Van Westen Vineyards 2011 Vivacious - 85pts

Van Westen Vineyards 2011 Vivacious (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $18.90
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 334 cases
Date Tasted: January 6th, 2013

Tasting Notes: Naramata Bench winery, and long-term grower, Van Westen Vineyards' "Vivacious" is primarily made with Pinot Blanc with a splash of Pinot Gris to round-out the flavour profile. Produced from estate-grown fruit, this medium-bodied wine starts promising with a light nose of Mott's Fruit Cup aromas and apple fritter notes. Unfortunately, the palate that follows is a bit confusing. You get a juicy and mineral-infused entry with intense, lively, orchard fruit flavours (very much on-brand for the Vivacious blend) followed by overwhelming green apple acidity on the finish which puckers your mouth quite distractingly. A wild ride.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Van Westen Vineyards 2008 Vino Grigio - 88pts

Van Westen Vineyards 2008 Vino Grigio (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Private wine shops.
Cost: $19-23
Production: 333 cases
Date Tasted: April 17th, 2010

Tasting Notes: This is Pinot Gris made in an Italian Pinot Grigio style, which is to say un-oaked and full of fruit intensity. Aromas and flavours of melons, orchard fruits and river stones with tropical fruit characters and acidity.

You can taste the Naramata Bench soils in this fully estate-grown wine. When drinking it you can easily imagine a beautiful, hot Okanagan summer day sitting on a sunny deck overlooking the lake. If you've never been to the Okanagan Valley, then find any scorching porch and pop-open a bottle of this wine for a virtual vacation.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Van Westen Vineyards 2008 Vivacious - 89pts

Van Westen Vineyards 2008 Vivacious (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Private wine shops.
Cost: $19-23
Production: 230 cases
Date Tasted: April 17th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Two words describe this wine accurately: "Yum" and "Eee". Accurate, perhaps, but not very thorough so let me continue... "Vivacious" primarily consists of Pinot Blanc with a touch of Pinot Gris added to the blend to help round-out the flavours and texture and it succeeds in doing just that. Pinot Blanc never tasted so complete. Excellent concentration of orchard fruits on the nose and palate with brawny mineral characters. Crisp, natural acidity helps balance out the wine and does not interrupt the long-ish finish.

You can't improve on the name, this wine is lively, spirited and cheerful.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Van Westen Vineyards 2008 Viognier - 90pts

Van Westen Vineyards 2008 Viognier (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Private wine shops.
Cost: $25-29
Production: 120 cases
Date Tasted: April 12th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Good crispness of citrus acidity with a complex nose of ripe apricots, peach candies, cooking spice and floral notes. A full-ish, concentrated palate of tropical fruits, rich texture and a lengthy finish. Very well balanced.

This is one of the best Viognier in the Provence currently on offer. This varietal is growing in popularity with consumers and growers alike and anyone jumping on the bandwagon should certainly give Van Westen's a try.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Van Westen 2006 Voluptuous - 87+pts

Van Westen Vineyards 2006 Voluptuous (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Now. Released September 1st, 2009. Direct from winery and select private stores.

Cost: $29.90 (Direct from winery)

Date Tasted: September 22nd, 2009

Tasting Notes: Meant in the most positive of ways, this wine was easily the most unique offering tasted at the Naramata Bench Wineries Association's "Simply Red" event. Winemaker Robert Van Westen has crafted an intriguing wine made of 67% Merlot and 33% Cabernet Franc with massive tannins on the palate. Although the tannins do overpower the finish at present, they do not smother the complex flavours of cassis, coffee, chocolate, plums and dark cherries. With a few years of aging this wine will could very well evolve from intriguing to sensational. - LC