News: New Food Options at JoieFarm

From the winery's press release:

It is with great pleasure that we announce a new concept and menu change at Joie Picnique for the coming 2018 season: Le Comptoir at Joie Picnique.

This summer our owner and winemaker Heidi Noble will be returning to her culinary roots with the support of our core staff and her partner, JJ Skidmore, using our wood burning oven to serve rotating small-plate offerings of European-inspired snacks to accompany our European-inspired wines.

Le Comptoir at Joie Picnique is not a restaurant, rather a beautiful outdoor salon to sit casually or throw down a blanket amongst the heritage fruit trees and orchard to enjoy wine country snacks and a bottle of wine. We will serve classic European dishes highlighted with fresh seasonal produce from our garden, local growers and the Penticton Farmer's Market. Guests can expect an ever-changing menu of small dishes such as: wood-fired marinated sardines, Vancouver Island escargot with garlic pistou, wood-fired lamb ribs with apricot harissa, local sausages with homemade choucrôute, wood-oven bean pots with heritage grains, homemade ricotta with local honey and rosemary, pissaladière, tarte flambée, and charcuterie of cheese, olives, smoked nuts and lightly-cured fish.

We know our Neopolitan-style pizza will surely be missed, but it is our intention as an integrated team of food lovers (all of whom love to cook and eat!) to provide a menu that can better speak to our local terroir and evolving food culture on the West Coast of Canada. It is our intention to cultivate this culture on our lawn this summer.

Our tasting room itself will also have a more focused flight this season to better inform our guests about the history of aromatic Germanic varietals in British Columbia, the potential for Burgundian varietals in the cool-climate, lake-moderated desert of the Okanagan Valley, and the culinary roots of JoieFarm. Our core tasting flight of five wines is $15 with an option for a supplemental tasting of three additional reserve wines for $5. Tasting fees are waived with a minimum purchase of one bottle on a per-person basis. Le Comptoir at Joie Picnique and our oyster shell bocce court are reserved for our tasting room guests only.

Le Comptoir at Joie Picnique Hours

Open 12pm to 4pm (weather dependent)

Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays

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May to June:

Full menu available Saturdays & Sundays starting May 19th

Smaller snacks will be served Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays

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July to August:

Full rotating menu available

Get To Know... Valeria Tait

Photo Courtesy Bench 1775

Valeria Tait
Vintner, General Manager, Bench 1775 Winery
Oliver, BC
bench1775.com 

With a background in Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and a degree from UC Davis in Oenology and Viticulture it's of no surprise that Valeria Tait is a strong believer that good wine starts in the vineyard.

But farming is more than an applied science. One must combine facts, experience and feelings to get the most out of the land. A self-described romantic with a scientific education and many years working at successful wineries like Painted Rock and Poplar Grove has equipped Tait with the ideal skill-set to produce great wines, from the ground up. 

Get to know Valeria and get to know the wines of Bench 1775 a bit better...

Key wines to try:
Chill: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Glow: 2013, 2014, 2015
Sauvignon Blanc: 2013, 2014, 2015

1. What do you enjoy most about making wine?
The variability that comes up every year because of climate differences and the effect that climate has on fruit expression.

2. What inspired you to become a winemaker? 
When I tasted a fine Alsace Riesling for the first time as a young drinker (of sweet German whites) and finding out the differences between those two wine styles is the fruit and the way the wine is made. Eye opener to say the least – more like an epiphany.

3. What causes you the most stress during harvest? 
The long exhaustive physical demands of harvest and trying to get everyone to treat the last bins of fruit as carefully as the first bins of fruit – and in a cold year, that the tannins will get physiologically ripe.

4. What is your favourite and/or least favourite wine cliché? 
Every cliché is my least favourite – in particular, when winemakers say the following: ‘ it’s about the terroir’ – of course it’s about terroir, there is nothing else. or ‘this wine is premium quality’ – most winemakers are putting their best efforts out there, let others decide what they think of the wine.

5. Away from the cellar and vineyard, what’s your greatest passion in life? 

Life.

6. After a long day of work in the cellar, what do you turn to for refreshment? 

Not surprisingly … wine.

7. If you could take credit for one other BC wine on the market today, which would it be and why? 

Wow – that’s not a fair question because all efforts are team efforts unless you are making 1000 cases literally with no physical help.  I think it is fair to say that I have had a significant influence on Mission Hill, Painted Rock and Poplar Grove because of my approach that wine is made in the vineyard, meaning the fruit expression and ripeness in the vineyard drives the wine program.

8. Of the wines in your portfolio, do you have a favourite food pairing to go with one of the wines? 

Too many – it depends on the time of year and my mood. Right now Bench 1775 Glow Rose and salmon, Bench 1775 Cab Franc with roast pork …

9. What do you think will be the next big trend in BC wine over the next few years? 

The phenomenal growth in BC wine consumption and the dwindling supply of fruit.

10. Screwcap or cork? What’s your preference? 

Depends on the wine. Screwcap for wines that I want to retain brightness and balance (the more delicate reds) and cork for wines that will evolve as they age and they need air ingress. I am a romantic – so natural cork will always have a place in my heart. The romance of opening the bottle, the people and communities that are kept alive by purchasing cork, the traditions!

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Get To Know... Judy Kingston

Photo courtesy of Serendipity Winery

Judy Kingston
Proprietor, Serendipity Winery
Naramata Bench, BC
serendipitywinery.com

The youthful industry that it is, many who venture into the production of fine wine in British Columbia come to do so by way of financial success in a previous career. Judy Kingston's path to proprietorship ventured through many careers, including a long stint as a top technology lawyer in Toronto, before her dream to own a winery was ignited on a wine tour in the Okanagan in 2005.

Wanting to be a knowledgeable, hands-on winery owner, Kingston studied viticulture and winemaking at Okanagan College and has played an active role in the production of her firm's wines since inception. With the hiring of the talented Bradley Cooper in 2014, Kingston will be able to focus more on the on-going evolution, or maturation, of her business and the all-important exercise of brand-building to help distinguish the Naramata Bench based winery from its competitors.

Key Wines To Try:
Reserve Serenata: 2010
Viognier: 2013
Sauvignon Blanc: 2013

1. What do you enjoy most about making wine?
I love that every year, mother nature brings you totally different challenges and flavours to harvest. In the most natural way possible, I try to bring out the best characteristics of the grapes that year. Because I am a frustrated chef – my metal knee prevents me from working in a kitchen full time – it is really important to me that each grape variety is able to express as many of its characteristics as possible to allow it to pair with as many foods as possible.

2. What inspired you to become a winemaker?
I love to cook, but because of my metal knee I can’t stand for long periods of time at a chef’s station to work in a restaurant, and in my mind winemaking was the closest to cooking as I could get.  I find that growing the grapes and making the wine gives me the same creative outlet that I had with cooking.

3. What causes you the most stress during harvest?
Harvest to me is the best part of the winemaking experience. While it is a very busy time, I don’t find it stressful but you have to manage your time properly as there is a lot going on. It is exciting to see the grapes when they come in and to visualize the potential for the wine of that vintage.

4. What is your favourite and/or least favourite wine cliché?
You can’t make a great wine without great grapes – I love this cliché, because it gives the farmers the credit that they truly deserve. People think that all we do is sit around and drink wine all day. And the (few) days that I get to do that, I really enjoy that cliché!

5. Away from the cellar and vineyard, what’s your greatest passion in life?
I really love to cook, particularly when it’s for friends and family. I’ve started to get known around the valley for the elaborate meals that I will sometimes make for the workers that come here, particularly during harvest. When I cook, I really try to think about the person that I’m cooking for, and the meal becomes an expression of my feelings for them.

6. After a long day of work in the cellar, what do you turn to for refreshment?
It depends on the season. This summer I really got into mojitos, and in the winter I love a warm cup of herbal tea.

7. If you could take credit for one other BC wine on the market today, which would it be and why?
Blue Mountain, I like them because each wine is very varietal specific, and they’re very true to the nature of the grape, totally expressing itself in the wine.

8. Of the wines in your portfolio, do you have a favourite food pairing to go with one of the wines?
Definitely salmon with my rosé. Because my rosé is dry and has five different red varieties in it, it is a quite versatile wine to pair with. Salmon brings out these beautiful notes in both the fish and in the wine. It’s quite magical.

9. What do you think will be the next big trend in BC wine over the next few years?
The wines are starting to get drier, which we’re starting to see in the rosés and I think will shift towards all varietals. I think this shows growth and maturity in our winemaking region as a whole.

10. Screw cap or cork? What’s your preference?
As a winery owner, my preference is the use screw cap. When you use cork, there will always be a certain percentage of your wine that has cork taint, and many customers don’t know what that tastes like. You run the risk of a customer trying a cork-tainted bottle, and having a tarnished image of your brand if they don’t know what cork taint tastes like. While it’s hard to do an analysis of long-term ageing in screw caps since they haven’t been around for very long, my experience is that there is no detriment to ageing your wine in screw caps instead of cork.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Get To Know... Gavin Miller

Photo by Lionel Trudel

Gavin Miller
Vintner, Upper Bench Winery and Creamery
Naramata Bench, BC
upperbench.ca

When you meet Gavin Miller you quickly soak-in his passion and pride for the wines he produces. Before opening his own winery (with like-minded partners) Gavin contributed to the success of notable Okanagan brands such as Painted Rock and Poplar Grove. With Upper Bench Winery, the same attention to detail and focus on quality  that helped make the other wineries must-visits for any BC wine lover is on offer. Thanks to this, Upper Bench will likely become the next must-visit winery along the Naramata Bench with the added bonus of an on-premise Creamery, run by his wife Shana.

Get to know Gavin a bit better and get to know Upper Bench's wines...

Key Wines To Try:

Merlot: 2011, 2012

Pinot Noir: 2011, 2012

Pinot Gris: 2011

1. What do you enjoy most about making wine?

The Vineyard, watching how it changes throughout the season. Trying to balance production to the strength of the season. Then capturing it all in a bottle.

2. What inspired you to become a winemaker?
I went back to school to learn about grape growing in order to go out and become a wine agent. After about two weeks of being tutored by the very passionate Bill Eggert. I no longer wanted to sell wine, I wanted to grow it. So began my new career, first in the vineyards then into the cellar learning from everyone I could find.

3. What causes you the most stress during harvest?
Harvest doesn’t really stress me. It is attention to detail that I find matters most, so a calm approach works best.

4. What is your favourite and/or least favourite wine cliché?
"No Whimpy Wine around Here” comes to mind.

5. Away from the cellar and vineyard, what’s your greatest passion in life?

My Wife the “Big Cheese". (Editor's note: Gavin's wife, Shana Miller, runs the CFIA registered creamery attached to the winery. More on her story here.)

6. After a long day of work in the cellar, what do you turn to for refreshment?

Beer in the Hot Tub with the Big Cheese

7. If you could take credit for one other BC wine on the market today, which would it be and why?
Tantalus Riesling, so much acid, so concentrated. I have really enjoyed watching this wine develop over the years.

8. Of the wines in your portfolio, do you have a favourite food pairing to go with one of the wines?

Saag Lamb with our Riesling or 2012 Merlot with Upper Bench King Cole

9. What do you think will be the next big trend in BC wine over the next few years?

Hopefully a return to dry wines and truth in labelling. I am really tired of tasting large amounts of residual sugar and having producers denying it, especially red wine, there is no place for sugar in red wine.

10. Screwcap or cork? What’s your preference?

Both have their place, I still think big reds are better under cork but  screw cap for all others

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

JoieFarm: The Best Yet

The 2012 Spring release from JoieFarm is proving to be the best yet from the Naramata Bench winery most famous for its proprietary white blend, A Noble Blend, and for its Think Pink rose but who have been filling out their portfolio with more single-varietal options in recent years. After two cooler vintages, 2012 sees a return to the winery's balanced opulence roots with seven new releases for Spring including a new Gewurztraminer and a revamped Pinot Blanc.

A mild and dry Fall provided extended hang time for the fruit to build up sugars and achieve phenolic ripeness, while cool nights provided the desired level of acid resulting is a potent mix of attributes for exceptionally well-balanced wines. As fate would have it, quality was not the only benefactor in 2012, production is also up which means you'll have an easier time finding these great wines at local private stores, VQA stores and even some BCLDB Signature Stores..

 

JoieFarm 2012 A Noble Blend - $24

The art of assemblage is on display with this blend of 35% Gewurztraminer, 29% Riesling, 17% Pinot Blanc, 12% Pinot Auxerrois, 4% Schoenberger and 3% Muscat with each component contributing its own coloured tile to the larger mosaic, creating a complete and rewarding experience.

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JoieFarm 2012 Rosé - $22

The 2012 assemblage is made up of 60% Pinot Noir, 30% Gamay, 5% Pinot Meunier and 5% Pinot Gris with the components soaked on their skins for 3 to 4 days, helping to extract just the right amount of tannin and create the signature watermelon Jolly Rancher colour.

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JoieFarm 2012 Gewurztraminer - $23

On the heels of the winery's successful Reserve Gewurztraminer from 2010 comes this varietal-series release with less bottle age built for early consumption. Expresses the pure joy of drinking a well-balanced, off-dry Gewurztraminer focused on texture above complexity.

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JoieFarm 2012 Riesling - $23

A very consistent Riesling in style vintage to vintage and with its flavour profile from the nose through to the palate. Always a juxtaposition of acid and residual sugar, this rich, concentrated wine offers with a pleasing combination of citrus, honeydew, minerals, pineapple and green apple.

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JoieFarm 2012 Un-Oaked Chardonnay - $23

There's un-oaked Chardonnay and then there's JoieFarm's un-oaked Chardonnay. The Naramata Bench winery packs so much into the nose and palate that the oak influence isn't missed.

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JoieFarm 2012 Pinot Blanc - $23

Happily, the Pinot Blanc remains in the JoieFarm line-up for the 2012 vintage, though, at first blush, it's nearly unrecognizable when compared to the opulent 2011 edition.

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JoieFarm 2012 Muscat - $23

Off-dry levels of residual sugar are well balanced by the citrus acidity on the concentrated, expressive palate. Manages to remain light and fresh despite the impressive body and texture derived from the opulent fruit rather than from any glycerol effect from high alcohol.

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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Naramata Bench 2012 Spring Preview

The Naramata Bench Wineries Association recently made its annual Spring trip to the Lower Mainland to show-off the wares of its member wineries. The Spring release is always dominated by white wines for which the Naramata Bench is well known and for which 2011 was a trying, yet, successful year. A few soon-to-be-released reds, mostly from 2010 were also on offer with mixed results. Pinot Noir and blends have been the most promising reds that I've tasted from that vintage, but only a spattering have become available thus far.

As with many of BC's wine regions, the wineries will source grapes from beyond the borders of their viticultural area - there are no rules that say otherwise and many producers do reference the source of the fruit on the label. But, how do you know what you're drinking if it isn't mentioned on the label? Generally speaking, if you're enjoying a big red blend from a Naramata Bench winery, the fruit will have been sourced from a vineyard in Oliver or Osoyoos. If you're drinking a fine Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc, then chances are the grapes are from Naramata. Think Burgundy and the Loire Valley and you'll likely pick a wine that will showcase the bench's unique terroir.

Many great wines are made on the bench and it's a lovely place to tour with fantastic views of Okanagan Lake. Most of the wines below will become available in the winery tasting rooms the first week of May when wineries begin to expand their operating hours for visitors. Although I ran out of time at the tasting before sampling all of the wines, here are a few highlights to source during your visit to the bench or from the growing number of wine shops carrying Naramata wines:

March Meritage Rd2 - Elite Eight Results

The "round of eight" saw three #1 ranked wines make it to the Final Four. The only upset of Rd2 saw the La Frenz 2007 Grand Total Reserve squeeze out a victory over the Poplar Grove 2006 The Legacy in the Naramata Bench Conference. Other Rd2 winners were Black Hills 2008 Nota Bene over Burrowing Owl 2007 Meirtage in the Black Sage Bench Conference, Fairview Cellars 2008 The Bear over the Tinhorn Creek 2007 2Bench Red in the Golden Mile Bench Conference and the Mission Hill 2007 Compendium over the Stag's Hollow 2007 The Heritage Block in the Wild Card Conference. When asked about the lack of upsets, the organizing committee spokesman answered in a post Rd2 press conference, "I suppose it validates the pre-tournament ranking system... and the power of ouija."

Complete Box Scores:

Golden Mile Bench Conference

W - (1) FC '08 The Bear: Points: 91-93. Cost: $35
L - (3) TC '07 2Bench Red: Points: 91+. Cost $30
Game notes: In a battle of "drink now VS. drink later" most thirsty wine drinkers will opt for "drink now" the majority of the time when choosing to purchase a wine. Therefore, it's a testament to a wine's ability to be intriguing and alluring that possesses wine lovers to delay their carnal thirst 2-3 years in anticipation of a superior product at the climax. Such is the story of Fairview Cellars whose wines are built to last and are snatched-up by patient, patient folks. The wait is worth it, especially when the "now" is pretty fantastic as well.

Naramata Bench Conference

W - (2) LF '07 Grand Total: Points: 92-93. Cost: $40
L - (1) PG '06 The Legacy: Points: 91. Cost $50
Game notes: Riding the wave of confidence generated from a successful winery re-branding effort in 2010, the Grand Total looked the part of the Naramata Bench Conference champion and "Final Four" wine. The new label design pays homage to the scenic view of Naramata Bench as seen on the Canadian $100 bill circa 1954. The Cabernet Franc heavy blend proved too aromatic for The Legacy which, in spite of defeat, earned legions of new fans due to its impressive showing.

Wild Card Conference

W - (1) MH '07 Compendium: Points: 91+. Cost: $45
L - (3) SH '07 The Heritage Block: 88-89. Cost: $25
Game notes: Having earned the nickname "The Vincor Killer" after its first round victory over the '07 Petales d'Osoyoos, the Stag's Hollow 2007 The Heritage Block tried to live up to the infamy and go 2-0 against the big boys in its second round match VS. the Mission Hill 2007 Compendium. It was a valiant effort, but in the end the Kelowna-based winery's powerful Meritage proved to be too much for the Okanagan Falls charmer. With power and elegance the Compendium punches its ticket for the Final Four.

Black Sage Bench Conference

W - (1) BH '08 Nota Bene: Points: 91. Cost $57
L - (2) BO '07 Meritage: Points: 90-91. Cost: $45
Game Notes: A titillating match-up of two wines known as much for their brand recognition as for their excellent quality. Both wines attacked with a strong barrage of "word of mouth" and "notoriety" only to find that after 40 grueling minutes of action, the wines remained equal. In a moment of genius, as the first overtime stanza came close to concluding with the wines deadlocked, Black Hills played their Jason Priestley card and the minority shareholder tipped the match in their favour with an energetic explanation of the term "field blend".
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

March Meritage Rd1 - Naramata Bench Results

The result may have been "chalk" as the two top seeds survived their first round match-ups but the battle was anything but predictable. In the first game, #1 seeded Poplar Grove 2006 The Legacy's size and weight seemed to have a clear advantage over the fluidity and refinement of the Kettle Valley 2006 Old Main Road. However, as they say in sports, "that's why you play the game".

In the second match, Naramata powerhouse La Frenz 2007 Grand Total Reserve took on Laughing Stock 2008 Blind Trust Red in a match of precision blending and great labeling.

The 2nd-round will see The Legacy take on the Grand Total Reserve in the Elite Eight.

Complete Box Scores:

W - (1) PG '06 The Legacy. Points: 91pts. Cost: $50.
L - (4) KV '06 Old Main Road. Points: 90pts. Cost: $35.
Game notes:  Kettle Valley put up a valiant effort against their Naramata brethren offering succulent, smooth tannins and excellent mouth feel. But in the end it was the Legacy's depth and complexity that carried the day and the Poplar Grove Meritage into the second round.

W - (2) TC '07 Grand Total Reserve: 92-93pts. Cost: $40.
L - (3) LS '08 Blind Trust Red: 89pts. Cost: $28.
Game notes: Fans may think of "excellent varietal wines" first but La Frenz Winery proved to have formidable blending power in its playbook and when Laughing Stock seemed to have the upper-hand with imaginative stock exchange labeling, it managed to match each and every graduated cylinder full of tasty Meritage that the Blind Trust Red threw at it and won the day.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Naramata Bench Spring Release - Part 2

Part 2 of our coverage of the 2010 Naramata Bench Spring release trade tasting:

Lake Breeze Vineyards
Lake Breeze has a full flight of wines including reds, blends and a premium "Seven Poplars" line but it's their whites that have made them a 'must' to visit on the Naramata Bench. Of course, their sun-drenched patio bistro helps too.

2009 Gewurztraminer - $17.99
The Lake Breeze Gewurztraminer is all about the balance of acidity to fruit concentration to residual sugar and they handle this beautifully. Classic lychee fruit, floral notes and spice. 90pts

2009 Pinot Blanc - $16.99
A light, tasty treat of a wine. Light citrus and orchard fruit on the light nose with solid fruits on the palate. Touch of residual sugar with a long finish. 89pts
Full Review

2009 Pinot Gris - $17.99
Nice touch of toasty oak balanced with crisp acidity. Smooth, full mouth feel with a long finish. 88pts

2007 Seven Poplars Pinot Noir - $24.99
Aromas of caramel cream, red berries and earthy notes on the nose. Palate is warm and smooth with both fruit and earthy flavours. Good tannins and acidity but with a bit of an aftertaste. 86pts.

Laughing Stock Vineyards
David and Cynthis Enns have created a winery known as much for its clever branding as for the wines they produce. That is not to say solid craftsmanship isn't at work. It is. Beyond the branding are some very good wines.

2008 Chardonnay - $26
A major oak butter-bomb that may be tough for the ABC crowd but for Chardonnay lovers who like toasty aromas and cream on the palate along with their fruit and minerality. Good complexity. 89pts

Poplar Grove Winery
The Naramata firm has one of the best views of Okanagan Lake (and the bench). They have lovely wines and cheeses to match the view. Second label, Monster Vineyards, makes quality wines closer to the $20 price point where as the Poplar Grove red wines can get pricey.

2008 Chardonnay - $22
Only 17% oaked but that 17% goes a long way to add toasty notes and creamy texture to this tasty Chardonnay. Good complexity of flavours with orchard fruits, minerality and citrus acidity. 88pts

2006 Cabernet Franc - $35-40
A great example of one of BC's increasingly popular red varietals. Cabernet Franc ripens well in BC and avoids green aromas and flavours. This dark garnet coloured wine has a big nose and palate to match. It has been well aged at the winery and tastes sublime. 91-92pts

2006 Legacy - $50
Merlot-heavy Meritage blend (think Bordeaux's Right Bank) with a good amount of Cabernet Franc which shows nicely on the nose and a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon. An absolutely lovely wine that has been built to age. 92-93pts

Therapy Vineyards
The 2009 vintage white wines are the first to be released that were solely under the direction of Therapy's new winemaker Steve Latchford. We'll be watching the firm's progress with its new talent eagerly. In the past the clever marketing has, on occasion, been more charming than the wines. Their impressive Merlot shows promise.

2009 Freudian Sip - $18.99
A pleasing white blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Viognier and Muscat delivers bright fruit flavours on the palate and nose with a touch of honey notes. Off-dry with a medium finish. Could use a bit more acid to truly round out the balance. 86pts

2008 Chardonnay - $23.99
A full-bodied oaked Chardonnay with good crispness. Citrus notes and ripe orchard fruit flavours with toasted oak and butter notes. Wet stone minerality adds complexity. 87pts

2008 Merlot - $25.99
Great tannins and texture are a happy surprise with this Merlot that tastes of chocolate and dark berries. Wine lovers who find Merlot boring should definitely give this one a try. 88pts

2007 Freud's Ego - $15.99
Recently discounted down from $20, this is a bargain Bordeaux blend that needs food to bring out the flavours. On its own it falls a bit flat. 85pts

Van Westen Vineyards
Winemaker Robert Van Westen makes all-natural, no additive, no nonsense wines. He doesn't filter or manipulate in anyway. This produces wines that can be very exciting and even a bit intimidating with strong tannins on the palate (that is the case for his red blend called Voluptuous - but we love it all the same). This Spring he has three new whites on offer and each one is impressive and worth a taste.

2008 Vino Grigio - $18.90
This is Pinot Gris done as an Italian Pinot Grigio which is to say un-oaked and full of fruit intensity. A perfect wine for a hot deck on a sunny day - very refreshing. 88pts

2008 Vivacious - $18.90
Two words describe this wine accurately: "Yum" and "Eee". Actually, you can't improve on the name. Pinot Blanc never tasted so complete and fulfilling - it does have a touch of Pinot Gris added to help round out the flavour and texture. Excellent fruit concentration. 89pts

2008 Viognier - $24.90
Definitely one of the best Viognier in the Provence currently on offer. This varietal is growing in popularity and anyone jumping on the bandwagon should try Robert's. Good crispness of citrus acidity with a healthy nose and full-ish palate of tropical fruits. 90pts

In a very general conclusion, the Naramata Bench Wineries Association's Spring release event was highlighted by some incredible 2009 vintage whites. Not to say there aren't some fantastic reds coming out, but the '09 whites stole the show. The long , hot Okanagan summer of 2009 seems to have produced intense aromas and flavours and allowed for full ripeness on the early ripening white varietals. A sudden and strong Fall frost may have caused some problems for 2009 vintage reds, time will tell.
- By Liam Carrier

Naramata Bench Spring Release - Part 1

This year's Naramata Bench Wineries Association's Spring Release event was held at The Westin Bayshore Hotel in downtown Vancouver on April 12th and featured both red and white wines from the member wineries. The event showcases the upcoming vintage releases but also allows the wineries to preview new small-lot wines, one-off specials and works-in-progress. Below are the tasting notes of our returning favourites and mischievous debuts (both impressive and otherwise).

D’Angelo Estate Winery
This family owned and run estate winery chose to pour back-catalog wines rather than new releases. Their wines are available through VQA stores.

2005 Sette Coppa - $30
A Meritage blend of the 5 main Bordeaux varietals. This estate grown wine has benefited nicely from the five years of aging since its harvest in 2005. The name translates from the Italian as :Seven Measures". Nice concentration of fruit on the beautiful nose and smooth palate. 89pts

2006 Pinot Noir - $25
A classic Pinot Noir garnet in appearance, this example of the heartbreak-grape does not possess classic Pinot Noir flavours or aromas. A smooth, medium palate with decent fruit concentration and chemical notes.  It fell quite flat on the palate. 84pts

2005 Merlot-Cabernet - $20
85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. The Cab does add some needed character to the nose but the Merlot suffers from being too vegetal. 85pts

Hillside Estate Winery
One of the oldest wineries from Naramata made the biggest impression for us at the event with a solid flight of whites and reds. We've found Hillside to be hit and miss in recent vintages but their current flight of whites and reds are, on the whole, fantastic.

2009 Old Vines Riesling - $18.99
First vintage since 2007. A touch of sugar on the palate with excellent control of the spectrum of mineral flavours the 25+year old vines. Very long finish with a full texture in the mouth. 88pts

2009 Muscat Ottonel - $17.99
A nearly colourless but very tasty Muscat full of fruity aromas and flavours of citrus, apricot and light orchard fruits. 87pts

2008 Reserve Pinot Gris - $19.99
Although only partially oak-aged, the oak aromas and flavours dominate the fruit and leave this wine a little unbalanced. In the competitive world of BC Pinot Gris this one competes but doesn't place. 85pts.

2007 Viognier - $24.99
Light straw in appearance. Warm honey and floral notes on the nose with bright tropical fruits on the palate. Light and smooth mouth feel with a medium finish. Could use a touch more acidity, but very solid Viognier. 88pts

2007 Cabernet Franc - $24.99
Cab Franc is gaining popularity with Canadian producers and they are becoming quite adept at creating full bodied and round wines with amazing aromas.  The 2007 CF had notes of currant, chocolate with a touch of spice.  Well balanced and built to age for a few years.  Very nice and a good price.  88pts.

2008 Old Vines Gamay Noir - $24.99
Intriguing colour of a dirty strawberry. An easy-drinking wine with good mouth feel and ligering spice. Medium finish. Kind-of a Pinot Noir-Syrah cross. Great food wine that would pair nicely with Turkey or light game. 87pts

2006 Syrah - $29.99
A nice addition to the growing list of excellent BC Syrah. Aromas of candied cherries, tobacco and spice wrapped in a Rhone-style bright nose. Good acidity and fruit concentration on the smooth textured palate. Balanced, long finish. 88pts

2006 Mosaic - $39.99
Nearly every winery feels compelled to make a high priced, Bordeaux-inspired, reserve blend but only a few can truly pull it off, worthy of their price tags. The Hillside example is a good effort but falls a bit flat and lacks concentration on the nose and palate. 87pts

Howling Bluff Estate Winery
The tiny estate winery currently only produce three wines; a Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon, a red blend called Sin Cera and an award winning Pinot Noir. Only the white blend and Pinot are new releases this Spring.

2008 Pinot Noir - $29.99
Fantastic example of Naramata's ability to make terroir-driven Pinot Noirs when the fruit is left to show its natural flavours and the winemaker avoids interfering with too much oak. They get it just right. Nicely balanced with a smooth, long finish. 90pts.

2009 Sauvignon Bland-Semillon. - $18.99
This is an odd wine. A blend of Bordeaux's classic white varietals that has produced off-putting aromas of  pungent feet and cat's pee. Solid fruit concentration on the overly sweet palate. 85pts

La Frenz Winery
An Icon Wines favourite with good reason - they have an uncanny ability to produce quality wines year-in and year-out. Winemaker Jeff Martin is especially gifted at producing well-balanced whites and the 2009 vintage examples are no different. Look for a classic, elegant new lable when you visit the winery this Spring.

2009 Riesling - $19
Released on May 1st. Made from grapes grown on their Osoyoos property, this excellent, well-balanced, off-dry Riesling has good fruit concentration matched against refreshing, crisp acidity and stony minerality. A long, long finish. 90pts
Full Review

2009 Chardonnay - $20
Released on May 1st. A 50% oaked Chardonnay that display classic flavours of orchard and tropical fruits with excellent minerality and crispness. A bit toastier than the 2008. 89pts

2008 Reserve Chardonnay - $29
Should be released in June. An exceptionally smooth and refined Chardonnay with good aging potential. Big orchard fruit concentration with a touch of residual sugar. Beautiful. 90-92pts

2008 Malbec - $25
A fresh, bountiful candied-fruit nose. The palate is tasty and food friendly but lacks a bit of complexity. 86pts

-Continued- Go To Part 2

Naramata Bench Wineries' Simply Red Event

On September 22nd, Icon Wines had the privilege of attending the Naramata Bench Wineries Association's "Simply Red" event held at the fabulous Goldfish Pacific Kitchen in Vancouver, BC. Many fantastic producers were at the event and most had at least one new release to show off.


Located in the Yaletown area of downtown Vancouver, Goldfish Pacific Kitchen restaurant is a great venue for this short of industry event. The floor was opened up to allow easy access to the winery tables and the staff were very courteous to all in attendance. The food was first rate. A very well organized event that allowed the wines to take center stage.

Our palates were in heaven tasting the many new releases on hand but, unfortunately, they got tired before we could complete the full circuit and visit every winery table.

We visited:

Howling Bluff Estate Wines
Howling Bluff were unveiling their two new releases: 2007 Pinot Noir and the 2007 Sin Cera.

La Frenz Winery
Winemaker Jeff Martin was on hand to help pour all of the La Frenz current and new releases. New (and recent) releases include their 2006 Reserve, 2007 Shiraz and their 2007 Merlot.

Poplar Grove Winery
Icon Wines got to finally meet the winemaker/proprietor Ian Sutherland who was on hand to show off the release of their 2006 Merlot and Cabernet Franc as well as their new wine boxes for second lable Monster Vineyards products.

Van Westen Vineyards
Winemaker Robert Van Westen was pouring a two vintage vertical of his powerhouse Voluptuous (2005 & 2006).

Laughing Stock Vineyards
Proprietors Dave and Cynthia Enns were on hand to pour their soon to be released 2007 Portfolio and their second-lable red blend, 2007 Blind Trust Red . The Portfolio was presented in a three vintage vertical (2005, 2006 and 2007).

Kettle Valley Winery
KVW were pouring their complete line-up of current releases. Old Main Red was a stand-out.

Lake Breeze Vineyards
Lake Breeze were pouring their Seven Poplars Pinot Noir, Meritage and their signature red blend the 2006 tempest.

Black Widow Winery
Black Widow only make one red wine and this was on hand: their 2007 Hourglass which is a Merlot/Cab blend.

Look for full reviews of this fall's new releases from the Naramata Bench appellation to be posted soon on Icon Scores soon. - LC