JoieFarm 2012 "En Famille" Reserve Pinot Noir (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $39.90
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 215 cases
Date Tasted: August 31st, 2015
Tasting Notes: Produced from a blend of Pinot Noir fruit sourced from vineyards in Summerland and the Skaha and Naramata benches. This reserve wine spends 8 months in Burgundian oak prior to bottling and then a further 18 months in bottle prior to release preserving the wine's fresh, vibrant red fruit characters while allowing the earthy notes and tannins to integrate beautifully.
Opens with a maturing nose of sweet herbs, black cherry, raspberry seeds, cassis and light, spicy oak. The palate has plenty of vibrant texture and medium-plus body with a strong fruit component and fine tannins. The finish is spicy and mouth-watering with lingering, savoury earth and tingling raspberry notes.
Sealed with natural cork enclosure, this Pinot is likely to develop through 2018 and beyond. Drink 2015-2018+.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca
JoieFarm 2014 Rosé (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $20.90 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 12%
Production: 3145 cases
Date Tasted: August 29th, 2015
Tasting Notes: I can't think of another winery who's had more influence to help popularize BC rosé over the past decade than Naramata's JoieFarm. The words "Re-Think Pink!" are proudly printed on the label, mostly as fun, marketing slogan/nickname, but they also ring true to the approach the winery took back in 2004 for their first release and continue to strive towards today.
What did they 'rethink' by challenging the status quo? For starters... "Why can't a rosé be a flagship label for a winery?" and, "Why shouldn't a rosé get as much attention to detail and as much dedication to quality than any other wine in one's portfolio?" .
BC rosés are no longer afterthoughts or simply made as solutions to problems. Today, they get the attention in the vineyard and cellar they deserve and the results show. To the degree that this Re-Think Pink blush no longer stands as lone sentry of quality rosé in the province. Today it is joined by many other fine examples of wines-of-the-short-soak and even gets out-scored, on occasion, by producers who too, answered the above questions with a definitive "They can and they should!" Though, the JoieFarm example remains one of this reviewer's favourites, no matter what the final score is year-to-year.
Why? Because this rosé always makes me smile. From the eye-catching, watermelon Jolly Rancher colour to the combination of sweet red fruit and light, savoury herbs on the expressive nose and the lightly, off-dry palate where the residual sugar is balanced beautifully with tart cranberry and tangy citrus acidity and flavours. Everything you want from a blush. Drink now-2016.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca
The Painted Wolf Wines 2014 The Den Chenin Blanc (W.O. Swartland) South Africa
Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $13.29 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: August 25th, 2015
Tasting Notes: A refreshing, well-balanced and extremely well-priced Chenin Blanc from South Africa with zesty citrus, rich apple and light mineral aromas on the nose. The palate opens with a kick of zesty citrus fruit that quickly transitions to creamy, off-dry texture mid-palate and then circles back to tongue-tingling citrus zest for the (slightly) spicy finish. Delicious. Drink now-2016.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca
River Stone Estate Winery 2014 Splash (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $18.90 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 13.7%
Date Tasted: August 25th, 2015
Tasting Notes: Riverstone's 'Splash' is a tasty, fruit'n'acid fuelled blend of Viognier, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer (percentages not provided) falling towards the dryer end of the patio-sipper spectrum, with just a touch of residual sugar perceptible on the palate, when not too chilled, and finishing quite dry in the mouth with crisp citrus and mineral notes lingering moderately. Look for pleasant tropical fruit notes on the nose. Drink 2015-2016.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca
Le Vieux Pin 2013 Ava (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC
Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $34.90 (includimg taxes)
Alcohol: 12.9%
Production: 690 cases
Date Tasted: August 22nd, 2015
Tasting Notes: A Southern Rhone-inspired blend of Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne (50-41-9%, respectively), that welcomes your appreciation with exotic tropical fruit, juicy white peach and crisp lemon characters on the delicate, floral-infused nose and on the rich, long-lasting palate where added layers of minerals, spice and lime rind await. Excellent depth and texture here. Drink 2015-2018.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca
