Restaurant Profile: Cin Cin

Location: Vancouver, BC
Executive Chef: Andrew Richardson
Chef Patissier: Lewis Birch
Restaurant Director: Richard Luxton
Wine Director: Shane Taylor
Bar Manager: Adaina Smyth

'Cin Cin', which means ‘cheers’ in Italian, is not exactly the type of place “where everybody knows your name” but you will be treated like a VIP by an attentive and professional staff. Located on Robson Street, the hub of all things chic in down town Vancouver, the restaurant has long been one of the city’s top venues for experiencing both authentic and modern Italian fare.

The restaurant offers Tuscan-inspired décor with warm, romantic lighting and a sophisticated atmosphere. The setting is posh, in a happy-to-spoil-myself way. The food is exquisitely prepared with careful attention to presentation and creative dishware. The staff will happily split various dishes up for you and your party to share or for a professionally scripted meal try one of the group menus for $58-99 per person depending on your selection.

The wine list boasts over 800 labels to choose from and was recognized with the Wine Enthusiast Award of Ultimate Distinction in 2008 along with many Wine Spectator 'Best of' Awards of Excellence. The wine director, Shane Taylor, and the serving staff will help guide you through the massive wine list that specializes in Italian wines but also offers BC & world favourites.

We recommend:

• Share an oven-baked Pizette starter: Wild and cultivated mushroom with fennel salami and tomato $18.50
• Arrive hungry to enjoy a traditional pasta or risotto course: casarecce pasta with spicy sausage $17.50• A fine Italian restaurant means excellent fish dishes: Haida Gwaii halibut $34.50
• Leave your car at home or at your hotel. Parking on Robson Street (or right off Robson Street) is terrible. A taxi will be your best bet if it’s raining, otherwise, enjoy a nice walk and check-out the high-end fashion shops.

Go to http://www.cincin.net/ to make your reservation and view the full menu. Address: 1154 Robson Street, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6E 1B2. Tel: 604 688 7338
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

BC VS Ontario - Chardonnay

In our BC VS. Ontario series we are looking to showcase the differences and uniqueness of Canada's two main wine producing Provinces. In this article we look at Chardonnay which grows well on the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario and in the many different climates of the long Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. The aim is not competition but rather an exploration on what makes the wines produced both different and similar. We've selected two Chardonnays from each region that show the styles :

Niagara:
Hidden Bench Estate Winery 2008 Chardonnay - $32
Chateau des Charmes 2006 Paul Bosc Vineyard Chardonnay - $22

Okanagan Valley:
JoieFarm 2008 Reserve Chardonnay - $30
Mission Hill 2007 Perpetua - $33

Ontario
The Niagara Peninsula may offer the terroir in Canada that resembles Chardonnay's famous ancestrial home, Burgundy, the closest. It may be to no one's surprise then that the best Chardonnay produced here are Burgundian in character: elegant, austere and age worthy.

As with Pinot Noir, its Burgundy cousin, Chardonnay loves warms days and cool nights making the Niagara Peninsula a natural fit for the grape. The temperature on the peninsula is regulated by the two Great Lakes which form its Northern and Southern borders; Ontario and Erie. The best plots for Chardonnay depend on the style of wine the winery wants to produce - or, the wineries let the terroir dictate the style. Vineyards inland from lake Ontario, right up against the Niagara Escarpment, like Chateau des Charmes, tend to be warmer than vineyards closer to Lake Ontario, like Hidden Bench, where the hot Ontario summer is cooled by winds coming from the lake.

The other similarity to Burgundy is that most Niagara Peninsula wineries produce single vineyard Chardonnay (many produce more than one) which showcase the terroir of a specific site, offering unique tastes and characters. The practise of identifying and cataloging the unique qualities of each plot of land took Burgundian monks centuries to perfect which means any similar work done on the Niagara Peninsula will pale in comparison - but the effort is being made.

Oak programs ranging from 100% new French oak to older wood and even Canadian oak are implemented on the Peninsula and varry greatly from winery to winery with many fine un-oaked Chardonnays being produced as well.

The Hidden Bench 2008 Estate Chardonnay is an example of the blending that does occur on the Peninsula when constructing a house style. The winery produces two single vineyard Chardonnay as well.
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Chateau des Charmes produces two single vineyard Chardonnays and when tasted side-by-side one can taste the difference between the terroir that produces the juice. The Paul Bosc Vineyard is closer to the lake than the home St. David's Bench Vineyard and has a slightly cooler microclimate. The resulting wine, the 2006 Paul Bosc Vineyard Chardonnay, is the more masculine of the two with austere mineral qualities.
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BC
The Okanagan Valley of British Columbia produces a range of Chardonnay styles from light and fragrant to serious and oaky. The practise of showcasing terroir is strong in BC but does not always conform to the Burgundian notion of a single plot of land. Many BC wineries are still in the long process of experimenting with their vineyards, learning what to plant (or re-plant) in the best sites. When their own plantings do not suffice they will source the fruit they need from the many grape farmers throughout the valley. The best examples of this practise are still able to create a blend that accurately represents the unique characteristics of the Okanagan. In contrast, many blended BC Chardonnays fall short and the consumer is simply left with a basic, albeit sometimes well made, but otherwise uninspired single varietal wine that does not speak to its place or even vintage.

Fairly new to BC, there is a growing trend towards producing single vineyard Chardonnay. They are few and far between today and have a long way to go to catch up the the terroir specific releases so common in Niagara.

The JoieFarm 2008 Reserve Chardonnay is produced from grapes sourced from many different sites in the Okanagan valley, this is an excellent example of the top blended Chardonnay that BC has to offer.
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The Mission Hill Estate Winery 2007 Perpetua is produced from grapes grown exclusively in their Osoyoos vineyard. The Perpetua has excellent fruit intensity and flavour complexity which balances well with the acidity and creates a lovely, long finish.
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Seek out these four wines, or similar wines, and do your own comparison. You may find you prefer one style to the other or maybe you'll enjoy them all for their differences. Due to Canada's archaic liquor laws and feuding Provincial liquor board monopolies, this may be hard to do. Fine restaurants and social media are good resources to source hard-to-get wines in your corner of the world.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010

Bordeaux 2007

For collectors and lovers of Bordeaux wines, this time of year is always exciting. Research, research, tasting, research. "Is the vintage any good?" is the question we all ask, followed closely by "Is it any good?" Well...

The 2007 is clearly overshadowed by the amazing 2005 vintage and the often very good 2006 vintage. Plus, it doesn't help that futures for above average 2008 vintage were priced low and the 2009 vintage has been heralded as a candidate for the "vintage of the century" by some wine critics. Add to all of that and the futures for 2007 were priced way too high for the quality of the vintage (to the degree that many didn't order). The 2007 vintage has been lost in the mix.

So, what to do? Well, our view remains that there are gems in every vintage to discover and the savvy collector need only do the appropriate research to find them. We've made a few recommendations below, based on our own research, on a few gems from 2007 that we will be adding to our own cellars which take into account value, collectability and quality.

Beyond these picks, the 2007 release is a good opportunity to enjoy some of the bigger Chateau at a lower cost. The vintage, in general terms, is ready-to-drink now, so don't plan on squirreling away these wines forever - treat yourself and buy one to open.

Our picks for 2007:

Chateau Bell-Vue - Haute-Medoc $35
Chateau Bolaire - Bordeaux Superieur $29
Chateau Climens - Barsac $129 (375ml)
Chateau Doisy Daene - Barsac $45 (375ml)
Chateau Doisy-Vedrines - Barsac $39 (375ml)
Chateau de Fieuzal - Pessac-Leognan $45
Chateau Pavie-Macquin - Saint-Emilion $89
Chateau Pontet-Canet - Pauillac $119
Domaine Saint-Pierre - Saint-Julien $79

Please note: The prices above relate to the release price via the BCLDB. The 2007 Bordeaux release is on Saturday, September 25th. Go to their website for more information: http://www.bcliquorstores.com/bordeaux-2007-vintage-wines

BC VS Ontario - Pinot Noir

In our BC VS. Ontario series we are looking to showcase the differences and uniqueness of Canada's two main wine producing Provinces. In this article we look at Pinot Noir which grows well on the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario and in the cooler pockets of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. The aim is not competition but rather an exploration on what makes the wines produced so different. We've selected two Pinot Noirs that offer excellent typicity for their respective regions:

Niagara:
Le Clos Jordanne 2007 Talon Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir
Full Review

Okanagan Valley:
Cedar Creek 2006 Platinum Reserve Pinot Noir
Full Review

Ontario
The Niagara Peninsula may offer the terroir that resembles Pinot Noir's famous home in Burgundy the closest in Canada. It may be to no one's surprise then that the best Pinots produced here are Burgundian in character: earthy, austere and age worthy.

Pinot Noir loves warms days and cool nights making the Niagara Peninsula a natural fit for the grape. The temperature on the peninsula is regulated by the two Great Lakes which form its Northern and Southern borders; Ontario and Erie. The best plots for Pinot Noir tend to be in vineyards closer to Lake Ontario where the hot, muggy Ontario summer is mellowed by cool breezes coming from the lake. The Niagara Escarpment runs the length of the peninsula and acts as a bit of a rain shield. The vines are usually left to fend for themselves with no irrigation and a developing trend towards biodynamic and organic practices.

Le Clos Jordanne Estate Wines, a Vincor company in partnership with Boisset France (Burgundy), produce six Pinot Noir wines; a Village Reserve (an entry level blend), four vineyard specific wines and their iconic The Grand Clos which is from the western part of their Le Clos Jordanne Estate Vineyard.

The Talon Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir offers elegant, developing aromas of dark cherry, raspberry seed, oak spice and steely minerality on the nose. The palate recalls the limestone terroir with earthy flavours, austere acidity and smooth, integrated tannins.

BC
The long Okanagan Valley of British Columbia has many different meso and micro climates. Pinot Noir grown in cooler pockets to the north of the valley from Naramata to the Kelowna area tend to produce the best fruit, offering good sun exposure, warm days and cool nights. The Okanagan Lake helps regulate the temperature, cooling the vines in the extreme heat of July and August. Early frost is always a concern in the valley but modern viticulture practices help abate the risk.

The best Pinots in BC have traditionally been unapologetically New World, fruit-forward wines that corral super-concentrated flavours of dark cherry and raspberry with pronounced spiciness. However, there is a growing trend towards austere, mineral and earthy wines as producers learn the best vineyard spots in the valley. As this trend develops we may see more similarities between the Pinot Noirs of Niagara and the Okanagan Valley.

The Cedar Creek 2006 Platinum Pinot Noir is an expression of concentrated fruit flavours and aromas blended effortlessly with French oak, creating an expression of bright fruit with smooth, rounded edges. A long finish of lingering oak spice completes the experience.

Seek these two wines out, or two similar wines, and do your own comparison. You may find you prefer one style to the other or maybe you'll enjoy them both for their differences. Due to Canada's archaic liquor laws and feuding Provincial liquor board monopolies, this may be hard to do. Twitter and Facebook are good resources to find hard-to-get wines in your corner of the world.
 - Liam Carrier

WCOW: Spain VS. The Netherlands

To celebrate the 2010 World Cup of Soccer in South Africa we are hosting a few nation VS. nation competitions of our own whenever two major wine producing countries meet. However, the final features only one wine powerhouse, Spain. Therefore, the theme is Beer.


Match 8 The Final. Spain takes on The Netherlands in a battle of lager. For the first time we'll make tasting notes on beer:

Spain's Beer: Estrella Damm
Cost: $2.25 (500ml can)
Alcohol: 4.6%
Notes: Light straw in colour. Light nose of hops, light texture with a touch of tangerine and lemon citrus flavours.

Holland's Beer: Grolsch Premium Lager
Cost: $2.25 (500ml can)
Alcohol: 5%
Notes: Medium intense nose. Bit of a bitter bite on the palate. Peat and forest floor flavours.

The Conclusion: (other than we're more beer drinkers than beer reviewers)

Complexity (Nose): Grolsch
Complexity (Palate): Estrella
Food Friendly: Grolsch
Concentration: Estrella
Expression of Terroir: Toss-up
Value: Toss-up
Winner: Estrella

The Estrella wins, edging out the Dutch Grolsch completely based on personal taste - sorry, we aren't beer reviewers. The Estrella is a nice, light beer that should match well with a wide variety of game time snacks. But who will win the game?
- Liam Carrier

Wines for Canada Day

July 1st marks Canada’s “birthday” which means many of us have the day off and an excuse to celebrate. Sadly, Canada Day doesn’t always equate to good weather, therefore, we at IconWines.ca have compiled a list of wines for you to enjoy no matter what Mother Nature sends your direction, whichever part of the country you find yourself in.

Sunny:

If it’s nice and hot where you are – and ideally that will be the case for most of us – then we have some heat-quenching wine suggestions for you to enjoy of a hot patio, deck or dock.

BC: CedarCreek 2009 Ehrenfelser - $18
Notes: A perfect complement to a hot day. Great acidity and tropical fruit. Sometimes this wine is hard to get so consider the Lake Breeze 2009 Pinot Blanc as a worthy alternative.

Ontario: Tawse 2009 Sketches of Niagara Riesling - $18
Notes: Happily available in both Ontario and BC. One of Niagara’s signature grapes. Ripe fruit and refreshing acidity.

USA: Pieropan 2009 Soave Classico - $12 (US)
Notes: This is a tasty Italian, light-to-medium bodied, food-friendly wine that displays citrus and mineral notes on the nose and palate. Full Review

Cloudy:

If it’s cloudy where you are, well, look on the bright side – at least it isn’t raining. Cloudy weather (assuming it’s also a bit cool) calls for something with a bit more presence as your senses aren’t being overloaded with sun and heat. A good Chardonnay in the cure.

BC: JoieFarm 2009 Un-Oaked Chardonnay - $24
Notes: As some of your fellow celebrators may be A-B-C folks, I suggest confusing them with this excellent un-oaked Chard from Naramata. Loaded with fruit and mineral flavours. Full Review

Ontario: Le Clos Jordanne 2007 Village Chardonnay - $25
Notes: This is the entry level Le Clos Jordanne which is a lovely blend of fruit from their various vineyards. Chardonnay is fast becoming a rival to the excellent Riesling found on the Niagara Peninsula.

USA: La Crema 2008 Sonoma Chardonnay - $15 (US)
Notes: For Canadians celebrating down in the US, do yourself a favor and pick this gem of a Chardonnay up at Costco immediately! It runs $40 CDN back home. Maybe the best $15(ish) you ever spend (on wine).

Rainy:

If it’s raining where you are – as it’s forecasted to do in Vancouver – then you may be spending a large portion of your Canada Day indoors. This calls for a soothing and cheerful red wine to lift your spirits.

BC: See-Ya-Later Ranch 2007 Rover - $25
Notes: Very well-priced Shiraz-Viognier blend. Full-bodied, warming spice and bright fruit wrapped within a bold, but structured frame of tannins. Full Review

Ontario: Inniskillin 2007 Reserve Cabernet Franc - $19
Notes: The Niagara Peninsula makes excellent Cabernet Francs, especially when the fruit ripens properly. 2007 was a good year for ripeness.

USA: Edge 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - $16 (US)
Notes: This big California Cabernet will warm your soul on a dreary day. Look for it at your local Costco and laugh at Canada’s ridiculous import mark-ups (The Edge sells for $33 CDN in BC). Full Review

Have a wonderful and safe Canada Day celebration – wherever you are!
 - Liam Carrier

Tinhorn Creek 2010 Spring Release

The 2009 growing season in the Okanagan Valley (see the 2009 Vintage Report) was a phenomenal one, especially for the white varietals. A warm September and October gave the wineries and growers the ability to allow the fruit to ripen to their specifications rather than the weather dictating the harvest. A great position to be in. The result is a fantastic line-up of 2009 white wines from BC wineries that are slowly being released this Spring.

Tinhorn Creek's 2009 vintage whites are available now, but you may have to go direct to the winery to get them. Perusing the shelves at your local BC Liquor Store you may find mostly 2008 vintage whites taking up valuable shelf real estate. Could be the BCLDB is waiting for the 2008's to sell out before stalking their shelves with the new releases. If so, consider this a preview of what you have to look forward to or get a jump on the liquor store and order direct from the winery (either in person or online).

The Tinhorn Creek 2009 line-up is full of fruit-forward, food-friendly, professionally finished, nicely acidic, quality wines that are very well-priced. We were pleasantly impressed.

2009 Gewurztraminer - $16.99
Aromas of sweet citrus, lychee, honey, pears, rose blossoms and the spice of crushed cardamom shells on the nose. The oily textured, full-bodied palate offers youthful flavours of tropical acidity, lychee, stone fruit, spice and minerality with excellent balance and a long finish.  87pts
Full Review

2009 Pinot Gris - $16.99
A quality wine with excellent concentration and a balanced, moderate-plus finish offering good value for the price. 88pts
Full Review

2009 Chardonnay - $16.99
Classic aromas of luscious melons, buttery ice cream and orchard fruit with quiet herbaceous notes. Flavours of pears, apples, sweet pineapple and light toasted oak spice and with piquant, lemony acidity; very refreshing. 87pts
Full Review

2009 Oldfield Series 2Bench Wine - $22.99
Overall this wine is complex and refreshing with fantastic minerality as one might expect from an estate grown Chardonnay driven blend. There is a lot going on in this wine. 89pts
Full Review

To learn more about Tinhorn Creek wines and winery events, including their fun concert series, visit their website: http://www.tinhorn.com/
 - Liam Carrier

Best of BC: Gewurztraminer

One cannot define, with a single sentence, the Okanagan Valley's climate and selection of diverse terroir except, perhaps, to state that "it is perfect for growing Gewurztraminer". Gerwurztraminer excels in the warm areas of cool climate regions which fits the Okanagan Valley to a tee. The valley's winemakers are also excelling in their own right using cool fermentation methods to preserve the natural aromatic qualities of the varietal producing an array of different Gewurztraminers to choose from. The wines, ranging from bone-dry to ice wine, showcase the uniqueness of each planted area in the valley and reflect the winemaker's vision for the final product.

The following Gewurztraminers, organized by price point, represent the best the province has to offer:

$20 and below:

2010 Oak Bay Estate Winery - $16.50
Classic Alsatian "Goo" flavours of lychee, spice and citrus fruits follow on the well-balanced, full-bodied palate with a touch of residual sugar, good acidity and a long finish with lingering peppery lemon. Where to buy: Direct from winery and VQA stores.
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2009 Nichol Vineyard Estate Winery - $17
A healthy perception of sweetness due to concentrated flavours of lychee, ripe white peach and Bartlet pears is balanced nicely with a medium acidic kick of lemon. Savoury spices linger on the moderate-plus finish. Where to buy: Direct from winery.
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2010 Tinhorn Creek - $17.99
Off-dry and richly aromatic with mountains of spice on the medium intense nose and full palate. Stonefruit, citrus and peach fruit characters aplenty with a well-balanced, long finish. Where to buy: Direct from winery, BCLDB and VQA stores.
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2010 Dirty Laundry Vineyard's Woo Woo Vines - $17.99
Summerland's Dirty Laundry Vineyard makes a stunning three single-vineyard Gewurztraminers - this one, from the winery's oldest plantings of the Germanic varietal, offers an excellent balance of off-dry sweetness and crisp acidity, wrapped nicely in a loving embrace of candied fruit and river rock minerality. Where to buy: Direct from winery and VQA stores.
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2009 Thornhaven Estate Winery - $17.99
Very full and oily in the mouth but appropriate levels of acidity help to add balance resulting in a bold expression of the Alsatian varietal. Seekers of subtle, dry "Goo" need not apply. Where to buy: Direct from winery and VQA stores.
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$20 and above:

Desert Hills Estate Winery - $23
The nose will brighten the day of even the most determined of grouches with lovely rose petal, perfume, tangerine and sweet lychee fruit aromas. The palate is fresh and crisp with some residual sugar, but nothing the tart acidity can't balance effortlessly. Where to buy: Direct from winery.
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Wines of Chile Tasting

The "Wines of Chile" tasting was held at the elegant Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver, BC on May 11th, 2010 and featured select wines from 15 wineries. Already a Chilean wine fan, I was hoping to discover a few new quality gems and budget wines that over-deliver. Happily, I found both.

Gems to seek-out:

Viña San Pedro 2007 "1865" Syrah - $24.99
From Cachapoal Valley, a bright and fruity without being at all jammy. Great texture and spice on the finish. Special Order from Diamond Estate Wines and Spirits.

MontGras 2007 Quatro - $19.99
From Colchagua Valley this is a fun and bold blend of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec, 24% Syrah and 15% Carmenere. Excellent example of an inventive New World blend that delivers elegance and complexity. Special order from The Kirkwood Group. CSPC #80051

MontGras 2007 Antu Ninquen Syrah - $24.99
The best Syrah of the tasting. Complex and refined with intense fruit flavours. Colchagua Valley. Special order from The Kirkwood Group. CSPC #173500

Budget wines to stock-up on:

Terra Andina 2008 Carmenere Rose - $9.99
Budget wine and fairly simple, but very drinkable and refreshing - a great price. Special order from Marc Anthony Brands. CSPC #487215

Vermonte 2008 Reserva Chardonnay - $14.99
Nicely oaked Chard with good fruit presence. Excellent value. Special order from Landmark Selections. CSPC #494443

Viña Maipo 2008 Gran Devocion Carmenere/Syrah - $18.95
A nicely spiced blend that allows the juicy fruit through. An excellent price to boot. Special order from Select Wines.

BC Wine Deal: May 11th, 2010

The following wines have been reduced in price for May, including the tasty and already well-priced Chardonnay from Tinhorn Creek. Look for these deals at participating BC Liquor Stores and VQA stores like The Wine Emporium.

Peller Riesling Heritage Series was $11.99 is NOW $8.99

Peller Private Reserve Syrah was $19.99 is NOW $15.99
Calona Artist Series Pinot Blanc was $13.99 is NOW $9.79
Gray Monk Pinot Gris was $17.99 is NOW $16.99
Intrigue Eight was $14.90 is NOW $12.90
Lang Merlot Ice-Wine 200ml. was $$41.90 is NOW $29.90
Lang Pinot Auxerrois was $16.90 is NOW $14.90
Wild Horse Canyon White was $8.99 is NOW $6.99
Mt.Boucherie Merlot was $22.00 is NOW $19.99
Soaring Eagle Chardonnay was $21.90 is NOW $17.90
Soaring Eagle Merlot was $24.90 is NOW $19.90
Soaring Eagle Pinot Meunier was $21.90 is $19.90
Stag’s Hollow Rose was $18.99 is NOW $17.99
Stonehill Zweigelt was $16.90 is NOW $11.90
Tinhorn Chardonnay was $16.99 is NOW $15.99

2010 Okanagan Spring Wine Festival Winners

The 2010 Spring wine festival winners (and finalists) have been announced. Click here to access the full list.

We congratulate the well-deserved winners. Taking nothing away from them, we have compiled a list of alternates that you may want to seek-out in addition to the winning submissions. Below is a list of the winners from the Spring competition with an Icon Wines' (IW) suggestion of a worthy alternate:

Red Meritage Blend
Winner: Nk’Mip Cellars 2007 Qwam Qwmt Meritage
IW Alternate: Fairview Cellars 2007 The Bear

Red Blend
Winner: Twisted Tree Vineyards and Winery 2007 Second Crossing
IW Alternate: Sandhill 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah

White Blend
Winner: Road 13 Vineyards 2009 Stemwinder
IW Alternate: Road 13 Vineyards 2008 Viognier Roussanne Marsanne

Syrah/Shiraz
Winner: Sandhill Wines 2008 Small Lots Syrah
IW Alternate: La Frenz Winery 2006 Shiraz

Cabernet Franc
Winner: Peller Estates Winery 2008 Family Series Cabernet Franc
IW Alternate: Poplar Grove 2006 Cabernet Franc

Pinot Noir
Winner: Road 13 Vineyards 2007 Jackpot Pinot Noir
IW Alternate: Tantalus Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir

Pinot Gris
Winner: Pentage Winery 2008 Pinot Gris
IW Alternate: Burrowing Owl 2008 Pinot Gris

Pinot Blanc
Winner: Wild Goose Vineyards 2009 Mystic River Pinot Blanc
IW Alternate: Lake Breeze 2009 Pinot Blanc

Chardonnay
Winner: Sandhill Wines 2008 Small Lots Single Block Chardonnay
IW Alternate: Blackwood Lane 2005 Chardonnay

Unoaked Chardonnay
Winner: Blasted Church Vineyards 2009 Chardonnay Musque
IW Alternate: JoieFarm 2009 Un-Oaked Chardonnay

Gewurztraminer
Winner: Hillside Estate Winery 2009 Gewurztraminer
IW Alternate: Lake Breeze 2009 Gewurztraminer

Riesling
Winner: Nk’Mip Cellars 2008 Riesling
IW Alternate: La Frenz 2009 Small Lots Riesling

Viognier
Winner: Sandhill Wines 2009 Small Lots Viognier
IW Alternate: Van Westen 2008 Viognier

Sauvignon Blanc
Winner: Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2009 Sauvignon Blanc
IW Alternate: Fairview Cellars 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

Merlot
Winner: Painted Rock Estate Winery 2007 Merlot
IW Alternate: Blackwood Lane 2007 Merlot

Cabernet Sauvignon
Winner: Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
IW Alternate: Rollingdale Winery 2007 "La Gauche" Cabernet Sauvignon

Rosé
Winner: Stag’s Hollow Winery & Vineyard 2009 Syrah Rose
IW Alternate: JoieFarm 2009 Rosé

Mixed Red Varietals
Winner: Hillside Estate Winery 2008 Pinotage
IW Alternate: Dessert Hills 2008 Gamay

Mixed White Varietals
Winner: CedarCreek Estate Winery 2009 Ehrenfelser
IW Alternate: None. Hard to beet the CC Ehrenfelser.

Other Icewine/Late Harvest
Winner: Inniskillin Okanagan Winery 2008 Tempranillo Icewine
IW Alternate: Rollingdale Winery 2007 Pinot Noir Icewine

Sparkling
Winners: Sumac Ridge Estate Winery 2008 Sparkling Gewurztraminer
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery 2008 Sparkling Rosé
IW Alternate: Road 13 Vineyards' Sparkling Chenin Blanc

Fruit Wine
Winner: Forbidden Fruit Winery 2009 Plumiscious Plum Mistelle
IW Alternate: Elephant Island 2009 Cassis

By Liam Carrier

Joie! Spring is Here

JoieFarm Releases Their 2009 Vintage Wines For Spring

When chef and sommelier Heidi Noble met sommelier Michael Dinn I don't know if it was love at first sight, that's a tale for the couple's future grandchildren, but I will venture a guess that the courtship's catalyst was wine and perhaps, specifically, a mutual love of Alsatian wine.

The wines of Alsace are certainly chief among the inspirations for the business (Dinn) and winemaking (Noble) tandem behind the Naramata Bench producer. However, the end product is pure Okanagan. Noble, along with assistant winemaker Robert Thielick, have crafted a solid line-up of wines that range from the everyday delight of their Rosé to the cellar-ready and "Lieutenant Governor's Award of Excellence" winning Reserve Chardonnay.

The 2009 vintage is characterized by strong fruit concentration and equally strong acidity. The blending of fruit from different Okanagan properties is key to their ability to deliver their wines with the level of complexity (and production) they desire and the public demands. The JoieFarm flight sells-out every year for good reason: they produce a high-quality, high-demand product. Buy early and enjoy throughout the summer.

Below are our notes on the new Spring 2009 releases from JoieFarm which are available directly from the winery through their website (click here) or at select private wine shops like Marquis Wine Cellars.

2009 A Noble Blend - $24
The JoieFarm flagship wine. An homage to Alsace "Gentil" wines composed of Alsatian varietals Gewurztraminer (60%), Pinot Gris (20%), Pinot Auxerrois (12%) and Riesling (8%). The end result is a beautiful wine that sings a seductive, feminine song in the glass. 90pts
Full Review

2009 Un-Oaked Chardonnay - $23
Aromas of green apple skins, sweetened shredded coconut and canned pineapple. The palate offers orchard fruits, pineapple, lees and the minerality of polished riverbed stones. A quality and tasty, full-textured wine with good acidity, fruit concentration and just a touch of residual sugar. Definitely a Chardonnay for the A-B-C (Anything But Chardonnay) crowd. 89pts
Full Review
 
2009 Rosé - $21
Solid fruit concentration on the palate with slightly effervescent citrus acidity makes for a bright, refreshing drinking experience. A touch of tannic astringency rounds out the texture and fills-out the body. 88pts
Full Review

2009 Riesling - $23
Aromas of lemon, gooseberry, smooth slate and kumquat with dried-ginger spice. Crisp acidity balances the concentrated sweet fruit flavours on the palate and helps create a bright, refreshing wine with a long, satisfying finish. 89pts
Full Review

2009 Muscat - $23
Good fruit concentration of pear, tangerine and fresh, wet grape aromas with a touch of soap and floral notes. The palate offers ripe, juicy peaches and tangy, citrus fruit acidity which cuts the touch of residual sugar. 88pts
Full Review

2007 Reserve Chardonnay - $30-40
Released in the Fall of 2009 and now sold-out at the winery. Only available at private wine shops. Youthful aromas of butter, pear, apple with floral and mineral notes. On the palate you will taste flavours of lemon, pear, wet cement, green apple, melon and oak notes with high-minus acidity and a seemingly never ending finish. 92pts
Full Review

WCOW: Chile Single Red Varietal Nationals

Country: Chile
Manager: Liam Carrier

Chile is known for great Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Carmenere. It is not really known for great Malbec, but I came across a value-priced gem at Marquis Wine Cellars last year and was mightily impressed. I matched it against a great Carmenere from the Maipo Valley which is one of the better examples of this spicy and smooth grape around the $20 price point.

Both of these wines are sold around the world closer to the $10 mark but due to our ridiculous import taxes in British Columbia (60%), show-up closer to the $20 price point. Luckily, both are worth the price in local currency and offer good examples of the fine wines produced in Chile. Chile = value (just not as great value compared to purchasing the same wines within the USA).

Wine #1: Haras de Pirque 2008 Equus Carmenere
Price: $19.99
Region: Maipo Valle
Country: Chile
Notes: The palate offers flavours of dark fruit, pepper, toasted oak, cooking spice and nibs that will please your mouth and culminates in a smooth and lingering finish.
Full review: Follow Link
Score: 88 points

Wine #2: Luis Felipe Edwards 2006 Reserva Malbec
Price: $15
Region: Puquillay Valley - Rapel
Country: Chile
Notes: Inky-purple core with a ruby rim, this full-bodied Chilean charmer offers an intense nose of red-berry and spice aromas.
Full review: Follow Link
Score: 89 points

Conclusion: The Luis Felipe Edwards 2006 Reserva Malbec takes this match-up on points and uniqueness. I look forward to the inevitable taste-off between this Malbec from Chile and the Argentina submission in the single-red category which will likely also be a Malbec.

To Boldly Go… Blended

Road 13 Vineyards Removes Singles in Favour of Blends
By Liam Carrier

Today, top South Okanagan producer Road 13 Vineyards announced their plans to dramatically change its popular line-up of varietal-driven wines to that of a more terroir-driven line-up of blended wines. Gone are the single-varietal Road 13 riesling, Road 13 Chardonnay, Road 13 Syrah, Road 13 Merlot and Road 13 Cabernet Sauvignon. Added to the portfolio are two new blends:

• Stemwinder ($21.99): a blend of Chardonnay, Chardonnay Musque and Sauvignon Blanc.
• Rockpile ($24.99): a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Viognier.

The change brings the total number of blends that Road 13 will produce up to five (the Honest John’s White & Red and top end Fifth Element will remain in the portfolio).

The change will help the winery release a more consistently good product as the percentage of blends can be modified in years when individual components underperform. This will benefit the consumer as BC wineries have been unwilling to relate pricing to quality in pour vintage years. With a more dependable end-product year-in, year-out the consistent price will easier to swallow.

This is certainly a bold move to make in the single-varietal-driven North American market. Hopefully, for the Oliver-based firm’s sake, the BC consumer is ready to embrace this sort change. With the track record that Road 13 has established in the short time since its rebranding from Golden Mile Cellars in 2008, this move to more blended wines will likely pan out. We look forward to trying them!

For more information go to http://www.road13vineyards.com/

Restaurant Profile: Mistral French Bistro

Location: Kitsilano
Chef de Cuisine/Owner: Jean-Yves Benoit
Restaurant Director/Owner: Minna Benoit

Mistral French Bistro is a delightful little restaurant that serves topnotch French food and enjoys a strong base of repeat local customers. The room is small but very comfortable with appropriate lighting and soothing décor. When you enter you’ll likely be greeted by Minna Benoit who speaks with a charming French-Finnish accent. She runs the front of the house with both professionalism and effortless hospitality. Her staff of servers is well trained, friendly and impressively synchronized – it’s a team effort at the tiny Mistral. Enjoy a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere or watch the chefs at work through the partially open kitchen.

Icon Wines Recommends:

• Start with a savory treat and share the Cold Cut Platter. It’s duck-lover’s dream. There’s plenty for two to enjoy as a warm-up before a salad or even your main course.
• When you think of French food you often think of land animals in butter sauce. Well, they do fish in butter sauce too and Chef Benoit’s Fresh Sablefish in Beurre Blanc is to die for.
• Ask your server for wine recommendations. They don’t have a full-time sommelier, but I have found the servers very knowledgeable about pairing the wine in their cellar with their menu.
• It’s a bit cliché to go to a French restaurant and order Crème Brulée, unless it’s as good as Mistral’s. Order with dignity intact.
• Take a cab. Parking is available to the lucky few who find a local block with no permit requirements or to those willing to plug the meter. For the rest, take a cab and enjoy more wine with dinner.
• On the return visit you are sure to want, make a point to arrive for lunch and choose from one of their regional set menus (Provence, Marseille, Riviera and Traditional). Prices range from $19-24 and include three courses.

Go to http://mistralbistro.ca/index.php/home for an up-to-date menu and online reservation form or call them at 604-733-0046.

The restaurant is a personal favourite of mine and one that I have enjoyed both birthdays and anniversaries at. The quality-to-cost is hard to beat.
 - Liam Carrier

BC Wine Deal: March 4th, 2010

The following wines have been reduced in price for March including the excellent Platnium Series wines from Kelowna producer Cedar Creek. Look for these deals at participating BC Liquor Stores and VQA stores like The Wine Emporium.

Cedar Creek Estate Chardonnay was $17.90 is NOW $15.00
Cedar Creek Platinum Chardonnay was $29.90 is NOW $23.00

Cedar Creek Platinum Merlot was $39.90 is NOW $30.00

Cedar Creek Platinum Pinot Noir was $39.90 is NOW $35.00

Cedar Creek Platinum Meritage was $44.90 is NOW $35.00

Cedar Creek Merlot was $19.90 is NOW $ 18.90

See Ya Later Gewurztraminer was $16.99 is NOW $14.99

See Ya Later Riesling was $16.99 is NOW $14.99

Inniskillin Dark Horse Meritage was $24.99 is NOW $21.99
Inniskillin Merlot Reserve was $16.99 is NOW $15.99
Inniskillin Chenin Blanc was $16.99 is NOW $14.99
Sumac Ridge Cabernet/Merlot was $14.99 is NOW $13.99
Sumac Ridge Merlot Private Reserve was $15.99 is NOW $14.99
Sumac Ridge Black Sage Cabernet Franc was $19.99 is NOW $18.99
Tinhorn Creek Pinot Noir was $18.99 is NOW $17.99

WCOW: Canadian White Blend Regional Try-outs

Country: Canada
Manager: Liam Carrier

Canadian white blends were the focus of this week's tastings. This isn't a category with an abundance of qualifying wines at the top-end of the quality scale as many BC producers offer low-end white blends which sometimes appear as though they were afterthoughts. Not so with the two wines going head-to-head in this showdown. Both wines have been expertly crafted:

Wine #1: Road 13 Winery and Vineyards 2008 Honest John's White
Price: $16.99
Region: Black Sage Bench - Okanagan Valley
Country: Canada
Notes: A blend of 51% Sauvignon Blanc, 18 % Muller Thurgau, 11% Orange Muscat, 7% Schoenberger, 7% Kerner and 6% Chardonnay.
Full review: Follow Link
Score: 88 points

Wine #2: Blackwood Lane 2008 Vicuna Blanca
Price: $19
Region: Langley - Fraser Valley
Country: Canada
Notes: A tasty blend of Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chenin Blanc and Gewurztraminer which offer aromas and flavours of grapefruit, apricot and blossoms with good minerality
Full review: Follow Link
Score: 87.5 points

Conclusion: The Road 13 offering edges out Blackwood Lane on points and availability and moves on to the next round. Close call, but the production level of the Honest John's White makes it much easier to get a hold of.

17 Days, 17 Wines - Part 1

 Icon Wines' self-proclaimed Olympics-junkie, Liam Carrier, offers his suggestions for each day of the spectacle that will be the 2010 Winter Olympics in his home town of Vancouver, BC. Celebrate the 17 days of the games with us as we salute a different BC wine each day.

Day 1 - Opening Ceremony
For the opening ceremony I'm going to suggest BC's most prominent wine export, ice wine. My favourite ice wine from 2009 was Mission Hill's 2007 Reserve Riesling ice wine. Yummy, yummy, yummy... oh and complex, refined, bold... but mostly yummy.

Day 2 - Competition Begins
Canada has the awful distinction of being the only Olympic host nation to have never won a gold medal at home. Everyone expects this time to be different. I will go one step further and say that we get that rather large monkey off our collective shoulders on the first day of competition in the Ladie's Moguls. To pair with the lovely Jennifer Heil I suggest the charming and sexy Township 7 2006 Merlot.

Day 3 - February 14th
For Valentine's Day I recommend our top rated Gewurztraminer from 2009, Lake Breeze 2008, for all its fragrant perfume notes. A very sensual wine.

Day 4 - Dude, Where's My Snowboard?
The day's schedule is heavy on snowboarding so how about a "gnarly" BC red: Tinhorn Creek 2007 Cabernet Franc. Aromas of pungent cheese and cigar box will keep you entertained for hours while the wine changes in the glass.

Day 5 - Hurry Hard!
The curling tournament starts on Day 5. This sport has the occasional moment of adrenalin-pumping excitement when a player must make a clutch shot to save "the end" which brings the loyal curling fans to their feet. Mostly, however, it's a game of patience and precision which pairs well with a wine that you should probably be patient with and cellar for another 2-3 years before opening. But... the Olympics will likely never be back to Vancouver, so treat yourself with a bottle of Mission Hill's 2006 Oculus or find a bottle of the nearly-ready '04 (skip the '05).

Day 6 - Loaded
The sixth day of competition is extremely busy with events occuring everywhere, seemingly. This calls for a complex red that will develope in the glass as you change channels back and forth from event to event (sadly, if you actually have tickets, you won't be able to take this wine with you to the venue). I recommend the Poplar Grove 2006 The Legacy, a wonderful Bordeaux-style blend from Naramata.

Day 7 - Biathlon
Two Biathlon gold medals will be handed out on Day 7 up at Whistler Olympic Park and since I find this sport a little mad, I must recommend Fairview Cellar's 2007 Madcap Red. Fairview is an Oliver, BC winery that produces fantastic red wines under the watch of the "Madcap winemaker" Bill Eggert, a title bestowed upon him by a notable Vancouver critic.

Day 8 - Skeleton In The Closet
Skeleton is in an insane sport. To run as fast as you can for 20 paces and then launch yourself down a wicked and winding track of ice, head first. That takes guts. It takes another form of bravery to take a successful winery's image and completely change it for the betterment of the local appellation. Rebranding and starting the quest for name recognition all over. The winery in question is Road 13 who were once Golden Mile Cellars located on Southern Okanagan's Golden Mile Bench. We salute thee and your wonderful Road 13 2008 Honest John's White. Although traveling at 100mph down a mountain, head first, takes the cake.

Go to Part 2 - Days 9 Through 17

17 Days, 17 Wines - Part 2

Day 9 - Apolo No No
American Short Track speed skating star Apolo Ohno will be competing for his umpteenth medal on Day 9 and I will be interested to see if he's as arrogant as he has been in the past in either victory or defeat. Likely he has mellowed and matured with age just like this fabulous Blackwood Lane 2005 Merlot. If you can't find the 2005 at a private fine wine shop, visit the winery in Langley, BC and pick up the 2006 vintage.

Day 10 - Men's Hockey: Canada VS. USA
As a nation we Canadians put a lot of trust into the folks who pick the Canadian men's hockey team to select the right players and bring home the gold. The biggest test of the non-medal round will be against our cousins to the south, the Americans, on February 21st. The perfect pairing for this leap of faith is the excellent Laughing Stock's 2007 Blind Trust Red.

Day 11 - Teamwork, With An Emphasis On Work
Cross-Country Skiing events are the winter Olympics equivalent of the summer Olympics' track & field events. On Day 11 both the men and women compete in the freestyle skiing team sprints which is similar to the 4X400m relay in running, but longer. Relays require teamwork, timing and a lot of hard work. Starting a new winery does too. Tantalus Vineyards is the new-kid-on-the-block in Kelowna. An up-and-coming star that you will likely here a lot more of in 2010. Start your introduction with the superb Tantalus Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir.

Day 12 - A Medley Of Sorts
The Nordic Combined Team gold medal will be handed out on Day 12 which is a combination of ski jumping and a cross-country relay. This medley should pair nicely with an inspired Meritage blend. One medley to another. The See Ya Later Ranch 2006 Ping is such a blend.

Day 13 - Flying High
Freestyle Skiing - Aerials is another crazy sport where competitors seem to break the laws of physics temporarily and fly through the air. Gravity always wins, however, sometimes in spectacular fashion. Those who survive the craziness of 4 flips and 3 turns to win gold, do so to a chorus of applause. Thus, the perfect pairing in Stoneboat Vineyards 2008 Chorus.

Day 14 - Nice Figure
The Ladies take center stage on Day 14 with their "Free" program that will determine the Olympic champion. This second, and longer of the two required routines, is always more sensual and artistic than the short program which is all about jumps and turns. This requires a sensual and artistic wine and I can think of no better pairing than Cedar Creek's 2006 Estate Select Pinot Noir. Simply put, it's beautiful.

Day 15 - Cool It!
The action on February 26th will be intense at The Pacific Coliseum where no less than three Short Track Speed Skating medals will be handed out. You'll need a crisp and refreshing drink to cool you down as you watch intently at home. The Averill Creek Vineyard 2007 Pinot Gris will do the trick.

Day 16 - Go The Distance
The women's 30 km Cross-Country Skiing event runs on the penultimate day of the games. For this marathon you will need a wine that will go the distance. There is no better pairing than the excellent La Frenz Winery 2006 Reserve that has a finish that lasts for a very long time. Not quite as long as 30 km, however.

Day 17 - Men's Gold Medal Hockey Game / Closing Ceremony
My "pairing" suggestion for the gold medal hockey match itself is beer. However, my suggestion for a wine to enjoy during your closing ceremony get-together depends on the result of the men's game. Should the home team win big, Canadian fans should open a nice bottle or two of Okanagan bubbly: Sumac Ridge Tribute Gold. Should the home team lose, Canadian fans should drown their sorrows in what may be the best wine produced in BC: Blackwood Lane's 2006 Reference.
- LC

BC Wine Deal: February 3rd, 2010

The following wines have been reduced in price for February. Look for these deals at participating BC VQA stores like The Wine Emporium and Taylorwood Wines.

Arrowleaf Merlot was $17.99 IS NOW $16.99
Canoe Cove Chardonnay was $12.49 IS NOW $9.99
Chaberton Merlot Barrel Reserve was $23.30 IS NOW $19.50
Chaberton Madeleine Sylvaner was $13.20 IS NOW $11.75
Fork in The Road Red was $22.99 IS NOW $19.99
Gray Monk Odyssey Rose Brut was $26.99 IS NOW $24.99
Gray Monk Odyssey Sparkling White was $26.99 IS NOW $24.99
Mission Hill Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon SLC was $26.99 IS NOW $21.99
Tinhorn Merlot was $18.99 IS NOW $17.99
Tinhorn Chardonnay was $17.99 IS NOW $16.99