Pretty, postured, woven.
Thanks to the stunning site above Skaha Lake, the Skinner family's painstaking planning and vine selection, as well as the direction of international winemaker and viticulturist, Alain Sutre, Painted Rock's outstanding wines are receiving international attention.
The 2018 Merlot was matured 18 months in 30% new French oak barrels.
Expect a pretty nose of cedar chips and pipe tobacco, sweet plums and cherry alongside baking spices and violets. The structure is notable, the acidity adds levity and the flavours here are earthy. Postured and pleasing despite a warm finish, it's a nicely woven wine I'd recommend decanting now or cellar up to a decade.
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 14th, 2021

Fresh, savoury, robust.
Located on the Skaha Bench sub-GI near Penticton, Painted Rock continues to wow media and consumers with top quality wines. This already sold out rose is made from estate Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Syrah and a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon.
It's a stained cranberry shade and suggests apple peel and sour cherries, tangerine and red currents, white pepper and grilled herbs. Great structure here, a robust and boozy pink with a slick texture and balanced freshness. It's also harmonious with a savoury and zesty finish.
It definitely has some heat, it weighs in a 14.3% alc.
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 30th, 2022

Harmonious, elegant, complete. A symphony of black raspberry, sweetened espresso, licorice, violets, brown spices and vanilla and a hint of white pepper. It is fleshy with ample fruit and slick, elongated palate. A complete wine, elegant yet lively, with a finely spiced finish.
Pair: spicy chorizo pizza, smoked gouda and caramelized onion grilled cheese, cheese fondue or game.
©copyright 2019 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 30th, 2019

Painted Rock continues to win accolades with their estate grown wines from above Skaha Lake, near Penticton.
This vintage, the Syrah was aged 18 months in oak barrels (80% new with 60% being French and 40% being American oak).
It's has a decadent nose of chocolate liqueur, vanilla and sarsaparilla rounded out with violets, blueberry and blackberry, toffee and mint. Supple on the tongue, it will seduce you with sweet fruit, dark chocolate and baking spice. There is a lovely floral component on the palate with gobs of white pepper, which trails on the finish. Great balance with plenty of acidity that begs for a bite to eat - Im thinking spicy chorizo pizza, smoked gouda and caramelized onion grilled cheese.
©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 9th, 2012

Painted Rock continues to win accolades with their estate grown wines from their glorious vantage point above Skaha Lake, near Penticton. Now the estate boasts a stunning new tasting room, wedding and event center with possibly the best view in the Okanagan Valley.
This vintage, the Syrah was aged 18 months in oak barrels (50% new with 60% being French and 40% being American oak).
It is a wonderfully elegant and feminine wine with notes of white pepper, wild blackberry tea and raspberry, violets, leather and dried herbs. It has fantastic complexity and lifted fruit notes harnessed with dark mocha, purple berries and sweet spices spiked with peppercorns. It's succulent and has integrated tannins.
It doesn't get much better than this.
Expect great acidity that will sing when paired with spicy chorizo pizza, smoked gouda and caramelized onion grilled cheese, cheese fondue or game.
©copyright 2014 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 24th, 2014