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

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