Fresh, powerful, chewy.
Oliver's Phantom Creek Estates is owned by China-born Richmond-based businessman Richter Bai, who purchased the Phantom Creek and Becker (formerly owned by Harry McWatters who named it the Sundial Vineyard) vineyards in 2016.
From there a winery was erected, complete with guest center and restaurant. Kobau Vineyard on the Golden Mile bench sub-GI was purchased next and was followed by Everden Vineyard in Cawston in the Similkameen Valley, and recently a parcel on the Skaha bench sub-GI.
In 2021 Mark Beringer of Napa Valley joined the team as Director of Winemaking; he works alongside French consultant Olivier Humbrecht MW.
The Kobau Cuvee is Cabernet Franc dominant and has a luxurious nose of warm chocolate, star anise, cassis and black cherry, white pepper and pipe tobacco. The palate entry is supple, it front-loads generous berry fruit flavours along with brown spices, marzipan and leather. Beautifully constructed and powerful with chalky tannins. The best of the red lineup IMO.
Decanting recommended.
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 24th, 2022

Powerful, plush, fresh.
Oliver's Phantom Creek Estates is owned by China-born Richmond-based businessman Richter Bai, who purchased the Phantom Creek and Beker (formerly owned by Harry McWatters who named it the Sundial Vineyard) vineyards in 2016.
From there a winery was erected, complete with guest center and restaurant. In 2021 Mark Beringer of Napa Valley joined the team as Director of Winemaking; he works alongside French consultants Olivier Humbrecht MW and Philippe Melka.
The estate Merlot, harvested from the Black Sage and Golden Mile vineyards, was aged in French oak (36% new) for 18 months.
Expect plush aromas of Kirsch and licorice, vanilla, pipe tobacco and toasted baking spices. The palate has the same potency as the nose; it has a lush character and lovely freshness along with woven flavours of coffee, chocolate and black cherry. Powerful like its brethren, the Merlot also has good tannic grip on the finish.
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 24th, 2021

Brooding, powerful, grippy.
Oliver's Phantom Creek Estates is owned by China-born Richmond-based businessman Richter Bai, who purchased the Phantom Creek and Beker (formerly owned by Harry McWatters who named it the Sundial Vineyard) vineyards in 2016.
From there a winery was erected, complete with guest center and restaurant. In 2021 Mark Beringer of Napa Valley joined the team as Director of Winemaking; he works alongside French consultants Olivier Humbrecht MW and Philippe Melka.
The cuvee is Cabernet Franc (45%), Cab Sauv (31%) and Merlot (24%) from estate Golden Mile Bench and Black Sage Bench fruit; it was aged in French oak (24% new) for 19 months.
It's a brooding wine of scorched earth aromas woven with salted black licorice, grilled plums, red and black currents and leather. It's a powerful wine, extracted and grippy. It is tightly wound with bittersweet chocolate, espresso, grilled bell pepper and charred spice flavours. Decanting recommended.
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 24th, 2021

Fresh, powerful, chewy.
Oliver's Phantom Creek Estates is owned by China-born Richmond-based businessman Richter Bai, who purchased the Phantom Creek and Becker (formerly owned by Harry McWatters who named it the Sundial Vineyard) vineyards in 2016.
From there a winery was erected, complete with guest center and restaurant. Kobau Vineyard on the Golden Mile bench sub-GI was purchased next and was followed by Everden Vineyard in Cawston in the Similkameen Valley, and recently a parcel on the Skaha bench sub-GI.
In 2021 Mark Beringer of Napa Valley joined the team as Director of Winemaking; he works alongside French consultant Olivier Humbrecht MW.
The cuvee is Cabernet Franc (15%), Cab Sauv (50%) and Merlot (25%) and splashes of Malbec, Syrah and Petit Verdot from estate Golden Mile Bench and Black Sage Bench fruit; it was aged in French oak (23% new) for 20 months.
It's a brooding wine of soy sauce and dried cherry, balsamic, molasses, dried tobacco and espresso bean aromas. Good freshness here to launch an extracted and powerful wine with muscle. It has some chew on the palate and dominant flavours of black fruit, wild herbs, toasted spice and coffee.
Decanting recommended.
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 24th, 2022

Postured, slick, precise.
Oliver's Phantom Creek Estates is owned by China-born Richmond-based businessman Richter Bai, who purchased the Phantom Creek and Becker (formerly owned by Harry McWatters who named it the Sundial Vineyard) vineyards in 2016.
From there a winery was erected, complete with guest center and restaurant. Kobau Vineyard on the Golden Mile bench sub-GI was purchased next and was followed by Everden Vineyard in Cawston in the Similkameen Valley, and recently a parcel on the Skaha bench sub-GI.
In 2021 Mark Beringer of Napa Valley joined the team as Director of Winemaking; he works alongside French consultant Olivier Humbrecht MW who oversees the white wine program.
Expect notes of foraged wild mushrooms, wet stone, charred honey and a compote of yellow pear and lemon. Notable intensity with a slick and precise palate that suggests yellow fruit, and grilled lemons along with powerful mineral undertones. Postured and dry, it has a lengthy mouthwatering finish.
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 24th, 2022