A compilation of leather and fresh cherry aromas with violets and cigarbox. The palate is juicy and lively with layers of red berry and cherries, tobacco and fine spices. Lovely acidity and fine tannins make for a perfect (and affordable) dinner wine. Pair with pastas, slow cooked meats or creamy taleggio cheese.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 6th, 2010

Winemaker Michael Bartier blends: Kerner, Gewurztraminer, Schoenberger, Muller Thurgau and Pinot Gris into this Riesling dominant white. And, he has outdone himself with this vintage; it is shamelessly aromatic offering lychee, stone fruit and tangerine peel notes, honey and apples, exotic blossoms and ginger. The palate is slick, nicely weighted on the tongue and slightly sweet but nicely balanced with mouth-watering acidity. Expect very nice concentration and a long, pristine finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 30th, 2010

An utterly charming red wine made from Sicily's indigenous Nero d'Avola grape.
It is a wine brimming with sweet cherry and grapey aromas, crushed violets and plums with hints of cedar and vanilla. The palate echoes those juicy berry tones with spiced cocoa, dark earth and espresso flavours. It is quite potent and chewy, but very tasty and it will pair nicely with rich meats, hard cheeses or hearty, rustic Sicilian caponata.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 17th, 2010

This organic rose is made from 95% Merlot and 5% Syrah and is not for the meek.
It is a dark rusty-ruby colour with aromas of cherry juice, smoke, dried tobacco leaf and wild herbs with an earthy core. There is plenty of lively acidity and flavours of tobacco and spice with hints of dried fruit. Quite powerful and grippy on the palate with a dusty texture - spice and bitter flavours linger on the finish.
Will hold its own with barbecued foods.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 15th, 2010

A lovely coloured rose Cava made from 100% Pinot Noir, this refreshing bubbly offers aromas of sweet red berries, earthy spices, dried flowers and toasty/brioche undertones. The palate is creamy but lively, presenting fresh berry and citrus aromas layerd with earth, fine spice and tobacco. The finish is long and mouthwatering with lingering leesy flavours. A very food-friendly bubbly with nice complexity at a price appealing enough to drink every day!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 7th, 2010

Made from equal parts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc with the addition of 8% Pinot Gris this new addition (the first vintage of a Tinhorn Creek pink) is a welcome one!
Aromas of peach stone and rhubarb, vanilla and orange creme with hints of forest floor, wild herbs and spice. The palate presents juicy berry fruit with a hint of apple peel and peach. The finish is long with mouth-watering acidity to balance its sweet fruit flavours.
Like most rose, this one will pair with, cheese, hearty salads, seafood or appetizers on the patio...
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 10th, 2010

The Mission Hill Rose returns as a welcome addition to your summer sipper options - great for sipping, snacking on the patio, or pair with cheese, fish, hearty salads...
Expect aromas of sweet spice, strawberry jam and blackberries, with a fragrant potpourri of dark flowers and cedar. The palate is brimming with juicy cherry and berry fruit, cigarbox and tart, zesty flavours. Nicely balanced acidity cleans up a kiss of sweetness.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 10th, 2010

Another lovely vintage for Hillside's Gew the 2008 shows rich honeyed aromas with mango and kaffir lime, grapefruit and plenty of exotic spice notes. It is expressive on the palate - very nice intensity and weight, the flavours echo the aromas - spiced honey, tropical fruit and citrus. The finish is slick and spicy.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 7th, 2010

This Reserve Pinot Gris has a lovely coppery hue and alluring aromas of pear compote, caramel and summer flowers, with a honeyed citrus note. It has a lovely weight in the mouth, a creamy texture and flavours of deep dish apple pie and ripe pear. There is lovely acidity to balance the creaminess and a long, smooth finish sprinkled with warm spice.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 2nd, 2010

This nicely packaged Tempranillo shows sweet red berry and red cherry aromas, spiced cocoa and rich dark earth. It has a solid backbone in the mouth with juicy red fruits, cocoa, earth, cigarbox and fine spice. Nice acidity brightens the palate and smooth tannins round out the finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 21st, 2010

This charming blend of Sangiovese and Montepulciano presents aromas of sunwarmed cherries and fine spices, saddle leather and rich earth with hints of espresso, violets and vanilla. The palate is supple and echoes warm cherry and berry flavours, sunbaked earth, roasted coffee and dark cocoa. It has nice flavour-lifting acidity and a smooth finish.
A great everyday pasta wine!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 12th, 2010

The Voga always gets a second look due to its appearance but it is also a nice, everyday crowd-pleasing white.
It is a fragrant wine - aromas of honeysuckle and pear, almond oil and talc. On the palate expect creamy white fruit and honey roasted nut flavours, bright citrus and a hint of spice.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 30th, 2010

BC native and experienced international winemaker Ann Sperling creates a welcome addition to our growing wine industry - Sperling Vineyards, located in Kelowna.
The Market White is a fragrant blend of mostly Pinot Gris with Gewurztraminer and a dash of Riesling. Expect aromas of rose petals and honeysuckle, tropical lychee and vibrant grapefruit, a hint of sweet herbs and a whiff of star anise. The palate is off-dry, sweet and juicy stone fruits - think mango and peach - honey and light spice flavours, nice acidity cleans up the finish.
This will make a great patio sipper this summer or pair with spicy noodles or chili dipped spring rolls.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 29th, 2010

This classic BC Pinot Grigio has always provided good value and good sipping.
A pretty golden coppery colour it releases aromas of peach stone and honey, citrus blossoms and ripe white fruit notes. The palate is rounded and quite rich, with refreshing sweet fruit flavours and a long crisp finish with just a hint of spice.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 29th, 2010

I appreciate Riesling in pretty much any form - be it bracing and steely or fragrant and off-dry - it's all about balance, and the JoieFarm version has that in spades.
On the nose you can expect lovely lemon, green apple and white blossoms with zesty citrus peel notes. It is off-dry, layered with sweet apricots, lemon drops and vauge peppery/spice hints but its the mouth-watering acidity which takes hold and cleans up the fruit sweetness, resulting in a crisp finish.
One glass will never be enough.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 28th, 2010

A summer favorite, the 2009 JoieFarm - A Noble Blend (a play on words as Noble is also co-owner and winemaker Heidi Noble's last name) is comprised of Gewurztraminer with 20% Pinot Gris, 12% Pinot Auxerrois and 8% Riesling.
It's a fragrant wine, laden with honeysuckle and rose oil, lychee and starfruit, citrus and honey with a core of exotic spices. The palate is juicy and bright with flavours of green apple and lime sprinkled with warm, sweet spice. Mouth-watering and delicious!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 26th, 2010

This fresh new rose will be arriving on shelves in May.
It is a brilliant cranberry colour with sweet, lively cherry aromas with hints of rose petal and toffee. Expect a very refreshing rose, dry and crisp with impressive structure and a firm backbone. It is also a lengthy wine, tart and zesty with hints of spicebox lingering on the finish.
A very nice patio sipper but it will pair with an endless selection of dishes from pasta and fish to salads and a cheese course.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 12th, 2010

If you like rose as I do, you'll look forward to the release of the Chateau de la Galiniere each spring.
The 2009 is one-half Syrah plus Grenache, Cabernet and Mourvedre and has a delicate pale pink colour that suits its personality.
Fresh mountain stream minerality and sweet summer berry aromas with hints of violet, tobacco and earth. The palate has nice complexity for a rose, it is dry and silky in texture with flavours of berry, herbs, cedar and fine spice - red citrus flavours linger on the finish.
Very refreshing - pair with fish, summer salads or creamy cheeses.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 16th, 2010

This light-coloured late harvested (the end of November 2008) Kerner has orchard fruit aromas of pear, apple and stone fruits with creamed honey and delicate herbal tones. It is surprisingly dry but still counts as a dessert wine, the palate is slick, the acidity lively and it lingers with lemon drop flavours on the finish.
Pair with cheese or fruit tarts.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - October 19th, 2009