IconScores.ca: April 2022

Stoneboat Vineyards 2020 Pinot Gris - 87pts

Stoneboat Vineyards 2020 Pinot Gris (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: VQA stores and select BCLDB stores
Cost: $19.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.3%
Date Tasted: April 27th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A delicious, effervescent and lively Pinot Gris with the pleasing flavour of sweet, fresh peaches nicely contrasting the refreshing minerality on the (slightly) off-dry palate. Finishes with crisp citrus notes making it a perfect companion to seafood dishes. Drink now-2023.

Rust Wine Co. 2019 Cabernet Franc - 89pts

Rust Wine Co. 2019 Cabernet Franc (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $28 including taxes
Alcohol: 13.1%
Date Tasted: April 26th, 2022

Tasting Notes: Rust Wine Co. does an amazing job at offering a few single-vineyard releases at reasonable prices. This Okanagan Falls grown Cabernet Franc is a great example. Sourced from the Lost Horn Vineyard, this wine showcases its intriguing qualities within the Bordeaux family with a unique combination of blackened berry fruit, refined spices and feminine floral notes. Add-in the flavours of the local terroir, smoky sagebrush, mint and sweet, cured meats and you have a real winner. Ready to go now. Drink 2022-2025.

Terravista Vineyards 2020 Viognier - 88pts

Terravista Vineyards 2020 Viognier (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: BC VQA Stores
Cost: $24 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: April 26th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A nice Viognier with a touch of lushness on the nose thanks to subtle honeydew, dried apricot and blossom notes. Palate excites the senses with prominent, yet, gentle acidity that rolls over the tongue rather than attacks it. An oily, unctuousness lingers on the spicy and citrus-kissed finish. No sign of new or even newish oak. Ready to go now. Drink 2022-2024.

SpearHead Winery 2021 Riesling - 88pts

SpearHead Winery 2021 Riesling (East Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here

Cost: $21 + taxes

Alcohol: 13%

Date Tasted: April 25th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A (very) off-dry, yet, well-balanced Riesling with a pleasing mix of ripe apple, pear and peach notes on the mineral-scented nose. The palate has solid, fresh peach acidity to contrast the plumpy melon and kiwi-passion fruit flavours and is far less racy than the mouth-smacking, leaner 2020 vintage (and still available at the writing of this review). Pair the sweater 2021 edition with rich, hard cheeses or your favourite salty snack. Ready to go now. Drink now-2024.

SpearHead Winery 2021 White Pinot Noir - 91pts

SpearHead Winery 2021 White Pinot Noir (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and select VQA stores

Cost: $28 + taxes

Alcohol: 13%

Date Tasted: April 23rd, 2022

Tasting Notes: This white is an absolute gem; rich, refreshing and unique. Made from the winery's signature grape, Pinot Noir, this beautiful, fleshy, Blanc de Noirs can attribute its lack of colour to the limiting of skin contract during the crush. Both full bodied and vibrant with white peach acidity and unctuous fruit characters of honeydew melon and papaya. Pair with a white fish dish or try it at a Mother's Day brunch with your eggs Benedict. Drink now-2022.

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2019 Cabernet Franc - 90+pts

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2019 Cabernet Franc (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here, BCLDB and VQA stores
Cost: $26.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: April 23rd, 2022

Tasting Notes: Bored with one-note, berry-rich Merlot? Tired of the predictability of heavy-tannin Cabernet Sauvignon? Unsure of the peppery-power of Syrah? Then reach for this Tinhorn Creek label the wine that helped put BC Cabernet Franc on the map.

A blissful nose of both sensual and pungent aromas of broody berries, plums, wild sage, cheese rind, Christmas cake, earthy herbs and meaty spices. Rich and satisfying on the smoky-fruit laden palate which lingers with spices and oak treatment flavours delightfully. Enjoy now or over the next 3-4 years with some further development possible. Drink now-2026.

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