Top 25 Wines of 2012

The format for our Top 25 list uses a subjective approach taking into account availability, collectability and relevance in the world of wine. For simply the highest rated wines of the year please visit our Top 25 Rated Wines of 2012 list on IconScores.ca. All wines were released within the calendar year and reviews based on barrel samples were excluded.

#1 Icon Wine of the Year
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2011 Chardonnay - $30
This beautiful, bar-setting Chardonnay effortlessly combines the inherent crispness and pure fruit expression of an un-oaked example with the elegant texture and rich body derived from 100% new French Oak.

#2
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2009 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red - $30
Few BC Meritage or Bordeaux "inspired" wines can accurately capture the true essence of Bordeaux and its sublime combination of terroir and fruit components. Many don't try, focusing instead on being un-apologetically New World, and we applaud that. However, the 2009 2Bench Red, whether by design or divine intervention, comes pretty darn close to a modern Bordeaux beauty and, that too, is worth round of applause.
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#3
JoieFarm 2011 Pinot Blanc - $23
Sadly, not a wine that JoieFarm will release every vintage with no 2012 yet planned. Pinot Blanc has long had the potential to be a signature white variety for the Okanagan Valley yet only a handful of producers produce a single-varietal release. This wine is the new benchmark for the varietal in BC.
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#4
Paul Hobbs Winery 2009 Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard - $180
Dense, complex and focused to the nth degree, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon single vineyard release nears perfection. A special occasion wine for the celebration you're expecting sometime in 2014 when this wine will start to come into its own.
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#5
Viña Montes 2007 Montes Folly - $87
This wine, produced from 17-18 year old vines, is the champion of all South American Syrah and the wine to gauge all challengers against. Aged in French oak for 18 months with a further 12 months+ of bottle aging prior to release.
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#6
LaStella 2009 La Sophia - $75
Places down the Top 25 list a bit due to its lack of availability. If you managed to find a bottle, cherish it. Complex, captivating and feminine this beautiful Cabernet should last and evolve over a decade yet is tasting very well today.
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#7
Paul Hobbs Winery 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon - $100
Cabernet Sauvignon with great concentration and refinement produced from fruit sourced from multiple AVAs in Napa Valley. 2% Petite Verdot added to the blend adds a touch of spice to the dense blackberry and cassis fruit flavours.
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#8
JoieFarm 2010 Reserve Chardonnay - $30
A regular on our Top 25 list, the 2010 is another stellar vintage of Chardonnay from JoieFarm who each year release an amazingly consistent reserve-tier, robust, age-worthy wine, no matter what the growing season seems to throw their way.
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#9
LaStella 2009 Maestoso - $100
The Maestoso is a massive wine that seeks to knock your socks off with its unapologetic, Old World, heavy tannins and bone-dry texture.
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#10
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2009 Cabernet Franc - $33
The always appreciated Franc Funk is back in the 2009 vintage release of Burrowing Owl's single varietal release. The funk adds complexity and charm to the already very pleasing nose of super ripe mixed berries and licorice - a nose that I could sniff all day long.
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BC Wine Deal: December 4th, 2012

The following wines have been marked down at your local BC VQA and participating BCLDB stores.

Andrew Peller Cabernet/Merlot was $14.99 is now $13.99
Andrew Peller Merlot was $14.99 is now $13.99
Fork in the Road White was $17.99 is now $16.99
Inniskillin Pinot Noir Reserve was $18.99 is now $17.49
Inniskillin Chenin Blanc was $16.99 is now $15.49
Jackson Triggs Chardonnay Private Reserve was $12.99 is now $11.49
Jackson Triggs Merlot Black Series was $14.99 is now $13.49
Jackson Triggs Sauvignon Blanc Black Series was $13.99 is now $12.49
Jackson Triggs Viognier Silver Series was $13.99 is now $12.49
Kalala Cuvee Blanc was $11.95 is now $8.40
Open Cabernet/Merlot was $14.99 is now $13.49
Open Merlot was $14.99 is now $13.49
Open Sauvignon Blanc was $14.99 is now $13.49
Prospect Fats Johnson Pinot Noir was $16.99 is now $15.99
Prospect Chardonnay was $12.99 is now $11.99
Prospect Merlot/Cabernet was $14.99 is now $13.99
Prospect Regatta Red was $14.99 is now $13.99
Rigamarole White was $14.99 is now $13.99
Quails'Gate Merlot was $24.99 is now $22.99
See Ya Later Brut was $22.99 is now $20.99
See Ya Later Pinot Noir was $22.00 is now $20.00
Sumac Ridge Cabernet/Merlot was $14.99 is now $12.99
Sumac Ridge Private Reserve Gewurztraminer was $14.99 is now $12.99
Sumac Ridge Stellar's Jay Brut was $24.99 is now $22.99
The View Gewurztraminer was $16.98 is now $13.90

2012 Icon Wine of the Year

For the first time, we've elevated a white wine to be our Icon Wine of the Year as presented to the "best" wine released in the calendar year of 2012 that combines the following virtues: price, quality, pedigree, collectability, longevity and availability to the wine consuming public in Canada. The winner for 2012 is:

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2011 Chardonnay
100% Chardonnay
$30 - 500 cases - 14.3%
93pts - Icon Score

Congratulations to our runner-ups for this year's Icon Wine of the Year award: both from BC, the elegant Tinhorn Creek 2009 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red and the superb JoieFarm 2011 Pinot Blanc. All three wines are available direct from the wineries for $30 and under proving that great wine does not always have to come with a lofty price tag.

The Wine
This beautiful, bar-setting Chardonnay effortlessly combines the inherent crispness and pure fruit expression of an un-oaked example with the elegant texture and rich body derived from 100% new French Oak. Intense and concentrated with lush, tropical, melon and stonefruit characters supported by a vibrant backbone of citrus acidity and a long, long, balanced finish of tangy, green apple, tangerine and brioche flavours.

Light caramel, vanilla spice and oak notes add complexity and depth to the sublime palate which avoids the perils of over-oaked, butter-bomb Chardonnay by limiting the secondary malolactic fermentation to only 20% of the barrels used in the final blend and by integrating the oak influence so completely, you barely know it's there.

The Story
This sublime balance was achieved with an elaborate harvesting plan which saw the single-vineyard fruit picked on three separate dates each targeting the particular characteristics of individual vines. The three lots remained apart through vinification and a further 5 months in barrel prior to blending allowing the winemaking team to compile the finished wine from the unique attributes of each component. A time-consuming effort but one that has paid dividends for Painted Rock who have implementing the technique in subsequent vintages and taking it even further by introducing a vine-by-vine coding system for pruning.

In 2011, Painted Rock was narrowly beaten out by Fairview Cellars for that year's top honors for their outstanding 2009 red blend. This year we couldn't overlook their contribution to BC wine by raising the bar on single-vineyard Chardonnay production in the province; creating a product delightfully complex and supremely balanced - a true icon wine.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Also see:
2011 Icon Wine of the Year
2010 Icon Wine of the Year
2009 Icon Wine of the Year

Monthly Picks: December 2012

"Which wine should I take to Christmas dinner?" "What pairs with turkey or ham?" You may find yourself asking these questions whether you celebrate Christmas on the 24th or 25th or whether you're hosting a similarly festive event during the holiday season. Below are suggestions to help you answer these questions with Canadian wine selections.

Paired with...

...pre-dinner snacks
Something lively and crisp is needed here to wake-up those taste-buds and get them ready for the forthcoming dinnerpolooza.

Fairview Cellars 2011 Sauvignon Blanc - $20
As total production for this refreshing and crisp wine jumps from 190 cases in 2010 to 600 in 2011, you should have an easier time sourcing it at VQA and private wine stores.
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La Frenz Winery 2011 Sauvignon Blanc - $22
The 2011 release may be the winery's best yet with a rich offering of citrus and tropical fruit flavours and aromas. The balance of residual sugar-to-rich fruit-to-crisp acidity is nearly perfect and makes for a lovely, mouth-watering mouth feel.
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...turkey (white meat)
For the white meat, go for a barrel fermented, single-varietal or blended white wine. Something with character, but not too much.

Road 13 Vineyards 2010 Stemwinder - $15
A blend of 66% Chardonnay, 26% Sauvignon Blanc and 8% Chardonnay Musqué, this pale gold hued wine offers a lovely bouquet of pears, apples, honeydew melon, vanilla and light citrus aromas.
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Stag's Hollow Winery 2011 Renaissance Sauvignon Blanc - $25
100% barrel fermentation in new oak and active lees contact. Despite this, the wine never feels heavy or overdone like many-a-Fumé Blanc from California, while the lees contact adds complexity in the form of sweet brioche notes on the nose and texture on the palate.
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...turkey (dark meat)
I love Gamay Noir with the dark turkey meat. A subtle and medium-bodied Pinot Noir is a good substitute.

Generation Seven Wines 2012 Nouveau - $12
Produced as an ode to Beaujolais Nouveau, this charming Gamay Noir is immediately engaging when you get your first sniff of the vibrant raspberry jam and maraschino cherry aromas on the playful nose.
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SpierHead Winery 2010 Pinot Noir - $18
Nice sweet cherry notes on the nose blend nicely with light French oak aromas and a hint of vanilla. The dry palate offers similar flavours and a nice vein of acidity.
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...ham
For the Christmas-Ham folks out there I suggest a slightly off-dry white with orchard fruit flavours to match the apple/honey glaze.

Little Straw Vineyards 2011 Tapestry - $17
Apple, pear, pineapple, papaya and grapefruit flavours are supported by a nice balance between the full-ish texture produced from 17 g/l of residual sugar and the proportionate citrus acid that leaves a tangy finish with hints of mineral and spice notes.
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JoieFarm 2011 A Noble Blend - $24
For the second year in a row the blend for the JoieFarm flagship wine remains a Riesling-Gewurztraminer leading concoction of exotic fruit characters and well-balanced, refreshing acidity.
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...roast beef
For the roast-lovers I recommend making a splash and introducing your family and friends to the joys of BC Cabernet Franc.

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2010 Cabernet Franc - $25
Dense and intriguing on the dark berry nose enhanced with sage, menthol, vanilla bean, oak spice and light anise aromas.
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River Stone Estate Winery 2010 Cabernet Franc - $26
An Old World-leaning, masculine palate rich with mineral and dark berry flavours supported by fine, round tannins. Good acidity balances the mouth feel and completes the mouth-watering finish which lingers with peppy cardamon and coffee grind notes.
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...dessert
Generally, any sweet wine is considered a dessert wine where the key pairing rule is that the wine should be sweeter than the pudding its being served with.

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2011 Oldfield Series Kerner Icewine - $30 (200ml)
It's the juxtaposition of the sugary, fruit puree syrup and mouth-watering acid that makes for the uniquely icewine experience: an intense, lively texture, worth the price of admission.
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Cassini Cellars 2010 Moscato - $24 (375ml)
This charming, honeydew and spicy peach flavoured wine opens with a lovely nose of pecans, tangerines and violets and will compliment your favourite nutty pie or crème brûlée rather than compete with it.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Top 25 Value Wines of 2012

We've selected the top 25 wines for 2012 that we feel represent the best value to the consumer. No price limit was applied to the list, nor was a simple price-to-points equation used. With this list we allowed ourselves to be subjective as to what "value" represents.

#1
MezzoMondo 2010 Negroamaro - $10
A very consistent bargain red from the South East of Italy using the Negroamaro grape native to the region, which year-after-year delivers excellent value for money with an expressive nose of black cherry, dried cranberry, prune, toasted oak and Christmas spice aromas.
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#2
Generation Seven Wines 2012 Nouveau - $12
Fruity and bright on the ultra-youthful, low-tannin palate, staying true to the varietal with nice spice and a hint of cured meat flavours beneath the prominent red fruit. A wine to be enjoyed in its youth, by the case throughout the holiday season - incredible value!
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#3
Chateau Des Charmes 2009 Cabernet-Merlot - $13
An impressive "budget" blend that over-delivers for the price with a nice nose of cassis, blackberry, vanilla spice and oak aromas followed by a medium-bodied, smooth-tannin palate with a good balance of mature dark fruit and savoury herbs'n'spice flavours.
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#4
Finca Sophenia 2009 Reserve Malbec - $14
This is the wine to seek out for folks who are tired of overly juicy and predictable Mendoza Malbecs that are generally available at this price point. Textured and well balanced with concentrated plum fruit and French oak characters of spicy vanilla.
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#5
Road 13 Vineyards 2010 Stemwinder - $15
Originally this wine was released at $22, several dollars more than the firm's popular Honest John's Blends. Seen, at the time, as a step-up in complexity and part of their plan to focus more on proprietary blends than on a large portfolio of single varietal wines.
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#6
Cellar Besllum 2008 Montsant - $20
This offering, a blend of equal parts Carignan and Garnache, has plenty of character on the layered nose and smooth palate. The tannins are fine and well balanced with good acidity resulting in a silky texture and long finish.
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#7
Gemtree Vineyards 2009 Bloodstone Shiraz - $16
McLaren Vale product has an appealing nose of sweet cherry fruit, menthol and mineral notes but it is the intriguingly moderate and terroir-driven palate that makes this a wine worth seeking out.
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#8
Geo Wines 2009 Chono Syrah Reserva - $18
Produced in the Elqui Valley, one of Chile's most northern and driest wine regions, this savoury, terroir expressing Syrah offers a gorgeous palate of oak spice, minerals, smoked meats, leather and dark, brooding fruit.
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#9
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery 2010 Private Reserve Gewurztraminer - $14
best known Gewurztraminer in BC is also one of the most consistently well made with a straight-forward, classic presentation of Goo with nice candied lychee fruit aromas on the pleasant nose and just a touch of residual sugar on the satisfying palate.
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#10
SpierHead Winery 2010 Pinot Noir - $18
Nice sweet cherry notes on the nose blend nicely with light French oak aromas and a hint of vanilla. The dry palate offers similar flavours and a nice vein of acidity. A touch of bitterness on the finish will be masked when served with foods like a Thanksgiving roasted turkey.
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Tinhorn Creek's Fabulous 2012 Releases

For 2012, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards divided their wine releases into trimesters with Spring, Summer and Fall dates making for a steady flow of new wines for the consumer to select from. The Spring release was dominated by crisp 2011 white wines, the Summer saw the bulk of their 2010 single varietal reds released as well as a new reserve-tier Pinot Noir already 4 years old and the Fall trimester hosted the winery's small-lot, Oldfield Series reds from the hot 2009 vintage.

Working backwards from the most recent releases, here are the highlight notes from every wine released by tinhorn Creek in 2012 - a banner year for the Golden Mile Bench winery. To read our winery profile, click here.

Fall

2009 Oldfield Series Merlot - $29
A very consistent wine, year-to-year, perfect for red meat and chocolate plate pairings thanks to its combination of dense, dark berry and savoury, licorice'n'cola aromas and flavours.
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2009 Oldfield Series Syrah - $35
At already 3 years of age the ripe tannins have had a chance to mellow and frame the palate well while the mouth-watering acid keeps the heavy licorice and red fruit puree flavours feeling fresh and lively.
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2009 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red - $30
A blend of 45% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the wine boasts an enchanting bouquet of dark fruit and spicy vanilla wrapped in a prominent, smoky blanket of sweet tobacco and toasted oak aromas.
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2010 Merlot - $19
House-style is achieved with good tannin structure, solid fruit and palate-cleansing, fresh acidity. Good length and balance throughout. Would benefit from another 6+ months of bottle age and a long decant prior to serving.
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2011 Oldfield Series Kerner Icewine - $30 (200ml)

A remarkably consistent product from Tinhorn that boasts apricot, apple cider, lime and canned peach aromas on the gentle nose and similar flavours on the sweet and tangy palate.
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Summer

2008 Oldfield Series Pinot Noir - $30
With this Oldfield Series release, which sees an extra year in bottle, you get a little more of, well, everything. A little more elegance, a little more intensity, a little more fruit and a little more harmony in the overall presentation when compared to the varietal-tier release.
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2009 Pinot Noir - $20
The 2009 edition varies a little from the 2008 release with more bitter notes on the dry palate, making it more of a food companion than a stand-alone sipper, but otherwise follows a similar script: pleasant, baked raspberry and savoury, spicy earth characters with restrained oak influence.
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2010 Cabernet Franc - $20
Cool-climate "funk" is back in a big way for the 2010 edition with pungent aromas of blue cheese caressing the concentrated blue fruit, cola and sweet black licorice notes on the expressive nose.
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2011 Chardonnay - $18
A somewhat muted nose of stonefruit, golden delicious apples, vanilla and sweet orchard fruit aromas precedes a more vibrant palate of similar flavours with more mineral and oak influence.
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Spring

2011 Oldfield Series 2Bench White - $23
Both opulent, with rich orchard fruit by the bushel, and light with delicate, aromatic notes'a'plenty. Melon, grapefruit and minerals round out the flavour profile with a touch of lingering spice on the long finish. Just delicious!
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2011 Gewurztraminer - $18
Blessed with natural fullness and a creamy mouth feel, this release succeeds by reigning in the body with vibrant, mouth watering, citrus acidity that structures the Asian pear, apple and lychee fruit characters beautifully.
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2011 Pinot Gris - $18
Succulent orchard fruits and masculine mineral flavours mingle effortlessly culminating in a well balanced, long finish with lingering lemon and subtle, green apple notes.
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2011 Oldfield Series 2Bench Rosé - $23
The balance is spot on with refreshing cranberry characters mingling with sweet strawberry fruit beneath a weave of stainless steel and river stone flavours. Soft tannins linger on the tangy, long finish.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

BC Wine Deal: November 2nd, 2012

The following wines have been marked down at your local BC VQA and participating BCLDB stores.

Calliope Riesling  was $14.99 is now $12.99
Chaberton Canoe Cove Cabernet/Merlot  was $19.99 is now 14.99
Church and State Coyote Bowl Meritage  was $34.90 is now $25.90
D'Angelo Setta Coppa  was $21.90 is now $15.90
Fork in the Road Red  was $19.99 is now $18.99
Howling Bluff 3 Sisters Pinot Noir  was $27.90 is now $24.90
Jackson Triggs Reserve Riesling  was $13.99 is now $12.49
Laughing Stock Blind Trust White  was $25.00 is now $20.00
Mission Hill Five Vineyards Cabernet/Merlot  was $16.99 is now $15.99
Mission Hill Five Vineyards Chardonnay  was $14.99 is now $13.99
Soaring Eagle Intermission  was $16.90 is now $14.90
Saturna Island Rose  was $11.99 is now $9.99
Township 7 Sauvignon Blanc  was $18.99 is now $17.49
Volcanic Hills Eruption Red Blend  was $29.90 is now $23.90

Monthly Picks: November 2012

November brings us long nights and cool, rainy days. Time for a glass of bold, red wine that will warm you up as you enjoy a good book, show or bath and dream of warmer times.

Chateau Des Charmes 2009 Cabernet-Merlot - $13
An impressive "budget" blend that over-delivers for the price with a nice nose of cassis, blackberry, vanilla spice and oak aromas followed by a medium-bodied, smooth-tannin palate with a good balance of mature dark fruit and savoury herbs'n'spice flavours.
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Maison Calvet 2010 Reserve - $16
A good entry-level red Bordeaux to explore how Old World blends form a medley of terroir and fruit characters at a bargain basement price.
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Fort Berens Estate Winery 2011 23 Camels Red - $19
A youthful wine, by design, that aims to please with a blend of dry blue fruits, hard cherries, smooth spices, soft tannins, vibrant acidity and herbal notes. Each element compliments the other making this easy-going brew of 65% Cabernet Franc, 17.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17.5% Merlot a fine addition to your Fall feats of roast beef, meatloaf and savoury pork dishes.
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JoieFarm 2010 PTG - $24
This year's PTG sees the Gamay Noir rise to 52% of the traditional Burgundian "Passe-Tout-Grains" blend with Pinot Noir. A welcomed rise which infuses more tangy and spicy red fruit on to the concentrated nose and lush palate.
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Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2009 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red - $30
A blend of 45% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the wine boasts an enchanting bouquet of dark fruit and spicy vanilla wrapped in a prominent, smoky blanket of sweet tobacco and toasted oak aromas.
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Stag's Hollow Winery 2010 Renaissance Pinot Noir - $35
Concentrated and relatively robust, not a Pinot for the faint of heart. Both the nose and palate transition nicely from an intense red fruit intro through to a more reflective warm earth finish. Complex, long and very tasty.
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Cakebread Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - $100
At five years of age this Cabernet is still quite youthful in appearance, a dark ruby hue, and in its development. Concentrated, sweet cassis and blackberry pie fruit aromas blend nicely with French vanilla, mocha, licorice and toasted oak notes on the intense nose.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

LaStella and Le Vieux Pin: 4 New Releases

At a recent media open house I had the pleasure of tasting the new releases from both LaStella and Le Vieux Pin, two wineries owned and operated by the Enotecca group who often present the wines together to represent two equal halves of their larger Ode to European Winemaking story.

The LaStella wines take their inspiration from Italy while Le Vieux Pin professes Enotecca's love for France's Rhone Valley. Both, however, strive to produce quality, uniquely Okanagan Valley wines, not doppelgangers of each winery's venerable Old World muse. Below are my notes on a few of the recent and upcoming releases from both wineries:

Le Vieux Pin 2011 Ava - $35
14%. 78% Viognier, 11% Marsanne, 11% Rousanne
Though slightly muted, there's lost to like on the aromatic nose with peach and apricot fruit aromas adding to the pleasant bouquet. Clean and crisp with good minerality on the rounded, medium-plus bodied palate. Good length and depth.

Le Vieux Pin 2009 Retouche - $60
14.9%. 62 cases. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
An homage to a near-forgotten time when Bordeaux producers would augment their Cabernet Sauvignon with Syrah from the Rhone Valley for much needed tannin structure and colour. LVP's take is a Cab-Syrah blend (roughly 70/30 split) that aims to emphasize the qualities of Cabernet Sauvignon rather than showcase a blended wine - a successful feat. Sadly, however, the story behind the wine is more engaging than the finished product. A solid Cabernet with a good expression of fruit on the palate and a subtle nose of dark berry fruit and oak influenced aromas.
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LaStella 2009 La Sophia - $75
15.1%. 48 cases. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
A stunning Cabernet Sauvignon that grips your attention from the first sniff of sweet, concentrated dark berry fruit and deep licorice aromas. The truly gorgeous palate follows with a near perfect balance between the ripe, silky tannins, elegant texture and smooth acidity. Complex and captivating. Despite the fact this wine has yet to be released most of it has already been snatched up by wine club members. Contact the winery quickly to reserve one of the last few cases.
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LaStella 2009 Maestoso - $100
15.2%. 148 cases. 100% Merlot
The Maestoso is a massive wine that seeks to knock your socks off with its unapologetic, Old World, heavy tannins. This wine needs a further 5-7 years to mature in order to properly appreciate the nuances of fruit, terroir and oak that are only barely perceptible today beneath the massive tannins. Bottled promise.
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- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

BC Wine Deal: October 5th, 2012

The following wines have been marked down at your local BC VQA and participating BCLDB stores.

Bonitas Merlot Artist Series was $39.99 is now $34.00
Bonitas Pinot Gris was $18.00 is now $16.00
Bonitas Pinot Noir Artist Series was $29.99 is now $25.00
Fork in the Road White was $17.99 is now $16.99
Gray Monk Odyssey Meritage White was $26.99 is now $23.99
Inniskillin Pinot Blanc Reserve was $13.99 is now $12.49
Inniskillin Cabernet Sauvignon was $16.99 is now $15.49
Inniskillin Merlot Reserve was $16.99 is now $15.49
Jackson Triggs Silver Sauvignon Blanc was $15.99 is now $14.49
Jackson Triggs Silver Shiraz was $16.99 is now $15.49
Jackson Triggs Silver Viognier was $13.99 is now $12.49
Open Merlot was $14.99 is now $13.49
Open Cabernet/Merlot was $14.99 is now $13.49
Prospect Regatta Red was $14.99 is now $13.99
Rigamarole White was $14.99 is now $13.99
Nk'Mip Chardonnay was $16.99 is now $15.99
See Ya Later Ping was $27.99 is now $25.99
Summerhill Gewurztraminer was $19.95 is now $17.95
Therapy Pinot Gris was $19.99 is now $16.99
Township 7 Chardonnay was $19.99 is now $18.49
Township 7 Merlot was $24.99 is now $22.99

Flicks and Flights: Love Wine

The Flick: "Love Wine" directed by Mark McNabb, starring Tara Goudreau and Daneen Boone

The Flight: Narramata Bench Fortified Wine, Pelee Island Pinot Noir,

It's hard not to include this film in our Flicks and Flights series as the central plot is certainly about wine: a young woman inherits a family-owned winery and must fulfill contractual obligations to make love on the grapes at first harvest (yes, literally, make love on the grapes). However, I must warm you what you're getting yourself into if you decide to rent or otherwise seek-out this film. Simply put, it's bad, really bad. Even the "so bad it's good" novelty wears off about 45 minutes into the film as the oh-my-god giggles transition to mouth-open-aghast embarrassment for all parties involved including the many Pelee Island locals who undoubtedly hadn't read the script before signing up to be apart of such a poorly executed film.

Beyond the amateur acting and direction, it's the very concept of Love Wine that is so silly it becomes insulting to one's intellect. Notions like pouring one's passion into the production of wine should remain a parable. It's one thing to romanticize the craft of winemaking and compare it to an act of love. It's another to actually create a plot around the physical execution of said grape-christening. Surely it's against any number of agricultural codes (one would hope). In any case, the plot is fairly predictable once put in motion and meanders from one silly situation to another until the inevitable "happy ending". 

The Love Wine Drinking Game:

1. Finish the bottle of Fortified Wine... Before the film starts. Seriously, you're gonna need a significant buzz to survive the world of well-meaning-but-completely-clueless-amateur-hour-filmmaking that is Love Wine.
2. Take a sip of Pinot Noir every time… You grab for the remote to fast-forward through an awkward "acting" moment or extended dialog sequence.
3. Finish the bottle of Pinot Noir… When you start to get sick at the thought of actually drinking a glass of wine that was made from grapes that came in contact with the naked body parts of strangers (and all their various bodily secretions) before arriving at your lips. Disgusting.

- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Monthly Picks: October 2012

In Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving in October. For the US, it's November. The origins, too, are different, but the modern day traditional meal and cultural experience are quite similar: family, friends and food. Our Monthly Picks list for October is focused on perfect pairings for the ultimate Thanksgiving meal, no matter when you celebrate it.

Chateau Des Charmes 2009 Gamay Noir - $13
This is the perfect wine for a Thanksgiving feast of roasted turkey, especially the succulent dark meat. At this price you can afford a few bottles to make sure the whole table gets a glass or two!
Thanksgiving Pairing: Turkey (dark meat), Stuffing
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Little Straw Vineyards 2011 Tapestry - $17
The aptly named Tapestry, weaves together the varietal characters of Riesling, Auxerrois, Gewurztraminer, Siegerrebe and Schonburger. Easy drinking, to be sure, but with more going on than your average crowd-pleasing, off-dry white blend.
Thanksgiving Pairing: Ham, Apple- sauce
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Stag's Hollow Winery 2011 Syrah Rosé - $19
The cheerfully sublime nose of this rosé of strawberry, rose petal and light rhubarb notes with the comforting aromas of Peek Freans' Fruit Cream cookies. How can you resist that? The blend of 91% Syrah, 5% Viognier and 4% Muscat adds complexity and supports flexible food pairing options.
Thanksgiving Pairing: Football Icon Score  

Young and Wyse Collection 2011 Amber - $20 A lively and cheerful blend of 43% Viognier, 37% Pinot Gris and 20% Gewurztraminer with intense green apple acidity, lemon/lime flavours and cool minerality. A long finish with lingering tartness, light spice and a hint of edible flowers.
Thanksgiving Pairing: Apéritif
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Cassini Cellars 2010 Moscato - $24
This charming, honeydew and spicy peach flavoured wine opens with a lovely nose of pecans, tangerines and violets and will compliment your favourite nutty pie or crème brûlée rather than compete with it.
Thanksgiving Pairing: Pecan pie, Pumpkin pie
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Fairview Cellars 2010 Cabernet Franc - $27
A cool, but long 2010 growing season has given birth to a low alcohol and nuanced Cabernet Franc that is reminiscent of a Pinot Noir crossed with a Cabernet Sauvignon.
Thanksgiving Pairing: Roast beef
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JoieFarm 2010 Reserve Chardonnay - $30
Another stellar vintage of Chardonnay from JoieFarm who each year release an amazingly consistent reserve-tier, robust, age-worthy wine, no matter what the growing season seems to throw their way. Has the richness to hang with even the most buttery of butter braised Turkeys.
Thanksgiving Pairing: Turkey (white meat)
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