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

Lunessence Winery and Vineyard 2016 Winemaker's Cut Sauvignon Blanc - 89pts

Lunessence Winery and Vineyard 2016 Winemaker's Cut Sauvignon Blanc (Osoyoos) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Visit website here 
Cost: $20
Alcohol: 12.5%
Production: 270 cases
Date Tasted: December 7th, 2017

Tasting Notes: A beautifully crisp and pungent Sauvignon Blanc with ample exotic and citrus fruit, lemon grass and celery on the mineral-kissed nose and palate. Sourced from an Osoyoos vineyard and partially aged (20%) in Slovakian oak for 5 months prior to blending. Finish is long with citrus rind and a touch of spice lingering. Lip-smacking good! Drink now-2020.
 - 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

Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars 2016 Pinot Gris - 88pts

Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars 2016 Pinot Gris (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and private wine shops
Cost: $20.90
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: December 4th, 2017

Tasting Notes: A partially oaked Pinot Gris (60% stainless steel and 40% in 4th fill oak) that saw 0% malolactic fermentation for the 2016 vintage which is noticeably less rich and textured, though, still well-balanced and more minerally than the 2015. Look for stone fruits, citrus and layers of herbs and light spice on the pleasant nose and long finish. Drink now-2019.
 - 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