See Ya Later Ranch 2008 Riesling - 87pts

See Ya Later Ranch 2008 Riesling (Okanagan Falls) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Widely available.

Cost: $14.99 (2008 vintage on sale currently)

Alcohol: 14%

Date Tasted: March 26th, 2010

Tasting Notes: If you like well-balanced, nicely-perfumed and tartly-acidic Rieslings with a bit of residual sugar, then this offering from See-Ya-Later Ranch will suit you well, and at a good price to boot.

Straight-forward and easy drinking, this wine doesn't offer the complexity of some of BC's top Rieslings (like Joie Farm or Tantalus) but it does offer solid, food-enhancing, quench-fulfilling, unpretentious, mouth-watering tastiness. This is an excellent hot summer deck or food wine that could be paired with more complex, spicy food and make that dish better. Drink now through 2012.

PS: I'm looking forward to tasting the next vintage to see if the extra heat and sunshine of 2009 has added a touch of complexity to the solid base of this enjoyable Riesling. For more information on See-Ya-Later Ranch wines visit their website at http://www.sylranch.com/
 - Liam Carrier

Rollingdale Winery 2007 Pinot Noir Ice Wine - 93-94pts

Rollingdale Winery 2007 Pinot Noir Ice Wine (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $69.90 (200 ml)
Alcohol: 12%
Date Tasted: March 20th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Pinot Noir is an unusual choice to use as the source grapes for an ice wine as the fragile berries are not ones to like the extreme cold needed to make the world famous sweet wine (-8 degrees C). However, in the hands of the Rollingdale winemaking team under the direction of Steve Dale, it delivers big.

Massive concentration of fruit aromas and flavours (apricot jam, strawberry, fuzzy peaches candy and raspberry cremesicle) are nicely contrasted with impressively high acidity. This leads to a very long, balanced and satisfying finish.

Minute skin contact and stainless steel fermentation result in an eye-catching strawberry-amber colour to this exquisite wine rather than a more traditional Pinot Noir colour like Garnet. This just adds to the uniqueness of the wine, one that will be the talk of any dinner party you take it to. Ready to enjoy now or lay down for up to 10 years to build further complexity. Drink 2010-2020. Ordering info at http://www.rollingdale.ca/
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Rollingdale Winery 2007 "La Gauche" Cabernet Sauvignon - 91+pts

Rollingdale Winery 2007 "La Gauche" Cabernet Sauvignon (West Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $39.90
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasting: March 20th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Rollingdale is a relatively new and little-known Okanagan Valley producer from West Kelowna who source grapes from top Valley growers to craft unique and sometimes exquisite wines. The name of their Cabernet Sauvignon-heavy meritage blend, "La Gauche", is a clever homage to the Left Bank of the Gironde river in Bordeaux (the firm also produce a Merlot-heavy "La Droit") and clearly the wine is structured to emulate those superb Médoc beauties. The most impressive thing, however, is not the creative marketing but that they have managed to pull it off. The palate, especially, successfully mimics the terroir-driven character of an Old World wine while the nose remains grounded in New World brightness and flare.

Intense aromas of mocha espresso, cherry nibs, dark berries, cassis and licorice on the nose are followed by meaty flavours of leather, oak, earthy minerality and vanilla with a touch of dark fruits on the palate. Moderate alcohol, high acidity and integrated tannins contribute to a medium-bodied palate. A medium-plus finish with lingering spice completes the experience.

This wine has been built to age and should do so nicely. At three years old, it's still showing a bit young. Give it another two years in your cellar to maximize enjoyment. Drink 2011-2016.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 (with Hugh Carter)

JoieFarm 2009 A Noble Blend - 90pts

Joie Farm 2009 A Noble Blend (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery (online). Fine wine shops
Cost: $24 (winery website), $27-30 (wine shops)
Alcohol: 12.5%
Date Tasted: March 19th, 2010

Tasting Notes: I love Gewurztraminers made from grapes grown on the Naramata Bench of BC's Okanagan Valley. The bench gets great sun exposure but never gets too hot with cool breezes from the massive Okanagan Lake keeping the grapes from ripening too early: perfect conditions. This white blend from fan-favourite (and restaurant-favourite) winery Joie Farm has everything a great BC Gewurztraminer should have and more. They achieve "more" by adding elements from other varietals that also do well on the bench.

The final blend is an homage to Alsace "Gentil" wines composed of Alsatian varietals Gewurztraminer (60%), Pinot Gris (20%), Pinot Auxerrois (12%) and Riesling (8%). The end result is a beautiful wine that sings a seductive, feminine song in the glass.

Aromatic aromas of concentrated lychee fruit, Asian pear, crushed flowers and light spice with a subtle minerality. The medium-minus bodied palate offers a gentle mouth feel, a touch of residual sugar and flavours of tropical fruit essence and savoury spices with high-minus grapefruit acidity. A long, balanced finish with lingering spice completes the experience. Drink now through 2012.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Stratus Vineyards 2006 White - 92.5pts

Stratus Vineyards 2006 White (Niagara-On-The-Lake) Niagara Peninsula - Ont

Availability: Direct from winery (shipping available)

Cost: $44

Alcohol: 13.5%

Date Tasted: March 13th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Candied apricots dominate the high intensity nose whose concentration of fruit and floral aromas rival those of a top quality ice wine. This superb white blend form Niagara-On-The-Lake producer Stratus Vineyards is a compelling mix of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Semillon and Viognier, all estate grown. The winery doesn't list the quantities of each but my guess is that stainless steel Sauvignon Blanc and new(ish) oak Chardonnay contribute the most as you get great aromas and flavours from both.

The other varietals add layers of complexity of which this wine has in abundance. It will open up and evolve in the glass, if you take your time with it and I suggest you do. Enjoy on its own or with a simple white sauce pasta or fish course. Drink now through 2014-15.

The winery offers futures of their flagship Red and White blends for purchase. The 2007 vintage will be released this Spring. To learn more, go to http://www.stratuswines.com/
 - Liam Carrier

Ratings:
LC: 92
HC: 93