Okanagan Valley

2022-12-15 -

Summerhill Pyramid Spadefoot Toad Sangiovese 2017

East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley

Made in partnership with grape grower Ron Firman at his Spadefoot Toad Vineyard in Oliver, BC, along with the legendary Canadian artist and activist Robert Bateman, who has drafted an original illustration especially for the labels, this Sangiovese really follows Summerhill’s vision. With concentrated flavours of fresh cherries and blueberries with aromatic herbs, this wine shows character and a great concentrated flavour profile.

Score : 17/20 (94/100)

Summerhill Pyramid, Spadefoot Toad Syrah 2016

East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley

Firm and grippy Syrah from the same Oliver Vineyard and aged 35 months in mostly neutral oak barriques. Aromas include ripe blackberry, cedar, and minimal pepper presence. The palate is muscular and bold with full-body and scabrous tannins. Very concentrated and dark Syrah but still feels quite balanced. Score : 16/20 (92/100)

Summerhill Pyramid, Organic Cabernet Franc 2019

East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley

85% organic Cabernet Franc, 15% organic Cabernet Sauvignon grown in southern Okanagan vineyards. The Cabernet Sauvignon portion was fermented in oak foudre before joining the Cabernet Franc for 12-18 months in oak barrels. Notes of cherry, cassis, cocoa, cedar, and a hint of smoke. This is a rich and smooth expression of this variety with brightness and a final cinnamon taste.

Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)

Cedar Creek Aspect Block 3 Riesling 2020

East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley Block 3 is an aged planting dating back to 1991. This wine was kept on the skins for 12 hours and aged half in stainless, half in German oak. Ripe and deeply aromatic Riesling this wine is definitely characterised by its intensity. Bright lime dominates with floral and candied citrus to follow. The palate has a bit of grip and a perfectly balanced sugarto-acidity ratio.

Score : 15.5+/20 (91/100)

Cedar Creek Aspect Block 5 Chardonnay 2019

East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley

Block 5 is at the top of the Kelowna-based

Home Block Vineyard. This Chardonnay is built on a ripe foundation with bright and clean acids as well as a creamy texture. Notes of apricot, starfruit, mango, with a persistent flint hint and moderate oak presence. The palate is light and pure with moderate volume and fresh acidity.

Score : 15.25/20 (90/100)

Cedar Creek, Aspect Block 2 Pinot Noir 2018

East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley

The fruit is clone 115, fermented in concrete tanks, aged 14 months in French oak (18% new). This is a seductive wine, beginning with floral and strawberry aromas. On the palate, there’s a silky touch with fruit-forward flavours and a savoury finish. A classic Pinot Noir layered with elegance.

Score : 15.5+/20 (91/100)

Cedar Creek, Aspect Block 4 Pinot Noir 2018

East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley

This wine is a tribute to the unique blend of clones planted on clay, silt, and stone. Fermented with wild yeasts and aged in French oak for a year to allow the different expressions of Pinot Noir from three different clones (115, 667 and 777) to marry into this intricate wine. The style is very savoury with forest floor, dark, rich black fruits, game and mushroom flavour. The palate brings texture and soft spices. Overall a bold and voluminous Pinot Noir.

Score : 17/20 (94/100)

Martin’s Lane’ Simes Vineyard Riesling 2017

East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley

This wine comes from the North-facing, Granite-based Simes Vineyard located in East Kelowna. This is quite the cool, northern location, and it shows in the character of the wine. This Riesling made of clone 49 is vibrant and bone-dry with a very bright chiseled energy. It’s lemon focused with very integrated minerality and an acidity that leads & lingers for days.

Score : 17.5/20 (95/100)

Martin’s Lane, Dehart Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley

From the Dehart Vineyard in East Kelowna not far from the Simes Vineyard but planted to just two Pinot clones, 777 and 667, this site is west-facing, high elevation and warmer in comparison to Simes. Precise expression with stern & tart fruit character and subtle oak spices. The palate is chewy and plush with softly grained tannins but an overall gentle mouthfeel.

Score : 18/20 (96/100)

Martin’s Lane’ Simes Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley

The cool Simes site is actually Pinot Noir dominant using clones. Fresh and appealing, this wine has finely-detailed aromas of cherry-fruit, underbrush and cedar, along with plum, savoury herbs and baking spice. The palate is medium bodied, rich and firm in an effortless way.

Score : 18/20 (96/100)

Martin’s Lane Naramata Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley

When talking with Shane Munn, he mentioned ””Pinot likes to grow in beautiful places.” Naramata bench graceful landscape and parceled land surely applies to this. This is a textured, bold and pure expression with a velvet-like mouthfeel. Sowing earthy tones and very mature fruit, and clove, this wine shows its true strength in its memorably soft and laced palate.

Score : 19/20 (98/100)