Been sitting on this one a while. Almost crimson in the glass. Decanted for about two hours. Aromas of dark fruit, cedar, graphite. Very well built wine. Tannins have smoothed and a lingering finish. Alas my last one.
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Definitely at its peak. This is awesome. Still the perfect mixed between the primary fruit (strawberry, bramble fruit) and secondary aromas (chocolate and vanilla). This is still quite bold, even though the tannins are now very polished. Love the underlying acidity that makes the wine very fresh. This can be enjoyed now or cellared for another 3-5 years. The highlight of the night.
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One of the best 2012 LFNG portfolio I had. This is drinking extremely well right now. Very expressive nose, with a ton of primary and secondary notes...and its still developing. It offers a beautiful mix of violet, blackberries, dark chocolate aromas and notes of espresso beans. There's a good structure, but with polished tannins. On the finish it reminded me of a Dal Forno Valpolicella. No rush to open your bottles, it can probably still improve over the next 3 years.
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A bit shy right now. Used to be much more expressive a few years ago. Needs at least 60-90 minutes in the decanter. Still young in appearance, the nose is still only offering primary and secondary aromas (berries, vanilla and dark chocolate)...it will take a few more years to get tertiary notes. Still very good, but the least impressive bottle I had of the 2012 vintage so far. Hold for at least 2 years.
Continues to develop with still lots of potential. Tannins are still quite present and will become more polished with time. It's currently developing a wonderful complex nose/palate focused on red stewed fruits, cassis, leather and notes of spices. Well balanced, with a good persistance. The wine can definitely improve over the next 5 years.
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Dark and brooding in colour. Nose opens full of blackberry and dark cherry, notes of thyme, pencil shavings (graphite and lead), and a touch of tobacco leaf. Medium body, medium minus acidity. Tannins grippy to start but become smoother with a nice Merlot feel after about an hour or so. Fresh raspberry and pomegranate fruit, cigar box, tobacco leaf and floral notes emerge further with time. Cured meats come to the mid palate as well. Lots of layers here for a stellar example of Okanagan meritage. Drinking well right now. Perfect pairing with ribeye or short ribs. Has another 3-4 yrs of good drinking.
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Within a few days I tasted two different bottles of Portfolio 2012 and the experience was vey different. Both were excellent, but this second bottle was better IMO. The tannins were were more polished with an extra aromatic component - intense floral aromas. Great finish/length. Based on this bottle, I would recommend to drink before 2025...so we still have a lot of time:)
Excellent and drinking beautifully right now. It's not the first time I say that, but I get Pomerol-like aromas on the nose and the palate when I drink LFNG Portfolio. This is one of the best 2012 I had so far (besides the first or second bottle I had a few years ago). It's now developing some good complexity and the only thing missing is more polished tannins (the tannic structure is still quite present and a bit aggressive). My wife preferred it to the 2012 Nota Bene, but personally I preferred the NB - it is currently more refined than the portfolio. Drinking well now, but can stay in the cellar for another 8-10 years I believe. I think I'll push my drinking date on my 12L...
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Dark ruby brown with very high optical density an medium minus reflectivity. Very strong aroma intensity, with a delicious profile of mixed red and black fruits, florals, and some forest floor. Raspberry, blackberry, and some light celery seed are dominant, with some undertones of roses- really appealing and quite fresh. The palate is dense, with very nice concentration and medium acidity. Tannins are well integrated, with enough presence to melt everything together. Flavours of rich raspberry and plums on the attack, with support from tobacco and oak spices that are present, but just restrained enough to not be overdone. That said, there is a lot of oak here, but it is complementary and does not overwhelm. The midpalate stays rich, and adds some interest from forest floor and vegetal notes before finishing with spicy smoked meats and warm berries. Overall, really nice intensity and medium complexity, with a noticeable amount of age showing in a very good way. That said, I think this can certainly age a few more years at least!
This is a great bottle of a style that is new world all the way, but with some elegance and restraint. I would not get old world at all, but I do get a nice sense of balance that makes it worthy of some contemplative tasting rather than a straight up flashy wine. Really excellent value here!
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I would accept that this wine has a few years in it but I really enjoyed it at 6 years old and think it's drinking very nicely now. Medium ruby colour, medium bodied, lovely Bordeaux like aromas, fragrant but on the sweeter end of the spectrum on palate. Tannins present but pretty smooth. Pleasantly surprised by this wine, well made and classy.
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This wine is still in its infancy. Red and black fruits mixed with spices and a touch of cedar. The tannins are very firm. If we can, rest for another 1-2 Year’s before we try again.
The wine is still in its infancy with very refined primary and secondary aromas. Red and black fruits mixed with spices and a touch of cedar. The tannins are starting to soften but it's far from being ready. I'd say it will develop much more complexity in the next 5-8 years...and that's for the 750ml format. I would guess the larger formats will be beautiful in about 10 years.
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PnP, still very young and rich; blind, I would have call a Shiraz from Australia, with spices and chocolate aromas. This will live to see 2022 and beyond. I would recommend decanting this wine for at least 2 hours if you decide to drink now.
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Bu en même temps que le 2014 qui est en SAQ...encore ample et corsé, style moderne au boisé encore appuyé, surfait! Nez racolleur sur le chêne et la vanille. En bouche, gros tannins ety acidité assez faible, fruit noir et finale asséchante. BOF!
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It smells like black currant (cassis), cool/menthol and eucalyptus. The wine looks ruby coloured. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. Oak is slightly dominant, but not excessive. Extremely fine tannins, lively acidity, but well balanced with the fruit in the entry, which is subdued. It could lie for a bit longer, but might soften beyond what I prefer. So I plan to mow through my collection. I've said it before, I'll say it again, it's my favourite BC Bordeaux blend. Best value in BC.
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Very dark red with high optical density. Really beautiful nose, with medium plus intensity and complexity, showing cassis, menthol, mint, mixed berries, with some dried leather and sweet tobacco underlying the fruit. Very full bodied, with a smooth rounded texture, medium acidity, and tannins that are ripe yet with good presence, providing structure to the back end. Flavours on the attack show caramel-infused berries with cassis and blackberry standing out. There is a crisp meatiness (like charred red meat) that comes in on the midpalate, which provides an interesting animalist musk over top of the fruit toward the finish. Next we find dark roast coffee, and toasted nuts that resolve on the finish into spicy pepper and chorizo flavours that linger for medium length, but with excellent intensity. This is a very serious, intense, flavourful wine that is made in a well-balanced and tasteful style. Certainly a new world wine, but with definite stripe of non-fruit spice/tobacco/musk that supports balance. Really nice complexity, with multiple layers to discover or compliment robust foods. This is a really great effort for a packed and full flavoured wine that leaves behind elegance, but finds a balance point that does what it does, and it does it very well. Well priced, this delivers great complexity and intensity, showing a great example of what can be achieved in the Okanagan region in Bordeaux blends. Drinking nicely with a decant, this should age for the mid-term.
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Of course, still very young. Nose is quite muted. The palate is more expressive with notes of vanilla and blackberries. Leave this wine alone for at least 5-6 years.
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Gros vin jouflu et saturant en ce moment. Fait de merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec et petit verdot. Un nez sur l'élevage, la vanille, la fumée et le caramel. En bouche, c'est ample, corsé et sur le fruit primaire (mures et framboises), un peu grossier même. De la vanille et du bois aussi prennent beaucoup de place et on a un impression de sucrosité. Les tannins sont charnus, un brin asséchants avec une finale sur des relents de gomme balloune et de chauffe. Pas vraiment apprécié ce style un peu trop simple j'ai trouvé.
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Starting to evolve, but still very young. Classic Okanagan Bordeaux-blend. Balanced, intense, refreshing and quite long. Wait another 4-5 years to reach its peak. Lovely!
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Opened a bottle at the Fairmont in Banff and let decant for 30 minutes. Initial odor of light cedar and dark fruit. First sip was acidic and needed time. After 30 minutes it began to open with coffee, chocolate, cedar, and cranberries. Got better after an hour. We really liked this wine but lamented it was open way too early so I concur with comments below. Being a California and Bordeaux fan, this Canadian was quite nice for a first experience. It reminded me of the pedestal that we had the other night which is a compliment! The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, cranberry, black currant (cassis), mineral, coffee, cedar and vanilla.
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First one of this vintage that ive had. As i feared it is not ready. The potential is there but the wine needs to integrate and settle down. A bit over-extracted and unbalanced. Previous vintages of this wine tell me it will improve with time. Hold remaining bottles for some time.
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Best Portfolio to date. Rich, complex, loads of black/red berries, high quality wood, not yet integrated. Will age fantastically for 10-15 years. Tasted one bottle 4 days after it was opened and it was still very fresh! Impressive.
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Dark inky purple. The nose is dominated by the Merlots floral notes, sage, vanilla and a subtle earthiness. The palatte is red fruit with a strong raspberry finish. 5+13+16+7=91
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9/4/2023 - Cellar3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
excellent. I let the wine open for about an hour and a half in my decanter.
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12/31/2022 - Tlkemp57@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Has aged well
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11/19/2022 - bdwyer wrote:
Excellent. Perfect wine, great drinking now but will still has tons of life. Barb and I loved
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9/16/2022 - joehwpg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Been sitting on this one a while. Almost crimson in the glass. Decanted for about two hours. Aromas of dark fruit, cedar, graphite. Very well built wine. Tannins have smoothed and a lingering finish. Alas my last one.
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7/20/2022 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 93 Points
Definitely at its peak. This is awesome. Still the perfect mixed between the primary fruit (strawberry, bramble fruit) and secondary aromas (chocolate and vanilla). This is still quite bold, even though the tannins are now very polished. Love the underlying acidity that makes the wine very fresh. This can be enjoyed now or cellared for another 3-5 years. The highlight of the night.
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1/11/2022 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 93 Points
One of the best 2012 LFNG portfolio I had. This is drinking extremely well right now. Very expressive nose, with a ton of primary and secondary notes...and its still developing. It offers a beautiful mix of violet, blackberries, dark chocolate aromas and notes of espresso beans. There's a good structure, but with polished tannins. On the finish it reminded me of a Dal Forno Valpolicella. No rush to open your bottles, it can probably still improve over the next 3 years.
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11/29/2021 - Rcmchow wrote:
45% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot
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7/18/2021 - Chateau du Fey 1994 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Finally! This is starting tomopen up amd come alive. I wish I had saved my other bottles this long.
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7/1/2020 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 91 Points
A bit shy right now. Used to be much more expressive a few years ago. Needs at least 60-90 minutes in the decanter. Still young in appearance, the nose is still only offering primary and secondary aromas (berries, vanilla and dark chocolate)...it will take a few more years to get tertiary notes. Still very good, but the least impressive bottle I had of the 2012 vintage so far. Hold for at least 2 years.
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2/16/2020 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Continues to develop with still lots of potential. Tannins are still quite present and will become more polished with time. It's currently developing a wonderful complex nose/palate focused on red stewed fruits, cassis, leather and notes of spices. Well balanced, with a good persistance. The wine can definitely improve over the next 5 years.
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8/2/2019 - Contour Likes this wine: 93 Points
11ty-6
Freak'in Delicious.
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2/23/2019 - Piccolopaulo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark and brooding in colour. Nose opens full of blackberry and dark cherry, notes of thyme, pencil shavings (graphite and lead), and a touch of tobacco leaf. Medium body, medium minus acidity. Tannins grippy to start but become smoother with a nice Merlot feel after about an hour or so. Fresh raspberry and pomegranate fruit, cigar box, tobacco leaf and floral notes emerge further with time. Cured meats come to the mid palate as well.
Lots of layers here for a stellar example of Okanagan meritage. Drinking well right now. Perfect pairing with ribeye or short ribs. Has another 3-4 yrs of good drinking.
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1/5/2019 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 94 Points
Within a few days I tasted two different bottles of Portfolio 2012 and the experience was vey different. Both were excellent, but this second bottle was better IMO. The tannins were were more polished with an extra aromatic component - intense floral aromas. Great finish/length. Based on this bottle, I would recommend to drink before 2025...so we still have a lot of time:)
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12/27/2018 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent and drinking beautifully right now. It's not the first time I say that, but I get Pomerol-like aromas on the nose and the palate when I drink LFNG Portfolio. This is one of the best 2012 I had so far (besides the first or second bottle I had a few years ago). It's now developing some good complexity and the only thing missing is more polished tannins (the tannic structure is still quite present and a bit aggressive). My wife preferred it to the 2012 Nota Bene, but personally I preferred the NB - it is currently more refined than the portfolio. Drinking well now, but can stay in the cellar for another 8-10 years I believe. I think I'll push my drinking date on my 12L...
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8/25/2018 - ajbergren wrote: 91 Points
Dark ruby brown with very high optical density an medium minus reflectivity. Very strong aroma intensity, with a delicious profile of mixed red and black fruits, florals, and some forest floor. Raspberry, blackberry, and some light celery seed are dominant, with some undertones of roses- really appealing and quite fresh. The palate is dense, with very nice concentration and medium acidity. Tannins are well integrated, with enough presence to melt everything together. Flavours of rich raspberry and plums on the attack, with support from tobacco and oak spices that are present, but just restrained enough to not be overdone. That said, there is a lot of oak here, but it is complementary and does not overwhelm. The midpalate stays rich, and adds some interest from forest floor and vegetal notes before finishing with spicy smoked meats and warm berries. Overall, really nice intensity and medium complexity, with a noticeable amount of age showing in a very good way. That said, I think this can certainly age a few more years at least!
This is a great bottle of a style that is new world all the way, but with some elegance and restraint. I would not get old world at all, but I do get a nice sense of balance that makes it worthy of some contemplative tasting rather than a straight up flashy wine. Really excellent value here!
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7/15/2018 - Chateau du Fey 1994 wrote:
Drinking well now but still has potential to evolve and improve with time
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5/27/2018 - HongKongPhooey wrote: 92 Points
I would accept that this wine has a few years in it but I really enjoyed it at 6 years old and think it's drinking very nicely now. Medium ruby colour, medium bodied, lovely Bordeaux like aromas, fragrant but on the sweeter end of the spectrum on palate. Tannins present but pretty smooth. Pleasantly surprised by this wine, well made and classy.
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12/28/2017 - WineTonite? Likes this wine: 88 Points
This wine is still in its infancy. Red and black fruits mixed with spices and a touch of cedar. The tannins are very firm. If we can, rest for another 1-2 Year’s before we try again.
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11/4/2017 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine is still in its infancy with very refined primary and secondary aromas. Red and black fruits mixed with spices and a touch of cedar. The tannins are starting to soften but it's far from being ready. I'd say it will develop much more complexity in the next 5-8 years...and that's for the 750ml format. I would guess the larger formats will be beautiful in about 10 years.
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5/29/2017 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP, still very young and rich; blind, I would have call a Shiraz from Australia, with spices and chocolate aromas. This will live to see 2022 and beyond. I would recommend decanting this wine for at least 2 hours if you decide to drink now.
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4/16/2017 - maxima wrote: 86 Points
Bu en même temps que le 2014 qui est en SAQ...encore ample et corsé, style moderne au boisé encore appuyé, surfait!
Nez racolleur sur le chêne et la vanille.
En bouche, gros tannins ety acidité assez faible, fruit noir et finale asséchante. BOF!
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2/2/2017 - crowino wrote: 90 Points
It smells like black currant (cassis), cool/menthol and eucalyptus. The wine looks ruby coloured. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. Oak is slightly dominant, but not excessive. Extremely fine tannins, lively acidity, but well balanced with the fruit in the entry, which is subdued. It could lie for a bit longer, but might soften beyond what I prefer. So I plan to mow through my collection. I've said it before, I'll say it again, it's my favourite BC Bordeaux blend. Best value in BC.
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1/1/2017 - crowino Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistently excellent stuff.
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11/8/2016 - Chateau du Fey 1994 wrote:
Why do I keep drinking these too early?! This bottle needs to settle down.
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8/26/2016 - ajbergren wrote: 91 Points
Very dark red with high optical density. Really beautiful nose, with medium plus intensity and complexity, showing cassis, menthol, mint, mixed berries, with some dried leather and sweet tobacco underlying the fruit. Very full bodied, with a smooth rounded texture, medium acidity, and tannins that are ripe yet with good presence, providing structure to the back end. Flavours on the attack show caramel-infused berries with cassis and blackberry standing out. There is a crisp meatiness (like charred red meat) that comes in on the midpalate, which provides an interesting animalist musk over top of the fruit toward the finish. Next we find dark roast coffee, and toasted nuts that resolve on the finish into spicy pepper and chorizo flavours that linger for medium length, but with excellent intensity. This is a very serious, intense, flavourful wine that is made in a well-balanced and tasteful style. Certainly a new world wine, but with definite stripe of non-fruit spice/tobacco/musk that supports balance. Really nice complexity, with multiple layers to discover or compliment robust foods. This is a really great effort for a packed and full flavoured wine that leaves behind elegance, but finds a balance point that does what it does, and it does it very well. Well priced, this delivers great complexity and intensity, showing a great example of what can be achieved in the Okanagan region in Bordeaux blends. Drinking nicely with a decant, this should age for the mid-term.
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3/26/2016 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Of course, still very young. Nose is quite muted. The palate is more expressive with notes of vanilla and blackberries. Leave this wine alone for at least 5-6 years.
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3/3/2016 - maxima wrote: 87 Points
Gros vin jouflu et saturant en ce moment.
Fait de merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec et petit verdot.
Un nez sur l'élevage, la vanille, la fumée et le caramel.
En bouche, c'est ample, corsé et sur le fruit primaire (mures et framboises), un peu grossier même.
De la vanille et du bois aussi prennent beaucoup de place et on a un impression de sucrosité.
Les tannins sont charnus, un brin asséchants avec une finale sur des relents de gomme balloune et de chauffe.
Pas vraiment apprécié ce style un peu trop simple j'ai trouvé.
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2/20/2016 - Canoehead Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened too early. there's potential here but still a bit tight after a 60min plus decant.
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1/26/2016 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Starting to evolve, but still very young. Classic Okanagan Bordeaux-blend. Balanced, intense, refreshing and quite long. Wait another 4-5 years to reach its peak. Lovely!
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1/13/2016 - Chateau du Fey 1994 wrote:
Took some time to open up. Was then very nice. Probably still too early to enjoy its peak potential.
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7/26/2015 - aerosol wrote: 91 Points
Opened a bottle at the Fairmont in Banff and let decant for 30 minutes. Initial odor of light cedar and dark fruit. First sip was acidic and needed time. After 30 minutes it began to open with coffee, chocolate, cedar, and cranberries. Got better after an hour. We really liked this wine but lamented it was open way too early so I concur with comments below. Being a California and Bordeaux fan, this Canadian was quite nice for a first experience. It reminded me of the pedestal that we had the other night which is a compliment!
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, cranberry, black currant (cassis), mineral, coffee, cedar and vanilla.
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4/12/2015 - Chateau du Fey 1994 wrote: 88 Points
First one of this vintage that ive had. As i feared it is not ready. The potential is there but the wine needs to integrate and settle down. A bit over-extracted and unbalanced. Previous vintages of this wine tell me it will improve with time. Hold remaining bottles for some time.
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2/27/2015 - Francois Le Mouel wrote: 95 Points
Best Portfolio to date. Rich, complex, loads of black/red berries, high quality wood, not yet integrated. Will age fantastically for 10-15 years. Tasted one bottle 4 days after it was opened and it was still very fresh! Impressive.
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12/21/2014 - Delli Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark inky purple. The nose is dominated by the Merlots floral notes, sage, vanilla and a subtle earthiness. The palatte is red fruit with a strong raspberry finish. 5+13+16+7=91
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