Some serious wine, and serious catching up

OK apologies for the lack of posting in the last month or so, things have been a little crazy. In a few days we are off to California, with tastings in Napa Valley and the Temecula Valley, so this blog will probably be quiet for most of September before I get a chance to catch up on all the great wine we are going to sample in Cali!

For now, reviews of everything we've enjoyed during the past few weeks:



Quails' Gate 2008 Chardonnay ($50 from winery)

Notes of toasty oak and honey on the nose and palate. Hints of the classic butter and caramel that accompanies so many great Chardonnays. Drinking exceptionally well now. 89.








Quails' Gate 2009 Pinot Noir ($24.99)

Red berries and some light floral notes on the nose. Supple tannins and a long, persistent finish. Drinking incredibly well now, and this spectacular vintage would probably age for another year or two as well. 91.





Quails' Gate 2006 Dry Riesling ($50 from winery)


The aging makes it as smooth as you could possibly imagine. Lots of minerality and flint and a smooth, long finish. Beautiful. 91.








Quails' Gate 2013 Gewurztraminer ($17.99)

Subtle notes of rose petals and lychee on the nose. Slight hint of spice on the mid-palate, giving way to a smooth and off-dry finish. 89.






Bonitas 2008 Casabella ($17.99)

 An intriguing blend of Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris Dessert Wine. Some fruit and honeysuckle on the nose. Fruity on the palate. Has probably passed it's prime. 78.


Cedarcreek 2013 Gewurztraminer ($17.95)

Tropical fruit notes, with some nutmeg and lychee on the nose and palate. Slightly spicy finish with just a touch of ginger. 89.









Cedarcreek 2011 Merlot ($19.95)


 Aged 18 months in French oak and it shows. Toasty and fruity. Tannins are silky and smooth. Raspberries and strawberries on the palate. 87.





Cedarcreek 2013 Riesling ($17.95)


At only 9.9% alcohol, it's a sure thing you'll want to enjoy two bottles. Maybe three. Slate and fruit on the nose and palate. Citrus joins in on the palate leading to a smooth finish. 91.

This instantly rocketed up to the top of my list of BC Rieslings. Until.......





Cedarcreek 2013 Platinum "Block 3" Riesling ($24.95)

Lighter and more delicate on the nose than the above, with some very very light floral notes. The palate is sublime; lemon lime with lots of minerality that enhances, and does not overpower, this terrific wine. Superb. 93.








Desert Hills 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.90)

Berries, cassis and a hint of mint and oak on the nose and palate. Very long and luscious. 88.







Desert Hills 2011 Cabernet Franc ($26.90)

Strong, big notes of blackberries on the nose and palate. Black currants and some chocolate round out the palate. Very long and lingering finish. 88.







Joie Farms 2013 A Noble Blend ($23.90)

A blend of Gewurtzraminer, Riesling, Pinot Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, Muscat and Schoenberger. Lots of fruit up front with a touch of cloves. Lychee and a hint of spice on the palate. Finishes with some citrus. 86.



Mission Hill 2011 Perpetua Chardonnay ($34.90)

Some peach, honey and orange on the nose and palate. A very long, lengthy finish. Fruity, without the butter notes so many Chardonnays exhibit. 86.






Castiglio del Bosco 2008 Brunello di Montalcino ($69.99)

Cherries, currants and just a hint of cinnamon on the nose. Bright, rich and dense, with cherries, oak and a touch of spice on the palate. Well balanced and lovely. 91.







La Crema 2011 Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($65)

Fresh aromas of nectarines, pears and stone fruits. Lemons, apples and melons join the party in your mouth. Finishes long and beautifully. Spectacular. 94.

I hate it when I get a hill of sand in my wine

OK that was pretty lame, but you find something funny about "Sandhill" !!

Had the opportunity to taste a selection of wines from Sandhill at my usual haunt yesterday. Here are my reviews:



2012 Pinot Blanc ($17)

Pineapple, apple and pears on the nose and palate. Fresh acidity with some hints of minerality. One of my favorite of this varietal. 87.







2012 Pinot Gris ($19)

Tropical fruit and pear, with some melon, on the nose. Rich and lovely mouthfeel. Pear and peach flavors with bright acidity and a long finish. 86.






2013 Rosé ($18)

Strawberries, cherries and pomegranate on the nose. Flavors of blackberry, raspberry and pomegranate. Slightly off dry and lovely, would pair beautifully with bruschetta or feta cheese. 84.






2012 Cabernet Merlot ($19.99)

Black currants, vanilla and a touch of coffee on the nose. Red and black fruits on the palate, with a hint of leather on the finish. Dry and medium-bodied. 85.







2011 Small Lots Three ($35)


An intriguing blend of Sangiovese (60%), Barbera (30%) and Merlot (10%). Some plum and smoke on the nose. Cherries and plums on the palate, with just a touch of spice on the long finish. Nice now but would only get better with a few more years in the bottle. 86.





All good stuff from a top BC winery!

Catching up on many, many bottles!

Distracted over the last few weeks with details of Epic Wine Trip '14, but of course while writing those blog posts we have been drinking much wine that has not yet been reviewed. I will endevour to catch up in a few posts, starting with this one.

Louis Jadot 2012 Pouilly-Fuisse ($25.99)

Ripe, supple, and medium-bodied; this Chardonnay delivers excellent complexity with fruit, minerality and a hint of oak all mingling together beautifully. A touch of vanilla on the end palate. An excellent buy for the price. 89.






Joseph Phelps 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($94.99)

Plum and blackberries on the nose and palate, with some spice, chocolate and a touch of vanilla on the palate as well. Tannins are supple and well-integrated. Drinking well now but like many big Napa Cabs, could age for another decade and improve. 93..




Wolf Blass 2010 Grey Label Shiraz ($36.99)

Licorice, blackberries, chocolate, some pepper notes as well. One of the most reliable producers of this varietal. Drinking beautifully now and would improve for another 2-3 years with careful cellaring. 90.





Church & State 2009 Meritage ($35.00)

I used to say the 2008 vintage was my all-time favorite $35 wine; but it has to move over and make room for this one, which is even better. It's almost frightening to imagine how good this is going to be after it ages; the winery website suggests this will age well until 2022, if not longer. I'm going to need quite a few bottles!

It's ultra-rich and decadent, with fruit flavors exploding on your nose and your palate. Deep red in colour; almost black. Beautiful. 91.



Pentage 2007 Chardonnay ($25.00)

Melon, citrus, vanilla and a hint of caramel on the nose and palate. Some nutty and buttery notes on the finish but not overwhelmingly so. 84.






Tinhorn Creek 2009 Oldfield Series Pinot Noir ($29.99)

My wife called this the "Pinot to renew my faith in Pinot Noir". Cherries, plums and some spice on the nose. The cherries are joined by a hint of mocha and pepper on the palate. Just beautiful. 91.






Columbia Crest Grand Estates 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.99)

Wow, what an absolute steal at this price point. Immediately jumps to the top of my "cheap wines" list. Big red fruits on the nose and palate, with some coffee, chocolate and vanilla as well. Drinks beautifully but not a traditionally Cab Sauv; almost seems like there should be some Merlot and/or Syrah in there, which there isn't. 89.

The MAIN EVENT; Black Hills Nota Bene Release Party

Our evening at Black Hills was actually two-fold; we began with a private Cabana tasting of their entire portfolio. As wine club members, this was completely free for us, and it was a terrific experience. My reviews of all the wine at the bottom of this post.

The view from our Cabana, of their lovely little pool. Apparently jumping into this pool is frowned upon.

Up the road a couple hundred metres to the venue for the party, and we were greeted by a dance troupe, acting as human statues. Yes, human statues. And they were pretty good at it. I couldn't stand that still for 4 seconds.

The evening featured some terrific food and a heck of a lot of good wine. We had the opportunity to taste some wine in a sensory deprived room; completely dark. We were supposed to guess what the wine was; I couldn't have been much farther off. Tracey got at least one of them right.

The evening also featured the dance troupe actually dancing:

And some celebrities:

Olympic Silver Medalist Kelsey Serwa

Jason Priestley, who owns a share of the winery

It also features some acrobatics:

I could do that, you know. I just choose not to.

BTW, Jason couldn't possibly have been nicer or more friendly. You can't see it in the picture, but I was wearing a brace on my right elbow, a remnant from a yoga injury, and he had suffered a similar injury recently "picking up an actress" for a new movie he's doing. Oh, if I had a dollar for every time I'd heard THAT old line......

Everyone knows Jason from 90210 of course, but I told him I was a fan from a wonderful little movie he made with John Hurt in 1997, called Love and Death on Long Island. You have probably never heard of it, but you should check it out.

If there was one problem with an otherwise fabulous evening, it was the "headline" act, a bunch of terrible white rappers called the Wassabi Collective. White rappers not named Eminem have no place at a winery, or anywhere else. But that was a minor complaint and didn't dampen our enthusiasm at all. We ate and drank, met some great people who share our love for great wine, and generally had a blast. Planning to go back next year for sure.

Now, on to the wines!

A few days before we left for the trip, our local VQA store was tasting some random wines, and this was one of them:

2012 Alibi ($24.90)

Lemons and melons on the nose and palate, joined by flavors of grapefruits and peaches. Crisp with a lingering finish. 85.






And, from our Cabana tasting:

2013 Alibi ($24.90)

A white Bordeaux blend of Sauvignon Blanc (75%) and Semillon (25%) (same percentages as the 2012). Similar to the 2012 but different at the same time; I get notes of pears and pineapples on the nose and palate. Slightly less citrus, slightly more tropical fruit. Still has that long, lingering finish. Would be a terrific pairing with salads or seafood. 86.




2012 Viognier ($24.90)

Citrus and pineapple collide on the nose here, with just a hint of flowers intermingling. Nectarines and peaches join in with the party on the palate. Lovely now, but aging for another year or two would certainly pay off. 85.






2012 Chardonnay ($29.90)

Rich, full bodied and lovely. Citrus and butterscotch on the nose and palate, joined by pears and a touch of green apple. Palate is soft, juicy, and finishes long. Another white that will age gracefully. Try it in 2016 or 2017. 88.






2012 Carmenere ($49.90)

The only single-varietal in the Okanagan, and our first taste of this one. Violets, white pepper, berries and a touch of cigar box on the nose. Cherries and blackberries on the palate, some spice and earth as well. Soft, ripe tannins. Fabulous now, and a few years of aging will only enhance. Pairs beautifully with just about any meat you can imagine. We got 6 of these with our wine club membership, and we are already half-way done. 92.




2012 Syrah ($35.00) - not yet released

Cherries and smoke waft across your nose. Flavors of black currant, blackberry, blueberry, coffee and dark chocolate. Finishes beautifully. 93.

We were huge fans of the 2011 vintage, and this one is even better. Can't imagine how good it's going to be after a little time in the bottle.




2012 Nota Bene ($52.90)

Their flagship Bordeaux blend, and quite a cult favorite. One of the few you can (if you are lucky enough) vertical taste back to 1999.

This is one that generally needs to age for a long while before coming close to it's full potential. Other vintages that I had tasted young showed potential, but needed time, and lots of it. This one will undoubtedly age gracefully for a decade, but it is showing beautifully already. What a treat!

Merlot dominant (57%) for the first time in years. Black fruits, mocha and chocolate on the nose and palate. The winery describes this as a "more masculine wine than previous vintages". I would concur, and also would describe it as "scrumtrulescent". 94.


There you have it; Oliver/Osoyoos in two days, and a lot of blog posts. Hope you enjoyed reading, and we'll now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

Our LAST winery visited, Nk'mip...the masters of ice wine....

Don't panic, you didn't miss my blog post on the "main event" of our trip, which was the Nota Bene release party at Black Hills. I'm leaving that one for last.

Tonight's blog post features a small tasting at Nk'mip; why small, you ask? Well, we didn't have time to get there on Saturday, so we had to get up early on Sunday morning, after the Nota Bene party, and drag our not-feeling-quite-100% asses to Nk'mip, which we didn't want to miss. The winery is quite beautiful, notwithstanding the "beware of rattlesnake" signs on the trails as you drive up.

They allow tasting of two wines for free; after that, 4 more for only $3. Given that it was 10 AM and I really wasn't that excited about tasting wine, we just stuck to the two freebies.

2009 Quam Qwmt Meritage ($24.99)

Notes of mint, tobacco and chocolate waft over the nose. The palate is overwhelmed by red fruits on a long, lovely finish. 88.







2009 Quam Qwmt Syrah ($34.99)


Blueberries, blackberries and a hint of spice on the nose. Some cold cuts, pepper and plums on the palate. Nice now but a couple more years in the bottle will enhance. 87.






2010 Mer'r'iym ($50.00)

Pronounced (mur'eem') means marriage, indicated a perfect marriage of varietals. The five Bordeaux blends mix well to create a beautifully balanced merger of tobacco, spice, smoke and blueberries. Another one that drinks well now but would love some more time to fully open up and reach it's potential. 90.





2013 Qwam Qwmt Riesling Icewine ($60.00)

Regular readers of my blog may remember that the 2012 version of this was (and still is) the only wine I rated a perfect 100. Can the 2013 measure up?

No, of course not....but it's pretty damn close. Pears, peaches, honey, apricot....just imagine every lovely flavor in the world, and it's in here somewhere. Silky and smooth, and at the same time viscous and decadent. Just freaking brilliant. 98.




Luckily for us, they still had a handful of bottles of the 2012 Riesling Icewine so we didn't have to "stoop" to buying only a 98 :-)

I'm sure they are sold out by now, but I'll be quite happy to buy the '13 once we drink the 2012. Amazing.

Owls just do not Burrow!!! Or do they......

Burrowing Owl always seemed like a strange name, but alas, there are such creatures:

http://www.defenders.org/burrowing-owl/basic-facts

Anyhoo, after Desert Hills we were out of time, and headed up to Black Hills for the Nota Bene Release Party, our Main Event of the trip. We got there just after 4 PM, the time printed on our ticket, only to be told that some tickets were mis-printed, and the event did not start until 5. OK, no big deal, that gave us the time we needed to drive down the road and get in one more tasting for the day, at Burrowing Owl.

They feature a $3 tasting fee, which goes to charity.



2011 Chardonnay ($25.00)

Lightly oaked, just a hint of butterscotch, joining lemon and peach flavors. Rich and well balanced. 86.





2012 Sauvignon Blanc ($22.00)

Grapefruit, citrus and grass on the nose, with some passionfruit and minerality on the palate. 85

2011 Pinot Noir ($30.00)

Strawberry, plums and a touch of earthiness on the nose, with cherries, strawberries and blueberries on the palate. Very nice now, and would improve with a few more years of careful cellaring. 89.




2010 Merlot ($30.00)

The fruitiness of cherry, blackberry and blueberry mingling with savory herb notes on the nose. Full-bodied palate features plum, red and black berries, bacon and chocolate. Long, smooth finish. Very nice. 90.




2011 Syrah ($33.00)

Black olives, cherry, black pepper on the nose. The palate is rich and full-bodied, featuring blackberry and cherry, giving way to a touch of spice and earthiness. 87.




2011 Athene ($38.00)

A rich blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, you'll get both on the nose; some pepper, blackberry, violets and mint can be found. Blackberry and a touch of blueberry on the palate, with a spicy long finish. 88.




2011 Cabernet Sauvignon ($35.00)

Currants and raspberry on the nose, with a hint of cinnamon. Tannins are firm and ripe, with plums, blackberries and a hint of sage on the palate. Finishes very well. Nice now, but this is built for aging and some careful cellaring will enhance greatly. 87.



2011 Cabernet Franc ($33.00)

Blueberries, plums, herbs and a hint of cigar on the nose, with raspberries, chocolate and a bit of licorice on the palate. Another one built for some long term aging. 86.




2009 Meritage ($45.00)

Strong notes of red plums and blackberries on the very complex nose. The berries continue to the palate, joined by chocolate and earthy tones. A blend of the five Bordeaux grapes, but 38% Merlot. Again, aging will only enhance what is already a lovely wine. 89.




Just one more terrific tasting experience, nothing but good wines and a beautiful, picturesque view. Their guest house looks amazing, and we may decide to stay here for a few nights when we visit next summer.

Desert Hills is our next stop in Epic Wine Tour '14 (TM)

Another winery where the customer service was off the charts. Randy Toor, one of the owners, took excellent care of us, and numerous other tasters, in a very busy tasting room. Let's see how the wines stack up.

2012 Pinot Gris ($19.90)

Pears, apple, and melon on the nose and palate. A slight hint of minerality on the lovely finish. 87.

2013 Unoaked Chardonnay ($17.90)

Maybe the best Unoaked version of this varietal coming out of BC right now. Citrus fruits, apples, and a beautifully long finish. 88.

2013 Cactus White ($16.90)

Viognier, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. Try finding THAT combination elsewhere. Pineapple, herbs and a touch of pear and minerals. Very nice. 89.

2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($18.90)

Crisp fruit flavors with a medium finish. Has aged well. 87.

2013 Gewürztraminer ($22.90)

Recently awarded "white wine of the year" at the 2014 All-Canadian Wine Championship for a reason. Some spice and roses on the nose, with lychee and citrus fruits on the palate. One of the best of this varietal. 89.

2013 Helena Rosé ($19.90)

Strawberries, grapefruit and rhubarb on the nose and palate. Very slightly off-dry. 86.

2013 Gamay ($19.90)

Black cherry and a slight touch of cinnamon on the nose. Cherries and earth on the palate. Gamay is just not my thing, but this one is drinkable. 80.

2010 Merlot ($24.90)

Black cherries and cassis on the nose and palate, with a bit of vanilla and some cloves on the finish. Full bodied and smooth. Will improve with some more bottle time. 85.

2009 Syrah ($36.90)

Dark berries, raspberry jam and a bit of earth make this a lovely, complex Syrah. Finishes with a bit of spice, chocolate, and vanilla. Beautiful now and a few more years will really make it special. 90.


During the tasting I mention to Randy that I'm not a Malbec guy; I've never found a BC Malbec that I enjoyed. He instructs me to go over and get a bottle of his Malbec, and opens it up for a special taste. Not on the regular tasting menu.

2011 Malbec ($34.90)

Strong notes of coffee mixed with berries on the nose, jammy berries on a long finish. Silky. Not enough to make me a Malbec fan, but my favorite so far by far. 87.

2009 Mirage ($36.90)

Their signature Bordeaux blend. The nose might get some vanilla, cassis, and plums. Those flavors carry through to the palate, where a hint of tobacco, chocolate and licorice joins the party. Will improve with a bit more time, but already drinking well. 90.


2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.90)

Cassis and a hint of mint on the nose. Berries and black currants on the palate, with a silky mouth feel and long finish. 87.

Ambassador Port ($49.90)

Coffee and dark chocolate dominate the nose and palate. If you like Port-styled wines, you will love this. 85.

This wasn't being tasted at the winery as it was very limited, but I took a chance and bought one and enjoyed it a few days ago:

2010 Zinfandel ($39.90)

Berries on the nose and palate, with lots of blackberry jam that this varietal often exhibits. 85.


Another very successful tasting experience, not a bad wine amongst them, and some that were truly special. We've already enjoyed the two bottles we bought (Zin, Gewürztraminer), giving us extra motivation to go back on our next visit!