Cassini Cellars 2018 Maximus - 92pts

Cassini Cellars 2018 Maximus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC 

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $40 + taxes (est.)
Alcohol: 15.5%
Production: 500 cases
Date Tasted: October 26th, 2021

Tasting Notes: The 2018 Maximus is a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot, 4% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. It opens with a feminine, refined nose of both dense, dark fruit and cheerful, sun-drenched red fruit aromas and supporting notes of sweet tar, cherry nibs, anise and vanilla spice. 

The palate needs another year or two in the bottle or a massive decant to unlock the elegance within. Look for a similar flavour profile as the nose with additional complexity thanks to the very present and balanced influence of oak. Best to be patient to maximus your investment and wait another year or two. Drink 2023-2028.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2021 IconWines.ca

Cassini Cellars 2017 Maximus - 91+pts

Cassini Cellars 2017 Maximus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC 

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $44 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 15.3%
Production: 550 cases
Date Tasted: November 18th, 2020

Tasting Notes: The 2017 edition of the Maximus is a compilation of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 8% Malbec. As a wine built to last, at only 3 years of age its showing a youthful, brooding nose today which needs plenty of time to open up. Look for concentrated, ripe dark fruit like cassis, black cherry and sun-soaked blackberry aromas to be supported by subtle, toasted oak and blackened vanilla notes. Spices and oak show more prominently on the, otherwise, similarly-flavoured palate where youthful, grippy tannins and fresh acidity add plenty of structure and texture. Best to wait another year or two. Drink 2022-2027.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Cassini Cellars 2016 Maximus - 91-92pts

Cassini Cellars 2016 Maximus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC 

Availability: Sold out. Look for the 2017 vintage direct from winery here 
Cost: $44 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 15.4%
Production: 550 cases
Date Tasted: November 15th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Both beautiful and brooding, the 2016 Maximus is now a year on from its release and still showing youthful vitality. Robust, minty Cabernet Sauvignon takes the lead here, with supporting roles played by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec which add juicy, ripe, dark berry flavours and aromatic notes of incense, spa spice and a hint of cola. 14 months in 2 year old barrels (both French and American) have nicely fused the fruit and savoury elements while refining the tannins and mouthfeel to silky levels. This blend should last for many years in your cellar with some further refinement to come. Or, enjoy now with a long decant. Drink 2021-2026.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Cassini Cellars 2015 Maximus - 91-92pts

Cassini Cellars 2015 Maximus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC 

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $40 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 14.7%
Production: 550 cases
Date Tasted: November 10th, 2018

Tasting Notes: Another stellar vintage for Cassini's Maximus which sees 56% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 28% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec to produce a brooding wine with intense dark fruit and layers of savoury notes on the nose and palate. Look for ripe cassis and wild blackberry elements harmoniously integrated with oak spice, light menthol, All Sorts licorice, vanilla and fine, grippy tannins. Wild berry acidity keeps the long finish lively and your mouth wanting more. 

Excellent today, with plenty of decanting, but best to wait another 1-2 years for the wine to develop further. Drink 2020-2025.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Cassini Cellars 2012 Maximus - 92pts

Cassini Cellars 2012 Maximus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC 

Availability: Direct from winery here 
Cost: $34 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: October 7th, 2015

Tasting Notes: Cassini Cellars' Maximus is always good, year-to-year (see 2007, 2008, 2010). Occasionally, however, when vintage conditions are 'ripe', as it were, the Maximus over-achieves and becomes truly exceptional (see 2009). The 2012 is another such vintage.

A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, opening with a seductive nose of black licorice, cassis liqueur, blackberry jam, toasted oak, tobacco leaf, peppercorn and vanilla aromas. The full-bodied and full-flavoured palate follows with similar flavours and silky-smooth tannins, finishing very long with well-balanced, lip-smacking acidity and lingering cassis liqueur, sweet oak and spice notes.

Has the components and pedigree to last many years in the cellar with some evolution of flavours expected. Yet, the wine is absolutely ready to go today with careful decanting. Drink now-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Cassini Cellars 2007 Maximus - 89pts

Cassini Cellars 2007 Maximus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Sold-out. Contact winery here for library release details
Cost: $29
Alcohol: 14.6%
Production: 862 cases
Date Tasted: January 14th, 2011
Re-tasted: August 7th, 2013

Tasting Notes: The "Maximus" is Cassini Cellar's red Meritage which blends 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 4% Malbec together resulting in a wine with decent complexity, concentration and an elegant palate. Aged in both French (80%) and American oak (20%) the nose shows influence of both with intense aromas of cassis, blackberry, vanilla and spice box. There are some green notes present, suggesting some slightly under ripe fruit in the mix but this doesn't detract from the pleasant appeal of the nose. A nice vein of sweetness also runs through the developing bouquet.

Good continuity of flavours carries through to the dry palate which offers a nice balance between its juicy texture and savoury oak structure with an added touch of minerality. Lack of a cork enclosure may affect long-term cellaring, but the wine is ready to be enjoyed now, so why wait? Pair with your favourite red meat dishes. Drink 2011-2013.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Re-tasting Notes: Worth noting that the bottle opened for the re-tasting was sealed with a synthetic cork and dipped in wax. The nose has stood the test of time nicely with a developed bouquet of seductive red and dark berry fruit complimented by mature oak aromas and sweet vanilla notes. The palate is thinner with a shorter finish, yet, tasting scrumptious, maintaining the solid continuity of flavours to aromas. Drinking window can be increased slightly, though i wouldn't wait too much longer, this wine has peaked. Drink now-2014.
  - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Cassini Cellars 2008 Maximus - 90pts

Cassini Cellars 2008 Maximus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here and select VQA stores
Cost: $29
Alcohol: 14.8%
Production: 862 cases
Date Tasted: January 14th, 2011
Re-tasted: June 1st, 2013

Tasting Notes: When compared the excellent 2007 vintage, the keyword for the 2008 release is "more". More of just about everything, the 2008 Maximus will appeal to wine lovers who enjoy extracted, concentrated, full-bodied red blends best summed up as "big".

Well priced at just under $30, the 2008's blend is comprised of 63 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 31 % Merlot and 6 % Malbec. Dark berries, toasted oak and cigar box characters dominate the nose and palate. Greater extraction has resulted in more body, tannin and a long finish but the wine remains well balanced an very smooth - never sluggish. Approachable now and very easy-drinking with mouth-watering acidity making it a great wine to pair with food. Drink 2011-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Re-tasting Notes: As this delicious Cab-Merlot-Malbec blend was approachable in its youth, you may not have any sitting in your cellar today. If you do, however, now's the time to open them as the wine is close to peaking. Some nice dried fruit and potpourri notes have developed on the nose while the palate's tannins and acid have mellowed (as you would expect). Though the palate intensity remains, the finish has suffered and will only get shorter.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Cassini Cellars 2010 Maximus - 88pts

Cassini Cellars 2010 Maximus (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Not yet released
Cost: $29 (est)
Alcohol: 14.6%
Date Tasted: August 16th, 2012

Tasting Notes: Cassini has such an impression portfolio of wines it's hard to definitively call-out one as the winery's "flagship" release, but if I had to pick one it would be this tasty Meritage. This year's blend has 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc and takes on more of a herbal-bell pepper style than in the previous two vintages, likely due to the cooler 2010 growing season. The late harvest created lots of sugar in the grapes and thus the alcohol levels are similar to the hotter 2009 season, but some of the big reds are a bit low with their phenolic ripeness adding a touch of "green" characters in the wine.

In the case of the Maximus, with its food-loving flavour profile of cassis, dark cherry, boysenberry, green peppers, sage and scorched earth, the "greenness" can simply be appreciated as vintage variation since there is so much else on offer. A pleasantly complex wine with good acidity and structure; very youthful at the time of this tasting and likely a good 6+ months away from being ready. It won't take as long to mature as the 2009, though it doesn't have the same upside either. Drink 2013-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca