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 - Black Sage Bench Results

The first match in the Black Sage Bench conference saw #1 seed Black Hills 2008 Nota Bene cruise to an early lead and hold-on for the win against #4 seed Jackson-Triggs 2006 Proprietor's Reserve Meritage who played the "affordability" angle expertly.

In the second match was played in a frenzied cloud of feathers as the Burrowing Owl 2007 Meritage paced the Nk'Mip 2007 Qwam Qwmt Meritage.

Complete Box Scores:

W - (1) BH '08 Nota Bene. Points: 91pts. Cost: $57.
L - (4) JT '06 PR Meritage. Points: 88pts. Cost: $20.
Game notes: The Nota Bene came out confident and aggressive with an enormous mailing list of customers who eagerly await each new vintage and sell-out the wine yearly. The early lead, however, was nipped at quarter-by-quarter by the modestly priced JT Meritage and its promise of "value". In the end, the pure sexiness of the Nota Bene brand was too much for the JT Meritage to handle and the match was lost.

W - (2) BO '07 Meritage: 90-91pts. Cost: $45.
L - (3) NM '07 QQ Meritage: 88pts. Cost: $30.
Game notes: Burrowing Owls are surprising vicious for such small birds. They may be easily turned into cute logos for bottle labels, but corner one and you're in for a fight. Such was the case when the Nk'Mip 2007 Qwam Qwmt Meritage pressed its attach and discovered first hand that the fuzzy little squawkers are not to be taken lightly. Sublime concentration and complexity from the Cabernet Franc leading Burrowing Owl blend trumped the easy-drinking, Merlot-heavy QQ Meritage blend.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

March Meritage Rd1 - Wild Card Results

The opening match of the Wild Card conference lived up to its billing as the Assenblage Magnifique! With the Div 1-sized Mission Hill 2007 Compendium out-dueling the play-in winner and boutique-sized Blackwood Lane 2008 Vicuna Roja.

The second match saw a slight upset as #3 seeded Stag's Hollow 2007 The Heritage Block squeaked-out the victory over #2 Osoyoos Larose 2007 Petales d'Osoyoos in a daring ploy to be "drinkable now".

The 2nd-round will see the conference's top seed, Consortium, er, Compendium take on the underdog from Okanagan Falls, The Heritage Block.

Complete Box Scores:

W - (1) MH '07 Compendium. Points: 91+pts. Cost: $40.
L - (4) BL '08 Vicuna Roja. Points: 88pts. Cost: $24.
Game notes: Was it the lack of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Blackwood Lane 2008 Vicuna Roja blend that allowed the Mission Hill 2007 Compendium to press its advantage and take home the victory? Or was it the excellent balance of ageability and approachability that led the "Legacy Series" Compendium to victory? We may never know.

W - (3) SH '07 The Heritage Block: 88-89pts. Cost: $25.
L - (2) OL '07 Petales d'Osoyoos: 88-90pts. Cost: $25.
Game notes: If the match were to have lasted 2-3 years, the Petales d'Osoyoos would likely have been crowned the winner as even the baby brother to the incubation-King Osoyoss Larose 2007 Le Grand Vin, has been built to last. The Stag's Hollow 2007 The Heritage Block proved to be better prepared on game day - perhaps to due to careful study of game film or perhaps due to its round tannins, complex palate and delightful nose.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca