Tawse Winery 2009 Robyn's Block Vineyard Chardonnay - 90+pts

Tawse Winery 2009 Robyn's Block Vineyard Chardonnay (Twenty Mile Bench) Niagara Peninsula - Ontario

Availability: Limited. 2010 vintage now available. Direct from winery here
Cost: $45-50
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: August 29th, 2012

Tasting Notes: The Robyn's Block Chardonnay begins with a subtle nose of sweet pear, minerals, tangerine and green apple aromas that evolve in the glass to reveal more layers beneath of light melon notes. The fresh and still youthful palate is not laden with heavy oak and almost comes across as un-oaked if not for the vanilla and light spice notes behind the orchard fruit flavours. Should develop even further over the next 3-4 years. Drink 2013-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Black Hills Estate Winery 2009 Viognier - 90pts

Black Hills Estate Winery 2009 Viognier (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. Select private and VQA stores.
Cost: $30
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: August 28th, 2010
Re-Tasted: September 2nd, 2012

Tasting Notes: This is the first release of Viognier from Black Hills Estate Winery and it is a winner. Rich, concentrated flavours and aromas with a masculine, austere character. Pairs well with food (spicy Thai for example) and is an all-round pleaser. An impressive first vintage.

Medium-plus intense aromas of minerals, stone fruit, honey, aromatic flowers, peaches, tropical fruit, orange rind and light oak. Good continuity of flavours through to the dry palate with more austere mineral notes and a nice lingering spice on the moderate-plus finish.

Our only complaint is that the balance is ever-so-slightly tilted towards the hot side with 14.2% alcohol. A minor fault masked when served with food. All in all, this is another excellent BC Viognier for which the hot and dry 2009 season offered excellent growing conditions. This Rhone Valley varietal has a bright future in the Okanagan Valley. Drink now or cellar for another 1-2 years for further development. Drink 2010-2015.

Re-Tasted Notes: Took own advice and recently opened a bottle that had been cellared for 2 years with excellent results. The tropical fruit characters have come to the forefront while the acid has mellowed a tad, but the overall balance has actually improved slightly with the alcohol now seamlessly integrated. Good length and yet to peak, though, I would put the drinking window at 2010-2014 now. The score remains a solid 90-pts wine.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery 2006 Terroir Cache - 89pts

Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery 2006 Terroir Cache (Beamsville Bench) Niagara Peninsula - Ontario

Availability: Sold Out. Visit winery for library release info here
Cost: $35-40 est
Alcohol: 13.1%
Date Tasted: August 28th, 2012

Tasting Notes: From the cellar. This Meritage blend from Hidden Bench has gained some international press being entered into the likes of the Decanter World Wine Awards and fairing well. An assemblage of 50% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, 12% Malbec and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon with a gorgeous bouquet of cassis framed by light earth and cinnamon notes followed by a muted and slightly sharp-edged palate with mellowed tannins and flavours of dark fruits and oak.

Though the nose is still enchanting, sadly, this wine has peaked and already begun its inevitable decline losing some cohesion on the palate. Drink now.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Dunham Cellars 2010 Riesling - 90-92pts

Dunham Cellars 2010 Riesling (Walla Walla) Columbia Valley AVA - Washington State

Availability: Costco or direct from winery here
Cost: $14.99
Alcohol: 11.8%
Date Tasted: August 26th, 2012

Tasting Notes: This single vineyard (Lewis Estate Vineyard) is loaded with mineral and citrus fruit on the aromatic nose and off-dry palate. Full bodied and quite unctuous with added honeydew, grapefruit and light spice notes balanced well with tangy citrus acid creating a refreshing finish. Has the specs and will to age nicely. Lay yours down for 2+ years to allow its full character to reveal itself. Drink 2014-2020+.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Dunham Cellars 2008 Trutina - 91pts

Dunham Cellars 2008 Trutina (Walla Walla) Columbia Valley - Washington State

Availability: Costco and direct from the winery here
Cost: $19.99
Alcohol: 14.1%
Date Tasted: August 28th, 2012

Tasting Notes: A proprietary blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Syrah and 16% Merlot with an inviting nose of sweet, ripe dark-red fruit where most, if not all three components have gone through a secondary malolactic fermentation contributing palate-coating butter characters and mannered acidity. Still fresh and mouth-watering, the acid balances the concentrated, rich cherry and blackberry fruit on the dry palate. Nice toasted oak, milk chocolate and licorice spice flavours add depth. Though an easy-drinking wine, it's quite complex and nicely layered. Still youthful after 4 years and should begin to peak in 2-3 more but further development may be minimal with the wine already in harmony and well balanced as the Latin name "Trutina" suggests. Drink 2012-2018.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca