Top 15 Value Wines of the Year

We've selected the top 15 wines for 2018 that we feel represent the best value to the consumer. Though all wines selected are priced at $25 or less, with this list we allowed ourselves to be subjective as to what "value" represents. Prices shown do not include taxes unless marked.

With the rising costs of wine in the BC market, we've had to consider the pre-tax cost of the wine in our (admittedly arbitrary) $25 limit.

#1 - KWV Winery 2015 Cathedral Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon - $14
If you don't like a bit of smoke in your wine then you'll want to steer clear of this Cabernet Sauvignon from KWV whose plummy-chocolate-herbal nose is practically smoldering. The combination carries through to the full-bodied, slightly off-dry palate (to this reviewer's delight).
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#2 - Doña Paula 2016 Estate Malbec - $16
A typical, fruity/juicy/fresh Malbec from the Valle De Uco in the Mendoza, but happily, with some smokey goodness on appealing, blackberry and violet infused nose and with beautifully integrated spice on the lively, black fruit dominant palate. A drink now Malbec, lacking the tannin structure for a long life, but a well balanced, food-friendly wine that would pair nicely with spicy, grilled meats.
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#3 - Chateau D'Aqueria 2016 Rosé - $18
A 'pretty' rosé with an attractive, strawberry-orange colour and an abundance of strawberry-cola and floral aromas on the medium intense nose and a blend of similar flavours with lifted cran-watermelon notes adding freshness to the spice-infused palate.
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#4 - Stag's Hollow Winery 2017 Albariño - $19
Still priced at under $20 and fulfilling that inner desire for something a little different, the Stag's Hollow Albariño is the wine you need tonight. A textural pleasure, this wine is both fleshy and firm with mouth-watering citrus and chubby melon characters coexisting beautifully. Sprinkle in some spice and exotic fruit notes and you have one complex, long-lasting white, perfect on its own or with your favourite white fish dish.
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#5 - Marchesi Antinori 2016 Bramito Chardonnay - $19
Far from a 'showy' or bombastic Chardonnay, Antinori's Bramito, meaning the call of a deer in Italian, is subtle on the pitaya and Meyer lemon scented nose and on the well-balanced, citrus'n'spice kissed, medium-bodied palate where oak and melon flavours play only a supporting role to the leading spice and acidity layers. 
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Top 15 Icon Wines of the Year

For 2018 we're returning to old format of the best of the best for our wines of the year awards. Here we are using 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 Rated Wines of 2018 list on IconScores.ca. All Top 15 Icon Wines of the Year were released within the calendar year in the BC market. Reviews based on barrel samples were excluded.

#1 - Icon Wine of the Year
Black Hills Estate Winery 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon - $100
Both sensual and powerful on the nose with deep, minty dark chocolate, pure cassis liqueur, cordial cherry and nutmeg aromas. The ultra fine tannin palate is equally intense and layered with similar flavours of menthol, cocoa, cassis, kirsch and spice. 
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#2 - Bodegas Catena 2015 Catena Alta Chardonnay - $39
Produced from select lots from two of Catena's high altitude vineyards with a combination of gravelly and limestone soils. This is an enchanting and elegant Chardonnay with gentle oak influence throughout the gorgeous, easy-to-love nose of vanilla cream, apple, melon and stonefruit aromas and the mango, mineral and grapefruit flavoured, slightly off-dry palate. 
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#3 - Cassini Cellars 2015 Cabernet Franc - $40
Winemaker and proprietor Adrian Cassini has a knack for producing ripe, elegant Cabernet Franc, year-to-year. The 2015 is no exception, though, in truth, it is quite exceptional. It is both true to the variety with an enchanting combination of savoury-floral and blue fruit aromas and flavours and confidently delivers the signature menthol/Eucalyptus notes of the house, or, rather, its essentialCassini-ness.
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#4 - Liquidity Wines 2016 Reserve Chardonnay - $52
Sourced from a single block of the winery's Okanagan Falls home vineyard from 22 year old vines planted exclusively to clone 76, this full-bodied, Tropical fruit upside-down cake inspired Chardonnay is sensual and tart at the same time. Flavoured similarly to its Estate cousin with layers of papaya, peach, baked pineapple, macadamia nuts, French vanilla, oak, minerals and a touch of lingering spice.
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#5 - Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2015 Oldfield Reserve Cabernet Franc - $32
Another stellar vintage for Cabernet Franc, handled with precision and care by Tinhorn Creek who have helped elevate the prestige of the less-planted Cab in the Okanagan Valley. This reserve Franc spends a year in oak before being blended with 15% Merlot sourced from the same Diamond Back Vineyard along the Black Sage Bench, then it's returned to barrel for another 6 months prior to bottling. 
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2018 Icon Wine of the Year

For the first time in our 10 year history we have a winery with back-to-back wins: congratulations to Black Hills Estate Winery for raising the bar with their small-lot, 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon!

In the past we have shied away from picking a small release wine to celebrate as our Icon Wine of the Year as it can be too hard for readers to track a bottle down, but we just couldn't ignore this exceptional Cabernet. The fortunate few who got their hands on it have liquid gold in their cellar, those lucky ducks!

The Wine

Black Hills Estate Winery 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
$100 - 50 cases - 14.2%
95pts

Sadly this beauty was limited to the Black Hills wine club only, and I may have never encountered a better reason to join such a club thanks to its out-of-this-world depth, rarely seen in a BC Cab. Both sensual and powerful on the nose with deep, minty dark chocolate, intense cassis liqueur, tangy cordial cherry and dusty nutmeg aromas. 

The ultra fine tannin palate is equally intense and layered with similar flavours of menthol, cocoa, cassis, kirsch and spice. The long, long finish offers additional notes of vanilla, toasted oak and sweet, blackberry acidity. Truly divine.

Previous Winners

• 2017 - Black Hills 2015 Syrah and Painted Rock 2015 Syrah
• 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