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: White Blends

Why pay a bit more for an exotic blend than a familiar, go-to single varietal wine? The ultra-slick harmony that develops when one balances the appropriate amount of complimentary varietals together resulting in a wine that, when blended, is greater than its individual parts.


$20 and below:

Blasted Church Vineyards 2010 Hatfield's Fuse - $18
This blend of aromatic varietals with Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc in the lead, offers a truly gorgeous, floral nose with light citrus and orchard fruit aromas.
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Stoneboat Vineyards 2010 Chorus - $18
Consumption of this beauty need not be restricted to sunny patios, but it is recommended. Pairs well with a fennel and Mandarin orange spinach salad.
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Young and Wyse Collection 2010 Amber - $20
The balance is ever-so-slightly "hot", but the richness on the palate generally masks the alcohol. Crisp citrus acidity, in turn, balances the fullness on the palate resulting in a very tasty wine with a moderate-plus finish and excellent texture. Where to buy: Direct from winery and VQA stores.
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Herder Winery and Vineyards 2010 Three Sisters - $20
A lovely blend of Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Viognier that may not possess the most expressive nose but who's sumptuous orchard fruit, tangy citrus and lush passion fruit-filled palate more than makes up for the muted first impression.
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$30 and below:

Bartier-Scholefield 2010 White Table Wine - $22
A blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc with impressive balance and concentration for a wine produced with minimal intervention in mind. If you were to make a "serious" wine out of Honest John's White from Road 13 Vineyards, where Michael Bartier was the head winemaker for many years, this would be the wine.
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Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2011 Oldfield Series 2Bench White - $23
Both opulent, with rich orchard fruit by the bushel, and light with delicate, aromatic notes'a'plenty. Melon, grapefruit and minerals round out the flavour profile with a touch of lingering spice on the long finish.
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JoieFarm 2011 A Noble Blend - $24
The final blend is 38% Riesling, 33% Gewurztraminer, 14% Pinot Blanc, 11% Pinot Auxerrois and 4% Schoenberger, yet the key ingredient is the balance of acid to residual sugar that JoieFarm pulls-off consistently each year no matter which varieties are used or from where they are sourced.
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Stag's Hollow Winery 2010 GVM - $28
With its exotic character, refined palate and long, long finish, the GVM is certainly greater than its parts and should be sought out by BC wine lovers who can see past the lack of a universally adopted varietal identity and who specifically appreciate the relative freedom afforded the winemakers in our New World wine region. Where to buy: Direct from winery.
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