2017 Icon Wine(s) of the Year

For the first time we have a co-winner of our Icon Wine of the Year award; two excellent Syrahs with a similar story:

Black Hills Estate Winery 2015 Syrah

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2015 Syrah

The Story

Both Syrah hail from estate wineries best known for producing big, bold, Bordeaux-styled, iconic red blends (Painted Rock's Red Icon and Black Hills' Nota Bene) yet, over the past few years, it is the house Syrah that I have found made a more lasting impression and are wines I would most often recommend, not as a consolation to the sold-out blends, but as a signature of quality for the winery and as an example of the heights this peppery, Rhone Valley grape can achieve in BC.

Syrah is handled with care in the vineyard, by both wineries, where the quality of the future wine is determined. Syrah needs constant care in the vineyard as it can grow wildly if left to its own devices and can get hit hard by BC's harshest winters.

Talking to vineyard staff about growing Syrah in BC is like discussing the ailment history of a self-diagnosing hypochondriac: you'll get a laundry list of complaints about keeping the vines healthy - even in good-weather years. Mention a particularly cold season to a vineyard manager, like the frost-heavy 2008 winter, and from the horror stories you'll hear, you'll be amazed that the vines survive at all.

Red Icon and Nota Bene have earned the hype these wines receive, but there is more to their producers than these well-promoted, 'flagship' wines, and it's their Syrah you will secretly crave and collect.

The Wines

Black Hills Estate Winery 2015 Syrah - 92+pts

Fantastical concentration in this Black Sage Bench sourced Syrah with deep, black cherry and sensual, floral aromas on the generous nose and oak-kissed layers of black cherry, mint, pepper, tobacco and blood orange flavours on the smoky, fine tannin palate. Simply gorgeous.

Full Review

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2015 Syrah - 92-93pts

This youthful Syrah displays ripe cherry and plum fruit with integrated white pepper, pepperoni and floral aromas followed on the dry, grippy-tannin palate with similar flavours and added layers of blood orange, mint and vanilla.

Full Review

Previous Winners

• 2016 - Cassini Cellars 2013 The Aristocrat
• 2015 - Le Vieux Pin 2012 Équinoxe Syrah
• 2014 - Painted Rock 2012 Red Icon
• 2013 - Stag's Hollow Winery 2010 Cachet No. 03
• 2012 - Painted Rock Estate Winery 2011 Chardonnay
• 2011 - Fairview Cellars 2009 The Wrath
• 2010 - Stratus Vineyards 2007 Red
• 2009 - Blackwood Lane Winery 2006 Alliance

Featured Wines: When Tuscans Attack!

If the wine in this week's Featured Wines column tickle your fancy, you can order them directly from Jordan by email (JCarrier@everythingwine.ca) or find him in the Vintage Room of Everything Wine's newest location River District in South Vancouver (8570 River District Crossing).



When Tuscans Attack!

By Jordan Carrier

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, your lights are red and yellow,
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, we drank all our Brunello!
And now we’re sad, and thirsty too,
We’re going to take it out on you!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, we’ll cover you with Jello!

Stop the madness. Put the Jello down. I have more Tuscan wines for you to enjoy while you decorate:

Sassicaia 2014, Bolgheri Sassicaia

The first Supertuscan, and the first Italian winery to become a Monopole (where one winery owns the entire appellation), although to be fair, the appellation of Bolgheri Sassicaia DOCG was created for them in the ‘90s, partially to recognize Sassicaia’s 4 decades under the official bus while they were unofficially kicking butt. 2014 was a challenging year in all of Italy, but it was kinder to Bolgheri, given that late-ripening grapes like Cabernet (a star ingredient of the appellation) were able to wait out the weather and still make rich wine. This year’s Sassicaia is a kind of throwback to Old World vibes, elegant and Médocaine with spicy red and black fruit surrounding the flinty delivery. Sniper-like precision on the finish, balancing the minerality, acid, tannin and glycerine that will all come together perfectly in just a few years. 95 points Wine Enthusiast, 93 points Robert Parker, 5 wooden 6-packs available, $219.49

Antinori Tignanello 2014, Toscana I.G.T. 

The second Supertuscan, although many consider it to be the first one, because a) nobody cared about Sassicaia until they beat a Bordeaux in a blind tasting in the ‘80s and b) the nontraditional Tig made more of an impact given the 900 year history of the Antinoris telling everyone how traditional they should be. The 2014 vintage separated the experts from the tourists, and the Antinoris are certainly no tourists: severe canopy management and green harvests wrested a bold wine from the jaws of dilution, and elevating the levels of Cabernet Sauvignon (sitting at a high of 25%) added enough oomph to produce a delicious, rich but classically hued Tig that only dropped one Wine Spectator point from last year’s hallowed Top Ten 2013. 94 points James Suckling, 93 points Wine Spectator, 10 6-packs available, $92.99

Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 2012

You know that part of the concert when the band stops playing their new stuff and starts playing the songs you went to go hear? Il Poggione. Equal parts Traditional and Modern, delivering just enough stony structure to offset Dr. Smooth’s Pleasure Train that rolls down the tracks shooting dried cherries and black Twizzlers out of T shirt cannons. Will be even better in a year but no one will be penalized for impatience either. Delicious. 95+ points Robert Parker, 8 6-packs available, $87.99

2017 Top 5: Red Blends

For the 2017 awards season, in addition to our Top 20 list and singular Icon Wine of the Year, we're including a celebration of the best wines in a few select categories. Here are our Top 5 Red Blends of 2017:

1. Painted Rock Estate Winery 2015 Red Icon - 93pts

Always complex and layered, look for brambly berries, cool cassis, licorice'n'mint, fresh tobaco, spiced herbs and brooding, smokey oak notes on the glass escaping nose and the elegant, dry palate where fine, grippy tannins linger on a long, spicy finish.

Full Review

2. La Frenz Winery 2014 Grand Total Reserve - 91-93pts

Built for the long-haul, with excellent concentration and refined, youthful tannins, this blend of 42% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc delivers an intense and powerful nose of dark fruits, menthol, Christmas spices, toasted oak with a hint of sweetness emanating from the ripe fruit aromas.

Full Review

3. Upper Bench Estate Winery 2014 Yard Wine - 92+pts

For this beautifully aromatic and intensely dark blend, Upper Bench co-fermented Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes (a 70/30 split, respectively) and then aged them in 25% new French oak barrels for 18 months prior to bottling. The finished wine is equal parts 'pretty' and 'dark' with eucalyptus-mint, spicy cocoa and black cherry-cassis notes on the sensual nose and brooding, blackberry, cola, cocoa, toasted oak and minty flavours on the well-balanced, fine-tannin palate.

Full Review

4. Cassini Cellars 2014 Maximus - 92+pts

This is a Meritage-style, big'n'bold red that excels in long, hot vintages (not that surprising for Bordeaux varieties) and 2014 was just such a vintage in the Southern Okanagan. The latest Maximus is comprised of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec offering a dark and brooding nose of black licorice, menthol, cassis liqueur, blackberries, toasted vanilla, tobacco and light spices. 

Full Review

5. LaStella 2014 Espressivo - 92pts

 Offers a feminine-earthy profile, on the herbaceous, floral and brambly berry nose and on the medium-bodied, concentrated palate graced with vanilla'n'spice-kissed berry flavours and framed by mouth-watering, yet, effortless acidity and engaging, yet, refined tannins.

Full Review

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

2017 Top 5: Chardonnay

For the 2017 awards season, in addition to our Top 20 list and singular Icon Wine of the Year, we're including a celebration of the best wines in a few select categories. Here are our Top 5 Chardonnay of 2017:

1. JoieFarm 2015 "En Famille" Reserve Chardonnay - 90+pts
A hedonistic, barrel fermented Chardonnay sourced from Skaha Bluff and Naramata Bench vineyards with layers of melon, orchard and citrus fruit mixed with  savoury characters of nuts, vanilla bean and oak on the buttery nose and briny palate.
Full Review

2. Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards 2014 Chalk Hill Chardonnay - 90pts
A wonderfully balanced Chardonnay with a solid mineral backbone on the joyful, sweetly-comforting, baked aroma scented nose and the refreshing, orchard and citrus fruit infused, full-bodied, oak-kissed palate. Finish is moderate-plus with some lingering spice, lemon peel and 'hot' alcohol notes.
Full Review

3. Liquidity Wines 2015 Chardonnay - 90pts
Subtle oak and partial malolactic fermentation notes frame the characteristics of the estate-sourced fruit nicely; medium intense, pear, peach and papaya fruits, light herbs and macadamia nut aromas and flavours with crisp, citrus acidity.
Full Review

4. Taken Wine Co. 2014 Complicated Chardonnay - 90pts
A well-structured and balanced Chardonnay with a lifted nose of fresh, orchard fruit and Spring blossoms with light mineral and oak notes adding depth. Full-ish palate is clean and crisp with mouth-watering acidity and plenty of citrus and peach flavours. Just a kiss of oak contact lingers on the moderate finish.
Full Review

5. Upper Bench Estate Winery 2016 Chardonnay - 90pts
A nice degree of opulence is on offer with mineral notes and vivacious stonefruit acidity present to keep the finish refreshing and balanced. Melon, peach and macadamia nut aromas and flavours throughout.
Full Review

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

2017 Top 5: Rosé

For the 2017 awards season, in addition to our Top 20 list and singular Icon Wine of the Year, we're including a celebration of the best wines in a few select categories. Here are our Top 5 Rosé of 2017:

1. Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars 2013 Brut Rosé - 91pts
A gorgeous nose of honey-kissed scones, grape seeds, raspberries and lees gives way to the dry palate, loaded with strawberry shortcake and light cinnamon applesauce flavours and texture to spare. Drink now or hold for 3-4 more years.
Full Review

2. Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2016 Oldfield Reserve Rosé - 90pts
A very attractive rosé made with 100% Cabernet Franc, with a gentle, orange-salmon hue, a joyful, berry and sweet herb scented nose and a well-balanced, off-dry and mouth watering palate where tangy, rhubarb and citrus characters blend, effortlessly, with ripe strawberry fruit and watermelon Jolly Rancher candy flavours.
Full Review

3. Le Vieux Pin 2016 Vaila - 89pts
This blend of 100% Pinot Noir grapes, sourced from the multiple Okanagan Valley regions, is dry and refreshing with excellent texture and a delicious profile of rhubarb, kiwi, cranberry, raspberry seed and layers of citrus fruit. The finish is long and mouth-watering.
Full Review

4. Black Hills Estate Winery 2016 Rosé - 89pts
The first vintage of Black Hills' Rosé suggests the Southern Okanagan winery did its homework before joining the trend, producing a beautiful, 100% Pinot Noir blush with an attractive, watermelon-pink hue and offering a range of strawberry-citrus and rhubarb-herb aromas and flavours.
Full Review

5. Stag's Hollow Winery 2016 Syrah Grenache Rosé - 89pts
A blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache sourced from multiple sites in the Okanagan Valley grown specifically for this aromatic and lively rosé. Excellent texture on the red fruit driven, well-balanced palate with added herbs and spice flavours and brisk, mouth-watering, citrus acidity.
Full Review

- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

2017 Top 5: Pinot Noir

For the 2017 awards season, in addition to our Top 20 list and singular Icon Wine of the Year, we're including a celebration of the best wines in a few select categories. Here are our Top 5 Pinot Noir of 2017:

1. SpierHead Winery 2015 Pinot Noir Cuvée - 91pts
Rich and engaging on the vanilla-kissed, cherry-raspberry-earth scented nose and on the similarly flavoured, medium-plus bodied palate. Well-structured with smooth, slightly-earthy tannins and fine, berry acidity and finishes long with a touch of spice and lingering Black Forest cake notes, a signature of the label.
Full Review

2. Bethel Heights Vineyard 2014 Estate Pinot Noir - 91pts
A blend of the winery's different Pinot blocks from their 100 acres vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA of Willamette Valley. Quite robust, for a Pinot, with a classic, earthy/red-fruit base, dialled up to "11", and a medley of surprisingly compatible sweet and austere notes. Sure to please Pinotphilesboth traditional and adventurous.
Full Review

3. Meyer Family Vineyards 2015 McLean Creek Road Vineyard Pinot Noir - 90-91pts
Sourced from the winery's home vineyard in Okanagan Falls, this is a rich and hedonistic Pinot Noir with harmonious dark fruit, sensual herbs and rustic earth aromas on the nose. The dark fruit and earth theme continues through to the medium-plus bodied palate, nicely balanced with fresh blackberry acidity and supported by silky, fine tannins.
Full Review

4. JoieFarm 2015 "En Famille" Reserve Pinot Noir - 90pts
Opens with a generous nose of raspberry, potpourri and sweet spices followed by a bright, dry palate of raspberry flesh and seed flavours with savourytidbits of smoky pepper and cocoa notes adding depth. Fine, light tannins and mouth-watering acidity make this Pinot a friend to beef stews and game dishes. 
Full Review

5. Eagle Bluff Vineyards 2015 Crooked Post Pinot Noir - 90pts
Fairview's approachable-now, medium-everything Pinot Noir, produced under the Eagle Bluff Vineyards label, offers a nice blend of ripe and brambly red fruits with layers of earthy and savoury notes; cherry, raspberry skin, huckleberry, sun-warmed rocky soil and mellow spice. Acid is on-point and punctuates the long finish where light herbs and spice linger.
Full Review

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca