Cedar Creek Estate Winery Platinum Block 3 Riesling 2016 Okanagan Valley, Kelowna

Cedar Creek Estate Winery Platinum Block 3 Riesling 2016 Okanagan Valley, Kelowna

Block 3 is a German-inspired Riesling made form ungrafted vines. The glass is fil-led with layers of complex, generous, intense, smells. There’s an ample amount of peach and perfumed flowers, key lime pie and ginger, but also a sweet & salty character. Then comes in a strong wet rock minerality. The palate offers a backbone…

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Mission Hill Winery – Oculus 2013 Okanagan Valley, East Osoyoos

Mission Hill Winery – Oculus 2013 Okanagan Valley, East Osoyoos

Oculus is completely and absolutely opaque in color, almost inky blue. The nose is precursory of a very robust wine. In terms of aromas, think of anything black: Black currant, dark plum, black licorice, juicy black cherries, grinded dark roast coffee and raisins. The structure is tight and robust with very coarse-grained, drying tannins. It’s…

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Mission Hill Winery Legacy Collection Perpetua 2015 Okanagan Valley, East Osoyoos

Mission Hill Winery Legacy Collection Perpetua 2015 Okanagan Valley, East Osoyoos

If your heart is divided between the Chardonnays of Burgundy and those of Cali-fornia, you will be pleased here. Mission hill’s Perpetua showcases the freshness of some Burgundian appellations further north and the texture of big American chardonnays. On the nose, we find notes of ripe pears, almond butter, ginger, vanilla and a very light smokiness. On the…

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Mission Hill Winery Legacy Collection Quatrain 2012 Okanagan Valley, East Osoyoos

Mission Hill Winery Legacy Collection Quatrain 2012 Okanagan Valley, East Osoyoos

Made of basic Bordeaux blend varietal with intrusive Syrah, the color is star-ting to evolve into a Bright Garnet. I’ve felt a duality between the nose and the palate. The first is losing its black cherry fruit-forwardness and is getting developed towards licorice, candied orange, black chocolate and topsoil. The latter, on the other end is still fresh…

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Martin’s Lane Winery Fritzi’s Vineyard Riesling 2014 Okanagan Valley, Kelowna

Martin’s Lane Winery Fritzi’s Vineyard Riesling 2014 Okanagan Valley, Kelowna

Decently refined, this Riesling has somewhat of a savory character. Its nose is tight, with a majority of floral components as well as grapefruit and that undeniable Umami quality. The mouth feel is rich and honeyed with a fantas-tic combination of grainy and soft delicate texture. It’s definitely tasteful with a burst of bombshell, raw perk  

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Culmina Family Estate – Hypothesis 2013 Okanagan valley, Golden Mile bench

Culmina Family Estate – Hypothesis 2013 Okanagan valley, Golden Mile bench

Hypothesis is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon that is made from the red Arise Bench. It’s an opulent wine overall, but with a sen-sitive touch, roundness and a feminine characteristic. It’s polished with a nice addition of empyreumatic aromas to the initial raspberries, wild strawberries and fresh cassis. The palate is densely structured, but…

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Culmina Family Estate Dilemna Chardonnay 2015 Okanagan valley, Margaret’s bench

Culmina Family Estate Dilemna Chardonnay 2015 Okanagan valley, Margaret’s bench

Single varietal made entirely of Chardonnay, it’s made in a daring, lavish and generous style. The nose is exuberant of oak & rich butter as well as caramel & salted nuts. It has a plentiful body, and a long, fresh but weighty finish. The apparent oak ageing and MLF hides any chances of any fruit…

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Culmina Family Estate Unicus, Grüner Vetliner 2016 Okanagan valley, Margaret’s bench

Culmina Family Estate Unicus, Grüner Vetliner 2016 Okanagan valley, Margaret’s bench

Okanagan valley, Margaret’s benchOkanagan Valley’s first Grüner Veltliner and what a unique Gruner Vetliner with a long lasting texture that comes from fermentation in a combination of concrete amphora, concrete egg and stainless steel. It’s nuanced with fresh herbs, lime, grapefruit, white flowers aromas and a decent mineral touch. The round and full palate is textural. You get acidity,…

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Culmina Family Estate – Decora Riesling 2016 Okanagan valley, Margaret’s bench

Culmina Family Estate – Decora Riesling 2016 Okanagan valley, Margaret’s bench

Decora means pretty and it is quite suitable for this elegant and perfumed, dry and very refreshing wine. The nose bursts of tangerine, white flower bou-quet and even wild honey. The high, keen acidity is opposed by a roundness, richness and ripeness. The finale is quite dynamic and evolving. It draws a subtle chalky minerality out at the…

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Culmina Family Estate – R&D White blend 2016 Okanagan valley, Golden Mile bench

Culmina Family Estate – R&D White blend 2016 Okanagan valley, Golden Mile bench

A blend of Chardonnay, Riesling, Viognier & Gewurztraminer that is very aro-matic. Floral & perfumed at first, it then opens up towards ripe orchard fruits, even riper stone fruits and freshly cracked white pepper. The structure is lean and diluted. Very simple, especially compared to the nose. It ends quickly but on a spike of…

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