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 Syrah (made with the addition of 25% Grenache) is a wine that shows impressive complexity and power. Expect mixed fruit aromas of cherries and red berries, spiced cocoa and notes of wild mint and rosemary, saddle leather and dusty minerality. It has lovely acidity on the palate; juicy red fruit and spicebox flavours with layers of pepper and garrigue (wild herbs and scrub). The finish is long and firm trailing flavours of spice and tobacco.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 9th, 2010

This is a delicious wine made from vineyards that have not seen the use of fertilizer or insecticides for more than 25 years and are currently in transition to organic.
It is a feminine wine, presenting aromas of forest berries and crushed flowers, white pepper and rosemary. The palate is brimming with sweet, high-toned fruit, mixed spice and cedary flavours. It is full and expressive with fine, firm tannins clinging to the finish. Pair this wine with Mediterranean dishes or aged, crumbly goat cheese.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 6th, 2010

This small Osoyoos based winery has been pushing the boundaries of varieties grown in British Columbia. In addition to Tempranillo, Chris and Beata Tolly make a pretty decent Tannat and a variety of blends using Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier.
This delicious Tempranillo has strawberry compote and red cherry aromas, cigarbox and spice with a savoury core and plenty of rustic dusty/earthy notes. The palate is sweet and ripe - layers of berry, sasparilla/rootbeer and sweet spice. It has very nice acidity and a lingering, smooth finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 4th, 2010

From Dunham Froese's certified organic estate vineyard, this very tasty Sauvignon Blanc offers a fruit cup of aromas with creamy honey and undertones of sugar snap peas. On the palate the lovely sweet fruit continues, it is lively but with a slightly creamy edge and has a crisp zesty finish.
Worth seeking!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 28th, 2010

The 2008 vintage Burrowing Owl Chardonnay is very citrusy on the nose with layers of spiced oak and caramel, vanilla and candied nuts. The palate echoes the same vibrant citrus, toasted nuts, spice and caramel. It is a long and lively version of Chardonnay with spice flavours lingering on the finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 27th, 2010

Painted Rock has done a fantastic job on their fresh new vintage of Chardonnay.
The aromas are vibrant and rush out of the glass to greet you - juicy citrus, golden pineapple and melon aromas, oak spice and just a hint of fresh herbs. The palate is also energetic - lively acidity hilights melon and tree fruit flavours, citrus peel and light spice, the finish is crisp, zesty and lengthy. Chic, with impressive but restrained power and a deft use of oak to accent.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 20th, 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

Once again this abundantly perfumed wine from Hillside arrives in time for your summer sipping enjoyment.
Pretty honey and tangerine aromas, white grape-y notes and lime oil, orchard blossoms and exotic spice. Nicely weighted on the palate - juicy apple peel, citrus and stone fruit flavours with suitably balanced acidity.
Pair with fresh and spicy noodle salads.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 22nd, 2010

This is a potent Pinot that oozes vanilla, black cherry and spiced red fruit aromas with hints of beetroot, cocoa and leather and forest floor. Sweet raspberry and cherry flavours dominate the palate followed with layers of cocoa, earth and warm spice. It is a youthful wine with fine tannins and lingering flavours of roasted coffee.
Very good.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 16th, 2010

The Meomi Pinot Noir has a brooding intensity that reveals aromas of black cherry, cedar chips and dried flowers with a heart of forest floor and rich dark earth. A velvety palate unveils ripe cherry, spicebox and vanilla, the finish is bittersweet and smoky with a good dose of cedar.
Now sporting an easy access screw-cap, this firm Pinot Noir is deceptively powerful and will hold its own against duck or lamb or succulent mushroom ravioli.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 10th, 2010

The Chardonnay grapes that make up this wine come from Signorello's 30 year old estate vines, hence the label Vieilles Vignes.
It is a gorgeous version - laden with creamy pear and toasted, nutty aromas, a hint of melon and fire roasted marshmallow. The palate is rich and toasty with layered flavours of pear, sweet spices and praline...it has nice acidity and those warm, exotic spices lounge on the finish.
Nice elegance and the oak is deftly balanced with fruit.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 2nd, 2010

This plush Bonterra Syrah is made from California certified organic grapes (CCOF), but that is just a bonus when you taste how delicious this wine is.
Jammy!
Gobs of rich purple fruit - blackberry and black cherries, molten chocolate and coffee aromas, sweet vanilla, warm spice and pepper. Big, bold, concentrated with juicy berries, fruitcake and mocha.... the tannins are powdery and the finish long and spicy.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 22nd, 2010

There were only 333 cases of this delicious 2008 estate grown Pinot Gris made.
It is a rich, seductive version oozing peaches and ripe pear, bouquets of wildflowers and plenty of fresh pink grapefruit. The palate is a fruit-sweet mouthful with zesty grapefruit peel and mineral flavours - it is juicy and silky on the palate with a vibrant finish.
Highly recommended!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 19th, 2010

Van Westen hits it out of the park again with their potent Viognier - expect fragrant aromas of sweet stonefruit, warm spice and minerality, citrus blossoms and tangerine. The palate has luscious peach fruit with a good splash of juicy lime. A very satisfying texture, it's smooth and weighty, it's chic and snappy and has a lingering spicy finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 15th, 2010

You'll want to dive right into this glass of Cabernet - it releases aromas of fresh blackcurrents and mint, chocolate shavings, leather, wild herbs and tobacco leaf. The palate is firm and full, it has gobs of dark berry, prune and molten chocolate flavours and the finish is impressively long with spiced tobacco flavours. It is still young and tightly wound but give it some time in the cellar and be sure to decant prior to serving.
Delicious!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 12th, 2010

The new Painted Rock Winery has been impressing BC wine lovers with their first release.
The Syrah is very bright on the nose with plump berry and sweet cherry aromas, vanilla, crushed violets and warm spices with herbal undertones. It is medium-bodied with loads of pepper and cocoa, a chic wine with lovely balance and dry, firm tannins.
Well done!
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 7th, 2009

This classic Pinot Noir hails from the cooler-climate wine region of Mornington in the southern portion of the state of Victoria in South Eastern Australia.
Typical red cherry and red berry fruit aromas, saddle leather and beetroot, cigarbox and faint spice with undertones of forest floor and composty/mushroom notes. It's a bright wine with juicy red fruit flavours, woodsy/savoury tones and cedar with fine spice - clove flavours cling to the finish. It's decidedly earthy/forest floorish and wonderfully funky at the same time. Nice elegance and soft, powdery tannins linger.
You can drink now, but as a cellar gift it will still be drinking nicely in the next few years.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 17th, 2009

This pretty bubbly from South Africa is made from 100% Chardonnay. It has fine, tiny bubbles and flinty/stony mineral notes with toasted brioche and a hint of caramel softened by sweet orchard fruit aromas. The palate is crisp and quite delicate, it has a soft mousse, and subtle complexity with plenty of creamy fruit followed by a zing of citrus and herbal flavours lingering on the finish.
Very nice!
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 4th, 2009