Elegant complex, lengthy.
Bartier Bros'. traditional method brut (first vintage 2019, of which portions have been held back and added to subsequent vintages) is just as good as the previous version I tried. Made entirely from Chardonnay from Penticton and Peachland vineyards, ispent 4 months in stainless steel followed by 12 months in bottle on lees, en tirage. It's a bright yellow hue with quite leesy notes of bread dough and browned butter, charred honey, grilled lemon and wild herbs. The palate is dry, creamy and zesty with flavours of orange creamsicle and the finish tastes like toasted brioche. Lovely length and complexity. Elegant.
©copyright 2024 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 15th, 2024

Pretty, fresh, character.
Without doubt, Michael Bartier is one of British Columbia's most talented and humble winemakers. He makes honest wines and trusts the site and the fruit to dictate the wine. This Cab Franc (with 8% Merlot) comes from fruit grown on the Black Sage gravel bar in the estate Cerqueira Vineyard and it was aged 14 months in neutral French oak.
Currents and cherry aromas are layered with dried violets, brown spices, tealeaf and leather with hints of vanilla and fresh earth. It has lovely freshness and classic Cabernet Franc character with flavours that mimic the nose. Earthy and honest it has woven polished tannins.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 24th, 2023

Pretty, fresh, stylish.
Without doubt, Michael Bartier is one of British Columbia's most talented and humble winemakers. He makes honest wines and trusts the site and the fruit to dictate the wine. This Cab Franc (with 9.6% Merlot) comes from fruit grown on the Black Sage gravel bar in the estate Cerqueira Vineyard and it was aged 14 months in neutral French oak.
The nose is definitely pretty; silky chocolate, currents and vanilla, licorice root and violets. It's smooth and fresh and stylish. Red currents, cocoa, coffee and tobacco flavours are expressed on the palate along with fine spice. A lovely and stylish representation of the variety.
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 15th, 2022

Youthful, savoury, fresh.
Without doubt, Michael Bartier is one of British Columbia's most talented and humble winemakers. He makes honest wines and trusts the site and the fruit to dictate the wine. This Cab Franc comes from fruit grown on the Black Sage gravel bar in the estate Cerqueira Vineyard.
It's definitely young and the nose is quite muddled with cherries and vanilla, salted licorice and currents, green olives, leather, tomato leaf and sage. It's savoury in the mouth with chalky tannins and dusty wild berry fruit; the finish is spiced with hints of arugula.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 7th, 2020

Smoky, savoury, fresh.
Without doubt, Michael Bartier is one of British Columbia's most talented and humble winemakers. He makes honest wines and trusts the site and the fruit to dictate the wine. This Cab Franc comes from fruit grown on the Black Sage gravel bar in the estate Cerqueira Vineyard and it was matured for 14 months in 225L neutral French oak barrels.
Spiced plums and currents, smoked meat, roasted red bell pepper and fresh earth, espresso and carob notes lead to a similarly savoury palate. It has notable freshness and rolls out wild berry flavours layered with dark cocoa, smoked spices, tobacco and leather--the finish is lively and peppery.
618 cases made.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - October 16th, 2020