Okanagan Trip, Part 6, Is thar Gold in them thar Hills????

Gold Hill, a winery I hadn't tasted in many years. Our first visit to the winery. Nice, quaint tasting room, although a bunch of kids came running through the room during our visit which was a bit distracting I must admit. They feature an extensive portfolio, so let's get to it!

Gold Hill 2014 Chardonnay ($22.50)

No oak, no maloactic fermentation. Aromas of pineapple and green apple, followed by a touch of minerality. Peach, pear and citrus flavors. Refreshing if you are a fan of this style of Chardonnay.

Gold Hill 2013 Viognier ($22.00)

Light, almost imperceptible nose with just a hint of passion fruit. Flavors of citrus dominate but if you pay attention you may notice some lavender lurking.

Gold Hill 2012 Pinot Gris ($18.00)

5-year old Pinot Gris is rare to find in a tasting room, and perhaps this is the last vintage as it is nowhere to be found on the website. Nose is very light, as with the above. Pear, apricot and citrus hints on the palate.

Gold Hill 2014 Charisma White ($18.00)

Gewurztraminer/Sauvignon Blanc/Riesling/Viognier/Pinot Gris

Aromas of grapefruit, lychee and white flowers. Slightly off dry palate, dominated by pear and lychee, with a slight touch of spice showing up at the end.

Gold Hills 2016 Rosé ($20.00)

100% Cabernet Franc

Delightful aromas of plum, vanilla and strawberry. Red fruits are all over the palate, and a hint of spice shows up at the end. Tasty.

Gold Hill 2013 Charisma Red ($ Unknown)

Another one that is gone from their website. A blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Merlot and Pinot Noir. Everything but the kitchen sink. Aromas of plum, toffee, cherry, strawberry and vanilla. Blackberry, blueberry and stewed plums on the palate. Finishes off with a hint of cedar.

Gold Hill 2012 Pinot Noir ($24.99)

Light aromas of cherry and strawberry. Flavors of bitter cherry and cedar with a hint of tobacco. Doesn't leap from the glass like a top-notch Pinot can.

Gold Hill 2012 Merlot ($24.99)

Aromas of cherry, strawberry and dark chocolate. Takes a while, but those aromas translate to the palate as well, joined in by a touch of tobacco on the finish.

Gold Hill 2013 Cabernet Franc ($25.13)

Black currant, anise and black pepper on the nose. Enticing flavors include pepper, anise and cherry. Has all the parts to be special, but it stops short. With a longer finish, this could be a star.

Gold Hill 2013 Syrah ($27.00)

Pretty aromas of violets, lavender and vanilla. Once your nose is used to the feminine floral scents, your palate is assaulted by raspberry and cherry flavors, with a good dose of pepper on the finish. In terms of depth and quality of flavors, this rivals the above Cab Franc; but the finish lingers, pushing it up a notch. Nice.

Gold Hill 2015 Cabernet Merlot ($22.00)

Aromas of blueberry jam, vanilla, strawberry and a hint of cherry notes. The flavors follow through to the palate, joined by a touch of earthiness. This is simple and unsophisticated but if you are looking for that, and there's nothing wrong with simple sometimes, this could pair nicely with lighter cuts of meat or aged cheeses.

Gold Hill 2013 Malbec ($41.50)

Blackberry, violets, vanilla and baking spices on the nose. Opens up beautifully in the glass with a generous swirl. Flavors of blueberry jam, licorice, toffee, cinnamon and nutmeg. Finishes long and lovely. A top quality BC Malbec.

Gold Hill 2013 Meritage Reserve ($47.50)

Aromas of vanilla, toffee, blueberry and violets. Cherry, anise, cocoa and vanilla flavors. This is huge and needs time to settle. If you are drinking now, ensure a nice, long decant.


That's it for our first visit to Gold Hills. I'd like to see them consolidate their portfolio a bit and focus on what they do best. Perhaps they are already doing that, with several of the wines above disappearing from their website.

Next up: The Main event of this trip, a 19-year vertical tasting of Black Hills' flagship wine, Nota Bene!!