Great balance of superb aromatics, weight and acidity.
The newest release from Black Hills is this fragrant Viognier - front loaded with orangeblossom, stone fruit and exotic spice notes followed by undertones of fresh baked cookies, sandalwood, lemondrops and mineral. The palate is slick, peppery and spiced with brulee and citrus flavours, the finish is long and fresh.
Well done!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 8th, 2010

Only 180 cases of this delicious Pinot Noir were made, so check your local private wine stores quickly.
Abundant aromas - black raspberry and cherry, dry earth and spices, savoury herbal notes, coffee liqueur and a hint of beet greens. Nice complexity and structure on the palate with plenty of berry, cocoa and espresso flavours.The finish is powerful but the tannins are supple and it lingers with roasted spice and char flavours.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 7th, 2010

This is an earthy Pinot Noir (more old world than new) that launches with aromas of rhubarb, sous bois (forest floor) and tart red berries with beet greens and roasted coffee beans. It is vey smooth on the entry, similar coffee and tart red fruits cross the palate; it is light-bodied with fine, firm tannins and a long, slightly bitter and warm finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 7th, 2010

This is a plush Pinot Noir with enticing aromas of black raspberry and cherries, coffee, cocoa and warm spices with hints of tobacco. It is fresh in the mouth - supple and sweet with similar berry/cherry and mocha appearing on the palate. It is also a mouth-filling Pinot with the liqueur-like intensity of coffee and kirsch - it has fine grained tannins and a long, smooth finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 7th, 2010

This Ecocert certified organic wine trods the fine line of creamy and fresh very well.
Crisp apple and pear aromas layered with sweet praline, mineral, honeycomb and citrus notes. The palate is creamy and smooth offering pear compote and warm spice, vanilla and bright citrus flavours. The finish is mouth-watering and spicy...
Very tasty!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 5th, 2010

This British Columbia Chardonnay presents very appealing aromas of apple crumble, melon and ripe pear with praline, warm toasty spice and a hint of white pepper. There is plenty of citrus on the palate alongside melon and exotic spice flavours. It is smooth and creamy with lively citrus on the entry but the mid-palate softens before ramping back up into a long vanilla, caramel and spiced finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 5th, 2010

A ripe, aromatic wine, this new Mission Hill Viognier offers bright citrus and honeysuckle notes, stone fruit and spice with tropical notes, vanilla and a musky undertone. The palate is spicy too - unctuous and ripe with rich fruit and lime flavours, white pepper and vanilla. Powerfully potent but fresh and zesty too...
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 5th, 2010

A fantastic BC Pinot Gris that presents aromas of pears and apples, orchard blossoms and honey with a whiff of vanilla and a core of mushroom/forest floor. The palate is creamy and flavoured with liberal fruits - apple, melon and pear with fine spice and honey tones and pomelo peel flavours on the finish. It has very nice acidity and a long silky finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 2nd, 2010

A Vin de Pays Pinot with a lot of character. Aromas of ripe black raspberry and sweet spice, a potpourri of cedar chips and crushed violets with just a hint of vanilla flavours. The palate is also sweet and ripe with plenty of juicy raspberry, cigarbox and vanilla. It has lively acidity and a smooth, spiced finish.
Very satisfying and fruit forward.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 2nd, 2010

This tasty Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir offers up aromas of sour cherries and rhubarb with fine spice, herbal notes, earth and a whiff of vanilla. It is silky on the palate - flavours of juicy cherries and beets, vanilla and sweet spices, cigarbox and a long mocha finish.
Available in Alberta, price N/A.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 26th, 2010

This plush Malbec presents fantastic sweet blackberry and cherry aromas, vanilla, fresh herbs and chocolate with just a subtle hint of a savoury core. The palate is wonderfully supple and layered with ripe berries, sweet spice, chocolate and espresso - the finish is smooth.
Nice intensity and very easy drinking.
Pair with mushroom ravioli , crumbly, aged cheese or BBQ.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 21st, 2010

The newest vintage of Quails' Gate classic Pinot Noir presents sweet raspberry and rhubarb aromas, beetroot and plenty of spice, a potpourri of dried flowers and cedar chips with just a hint of coffee. The palate offers juicy red fruit, it has good concentration and a smooth texture, the finish is mouth-watering and lingers with toast, spice and cocoa. Pair with warm beet salad, mushroom risotto or pumpkin ravioli.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 16th, 2010

This is a truly delicious Pinot Noir from New Zealand's South Island. It offers alluring aromas of black raspberry and crushed violets, star anise and vanilla with a core of coffee and cigarbox. The palate is brimming with sweet silky berries and warm spice, coffee and cocoa. Very nice structure and concentration, the tannins are fine but firm and the finish long.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 15th, 2010

A light-bodied Pinot Noir with peppery spice, mixed summer berry and sweet cherry aromas and a core of forest floor and tobacco. Tart red fruit and pepper spice and tobacco flavours echo its aromas. Nice acidity across the palate and a tight finish
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 15th, 2010

Subtitled the Fats Johnson to pay homage to a man, known as the kindly older neighbor who passed donuts on to children on their way to school, this Pinot presents aromas of sweet cherry and sun warmed raspberries, pretty floral and spicebox tones with an earthy core. The same sweet fruit appears on the palate with cocoa and spice - a juicy Pinot with fine tannins.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 15th, 2010

If you glance quickly you may confuse this salmon-y hued Pinot Gris with a pale rose.
It presents aromas of tobacco and spiced pears, citrus blossoms, vanilla and peach stone with earthy, mineral and forest floor tones. It has impressive complexity and lively acidity with tart tree fruit and citrus flavours. The finish is lengthy with crisp mineral flavours lingering.
Pair this pretty Pinot Gris with creamy mushroom ravioli.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 7th, 2010

An impressive showing from this young Pinot Noir from Naramata Bench's Therapy Vineyards. It's ruby purple in colour with gobs of pretty violet aromas, cherry and raspberry and sweet vanilla with a core of forest floor, herbs and cedar chips. It is quite full-bodied for a Pinot with bright acidity, red fruit, spice and leather flavours. It's smooth, then fine tannins and peppery hints round out the palate.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - October 21st, 2009