IconScores.ca: October 2022

JoieFarm 2020 A Noble Blend - 89pts

JoieFarm 2020 A Noble Blend (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from winery here, BCLDB stores and VQA stores
Cost: $24 + taxes
Alcohol: 12.6%
Date Tasted: August 24th, 2022
@JoieFarm

Tasting Notes: Though best served chilled to highlight its crispness and texture, this is a wine that can sit in your glass and evolve. The pleasant aromatics work at any temperature but the palate grows more exotic as it warms, mixing stone fruit and citrus characters with lush, Tropical fruit. Spice lingers on the lemon peel-kissed finish. Ready to go now. Drink 2022-2024.

Winemaker's Cut 2020 Bohemian Syrah - 91pts

Winemaker's Cut 2020 Bohemian Syrah (Okanagan Valley) BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $37 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 200 cases
Date Tasted: October 21st, 2022

Tasting Notes: A beautifully scented, bright'n'bold Syrah from Oliver and Penticton sourced fruit offering a gorgeous, feminine nose of sweet spices, incense, cherry cola, cherry nibs and violet aromas followed by a textured palate of dark berries, cola, anise, cracked pepper and iron flavours. A blend of 92% Syrah and 8% Viognier, this is a wine to pair with leaner meets like beef tenderloin or seared tuna. Ready to go now. Drink 2022-2025.

Gold Hill Winery 2020 Charisma Cabernet Merlot - 84pts

Gold Hill Winery 2020 Charisma Cabernet Merlot (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $24.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%

Date Tasted: October 11th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A bold and bright, red blend (specifics withheld) with intense, yet, shallow aromas of dark fruit and oak followed by a mouth-watering palate of similar intensity and depth. There are better options in the plentiful Cab-Merlot, entry red blend market. Or, try one of the winery's signature red wines: Gold Hill Winery 2018 Merlot or Gold Hill Winery 2017 Cabernet Franc. Drink now-2023.

Gold Hill Winery 2016 Grand Vin - 89pts

Gold Hill Winery 2016 Grand Vin (Golden Mile Slope) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $65 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.4%
Date Tasted: October 6th, 2022

Tasting Notes: Marketed as the winery's 'flagship wine', the Grand Vin is meant to represent Gold Hill's highest achievement in winemaking but sometimes the individual parts shine brighter than the whole and that is the case with this Meritage blend when compared to some of their single-varietal bottlings of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Overall, there's lots to like from the layers of red and dark berry fruit on the nose and palate to the lovely, smokey notes that show throughout. Palate sweetness is mostly balanced by the plentiful, wild berry acidity and the dusty, fine tannins, but not entirely. Lacking complexity and longevity for the price point, this wine has already peaked and should be consumed by 2023. Drink now.

Gold Hill Winery 2018 TerreLab Tempranillo - 89pts

Gold Hill Winery 2018 TerreLab Tempranillo (Golden Mile Slope) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $35.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.3%

Production: 50 cases
Date Tasted: October 4th, 2022

Tasting Notes: Tempranillo will never become a signature grape of the Okanagan Valley, there's just too little of it and the name recognition is low but it does do well in certain areas and can produce some memorable, small-batch releases like this tasty example from Gold Hill. Both juicy and savoury with plenty of ripe cherry and plum notes pairing nicely with sweet tobacco, tomato and spices. Lots of sweet fruit and spice flavours linger on the low-tannin finish making this a nice pairing for anything drenched in sweet'n'spicy, BBQ sauce. Drink now-2023.

Winemaker's Cut 2020 Bohemian Cabernet Franc - 89pts

Winemaker's Cut 2020 Bohemian Cabernet Franc (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $37 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: October 3rd, 2022

Tasting Notes: An aromatic, food-friendly Cabernet Franc whose grapes were sourced from two distinctly different vineyards outside Oliver; the elevated Quails' Wayside vineyard West of the city and the winery's own Deadman Lake vineyard towards Osoyoos Lake in the South. Lots to like here as a pleasant, feminine nose of violet, blossom and ripe, wild berry aromas is followed by a vibrant palate where the wild berry theme continues in the form of lively acidity and flavours of herb-infused fruit. Oak treatment seems spot-on for the medium-bodied weight, light tannins and the lip-smacking finish. Drink 2022-2024.

Winemaker's Cut 2020 Bohemian Pinot Noir - 88pts

Winemaker's Cut 2020 Bohemian Pinot Noir (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $37 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 200 cases
Date Tasted: October 1st, 2022

Tasting Notes: An unrefined, opaque Pinot Noir with subtle layers of cherry, wild sage and sweet herbs on the compelling, earthy nose. The juicy palate offers more prominent fruit with flavours of black raspberries, plums and black cherries supported nicely by the presence of lightly toasted oak. A touch more acid would do wonders to the overall balance, but there's plenty to enjoy, on its own or paired with Thanksgiving turkey. Drink 2022-2024.

Gold Hill Winery 2020 Charisma Malbec - 85pts

Gold Hill Winery 2020 Charisma Malbec (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC