2017 Top 5: Red Blends

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

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

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

Full Review

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

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

Full Review

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

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

Full Review

4. Cassini Cellars 2014 Maximus - 92+pts

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

Full Review

5. LaStella 2014 Espressivo - 92pts

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

Full Review

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

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.

Try This...

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.
Icon Score






Cellar That...

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
Icon Score

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

2014 Icon Wine of the Year

Painted Rock's Red Icon has long been a yearly entrant in the top 5 of our Top 25 Icon Wines of the Year, but for 2014, we had to award this fabulous blend the top spot. Though the tasting score equals previous vintages, there's just something about the 2012 Red Icon that stays with you, even months later and proves it's worthy to be this year's Icon Wine of the Year:

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2012 Red Icon
31% Malbec blended with 28% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc and 15% Petit Verdot
$55 - 14.9%
93+pts - Full Review

Congratulations to our runner-ups for this year's Icon Wine of the Year award: the 2011 Château de Beaucastel and the supremely elegant LaStella 2011 Maestoso "Solo" Merlot.



The Wine
Though the components change year-to-year, Painted Rock's Red Icon is an exceptionally consistent, high-end blend that successfully executes its but de vie to deliver complex, New World flavours wrapped in an elegant, Old World structure.

This BC Icon offers a gorgeous, feminine nose of spiced plum, sweet red fruit, light vanilla-mocha and floral aromas. The understated, refined, palate follows with both dark and red fruit flavours creating the perception of sweetness upon entry, supported by silky-smooth tannins, rich savoury notes and effortless acidity through the very long, dry and balanced finish.

The Story
We love this wine for its uniqueness in the world of cookie-cutter big reds. The first vintage (2007) had Petit Verdot as the leading grape in the blend... yeah, Petit Verdot! None of the corporate wineries would ever try that. (And to be fair, I doubt proprietor John Skinner would ever again either... the bane of originality.) These bold risks combined with continual refinement of the winery's detailed vineyard management practices, pruning and harvesting programs have paid off delivering a unique blend from a picture perfect vineyard offering honest vintage variation. 

There's every reason to expect to see future vintages of the Red Icon in our top 5 for years to come as the Painted Rock team have committed to producing a flagship product for the BC wine industry. Lofty goals, but ones the team has thus far been able to deliver.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Monthly Picks: December '14 - Happy Holidays

Stock your cellar with red blen-nds. 
Fa-la-la-la-la la la la la.
'Tis the season for great frien-nds. 
Fa-la-la-la-la la la la la. 
Drink us now our Meritage? 
Fa-la-la-la-la la la la la.
BC's Best! (So I allege.) 
Fa-la-la-la-la la la la la. 

Merry Meritage everyone and to everyone a happy new blend!

Calliope Wines 2012 Figure Eight Red - 416
Juicy, friendly and well balanced, the Calliope Figure Eight makes a nice, straight-forward, entry-level, red blend of 54% Merlot, 34% Syrah and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, delivering ripe plum and sweet tobacco aromas on the aromatic nose and a variety of red fruit flavours on the front-loaded palate.
Icon Score

La Frenz Winery 2012 Montage - $22
La Frenz's middleweight red blend combines Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Pinot Noir to produce a red fruit and oak'n'spice infused wine ideal for early consumption over the next 1-2 years. Buy it by the case and make it your house red to the delight of all your guests.
Icon Score

Maverick Estate Winery 2012 Rubicon - $25
This medium-bodied, spicy, herbal wine is a blend of 60% Syrah, 25% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon all sourced from the Golden Mile Bench in the Southern Okanagan Valley. Deep ruby-purple in colour, the Rubicon is a mild-mannered, feminine expression of Syrah with enhanced aromatics from the Cabernet Franc and an easy-going tannic backbone from the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Icon Score

River Stone Estate Winery 2011 Corner Stone - $29
A blend of 53% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Malbec which opens with lovely, deep aromas of blueberry, blackberry and cherry fruit with light, smoky, charred-oak notes and hints of dried herbs on the nose.
Icon Score

Gold Hill Winery 2012 Family Reserve Meritage - $35
A nice entry into the popular 'big-blend' category for the Golden Mile-based winery from the Southern Okanagan. A sweetly scented, feminine nose billows from the glass with engaging, blackberry, cassis, raspberry seeds, pine needles, sweet pipe tobacco, vanilla-mocha and French oak aromas.
Icon Score

LaStella 2012 Fortissimo - $35
I never like to quote a winery's marketing material, but Fortissimo's tag line "Old world meets the New World" is hard to beat. The wine is equal parts, ripe, BC Meritage and savoury, traditional Chianti. When combined, the result is an Okanagan version of a modern, 'Super-Tuscan'.
Icon Score

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2011 Athene - $38
This lovely Syrah-Cabernet Sauvignon melange (55-45, respectively) successfully combines the classic characteristics of both varieties, producing a nose that pairs pepper with cassis and cherry-cola with dusty sagebrush while warm, toasted oak and light floral aromas add a touch of sweet femininity.
Icon Score

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Best of BC: Red Blends

The red blends of BC take many forms. Some wineries stick to traditional Bordeaux-style (Meritage) combinations of the Cabernets and Merlot while other producers are experimenting with Syrah-based blends to the benefit of us all. Whichever way you like it, there are some quality red blends available today in BC.

Updated: 5-25-14

$20 and below:

Cellar Hand 2011 Punch Down Red - $20
This blend of 45% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Syrah and 11% Cabernet Franc offers sweet aromas of ripe cherry, spicy plum and mixed-berry fruit with Christmas sugar cookie and light oak notes rounding out the pleasant nose.
Icon Score

$30 and below:

Bench 1775 Winery 2011 Cabernet Merlot - $23
This youthful, purple-ruby hued blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon is a mouth-watering, yet, easy-drinking, food-enhancing wine that makes a near perfect companion to traditional, oven-roasted pizza. Where to buy: Direct from winery and VQA stores
Icon Score

SpierHead Winery 2011 Pursuit - $24
SpierHead's Pursuit succeeds as a tasty, well-balanced, drink-now, Bordeaux-inspired blend of 48% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Delivering a consistent and pleasing, easy-drinking medley of juicy, dark fruit, meaty, menthol smoke and charred oak aromas and flavours through to a dark chocolate and light spice-infused finish. 'Medium'... everything. Where to buy: Direct from the winery and VQA stores
Icon Score



JoieFarm 2011 PTG - $24
Imagine a combination of cherry, raspberry, plum and cranberry fruit heated on a stove top with loads of spice and vanilla, then mix-in elements of the forest, bright acidity and savoury notes like oak and dried herbs and you have the 2011 PTG. Where to buy: Direct from winery and VQA stores.
Icon Score

Stag's Hollow Winery 2011 Heritage Block - $25
The 2011 edition sees 56% Merlot (smoky, mixed berry fruit) and 37% Cabernet Franc (providing the lovely floral and perfumed aromas) supported by 7% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in American and French oak barrels for 18 months. The resulting wine is both fruity and serious with a smooth, sultry textured mid-palate and a long, mouth-watering finish with lingering spice and blackberry flavours. Where to buy: BCLDB stores and direct from winery.
Icon Score

Fairview Cellars 2011 Two Hoots - $25
Despite its middleweight make-up, this wine packs a flavourful punch offering cassis, pomegranate, boysenberry, cran-apple and blackberry on the fragrant nose and fluid, smoky palate. Light tannins and vibrant acidity make this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot assessable early, though, another 6-9 months of bottle age should do nicely. Where to buy: Direct from winery and select VQA stores
Icon Score

River Stone Estate Winery 2011 Corner Stone - $28.50
A blend of 53% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Malbec which opens with lovely, deep aromas of blueberry, blackberry and cherry fruit with light, smoky, charred-oak notes and hints of dried herbs on the nose. Where to buy: Direct from winery
Icon Score

Fairview Cellars 2011 Mad Cap Red - $29
Fairview's answer to a Merlot-driven blend with Cab Sauv and Cab Franc contributing complexity and added tannin to a fruit-forward, yet, "serious" red wine offering concentrated blackberry, boysenberry, vanilla bean, light mint and cedar aromas. Where to buy: Direct from winery and private wine stores
Icon Score

Howling Bluff Estate Winery 2010 Summa Quies Vineyard Sin Cera - $29
A blend of all five Bordeaux varietals and aged in French oak for 18 months, the Sin Cera is an irresistible femme fatale that jumps out of the glass with potent, yet graceful, feminine aromas of baked cherry and blackberry fruit, plum preserve, cooking spice, sweet licorice, vanilla, toasted oak and holds your attention through to the equally seductive, fine tannin and similarly flavoured palate. Where to buy: Direct from winery and VQA stores.
Icon Score

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2011 Meritage - $29
Grapes from both the Fraser Canyon home vineyard and from the famed Sundial vineyard along the Black Sage Bench were sourced for this year's blend of 47% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Cabernet Franc which delivers warm, mixed-berry, plum, crushed violet and mineral aromas enveloped by complimentary oak and light spice notes.  Where to buy: Direct from winery and VQA stores.
Icon Score


$40 and below:

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2010 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red - $30
Signature sweet tobacco and dark blackberry aromas are complimented nicely by ample toasted oak and spicy vanilla notes on the nose of this consistently excellent Meritage blend from Oliver's Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. Where to buy: Direct from winery.
Icon Score

Perseus Winery 2010 Select Lots Invictus - $33
Concentrated and dense, the Invictus, Perseus Winery's take on a Meritage blend of 56% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9 % Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec, is rich in dark fruit aromas like cassis and blackberry with menthol, vanilla and pipe tobacco notes adding complexity. Where to buy: Direct from the winery.
Icon Score

Church and State Wines 2009 Coyote Bowl Series Meritage - $35
Church and State's Meritage follows the Left Bank recipe of a Cabernet Sauvignon-leading blend with Merlot and Cabernet Franc adding backbone and approachable fruit to the otherwise, smoke-infused nose and palate where French-oak influence is prominent and appealing. Where to buy: Direct from the winery and VQA stores.
Icon Score

Monthly Picks: December 2013

Stock your cellar with red blen-nds. 
Fa-la-la-la-la la la la la.
'Tis the season for great frien-nds. 
Fa-la-la-la-la la la la la. 
Drink us now our Meritage? 
Fa-la-la-la-la la la la la.
BC's Best! (So I allege.) 
Fa-la-la-la-la la la la la. 

Merry Meritage everyone and to everyone a happy new blend!

Stag's Hollow Winery 2011 Heritage Block - $25
The 2011 edition sees 56% Merlot (smoky, mixed berry fruit) and 37% Cabernet Franc (providing the lovely floral and perfumed aromas) supported by 7% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in American and French oak barrels for 18 months. The resulting wine is both fruity and serious with a smooth, sultry textured mid-palate and a long, mouth-watering finish with lingering spice and blackberry flavours.
Icon Score

Fort Berens Estate Winery 2011 Meritage - $28
Grapes from both the Fraser Canyon home vineyard and from the famed Sundial vineyard along the Black Sage Bench were sourced for this year's blend of 47% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Cabernet Franc which delivers warm, mixed-berry, plum, crushed violet and mineral aromas enveloped by complimentary oak and light spice notes. (nailed it!)
Icon Score

River Stone Estate Winery 2010 Corner Stone - $28.50
Round, ripe and robust, this blend of 59% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Cabernet Franc offers mixed berry fruit, spicy licorice and light mint aromas enhanced by mild oak and sweet aromatic notes on the soothing and pleasant nose.
Icon Score

Howling Bluff Estate Winery 2010 Summa Quies Vineyard Sin Cera - $29
A blend of all five Bordeaux varietals and aged in French oak for 18 months, the Sin Cera is an irresistible femme fatale that jumps out of the glass with potent, yet graceful, feminine aromas of baked cherry and blackberry fruit, plum preserve, cooking spice, sweet licorice, vanilla, toasted oak and holds your attention through to the equally seductive, fine tannin and similarly flavoured palate.
Icon Score

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2010 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red - $30
The 2010 blend consists of 41% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot aged for 18 months in French oak creating a complex and smoky textured palate endowed with blue fruit, light mineral and toasted oak flavours supported by fine tannins and well balanced acidity.
Icon Score

Perseus Winery 2010 Select Lots Invictus - $33
Concentrated and dense, the Invictus, Perseus Winery's take on a Meritage blend of 56% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec, is rich in dark fruit aromas like cassis and blackberry with menthol, vanilla and pipe tobacco notes adding complexity.
Icon Score

Fairview Cellars 2010 The Bear - $35
Despite its cool vintage pedigree, this blend of all 5 primary Bordeaux varietals boasts ripe blackberry, cassis and plum fruit on both the nose and palate with Fairview's signature oak program influenced notes adding depth and complexity.
Icon Score

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2010 Red Icon - $55
The 2010 sees 39% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 18% Petit Verdot, 11% Malbec and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon blended to produce an aromatic nose of dark berries, violets, mint, licorice, cedar and dark chocolate aromas while the dry palate charms with intense dark fruit puree flavours supported by fine tannins, mouth-watering acidity, warm earth and toasted oak notes.
Icon Score

Black Hills Estate Winery 2011 Nota Bene - $55
 blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, all sourced from their famed Black Sage Bench estate vineyard which imparts an herbal quality to the wine augmenting the classic Meritage profile of black currant, blackberry, fresh tobacco leaf and dark plum aromas and flavours.
Icon Score

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Best of Niagara: Red Blends

The blending of Bordeaux varietals and beyond to produce a wine that is greater than the sum of its parts is a popular practice in every New World wine region and Niagara is no different. Sometimes the blending is done to plug a small hole in the facade of the prominent varietal on display or to simply boost the flavour profile and add complexity. However, now and then the art of blending (and it is an art) is the end goal. To carefully construct a wine using the building blocks of different varietals resulting in a wine that is greater than the sum of its parts. Below are our favourites from the Niagara region organized by price.

$20 and below:

Generation Seven Wines 2009 Red - $14
This blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Gamay finds its voice by focusing on the fruit characters of each varietal creating a smorgasbord of berry and dark fruit flavours. No lengthy oak program needed for this fun and easy-drinking wine that offers a spectrum of aromas and flavours framed nicely by soft, smooth tannins and a strong acidic kick. Where to buy: Direct from winery and online.
Icon Score

Fielding Estate Winery 2008 Fireside Red - $16
A red blend from Beamsville bench producer Fielding Estate Winery that offers incredible value for price. A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Cabernet Franc the Fireside Red is a little rough around the edges with green tannins. But for the price, this wine delivers great food pairing options for grilled steaks. Where to buy: Direct from winery and online.

Fielding Estate Winery 2008 Red Conception - $19
A blend of 47% Merlot, 15% Syrah, 14% Pinot Noir, 12% Cabernet Franc and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Red Conception brings with it more complexity and refinement to the table than its baby brother Fireside. The 2008 is a bit harder edged than the sublime 2007 version, but still delivers solid value. Where to buy: Direct from winery and online.

$30 and below:


Thirty Bench Estate Winery 2008 Red - $24
Dry, but with the sense of sweetness coming from the concentrated blackberry and dark fruits. The nose offers youthful aromas of cassis, dark berries, dark cherry, leather, pencil shavings and oak spice. Treated with a year of aging in French and American oak and full malolactic fermentation. The end result is a lovely wine with silky-smooth tannins and a moderate-plus finish with lingering oak spice. Where to buy: Direct from winery, online and LCBO stores.
Icon Score

$40 and below:

Lailey Vineyard 2007 Meritage Canadian Oak - $40
A rarity to be sure. This blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in Canadian Oak barriques rather than French or American oak. The Niagara specialty of Cabernet Franc is on show here with round and smooth tannins. If you can't get a hold of this unique wine, pick up the firm's regular Meritage as an excellent consolation price. Where to buy: Direct from winery and online.


Chateau Des Charmes 2007 Equuleus - $40
From the Niagara-On-The-Lake producer perhaps best known for value wines comes this fantastic Old World-style red blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Refined, smooth and very unique. Delivers complex layers of flavours and aromas. Will age nicely over the next 3-4 years. Pair with roasted meats and prime rib. Where to buy: Direct from winery and online.
Icon Score

Above $40:

Stratus Vineyards 2007 Red - $44
The bone-dry palate with its vibrant, juicy texture offers intense flavours of dark fruits, blueberry, leather, oak and gravel with just a hint of citrus. Bright, ripe tannins are a just tad tight at the moment. We recommend decanting for a few hours if drunk young. This is a fantastic wine that will last a decade or more. Where to buy: Direct from winery, online and LCBO stores. Also available in BC private shops.
Icon Score

Tawse Wines 2007 Meritage - $58
One of the best red blends in Canada. Supremely smooth and refined. Blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 27% Cabernet Franc. A wine to place in your cellar and bring out for special occasions - or make the opening of this amazing wine the special occasion. Where to buy: Direct from winery and online.