Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Musky perfume with orange and lime. Good acidity on the palate, this flows well, with a spark and lift. Shows composure and good length. Ageing well and will develop nicely over the short-mid term.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Toast, wax, orange and earthy spices. Palate still shows good acidity, with the fruit rounding out with the development. I think this is drinking nicely now and should continue to do so over the next couple of years.
Mineral, pear and orange aromas. Really well balanced palate - a good acid spine, a lick of sweetness and some layered detail. Flows well, this is very good.
Apple, pear, lemon and earthy aromas. Has good intensity while still retaining a sense of balance. Good persistence and potential to age over the medium term.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Lemon pie, vanilla and spice. Palate shows some good texture but it doesn't really have much else going on. I like it but wish there was a bit more to it.
Orange, lemon, herb and spice on the nose. A good mineral streak across the palate keeps the fairly ripe styled fruit in check. A good refreshing element to it. Nice stuff.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Spice and honey with some peach and pear - appealing nose. The palate has a sweet element but there is a lift to it thanks to the fruit remaining quite bright. There is interest and good drinkability here.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Herbs and not much else on the nose. Insipid palate, lacks flavour and interest with no follow through at all. Feels like there is a lack of ripeness here.
Lime and apple on the nose. The palate is well balanced - it is listed as dry but there is some fruit sweetness that works well within the framework of the acidity. Medium length.
Apricot and peach, lime and spice. Full flavoured mouthfeel, and while it tastes like the residual sugar is up around off-dry levels, there is still some focus to it. A little more acidity or a little less sweetness would probably make this work better but it was still enjoyable.
Peach, lemon and musk notes. Good mineral acidity, with a real lift toward the finish. Nice length. Leans toward the elegant side of Riesling and I like it.
Pretty nose of musky florals, herb and lime. The palate has a rounded mouthfeel but also has punch from the acid and texture from the skins. Both interesting and appealing to drink now.
Musk, straw, lemon, pear and orange. Precision and great poise on the palate, there is also good depth here. Really good length. Came back for a second taste at the end of the night and was showing just as well, perhaps even a touch better as it had opened up further.
Orange, apple, apricot and nutty notes on the nose. Good texture, there is a light sweetness, perhaps from some residual sugar and the fruit flavours are quite persistent. Enjoying the style and element of difference here.
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Red berries and earth, with plenty of stalk influence as well. Medium intensity on the palate, feels pretty solid but not quite as interesting as the nose.
Cloudy colour. Light florals, with earthy funk and spice. Palate has plenty of texture and a lick of sweetness. Good length and acidity. Interesting Verdelho based wines are few and far between but this certainly counts!
Lemon, mineral, oak and pears. The palate is a good mix of fruit and acidity, with good flow and plenty of brightness. Carries really well into a long finish. I really enjoyed trying this.
More powerful than the Sandhi, toasty oak, lemon drops, and peaches. The palate also shows off more fruit power and while the fruit flavours are similar it just doesn't appeal to me as much as I enjoyed the more mineral and restrained Sandhi version. Still very good.
Lemon, orange and very light toast. Great acidity provides excellent structure and cut. Very good length. Feels classic in style and could well end up being a classic wine with time.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Roses, cherry, blackcurrant and peppery spice. Well balanced on the palate, with the black fruits melding well with the spice and acidity. Has an element of charm and brightness but also good depth. Excellent.
Pretty floral notes, with raspberry and cherry. Medium bodied palate, good tannins propping things up. Has some class to it and should age well over the medium term.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Dark coloured. Blackcurrant and blackberry, with violets and vanilla. Good palate intensity, with fine tannins providing good structure. Really well made wine.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Pepper and game with cherry on the nose. Palate is a touch too weak, with okay length but the depth isn't really there. The nose is quite nice though and it is fine to drink without too much thought. The 2013 showed quite a bit better.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Cherry, redcurrant and graphite. Quite powerful on the palate, there is quite a bit of black and red fruit here. Not very Pinot like, but decent enough.
Mint, stem and iron. Full bodied for Pinot Noir, but there is a bit more varietal character here than the 2010 Tantalus. The stemminess shows on the palate as well. Not bad.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Slate, earth, cherry and raspberry with some blueberry as well. Nice sweet and savoury mix with medium weight and depth. Good length. Nicely appealing.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Wood, blackberry, cherry and herb. Sweet styled fruit on the palate, has good structure to age over the medium term and I think it should develop pretty nicely.
Plum, stalk, cherry, ash and raspberry aromas. The palate is nicely medium bodied, with plenty of black fruit and savoury spices. Good structure and flow.
Pepper and mint on the nose. The palate has some tannins to give it structure but there isn't a lot of depth to the fruit. There is some spice to give it a bit of interest but it didn't wow.
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Light colour. Strawberry, spice, cherry and earth - feels to be in the house style. Relatively light body, with a good amount of tannic grip and fine acidity. Delivers savoury interest. Good stuff.
Cherry, raspberry, earthy and spice. Medium-fuller bodied, good length balance and composure. Doesn't really put a foot wrong. Good potential to develop as well.
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley, Pokolbin
Ants, ash, earth, raspberry. Good texture with the oak well integrated, I wonder if the fruit falls away a little bit too early though? Not sure if I got the right read on this given it wasn't an ideal tasting scenario but it all felt a little out of whack. Would very much like to try again.
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Clara County
Darker colour than the 2014 SBH. Cherry, plum, stems and earth - feels quite bright. Really good quality on the palate, the fruit weight feels just right with a good mix of savoury interest and lightly sweet appeal. Very good acidity. Interesting comparison to the SBH, I slightly preferred the depth of this now.
Dark coloured. Violets, blackcurrant, sultana, tar and smoke. Powerful palate, with plenty of fruit density and essential tannin structure. Dense but also has style. Very good.
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Lifted nose of plum, stalk, blackberry and briar. Smoke streak across the palate and nose as well. Good length. Feels like a really good modern styled Syrah.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Cherry, red currant, spice and smoke. Good acidity and length on the palate. More body than the 2012 and feels more balanced as a result. Would be keen to try future vintages.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Much better than the 2012 for my taste. Floral, blackberry, earth and cherry. More weight than the 2012 and feels much better for it. There is still a little herbal note but it works here as the fruit feels like it has gotten decently ripe. Really good.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Ash, some herb, blackberry and spice. Palate feels well put together, with good tannins and the fruit showing itself but not departing from the cool climate style. Plenty of structure and potential to improve.
Redcurrant and blackberry, with a high floral lift along with vanilla and cherry. At first I thought the fruit was too soft, but the acidity gives it lift and life along the middle and finish. Fine tannins.
Chocolate, plum and oak. Very sweet fruit on the palate, there is a bit of structure from the oak but not enough. Not enough interest either. Easy one to skip.
Violets, raspberry, some stem and blackberry. Medium bodied, has good restraint and balance. A little more depth and this would step up a level, but as it stands just very good.
Black cherry, earth, herb and blackcurrant. Good tannin structure and the herbal notes following the nose give it some interest. Very good to try but I'm not sure if my interest would hold across a full glass let alone the whole bottle.
Pepper, cedar, cranberry and chocolate. Good structure, this feels like it has really well judged oak usage, with the fruit melding very nicely into the oak profile. Classy feeling, with plenty of upside.
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Meaty, redcurrant, blackberry and spice. The palate has plenty of tannin, giving it good structure. The fruit weight is medium and it works in this context to feel balanced. Should be good over the short-medium term.
2014 Tawse Riesling Quarry Road Vineyard 88 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Vinemount Ridge VQA
Pine, candy apples, and lime. Leans towards a richer fruit weight, with some sweetness in behind. Good length.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2011 Tantalus Vineyards Riesling Old Vines 91 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Musky perfume with orange and lime. Good acidity on the palate, this flows well, with a spark and lift. Shows composure and good length. Ageing well and will develop nicely over the short-mid term.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Tantalus Vineyards Riesling Old Vines 89 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Toast, wax, orange and earthy spices. Palate still shows good acidity, with the fruit rounding out with the development. I think this is drinking nicely now and should continue to do so over the next couple of years.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 CedarCreek Estate Winery Riesling Platinum Block 3 90 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Mineral, spice and floral notes. Mouthfeel is quite round as well, but it has some texture to compensate. Medium length. Nice wine to drink now.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Wild Goose Vineyards Riesling Stoney Slope 83 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Kerosene and papaya. Rounded body, without really having the acidity to balance.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Flat Rock Cellars Riesling Nadja's Vineyard 87 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Twenty Mile Bench VQA
Graphite, lemon and orange. A little spritz on the palate helps for now to balance the sweetness. Good but fairly simple stuff.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Thirty Bench Riesling Small Lot Triangle Vineyard 91 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Beamsville Bench VQA
Mineral, pear and orange aromas. Really well balanced palate - a good acid spine, a lick of sweetness and some layered detail. Flows well, this is very good.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 50th Parallel Estate Riesling 85 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Apricot and pear with some floral perfume. Palate is a touch broad, with some restrained but simple sweetness showing.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Thirty Bench Riesling 90 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Beamsville Bench VQA
Mineral, chalk, pineapple and apple. Well balanced, the fruit shows some ripeness but it has good cut and flow. Really nice for an entry level wine.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Hidden Bench Riesling Roman's Block 91 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Beamsville Bench VQA
Apple, pear, lemon and earthy aromas. Has good intensity while still retaining a sense of balance. Good persistence and potential to age over the medium term.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Red Rooster Winery Gewürztraminer Reserve 88 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Lychee, lime and pear. Palate is quite bold, with a hit of sweetness but decent spice and acidity to give it some lift.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Wild Goose Vineyards Gewürztraminer 86 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Lemon and roses. Medium bodied palate, there is a bit of a lack of interesting aspects to it. Not bad but didn't stand out either.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Church & State Wines TreBella 86 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Lemon pie, vanilla and spice. Palate shows some good texture but it doesn't really have much else going on. I like it but wish there was a bit more to it.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Hidden Bench Nuit Blanche Rosomel Vineyard 89 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Beamsville Bench VQA
Orange, lemon, herb and spice on the nose. A good mineral streak across the palate keeps the fairly ripe styled fruit in check. A good refreshing element to it. Nice stuff.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Nk'mip Cellars Dreamcatcher 89 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Spice and honey with some peach and pear - appealing nose. The palate has a sweet element but there is a lift to it thanks to the fruit remaining quite bright. There is interest and good drinkability here.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Haywire Pinot Gris Raised in Concrete Switchback 82 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Dark straw coloured with apricot and hay on the nose. Lots of ripe fruit on the palate and falls short on the finish. The palate is a let down.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Tawse Chardonnay Quarry Road Vineyard 89 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Vinemount Ridge VQA
Lemon, toasty oak and apple. Well balanced palate, some spice and decent structure with enough acidity to give it lift. Drinking well now to 3 years.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Ravine Vineyard Chardonnay Reserve 82 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, St. David's Bench VQA
This bottle shape would be a real pain to cellar. Toast, honey and nutty aromas. Palate is in a similar style with lots of toast and oak. Too much.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Mission Hill Chardonnay Terroir Collection Lone Pine 87 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Pear, peach and musk aromas. Good restraint to the fruit on the palate, there is decent acidity but I can't help but feel it ends up a little boring.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Sandhill Viognier Small Lots Program Osprey Ridge Vineyard 79 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Herbs and not much else on the nose. Insipid palate, lacks flavour and interest with no follow through at all. Feels like there is a lack of ripeness here.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Fox Run Vineyards Dry Riesling 88 Points
USA, New York, Finger Lakes
Lime and apple on the nose. The palate is well balanced - it is listed as dry but there is some fruit sweetness that works well within the framework of the acidity. Medium length.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Efeste Riesling Evergreen Vineyard 87 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Apricot and peach, lime and spice. Full flavoured mouthfeel, and while it tastes like the residual sugar is up around off-dry levels, there is still some focus to it. A little more acidity or a little less sweetness would probably make this work better but it was still enjoyable.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Boundary Breaks Vineyard Dry Riesling No. 239 89 Points
USA, New York, Finger Lakes
Peach, lemon and musk notes. Good mineral acidity, with a real lift toward the finish. Nice length. Leans toward the elegant side of Riesling and I like it.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Ryme Vermentino His Las Brisas Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Pretty nose of musky florals, herb and lime. The palate has a rounded mouthfeel but also has punch from the acid and texture from the skins. Both interesting and appealing to drink now.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Liquid Farm Chardonnay White Hill 91 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
Musk, straw, lemon, pear and orange. Precision and great poise on the palate, there is also good depth here. Really good length. Came back for a second taste at the end of the night and was showing just as well, perhaps even a touch better as it had opened up further.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Division Winemaking Company Chenin Blanc Division-Villages, L'Isle Verte 90 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
Orange, apple, apricot and nutty notes on the nose. Good texture, there is a light sweetness, perhaps from some residual sugar and the fruit flavours are quite persistent. Enjoying the style and element of difference here.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Leo Steen Chenin Blanc The Steen Jurassic Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley
Floral, apple pie, and some twigs. Medium bodied with good cleansing acidity. A touch tart on the finish but otherwise seems good.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2015 Jolie-Laide Trousseau Gris Fanucchi Wood Road Vineyard 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Red berries and earth, with plenty of stalk influence as well. Medium intensity on the palate, feels pretty solid but not quite as interesting as the nose.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Forlorn Hope Verdelho Que Saudade 90 Points
USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
Cloudy colour. Light florals, with earthy funk and spice. Palate has plenty of texture and a lick of sweetness. Good length and acidity. Interesting Verdelho based wines are few and far between but this certainly counts!
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Sandhi Wines Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard 91 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
Lemon, mineral, oak and pears. The palate is a good mix of fruit and acidity, with good flow and plenty of brightness. Carries really well into a long finish. I really enjoyed trying this.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Chanin Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard 89 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
More powerful than the Sandhi, toasty oak, lemon drops, and peaches. The palate also shows off more fruit power and while the fruit flavours are similar it just doesn't appeal to me as much as I enjoyed the more mineral and restrained Sandhi version. Still very good.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2011 Mount Pleasant Wines Sémillon Single Vineyard Lovedale 93 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Lemon, orange and very light toast. Great acidity provides excellent structure and cut. Very good length. Feels classic in style and could well end up being a classic wine with time.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Burrowing Owl Syrah 91 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Roses, cherry, blackcurrant and peppery spice. Well balanced on the palate, with the black fruits melding well with the spice and acidity. Has an element of charm and brightness but also good depth. Excellent.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Château des Charmes Gamay Noir Droit St. David's Bench Vineyard 88 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, St. David's Bench VQA
Strawberry and blood/iron, with some musky notes. Light bodied palate, with distinguishable Gamay flavours, but in a lithe style. Medium length.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Thirty Bench Benchmark Red Small Lot 90 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Beamsville Bench VQA
Pretty floral notes, with raspberry and cherry. Medium bodied palate, good tannins propping things up. Has some class to it and should age well over the medium term.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Burrowing Owl Merlot 89 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Redcurrant, plum and graphite. Sweet fruit but pulled back but some nicely composed structure. Good length, will benefit from a few years of ageing.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Mission Hill Quatrain 90 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Dark coloured. Blackcurrant and blackberry, with violets and vanilla. Good palate intensity, with fine tannins providing good structure. Really well made wine.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 C.C. Jentsch Syrah 86 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Pepper and game with cherry on the nose. Palate is a touch too weak, with okay length but the depth isn't really there. The nose is quite nice though and it is fine to drink without too much thought. The 2013 showed quite a bit better.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2010 Tantalus Vineyards Pinot Noir 87 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Cherry, redcurrant and graphite. Quite powerful on the palate, there is quite a bit of black and red fruit here. Not very Pinot like, but decent enough.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Domaine Queylus Pinot Noir La Grande Réserve 88 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara Peninsula VQA
Mint, stem and iron. Full bodied for Pinot Noir, but there is a bit more varietal character here than the 2010 Tantalus. The stemminess shows on the palate as well. Not bad.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Creekside Estate Winery Syrah Broken Press Reserve Queenston Road Vineyard 90 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, St. David's Bench VQA
Graphite, violet, redcurrant and pepper. Medium bodied, with some tannins present and good acidity. Feels well balanced.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Church & State Wines Quintessential 90 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Slate, earth, cherry and raspberry with some blueberry as well. Nice sweet and savoury mix with medium weight and depth. Good length. Nicely appealing.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Nk'mip Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Qwam Qwmt 88 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Wood, blackberry, cherry and herb. Sweet styled fruit on the palate, has good structure to age over the medium term and I think it should develop pretty nicely.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Clos du Soleil Signature 90 Points
Canada, British Columbia, British Columbia VQA
Herb and tar, with kirsch and redcurrant. Palate has a good acid spine that works well with the fruit. Good drive and length.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc 88 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Ash, tar, sweet red berries and spice. Light bodied palate, not all that much depth but a line of spice gives it a little interest. Pretty good.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Pillitteri Estates Winery Vidal Reserve Icewine 91 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara-on-the-Lake VQA
Pear, peach, apple and honey. Intense but still has good balance and flow, enough cleansing acidity to keep up. Drinking well now.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Reif Estate Vidal Grand Reserve Icewine 83 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara River VQA
Plum and lemon on the nose. Too much sweetness here, it ends up being too cloying, even with a small pour. Pass on this one.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Riesling Eroica Gold 89 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
Quince and a hit of mango. High acid style, good cut and brightness. Simple but good.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Nk'mip Cellars Riesling Icewine Qwam Qwmt 90 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Pear and peach, honey and apricot. Nice palate, good push even with a large amount of sweetness. A good citrus acid kick on the finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Clary Ranch 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Plum, stalk, cherry, ash and raspberry aromas. The palate is nicely medium bodied, with plenty of black fruit and savoury spices. Good structure and flow.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Copain Syrah Halcon Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands
Pepper and mint on the nose. The palate has some tannins to give it structure but there isn't a lot of depth to the fruit. There is some spice to give it a bit of interest but it didn't wow.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 A Tribute to Grace Wine Company Grenache Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard 89 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Light colour. Strawberry, spice, cherry and earth - feels to be in the house style. Relatively light body, with a good amount of tannic grip and fine acidity. Delivers savoury interest. Good stuff.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Mount Pleasant Wines Shiraz Mountain 'D' 92 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Cherry, raspberry, earthy and spice. Medium-fuller bodied, good length balance and composure. Doesn't really put a foot wrong. Good potential to develop as well.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Andrew Thomas Wines Shiraz Kiss 86 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley, Pokolbin
Ants, ash, earth, raspberry. Good texture with the oak well integrated, I wonder if the fruit falls away a little bit too early though? Not sure if I got the right read on this given it wasn't an ideal tasting scenario but it all felt a little out of whack. Would very much like to try again.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 A Tribute to Grace Wine Company Grenache Besson Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Clara County
Darker colour than the 2014 SBH. Cherry, plum, stems and earth - feels quite bright. Really good quality on the palate, the fruit weight feels just right with a good mix of savoury interest and lightly sweet appeal. Very good acidity. Interesting comparison to the SBH, I slightly preferred the depth of this now.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Paix Sur Terre Mourvèdre The Other One Glenrose Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Dark coloured. Violets, blackcurrant, sultana, tar and smoke. Powerful palate, with plenty of fruit density and essential tannin structure. Dense but also has style. Very good.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Piedrasassi Syrah 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Lifted nose of plum, stalk, blackberry and briar. Smoke streak across the palate and nose as well. Good length. Feels like a really good modern styled Syrah.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Moon Curser Syrah Contraband 88 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Pepper and floral with some cherry. Medium bodied, with a little spice. Medium length. Nicely done.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 C.C. Jentsch Syrah 89 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Cherry, red currant, spice and smoke. Good acidity and length on the palate. More body than the 2012 and feels more balanced as a result. Would be keen to try future vintages.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Painted Rock Syrah 85 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Green notes, with pepper and a little raspberry. A bit too thin on the palate, without the complimentary elements to take on the under ripe notes.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Painted Rock Syrah 90 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Much better than the 2012 for my taste. Floral, blackberry, earth and cherry. More weight than the 2012 and feels much better for it. There is still a little herbal note but it works here as the fruit feels like it has gotten decently ripe. Really good.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Painted Rock Red Icon 90 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Ash, some herb, blackberry and spice. Palate feels well put together, with good tannins and the fruit showing itself but not departing from the cool climate style. Plenty of structure and potential to improve.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2010 Rustenberg Cabernet Sauvignon Peter Barlow 90 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
Redcurrant and blackberry, with a high floral lift along with vanilla and cherry. At first I thought the fruit was too soft, but the acidity gives it lift and life along the middle and finish. Fine tannins.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Altamana Malbec Grande Réserve 88 Points
Chile, Maule Valley
Chocolate and mint with some spice. Good tannins and acidity. Clean and bright fruit. Good but I wish it had more interest.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Las Luciérnagas 70 Points
Chile, Maule Valley
Recommended by the pouring staff but this was awful. Whisky, oak and chocolate. Sour palate. Ugh.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Terrunyo Block Las Terrazas 83 Points
Chile, Maipo Valley, Pirque
Chocolate, plum and oak. Very sweet fruit on the palate, there is a bit of structure from the oak but not enough. Not enough interest either. Easy one to skip.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Wilde Farm Wines Heritage Bedrock Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
Violets, raspberry, some stem and blackberry. Medium bodied, has good restraint and balance. A little more depth and this would step up a level, but as it stands just very good.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Folkway Revelator Red 88 Points
USA, California, Central Coast
Black cherry, earth, herb and blackcurrant. Good tannin structure and the herbal notes following the nose give it some interest. Very good to try but I'm not sure if my interest would hold across a full glass let alone the whole bottle.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Cadence Bel Canto Cara Mia Vineyard 91 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
Pepper, cedar, cranberry and chocolate. Good structure, this feels like it has really well judged oak usage, with the fruit melding very nicely into the oak profile. Classy feeling, with plenty of upside.
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Culmina Family Estate Winery Hypothesis 90 Points
Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
Meaty, redcurrant, blackberry and spice. The palate has plenty of tannin, giving it good structure. The fruit weight is medium and it works in this context to feel balanced. Should be good over the short-medium term.
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue