Okanagan Trip, Part Seven.....up to Mt. Boucherie we go!!

Our second time visting Mt. Boucherie winery, which flies under the radar a bit; you don't hear as much about it as you should. On both of our visits we remarked on how terrific the tasting staff was, as well as how good all the wines are. Even if you aren't a huge fan of some of their lesser known (in BC) varietals (Semillon, Blaufrankisch), there is little debate that the wines are of high quality.

We tasted everything they had open with no tasting fee, except for a small fee we paid for the icewine tasting at the end.

Mt. Boucherie 2011 Semillon ($15.50)

Crisp notes of citrus and lemon on the nose and palate. Lovely acidity. At this price, it's a steal, but we didn't have to pay anywhere close to this; it was on sale for $11! Needless to say we picked one of those up. 87.







Mt. Boucherie 2013 Ehrenfelser ($17)

Hints of pineapple, orange and Meyer lemon on the nose and palate. Bright acidity. Ever so slightly off-dry, 84.








Mt. Boucherie 2013 Riesling ($16)

Notes of stone fruits, apricot and green apple. Peaches join in on the palate. Tart green apple dominates the finish. 85.









Mt. Boucherie 2013 Family Reserve Chardonnay ($25)

Another one of the many BC Chardonnays which is going away from the big, bold, buttery Chardonnays that we really love; this one is light and fruity, with hints of hazelnut and butterscotch. Finishes very long. It's very good, but dammit, I want my butter!! 86.







Mt. Boucherie 2012 Pinot Noir ($21)

Light and fruity with notes of raspberry, strawberry and vanilla. Strawberry and cherries come through on the palate. 86.








Mt. Boucherie 2010 Summit Reserve Blaufrankisch ($25)

Gesundheit.

Hints of blueberry and spice on the nose and palate. A touch of plums as well. Quite high in acidity; would pair nicely with a dish involving tomato sauch. 86.






Mt. Boucherie 2012 Syrah ($25)

Dark fruit, black cherry and a touch of spice. Intoxicating bouquet. Cherries and spice on the palate with a long, beautiful, rich finish. 89.








Mt. Boucherie 2012 Merlot ($21)

Cherries, ripe berries, coffee and a hint of vanilla. Berries and plums on the palate and a long finish. 87.








Mt. Boucherie 2012 Family Reserve Gamay ($20)

White pepper, vanilla and mocha on the nose. Raspberries, herbs and black pepper on the palate. As Gamay goes, not bad at all. 86.








Mt. Boucherie 2012 Family Reserve Summit ($28)

Merlot-dominant blend includes the Cabernets. Raspberry, cassis and mocha on the nose. Full-bodied and rich and ready to drink now. 88.








Mt. Boucherie 2013 Riesling Icewine ($40)

Oh my. OH. MY.

Hints of apricots, pineapple and honey. Oh, the honey...... it dances on your tongue, enveloping your palate in wonder and ecstasy. This wine meets, if not surpasses, many of the same that are much more expensive. 97.





Mt. Boucherie 2013 Merlot Icewine ($50)

Even sweeter than the above, which should be right in my wheelhouse. Flavors of strawberry and chocolate. Would probably be an incredible pair with a dessert featuring dark chocolate. This is also lovely, but can't compare to the above, IMO. 92.








We left this very satisfying tasting with a Semillon, Syrah and, of course, Riesling Icewine. Highly recommend everyone stop in here when in the area.


Up next was supposed to be Quails' Gate....our intention was to stop by the wine shop and pick up our Club shipment which was supposed to be there waiting for us, have a quick tasting, and then head back to our B&B to change into our clothes, to return to Quails' Gate for dinner at Old Vines Restaurant. Someone had other plans, however, as they rammed their car into a Hydro pole up the street, knocking out power to the entire place just minutes after we arrived. Not to mention that the lady we asked for our Club shipment couldn't find it; given that the power had just gone out and she seemed a bit flustered, we didn't want to push it.....so we just headed to our B&B (which was also without power, in fact) and changed our reservation at Old Vines to the next night.

So that being said, that finishes off the wine portion of our first night in Kelowna. Next up will be our private tasting and lunch at Cedarcreek!

Okanagan Trip, Part Six.....BRING ON THE ICE WINE!!!!

Up the road to Rollingdale, a winery we had never visited before. Driving into their gravel parking-lot, we were greeted with a barn instead of a traditional tasting room. First time I've tasted wine inside a barn!

Although they make some table wines (I have tried a couple of them in the past), we decided to focus on their icewine. As regular readers know, I love me some icewine....and where else can you taste five different varietals of icewine? Nowhere, as far as I know.

There was a charge for the tasting (not unusual for ice wine), $10 if memory serves.


Rollingdale 2013 Pinot Blanc Icewine ($39.90)


Hints of melon, cantaloupe and honey on the nose. Pears and pineapple join in on the palate. 89.








Rollingdale 2013 Merlot Icewine ($49.90)

I swear I tasted more Merlot icewine on this trip than I had in my entire life. This one was their first attempt. Notes of old strawberries and rhubarb on the nose and palate. 88.







Rollingdale 2013 Organic Pinot Gris Icewine ($49.90)

Toffee, caramel and butterscotch on the nose and on the palate. Finishes with just a hint of spice. 90.










Rollingdale 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine ($59.90)

Notes of butter tarts and herbs on the nose, giving way to a strawberry and dragonfruit dominated palate. I'm 99% sure this is the first time I've ever tasted icewine from this varietal. 89







Rollingdale 2013 Organic Chardonnay Icewine ($69.90)

Floral nose with lemon and a hint of orange on the nose. The palate is lemon meringue pie all the way with just a bit of honey on the finish. 90.



Tasty stuff all around, and a really exciting way to taste five different examples of a similar product side by side.


Up next, up the hill to Mt. Boucherie, for our final tasting of our first day in Kelowna.

Okanagan Trip, Part Five.....first stop in Kelowna, Spierhead!

Our first visit to this winery which is well known for it's Pinot Noir. It's a fairly tiny little tasting room but there seems to be lots of construction going on.

Spierhead 2014 Dry Riesling ($19)

Lots of citrus and green apple on the nose and palate. Very dry and crisp with nice fruit flavors. 87.








Spierhead 2014 Pinot Gris ($19)

Strong aromas and flavors of tropical fruit, surrounded by well balanced acidity. 86.








Spierhead 2013 Chardonnay ($20)

Very light, muted nose. Hints of apricot, peach and apples on the palate. Fruity and light. 84.








Spierhead 2013 Pinot Noir Rose ($18)

Cherry, strawberry and notes of pomegranate on the nose and palate. Juicy and refreshing. 85.








Spierhead 2013 Pinot Noir ($22)

Black cherry, blackberry and strawberry on the nose and palate. Just a hint of spice on the finish. Very nice. 88.








Spierhead 2012 Pursuit ($22)

Merlot dominate blend (42%), with cocoa and vanilla on the nose. Finishes long and strong. Lovely and ready to drink now; we bought one and enjoyed it a couple days ago. 88.







Up next, the Kelowna portion of our tour continues with a very unusual tasting at Rollingdale!

Okanagan Trip, Part Four.....our last winery in Lake Country, Arrowleaf

A stunning new tasting room and the addition of a bistro serving small plates are part of the enhancements that Arrowleaf has undergone since our last visit a couple of years ago. The changes have definitely improved the tasting experience.

Arrowleaf is known to have a few varietals that you don't find many places, and they are also known for value, as many of their wines are very inexpensive.

Arrowleaf 2014 Pinot Gris ($14.74)

Notes of pear, apple, white flowers and flint on the nose and the flavors follow through on the palate. 86.








Arrowleaf 2013 First Crush White ($13.49)

An unusual blend of Bacchus, Gewurztraminer, Auxerrois and Pinot Gris. Fruity with hints of grapefruit and apple. Slightly off-dry. A nice value at this price. 85.








Arrowleaf 2014 Bacchus ($14.19)

Floral notes with hints of grapefruit and lemon. Citrus and grapefruit dominate the palate. 85.








Arrowleaf 2014 Snow Tropics Vidal ($14.79)

A blend of Gewurztraminer and Riesling. Green apples and pineapple on the nose with a touch of grapefruit. Citrus and tropical fruits mingle on the palate. Quite off-dry. This has long been a big seller, but this year might be my personal favorite. 87.







Arrowleaf 2012 Pinot Noir ($17.39)

Cherry and strawberry aromas with a hint of vanilla. Cherry and raspberry flavors with a touch of earthiness on the palate. 86.








Arrowleaf 2013 Zweigelt ($17.39)

Pleasant aromas of plum and coffee. Black cherry and vanilla dominate the palate. Rich and medium-bodied. 86.








Arrowleaf 2012 Solstice Reserve ($21.74)

58% Merlot, 42% Zweigelt. Some raspberry, vanilla and dark chocolate aromas and flavors. Fruit is ripe and some extra time in the bottle would probably allow it to fully develop. 86.







Arrowleaf 2014 Late Harvest Vidal ($21.70)

Tropical fruit and honey on the nose and the palate. A touch of caramel joins in the party. If you want a dessert wine that isn't as sweet as a traditional Ice Wine, this is certainly the one for you. And if you read my blog on our brunch a couple months ago, you'll know how well this pairs with pancakes! 88.




Up next, we head to Kelowna and begin that portion of our tour at Spierhead!

Okanagan Trip, Part Three.... up the road to Ex Nihilo

Continuing our journey in Lake Country, just up the road from Gray Monk to Ex Nihilo.

First thing I want to point out is that they use varietal-specific glasses for the tasting, which makes such a difference in enhancing the entire experience. Bravo to them and the other wineries who do this.

But let's see if the wine is any good....

Ex Nihilo 2014 Pinot Gris ($19.00)

Pears, grapefruit and nectarine on the nose. The palate is enveloped by tropical fruit with a touch of spice on the finish. Young but lots of potential. 86.

Ex Nihilo 2012 Riesling ($19.00)

Done in the classic Alsatian style. Pear, lemon, lime, with lots of minerality. Apple joins in on the palate. Will improve with a bit more aging. 86.

Ex Nihilo 2014 SX Tous ($25.00)

This is a Sparkling Pinot Noir done to resemble a Prosecco. Strawberries and cherries dominate the nose and palate. This is well made, and if you are a bigger fan of Prosecco than I am, you will enjoy. 85.





Ex Nihilo 2013 Pinot Noir ($32.00)

Now we are talking. Hints of cherry, vanilla and coffee on the nose. Strawberry notes on the palate with a touch of spice on the finish. Absolutely lovely now and I wonder how good it will get with a bit more time? We took one of these home so I will let you know. 90-92.

Ex Nihilo 2012 Journey of Hope IceWine ($150 but the website now says it is sold out)

100% Merlot. Strong aromas of strawberry, honey and just the slightest bit of cedar. Dried cherries, raspberries and a touch of raisin on the palate. It's expensive, for sure, but it's also very, very good. 94.




All good wines and a fabulous tasting experience. In addition to the wine, they feature some spectacular art from local artists (which is all for sale, if you are an art lover), a small bistro that features some small plates and pizza, and beautiful grounds to marvel at as you enjoy your lunch or your wine. We really enjoyed our time here!

Okanagan Trip, Part Deux. Gray Monk wine and a fabulous lunch.

When we left for the Okanagan last Wednesday, we headed directly for Gray Monk and the Grapevine Restaurant. We had reservations at noon but were hoping we would have time to get to the tasting room before that if traffic allowed, and it did; we had lots of time to taste their entire portfolio and still make our lunch reservations.

Gray Monk has long been a favorite of ours, particularly for their sweeter whites, but all the wines are a solid value. Let's see how the new vintages fared.

Gray Monk 2011 Odyssey White Meritage ($16.49)

Some grassy aromas intermingling with a touch of grapefruit and vanilla. Grapefruit comes back to the palate with some lemongrass and a bit of apple. 87.






Gray Monk 2013 Unwooded Chardonnay ($14.79)

Tropical fruit, apple and floral aromas. A hint of melon joins in on the palate. A really nice un-oaked effort. 88.








Gray Monk 2013 Pinot Blanc ($14.79)

Rich and full bodied with hints of melon and apples. Finishes dry and would be best with food, especially some nice seafood or even chicken. 87.






Gray Monk 2013 Pinot Auxerrios ($14.79)

A perennial favorite of mine, lots of fruit on the nose with some peach flavors and nicely balanced acidity. This one works by itself but also would pair lovely with seafood. 88.










Gray Monk 2013 Gewürztraminer  ($14.79)

Notes of lychee, peaches and herbs. Tropical fruits join the lychee on the palate. Just a tiny amount of spice finishes it off. 87.











Gray Monk 2014 Siegerrebe ($16.59)

Peach, honeysuckle and a floral nose. The palate brings some tangerine and a bit of spice. Supple and slightly off-dry, 88.






Gray Monk 2014 Ehrenfelser ($17.39)


Citrus dominates the nose and palate. Off-dry with apricot and lemon flavors. Could use a bit of time in the bottle to fully develop the flavors. 86.





Gray Monk 2012 Odyssey Pinot Noir ($15.69)

Blackberry, cherry and vanilla notes. Touches of raspberry and vanilla on the palate. Definitely needs some more time in the bottle to improve to it's potential. 84.






Gray Monk 2011 Odyssey Meritage ($30.49)

Touches of vanilla and blackberries on the nose and palate. Long and lovely finish. Another one that needs some more time to develop. 85.







Gray Monk 2011 Odyssey Merlot ($20.49)

Chocolate, vanilla, nutmeg and blueberry on the nose. The palate is enveloped by black cherries with hints of dark chocolate and black cherries. Perfectly good now but has the potential to improve a lot with some cellar time. 86-89.


After our tasting, on to lunch. We never have any fun.





That is my gorgeous wife with a glass of one of our favorite wines from Gray Monk. Even though we knew it wasn't a traditionally pairing with our meals, we had not yet tried this vintage so we ordered it and love it as usual.

Gray Monk 2014 Kerner ($16.59)

Peaches, lemons and honeysuckle on the nose. This very off-dry wine is lovely and sweet (not icewine sweet, but sweet). Notes of apricot, honey and butter tarts on the palate. Another great vintage of a very reliable wine. 89.




For lunch I ordered this:

 Tiger Prawns Provençale Au Gratin 16.00Ocean Wise Tiger Prawns, Herb Cream Sauce, Asiago


Absolutely one of the top-10 prawn dishes I have ever had. Superb cream sauce and the prawns couldn't have been cooked better. We also had an order of "breads and spreads" which was fantastic on it's own and fantastic dipped into the above cream sauce!

For our main course, I ordered this:

 Slow Braised Beef 20.00New York Striploin, Estate Merlot Mushroom Demi, Parsnip Smashed Potato, Horseradish Aioli, Vegetable
Any my wife ordered this:
Saltimbocca Cavatappi 19.00Pancetta, Yam, Cream Sauce, Served with Cavatappi Pasta, Watercress, Vegetable Brochette, Asiago, Cheddar
I was SO MAD for ordering what I did...not because it wasn't good...far from it, it was excellent....but my wife's pasta dish (which our waitress described as "damn good pasta") was maybe the best pasta we had ever tasted.

Those orange things in the dish are yams. YAMS. Who puts yams in pasta? Well, apparently this chef does, and it was incredible. The pancetta was a perfect addition as well. Just incredible. If my beef dish was 8/10, this pasta dish was about a 42. So good.
This is the second meal we've had here and both were just beautiful, so I'm comfortable recommending that all of you make this a "must do" for your next trip to the Okanagan. This winery and restaurant is located in Lake Country, just about a half hour north of Kelowna, but it is well worth your extra time. Don't miss it!!