Okanagan Valley
Quail’s Gate, Stewart Family Vineyard Chardonnay 2019
west Kelowna, Okanagan Valley
Composed of clone 95 exclusively this is the estate’s flagship white, grapes are grown on the volcanic slopes of Boucherie Mountain just above the winery. The Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay is whole-cluster pressed and 100% barrel fermented in new and neutral French oak. Full malolactic fermentation was carried out to enhance the mid-palate, with aging on lees and regular battonage. It shows a rich creaminess that relates to its new world style. It’s fragrant and opulent with a mature orchard fruit aromatic profile. Deliciously rounded. Score : 15.25/20 (90/100)
Quail’s Gate, Rosemary’s Block Chardonnay 2019
west Kelowna, Okanagan Valley
Situated on the north side of Boucherie Road at Quails’ Gate’s Estate in West Kelowna, Rosemary’s Block has a pristine view of Okanagan Lake and is recognised for the quality of its grapes. Part of the founder’s reserve series, these are limited releases. Clones 76, 809 and 277 are planted in 1996, the whole cluster pressed and 100% barrel fermented in a mix of new and old French oak.it’s a very elegant, graceful expression, showing a perfumed style, delicate finesse as well as some phenolic bitterness that gives it length. It’s a gorgeous wine with tension and freshness.
Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)
Quail’s Gate, Clone 220 Chenin Blanc 2020
west Kelowna, Okanagan Valley
Clone 220 originates from Loire valley and is characterised by its thicker skin. Mostly fermented in concrete eggs for 9 months, this is a top-tier expression of this variety. Fully concentrated, it shows classic quince, honeydew, elderflower and candle wax aromas with also some savoury notes of sage. It’s definitely one of the most complex and flavoursome Chenin in the valley.
Score : 17/20 (94/100)
Quail’s Gate Chenin Blanc 2019
west Kelowna, Okanagan Valley A fresh, lively and stony Chenin Blanc. It shows floral notes, as well as crisp acidity and a mellow volume on the palate. Very recognisable as it is varietal accurate and simply pleasant. Honeysuckle and citrus are shining as main aromas, but also pear and saltiness. Score : 14.75+/20 (89/100)
Quail’s Gate Estate Pinot Noir 2019
west Kelowna, Okanagan Valley
Quail’s Gate estate Pinot Noir profile shows very mature fruits, plum, and figs as well as an empyreumatic style with tar and coffee aromas. The lively acidity brings all the freshness and character to the juicy palate. It’s aged 9 months in neutral oak, giving it some welcomed volume.
Score : 14.75+/20 (89/100)
Quail’s Gate Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir 2019
west Kelowna, Okanagan Valley
Sourced from our finest blocks on the Boucherie slopes just across from the winery with some vines dating back to 1970. This wine is made in limited quantities and shows great elegance and finesse. Opens very delicately to black cherry, truffle, plum, liquorice, with vanilla oak presence. The palate is firmly structured with rich, concentrated volume and a slight bitterness to the finish.
Score : 16/20 (92/100)
Quail’s Gate Dijon Clone Pinot Noir 2019
west Kelowna, Okanagan Valley
This wine is an exclusive blend of the best and oldest Dijon Clones in the estate. Blended from 16-year-old Dijon clones 115 and 667, aged in gross lees in French oak for 10 months of which 60% are new and 40% are 1 year old. Only 55 cases of this wine were produced. It is very Burgundian in style with earthy tones, forest floor, mushroom, and beautiful violet aromas. It’s a very aromatic and fragrant wine. The palate is rich and supple, very elegantly soft.
Score : 17/20 (94/100)
Mission Hill Jagged Rock Sauvignon Semillon 2020
west Kelowna, Okanagan Valley
Jagged Rock Vineyard, surrounded by steep rocky cliffs at 1,400 feet elevation, is a remarkable spot. This Sauvignon, Semillon blend offers great freshness as well as a delightful mix of white stone fruits, lemon confit, and passionfruit on the palate.
Score : 14.5+/20 (88/100)
Mission Hill Perpetua 2019
west Kelowna, Okanagan Valley
Harvested from their eastern Osoyoos vineyard estate, this Chardonnay comes from historic French Burgundian Dijon clones. This is a rich, powerful and toasty wine. Aromas include ripe orchard fruit, zest, brioche, and crackers. On the palate, French oak is highlighted with also a malolactic influence but the boldness is well-integrated thanks to the striking acidity.
Score : 15.5+/20 (91/100)
Mission Hill Jagged Rock Syrah 2019
west Kelowna, Okanagan Valley
Dark and deep Syrah, this wine was aged14 months in French oak barriques (20% new). Generous in style with bountiful spices and pepper notes. It has a rich and concentrated style with great elegance, a voluminous palate, and drying tannins. Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)
Mission Hill Quatrain 2016
west Kelowna, Okanagan Valley
A quatrain is a poetic stanza of four lines, especially one having alternate rhymes. It represents the four varieties of the blend, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose opens on fragrant notes and has a very opulent intensity. This is a wine with dimension and plushness. Very mature, jammy black fruits rub shoulders with cedarwood, liquorice, and oak spices. The palate is lengthy and fleshy with density and volume.
Score : 17/20 (94/100)
Mt. Boucherie Original Vines Sémillon 2020
west Kelowna, Okanagan Valley Intense nose of honey and lemon with a rounded body. This wine is crisp and fresh with flavours of peach, citrus, honey and lemon. The texture of the palate brings a good complexity and mouthfeel.
Score : 14.75+/20 (89/100)
Mt. Boucherie Modest wines - By Jove, Sangiovese 2019
west Kelowna, Okanagan Valley
With quirky names and funky labels to go with them, the collection of Modest wines has been made in the “spirit of experimentation and risk taking while also paying homage to some of the classic regions of the wine world. Self-proclaimed as a ”super-okanagan”, this Sangiovese is one of the very few made in the region. The vines come from the black sage vineyard and the result is quite pleasing. It shows fresh crushed plums, black cherries, herbs, savoury notes, subtle cassis, and spice. It’s bright and fun.
Score : 16/20 (92/100)
Summerhill Pyramid, Cipes Ariel 2000
East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley
Made of 60% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay, 2% Pinot Meunier, this aged vintage sparkling is showing great maturity. Creamy, zesty, and opulent with a very fulfilling mouthful. It’s fully developed with aromas of biscuits, brioche, Meyer lemon, lees, and toasted hazelnuts. The effervescence is smooth and delicate with bright acidity and a lifting finish. From their certified organic and biodynamic Kelowna estate vineyard, this Chardonnay was taken off blocks 10 and 19, naturally fermented in a mix of stainless (75%) and new 500L oak. This creamy Chardonnay offers a great balance between volume, texture, and freshness. Ripe orchard fruits, peach skin, spices, and zest are melting together with a mellow palate and pleasant acidity.
Score : 17.5/20 (95/100)