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