Powerful, complex, substantial.
Painted Rock's premium blend Red Icon has jumped $20 in price since last vintage, a trend we're seeing in many BC wines. The 2019 vintage is a blend of 42% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec and 15% Petit Verdot, all blocks were harvested, fermented and barrel aged (18 mos in 30% new French oak) separately, then blended unfiltered before bottling.
It is scented with pipe tobacco and plumcake, dark chocolate, cedar, wild berries and espresso. The palate is supple and fleshy with generous fruit, salted licorice, tobacco, dark mocha and mixed forest berries. It's a powerful wine, concentrated and substantial, and still very youthful. I tasted a day after opening and it was still quite taut.
Open now and decant, or hold for the next decade.
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 30th, 2022

Elegant, complex, supple.
The 2017 season provided small but ripe and concentrated berries, and this unique blend of Merlot (38%), Cabernet Franc (21%), Petit Verdot (20%), Cab Sauv (11%), Malbec (8%) and Syrah (2%) benefited. The wine saw 18 months in French oak barrels, 30% new.
Rich chocolaty aromas are woven with cassis, blueberries and plums, vanilla, licorice, baking spices and coffee. It is juicy yet savoury, balanced and complex. Intensely flavoured and smoothly weighted it has a lengthy, smooth and thoughtful finish.
Open now and decant, or hold for the next decade.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 15th, 2020

Elegant, complex, substantial.
A cooler season than the outstanding 2017 vintage, 2018 was more troublesome with forest fire smoke arriving in August and blocking important light. However the fall was sunny and rain minimal, which resulted in beautifully ripened fruit.
For the 2018 vintage, a blend of 54% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec and 8% Petit Verdot, all blocks were harvested, fermented and barrel aged (18 mos in 30% new French oak) separately, then blended unfiltered before bottling. Plummy aromas are layered with wild berries, purple flowers, chocolate, brown spices, mint, vanilla and tobacco. Woven and seamless on the palate it is a serious wine without being ponderous; substantial but balanced it trails chalky cocoa tannins. Following in the impressive footsteps of 2017, this 2018 is still outstanding.
Open now and decant, or hold for the next decade.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 15th, 2020

Elegant, expressive, energetic.
2014 was a textbook Okanagan vintage for Painted Rock, hot, consistent and a nicely tapered September. This opulent Cabernet Franc spent 18 months in 30% new French oak barrels before bottling.
Notable sweet raspberry, blueberry, vanilla and crushed violet aromas leap energetically from the glass and are followed by pipe tobacco and baking spices. It is a juicy and expressive, feminine style; mouth-filling and smooth overall, it also boasts fine textural tannins, which add chew. It has a slick weight and long elegant finish.
©copyright 2017 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 28th, 2017

Powerful, plush, savoury.
From the 2014 textbook Okanagan vintage, the 2015 was a notably hot one; it shows in this opulent Cabernet Franc, which is less elegant than the 2014, although still balanced.
It spent 18 months in French oak barrels (10% new) before bottling.
Rich and chocolaty, it boasts aromas of currents and dry tobacco, violets and savoury undertones of sage, and smoked meats. The palate is decadent too, but fresh and smooth. Well balanced despite its power.
©copyright 2018 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 17th, 2018