Try This, Cellar That - Le Vieux Pin Syrah

About seven years ago, Black Sage Bench's Le Vieux Pin began to re-brand itself as a Rhome Valley homage and slowly replaced their popular Burgundy varietal wines with multiple Syrah labels and other Rhone-inspired wines. Here are two Syrah releases from 2017 to compare; one for now and one for later.

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Le Vieux Pin 2015 "Cuvée Violette" Syrah - $29
Sourced from multiple, distinct Southern Okanagan Valley sub-appellations and blended together with 1% Roussanne to create a feminine Syrah with cherry and black raspberry fruit, aromatic, floral notes and a layer of sensual, savoury characters: white pepper, vanilla, green olives and sweet incense throughout.
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Le Vieux Pin 2014 Équinoxe Syrah - $24
Always in the debate for BC's best Syrah, this year's Équinoxe benefited from the near-perfect 2014 vintage (for big reds) creating a stunning wine of refinement and powerful elegance. Densely packed, yet approachable with layers of black cherry, ripe blackberry, white pepper, red plum, pipe tobacco, nectar, mild licorice and violet notes on the enchanting nose and the spicy, cola'n'cocoa nibs infused palate where ultra-fine, slightly smoky tannins and smooth, berry acidity add structure and length.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Try This, Cellar That - Argentinian Malbec

With this edition we showcase Argentinian Malbec:

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Bodegas Escorihuela 2015 '1884' Reserva Malbec - $18
A doppelganger to the excellent 2014 edition, with a similar profile that combines red and black berries, sweet pipe tobacco, herbs and spice on the feminine nose and medium-plus bodied palate where the long-ish finish is nicely framed by fine, smoky tannins, rounded, berry acidity and lingering spice. Drink now-2019.
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Rutini Wines 2015 Trupeter Malbe - $21
A graceful, approachable Malbec with evenly matched fruit and savoury characters: blackberry, cherry, charred oak, sweet spice, licorice and fig. Full-ish, with good texture and smooth, smokey tannins. Shows potential for further development over the next 2-3 years.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Try This, Cellar That - Tinhorn Cabernet Franc

Long a signature variety for the Golden Bench winery, Tinhorn produces three Cabernet Franc wines, one a rosé, but for the purpose of this comparison, we'll focus on the two reds. We're going against convention with the reserve-tier wine suggested as the "drink now" bottle, but since Tinhorn have done the work for you by keeping the Oldfield Series Franc back an extra year and treating the wine to added time in oak where the tannins matured, the choice is made easier.

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Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2013 Oldfield Series Cabernet Franc - $30
An uber smooth and elegant Cabernet Franc with the classic, dried flowers and brambly fruit you've come to expect from a BC Cabernet Franc but presented with the refinement and texture of a high-end Cabernet Sauvignon. Notes of pipe tobacco, light cola, wild berry, plum and a medley of corned beef characters: cloves, juniper berries, allspice and black pepper, grace the comforting nose and the mellow, smoky-tannin palate. As with all of the Oldfield Series wines, this Cabernet Franc has been released when it is ready to be enjoyed but will also feel at home in your cellar for another 2-3 years.
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Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Franc - $24
A brooding Cabernet Franc from the excellent 2014 vintage, full of dark berry fruit, intense earthy-herbs and meaty-metallic aromas and flavours but not without a few feminine touches like candied fruit, mocha and floral notes on the otherwise masculine nose and palate. Well structured with dusty tannins and fleshy, berry acidity. Length is moderate, but well balanced. Enjoy now or over the next 3-4 years with some further development likely.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Try This, Cellar That - OK Falls Chardonnay

BC Chardonnay come in a variety of different styles; from lean and mean, to big and buttery, and everything in between. The best are vehicles for their terroir and find the sweet spot on the winemaking decision spectrums which measure vineyard management and vinification manipulation. Here are two options who managed the feat admirable, both from the same vintage and geographical area: Okanagan Falls/ Skaha Bench, in the Southern Okanagan. One for now, one for later.

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Liquidity Wines 2015 Chardonnay - $26
An elegant Chardonnay, nice and tidy with nothing out of place. Avoids the pitfalls of tasting forced with regards to winemaking decisions like so many others do. 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. Drink now-2020.
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Painted Rock Estate Winery 2015 Chardonnay - $35
As complex as it is ever-evolving, multifaceted, production recipe with aromas and flavours of honeydew, pear, tangerine, lemon/lime, vanilla, stonefruit, spice and brioche. Pure, refined and elegant with a harmonious balance of its core elements: fruit, acid and texture. An effortless intensity which will help the wine hold for many years and develop further over time as the intensity is slowly dialled back to reveal layers of dried and candied fruit aromas and flavours. Drink 2017-2022+
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Try This, Cellar That - Kaiken Malbec

This week we showcase two Malbecs from Argentina's Kaiken Wines:

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Kaiken 2015 Reserva Malbec - $15
Impressive balance and intensity for the price, the Kaiken Reserva Malbec is produced by the Montes family of Chile from Mendoza fruit and offers a blooming nose of dark berry fruit, charred oak and sweet pipe tobacco aromas followed by a mouth-watering, full-bodied and round palate with a combination of sweet berry and spicy flavours. Finished with a hint of mint. Enjoy in its youth with sweet'n'spicy, BBQ dished. Drink now-2019.
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Kaiken 2014 Ultra Malbec - $25
The Ultra Malbec sees 12 months in French oak prior to bottling, imparting a smoothness to the palate and light oak aromas and flavours. Ripe, dark fruit throughout with lively, brambly acidity, soft, fine tannins and a touch of smoke and spice that linger on the moderate-plus finish. Handles its 14.5% alcohol superbly. Ready to go now, or hold for some further development over the next 2-3 years. Drink now-2020.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Try This, Cellar That - BC Meritage

BC's Meritage blends come in many different styles; from easy-going sippers to cellar-dwelling trophy wines and everything in-between. Here are two options from the same vintage and geographical area, the Black Sage Bench in the Southern Okanagan; one for now, one for later.

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TIME Estate Winery 2012 Meritage Red - $30
The Time Estate Meriatge is a Right Bank inspired blend of 60% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc with intense, blue-fruit purée aromas supported by dry herbs, mocha and warm oak notes. Still an early-to-mid-range drinker to enjoy while your other blends incubate. Drink now-2018.
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Black Hills Estate Winery 2012 Nota Bene - $55
Nota Bene has been a Cabernet Sauvignon-leading blend for the past 11 vintages, but, for 2012, the winery has switched back to a Merlot-driven Meritage blend, similar to the inaugural release of 1999. The latest edition sees a whopping 57% Merlot mixed with 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc and despite the changes, the 2012 offers good typicity for the iconic brand suggesting the vineyard site is the most dominant influence over the finished wine and not the finite percentages of the main components. Drink 2017-2022
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Try This, Cellar That - BC Merlot

Our Try This, Cellar That series returns with a focus on BC Merlot:

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Bartier Bros. 2011 Merlot - $22-27
This tasty, blackberry pie-infused wine is actually a blend of 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc, the later of which, is mostly perceptible on the nose where floral notes are a welcomed addition to the otherwise, berry and wild herb bouquet. The palate is quite full and smooth, with medium tannins and a gentle roundness to its texture. Ready to go now and currently on sale in BC (June 2015).
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LaStella 2012 Maestoso "Solo" Merlot - $100
True to its impressive lineage, the 2012 Maestoso represents the peak of Merlot production in the Okanagan Valley. Elegant, layered and supremely complex. Look for dark berry, sweet plum, toasted oak, dark chocolate, fresh herbs, mocha, vanilla toffee, menthol and warm spice aromas followed by a medley of similar flavours on the ultra-dry palate with a strong focus on the juxtaposition of the berry and savoury characters. With several hours of decanting you can enjoy this wine today, though, 2-3 more years of bottle age would maximize your investment.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Try This, Cellar That - Grenache/Garnacha

This week we feature Grenache/Garnacha:

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Bodegas Breca 2010 Old Vines Garnacha - $24
This 100% Garnacha (Grenache) is sourced from vineyards ranging from 70-100 years old and offers an equally intense palate where the spicy-plum profile continues supported by cherry-cola, vanilla-bean and mineral notes. Though powerful and layered with meaty tannins and savoury flavours, the body doesn't feel weighted down or thick thanks to well-balanced acidity and a refined texture.
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Stag's Hollow Winery 2013 Grenache - $30
Still youthful, the nose needs hours to open up. When it does, it reveals beautiful layers of perfumed incense, huckleberry, sage brush, wild flowers, cooking spice, cola bottle candy and a plethora of other red fruit aromas. The palate offers excellent continuity from the nose. The overall balance is superb with a nice kick of fresh berry acidity, helping the rich, rounded mouth feel finish fresh. Best enjoyed in early 2015. Drink 2015-2018.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Try This, Cellar That - South African Cab Sauv

This week we feature Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa:

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Graham Beck Wines 2011 The Game Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - $18
Over-delivers for the price with a uniquely South African Cabernet Sauvignon blend of smoky incense, mocha and spicy plum fruit aromas on the feminine nose. Acid is quite fresh, keeping the mouth feel vibrant and alive, while graphite tannins help frame the fruit and add some structure. 
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Nederburg Wines 2011 Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon - $19
Offers a pleasing mixture of ripe berry fruit, mocha, smoky oak and allspice aromas. The palate has a hint of residual sugar, thus, not truly 'dry', and the fruit from the nose takes a back seat to the smoky oak and mineral flavours on offer while smooth, mannered tannins mingle with wild berry acidity adding structure. A refreshingly balanced Cabernet Sauvignon for the under $20 price-point and one with which you can easily afford to experiment with mid-to-long term cellaring to reveal mature Cabernet flavours and further tannin integration.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Try This, Cellar That - BC Cabernet Franc

This week we feature BC Cabernet Franc:

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Cassini Cellars 2011 Cabernet Franc - $29
Cabernet Franc opens with a perfumed, instantly enjoyable nose of blackberry, black plum, violet and Christmas cake aromas. The dry palate that follows is medium bodied with similar fruit and savoury flavours offering excellent continuity from the nose. Ready to go now with several years of enjoyment ahead.
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Church and State Wines 2011 Cabernet Franc - $25
After 2 hrs of decanting, this youthful Cabernet Franc will begin to reveal sweetened pot-pourri and crushed fresh flower notes which float delicately above the blueberry, black cherry and vanilla aromas. Despite the brightness of the fruit, the finish is long and measured with lingering, grippy tannins and dusty cocoa powder. Another year+ of bottle age will do nicely.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Try This, Cellar That - BC Pinot Noir

This week we showcase BC Pinot Noir:

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Black Cloud 2012 Fleuvage Pinot Noir - $25
The 'Fleuvage' could be considered the younger sister, or perhaps, the understudy, to Black Cloud's showcase Pinot Noir 'Altostratus'. Overall, the wine represents its terroir admirably; a youthful vineyard along the Naramata Bench. Enjoy the Fleuvage as you wait for your Altostratus to mature.
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Black Cloud 2011 Altostratus Pinot Noir - $35
Where its younger sister is 'subtle', the Altostratus is 'supple' with a lush, harmonious expression of BC Pinot Noir that combines a sweet-scented, joyous nose of ripe red fruit, pot-pourri and spice aromas with a well-balanced, red fruit'n'earth palate structured by fine tannins and fresh, alpine berry acidity. Give this beauty another year in the bottle for further integration.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Try This, Cellar That - BC Gewurztraminer

This week we showcase BC Gewurztraminer:

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See Ya Later Ranch 2013 Gewurztraminer - $16
Playful nose and ripe, juicy, off-dry palate, balanced nicely with crab apple acidity. Lychee and white peach aromas and flavours dominate while apple cider and mineral notes add complexity. Enjoy this wine in the year it was produced.
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JoieFarm 2011 "En Famille" Reserve Gewurztraminer - $28
Though it draws its inspiration from Grand Cru Alsatian examples, this is a classic BC Gewurztraminer with excellent balance and attention to detail from the refined floral medley and seductive tropical fruit on the nose to the lip-smacking, off-dry palate full of ripe lychee fruit and generous spice that lingers on the long, long finish. This single vineyard Gewurztraminer should improve further after another 1-2 years in your cellar - ageable Goo!
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Try This, Cellar That - Southern Rhone

This week we showcase the Southern Rhone:

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Perrin et Fils 2009 Vinsobres "Les Cornuds" - $21-24
This is a well made Côtes du Rhône Village blend of 50% Syrah and 50% Grenache from the town of Vinsobres which yielded subtle notes of dark fruit and cool rocks on the reserved nose and then surprised with a massive concentration of plum, sour cherry, pepper, clove and oak characters on the mouth watering palate. With 5 years of age, this beauty is ready to go now. Or source a newer vintage if available.
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Château de Beaucastel 2011 Chateauneuf-du-Pape - $92
Perhaps lacking in the power department when compared to the opulent and dense 2010, the 2011 thrives on subtle layers ofsweet red and dark fruit, dry rock, fragrant flowers, warm garrique and smooth tobacco aromas and flavours. Classic, quietly intense and long with ultra-fine tannins and an elegant character. Drink 2016-2030.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Try This, Cellar That - BC Riesling

This week we showcase BC Riesling:

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Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2013 Dry Riesling - $17
Pale straw in colour, this Riesling from West Kelowna's iconic Quails' Gate Winery is crisp and vibrant delivering apple, pear, pinapple and citrus fruit aromas and flavours grounded by a strong backbone of stonefruit. The palate gets some body from 9g/l of residual sugar, yet, finishes dry and refreshing thanks to well-balanced grapefruit acidity. Enjoy this Riesling in its youth as a go-to Summer Sipper.
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Stag's Hollow Winery 2013 Riesling - $20
This is a single vineyard Riesling sourced from the Osoyoos area which focuses on the juxtaposition of its sweet and acidic characters by way of contrasting ripe orchard and tart citrus fruit flavours and aromas. This Riesling has a great shot at ageing gracefully thanks to Botrytis affected fruit at harvest time. Look for nectarine-like aromas and flavours to appear over the next 3-4 years.
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- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Try This, Cellar That - Malbec Blends

This week we showcase Malbec-leading blends:

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Bodega Norton 2010 Privada - $23
The 'Privada' is a blend of 40% Malbec, 30% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon offering a smooth, rounded nose of sweet mixed berry and dark plum aromas with oak aging influenced notes adding depth and complexity. Ready to go now while you wait for the Red Icon to reach its sweet spot in a few years.
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Painted Rock Estate Winery 2011 Red Icon - $55
The ever changing components of Painted Rock's flagship wine, Red Icon, sees the 2011 vintage favour Malbec (30%) for the first time while the rest of the classic Bordeaux blending partners come in at 27% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot and just 3% Cabernet Sauvignon.  More approachable in its youth than previous vintages, and though the 2011 is ready to go now (with proper decanting, of course), it will improve over time as its predecessors have proved, with another 2-3 years of bottle age.
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- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca