear - 92-93pts

Fairview Cellars 2012 The Bear (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Winery door and private wine shops
Cost: $34.90
Alcohol: 14.2%
Production: 300 cases
Date Tasted: September 16th, 2015

Tasting Notes: Fairview Cellars grows all 5 of the red varieties of Bordeaux in its home vineyard on the North end of the Golden Mile Bench and each contributes to the complexity and balance of the final blend, but Cabernet Sauvignon, the vineyard's speciality, leads the way.

Ripe and refined with gorgeous, dark fruit and sumptuous, black licorice aromas supported by layers of herbs, vanilla-mocha, toasted oak, spices and violets. The palate opens with lush, ripe, blackberry and cassis fruit followed by a wave of savoury characters, similar to the profile on the nose, with additional, lifted flavours of mint and citrus peel. The finish is long with lingering traces of spices, cassis and vanilla.

Built for the long sleep with fine tannins and effortless acidity, this vintage of The Bear should age beautifully into double digits. Give it another 2 years before opening. Drink late-2017-2022+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Fairview Cellars 2010 The Bear - 91pts

Fairview Cellars 2010 The Bear (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Limited. Private wine shops and as a library release from winery
Cost: $34.90
Alcohol: 13.1%
Production: 300 cases
Date Tasted: December 2nd, 2013

Tasting Notes: A year on from its release in the Fall of 2012, the 2010 edition of Fairview Cellars' signature Meritage blend, The Bear, is already ageing well, rounding its edges with an enriched texture thanks to further integration of its tannins and dark berry characters. Despite its cool vintage pedigree, this blend of all 5 primary Bordeaux varietals boasts ripe blackberry, cassis and plum fruit on both the nose and palate with Fairview's signature oak program influenced notes adding depth and complexity. 

Drinking well now, though, another 6 months or more will do nicely. Drink 2014-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Fairview Cellars 2009 The Bear - 92+pts

Fairview Cellars 2009 The Bear (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Limited. Private wine shops and as a library release from winery
Cost: $34.90
Alcohol: 14.9%
Production: 400 cases
Date Tasted: May th, 2012

Tasting Notes: 2009 was a good year for Bordeaux varieties in the Okanagan with both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot turning in some ultra-ripe performances. These varieties take center stage in the 2009 edition of Fairview Cellars' signature blend "The Bear" with Merlot providing plenty of berry fruit aromas and flavours and the Cabernet contributing gorgeous dark fruit and licorice puree characters. The addition of oak and mocha notes from the barrel aging process and from the terroir (Golden Mile Bench) makes for a complex trifecta of sweet berry fruit, intense dark fruit preserves and serious savoury notes.

Lovers of wines with a refined bite (fine tannins and mouth-watering acidity) will adore this vintage of The Bear. As for development, the sky's the limit. I look forward mightily to re-tasting this wine in two year intervals over the next eight as it melds and evolves. Drink mid-2013-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Fairview Cellars 2003 The Bear's Meritage - 91pts

Fairview Cellars 2003 The Bear's Meritage (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Sold out. Contact winery for possible library release
Cost: N/A
Alcohol: 14.6%
Date Tasted: February 27th, 2011

Tasting Notes: From the Cellar. 2003 was the year of the devastating forest fires in the Okanagan Valley which destroyed houses and vineyards and overtly represents a reminder of an incredibly hot and dry vintage. Many of the wines of this vintage, to which The Bear is no exception, are higher in alcohol than in a more temperate year. It's a challenge to any winemaker to overcome a super hot and dry vintage especially with problems like over-heating which fall into the "not much we can do about it" category as vines will simply shut-down in extreme heat limiting flavour development.

The Bear fares well with good concentration on the nose and palate of abundant red fruit, plum, licorice, blackberry and cassis characters. Full-bodied from both the rich fruit and alcohol, the balance is a touch "hot" but does not affect the enjoyment of the wine which has aged very well (perhaps better than the 2004 vintage). A long, long finish with smooth, integrated tannins and good complexity. Close to peaking, enjoy this wine over the next 2-3 years. Drink 2011-14+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Fairview Cellars 2008 The Bear - 91-93pts

Fairview Cellars 2008 The Bear (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC


Availability: Direct from winery and select VQA stores
Cost: $34.99
Alcohol: 14.1%
Production: 320 cases
Date Tasted: October 23rd, 2010


Tasting Notes: Appreciating the nose of this powerful wine takes time. Layers of fruit and savoury notes peel away with each sniff to reveal another layer. A Russian doll for the nose. Rich aromas of cassis, blackberry, licorice, toasted oak, nutmeg and sun-drenched rocks.


The palate is tight at the moment and the wine is not yet ready to drink. 6 hours of decanting revealed a glimpse at its illustrious future. The richness from the nose is carried through to the dry palate where the concentration of the dark fruit flavours hits you with the perception of sweetness. The fruit is followed by savoury toasted oak and mineral flavours with fine, integrated tannins. There is just a hint of bell pepper "greenness" in the tannins from the slightly cooler 2008 vintage, but just a hint - not enough to affect the score or the wine's longevity. Light spice box notes linger on the long, balanced finish. Drink 2012-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright Icon Wines 2010

Also see:
Fairview Cellars 2008 Madcap Red