2022 Chardonnay (Okanagan Valley)
Meyer Family Vineyards
Okanagan Falls, BC
$20.96
Pale straw with medium-light intensity. Just a deft touch of oak on the nose enhances the fruit, primarily apple, lemon, mandarin peel, peach, and tropical fruit. Good balance. Crisp on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish. What’s not to like about a wine like this and at such an affordable price?
89+ Points
2019 Viognier
Liber Farm and Winery
Osoyoos, BC
$21.99
This wine was picked at full ripeness resulting in aromatic complexity. Barrel aged in neutral French oak. Golden yellow with medium intensity. The nose shows the barrel aging – butter, toast, vanilla, honey, lemon, and orange zest. Good balance with a creamy texture. The palate echoes the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. Tasted blind, you could easily think this was chardonnay.
90 Points
2022 Gewürztraminer (Carpe Diem)
Chain Reaction
Penticton, BC
$23.00
From the OPG vineyard. Fermented in stainless steel. 130 cases made. Very pale straw in colour with light intensity. The nose is aromatic with aromas of juicy, fresh pineapple, apple, peach, melon, rose petals, lavender, lime zest, and spice. Good balance and mouthfeel. Crisp and refreshing on the palate with flavours of honey, lavender, melon, tangerine, apricot, grapefruit, and mango on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish. This is a ‘Goldilocks’ wine, not too sweet, not too perfumed, but just right.
91 Points
2022 Rosé
Solvero
Summerland, BC
$25.00
This wine, 100% Pinot Noir comes from the Garnet Valley and the Happy Valley vineyards. Picked at one ton per acre. A three-hour maceration is responsible for its “eye of partridge colour. Orange/cherry colour with medium-minus intensity. The nose is appealing with aromas of strawberry, cherry, cranberry, perfume, rhubarb, orange zest, and dried flowers. Very good balance. Red cherry, blood orange, rhubarb, raspberries, citrus and lavender on the palate. A medium-long finish with flavours lingering and a touch of bitterness. This dry sophisticated rosé is very food friendly.
91 Points
2020 Sin Cera
Howling Bluff
Penticton, BC
$30.43
A Merlot dominant Bordeaux-styled blend. Garnet red with medium intensity. A big nose showing aromas of red and black berries, beetroot, black currant cherries, plum, spice, chocolate, earth, and pencil shavings. Good balance with medium body. Pleasing aromas are reflected on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish. This wine was lighter than expected, but very flavourful especially after decanting and time to breathe. I expect this wine to continue to improve with three to five years of aging.
91+ Points
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
