Opulent, juicy, concentrated.
Expect rich aromas of peach puree and mango, ginger alongside other exotic spices, lime, honeysuckle and earthier forest floor/mushroomy undertones. The palate is equally plush and weighted with creamy honey, exotic spices and tropical fruits, but buoyed by juicy citrus. Excellent concentration and length and liveliness.
Pair: halibut, roast chicken, Moroccan dishes or a thin-crust caramelized onion and soft blue cheese pizza.
©copyright 2018 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 12th, 2018

Fragrant, creamy, rich.
The reserve Chardonnay is rich and fragrant with acacia flowers, pear compote, smoked spices, honey and vanilla aromas. The palate is an echo of the nose; creamy weight, gutsy flavours and a long spicy finish. Excellent structure and balance make this is a serious contender for your new favourite premium Chardy.
Pair: smoked cheeses, roast turkey or creamy fettuccine Alfredo.

©copyright 2017 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 28th, 2017

Zippy, fresh, value
A fruit-forward Chardy with loads of orchard fruits (think pears, peaches and yellow plums) alongside grapefruit, honey, white flowers and vanilla. The palate mimics the nose; the sweet fruit is charming; it is a pristine and juicy quaffer.
A great everyday sipper.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 1st, 2020

A wonderful repeat performance of the Reserve Chardonnay from JoieFarm.
This vintage you can expect a fragrant wine offering liberal pear and melon aromas, sweet citrus, buttered croissant, fine spice and nutty aromas. The palate is bright and lively and tastes like brown butter, exotic citrus, toasted nuts and spiced oak. Wonderful focus and length with a fresh and spicy finish.
Pair with corn succotash, oysters, halibut in butter sauce, smoked cheeses or creamy pastas.

©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 21st, 2011

Fresh, spiced, subtle.
The Stewart family of Quails' Gate is three generations in and this estate grown Chardonnay delivers orchard fruit and grilled lemons, spiced nuts and browned butter atop honeysuckle aromas. It has notable freshness with flavours of yellow fruit and spice, toasted pecans, mango, vanilla and spice. Clean with subtle oak nuances.
Pair with grilled corn on the cob, rich creamy pastas or smoked gouda and pear grilled cheese sandwich.

©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 30th, 2022

Purity, dry, tart.
Made entirely from Gamay grapes (75% whole cluster pressed) fermented in small open top tanks with twice-daily punch-downs for four weeks.
It's an earthy red expressing tart red berries, orange peel, wet stone, cedar dust and plenty of wild herbal notes. The palate follows suit with tart red fruit, herbs and charred orange peel flavours. It's zesty with good purity and bold acidity.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 10th, 2023

Dry, snappy, bold
A glistening stained white, the 2021 rose delivers peach and wild berry aromas along with orange blossoms and honey. It's dry and juicy with snappy citrus undercurrents. Slick and light-bodied (mid-palate is slightly watery) it culminates in a bold finish.
Pair: grilled chicken and fish, or serve with summer salads, charcuterie and cheese.
Pairs Great with Gone Crackers Roasted Shallot & Herb
 
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 25th, 2022

Fragrant, spritzy, tangy.
A lightly bubbly (frizzante) rose, which dances on your tongue. It offers up fragrant notes of peaches, strawberries and orange blossoms with earthier notes of cedar chips and rhubarb. It is tangy and faintly spicy, has a pristine character and leans on the drier side of the fence.
Good weight and concentration with enough backbone to stand up to heartier dishes; turkey, chicken, oily fish, but also perfect for spicier cuisines.
©copyright 2017 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 16th, 2017

Second review:
Savoury aromas of smoked meat and black fruit (plum and berries), peppery spices and bittersweet chocolate with undertones of roasted herbs, molasses and dried cherry. The palate follows suit - savoury and dark with plenty of spiced dark chocolate mocha and earthy flavours. A concentrated wine with good length.
©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 12th, 2011

This Okanagan Bordeaux-style blend is comprised of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec and I think that this vintage's addition of Cabernet Franc makes it even better than last year.
A luscious fruit bowl of black currents, plums and black cherries are layered with chocolate and spice, vanilla liqueur and coffee aromas.
Wonderful structure on the palate is the base for concentrated dark fruit, green olives, mocha and toasted oak flavours. Smoothly textured and lengthy with roasted coffee and spice flavours lingering on the finish.
Bravo!

©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 13th, 2011

Classic, zesty, fresh.
Harvested from a selection of vineyards from Naramata, Okanagan Falls and Osoyoos this Chardonnay was cool fermented in neutral oak and stainless steel then left to age on fine lees for six months where 75% went through natural secondary fermentation before bottling.
Yellow apple aromas are layered with almonds and grilled lemons, toasted spice and hay notes. It's a juicy white, spiced, lemony and nutty with a classic sort of Chablis character. The finish is zesty.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - October 3rd, 2023

Modern, velvety, sweet.
A thoroughly modern red doling out cherries, raspberries and black plums, licorice, vanilla and baking spice aromas. It has generous sweet fruit and supple weight; it is medium-bodied with spice, mocha and tealeaf flavours rolling across the palate. Nice brightness, international style.
©copyright 2018 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 9th, 2018

Energetic, spicy, charming.
This energetic yet savoury wine offers aromas of peppery spices, saddle leather, bacon fat, mocha and dried violets with warm summer berries. The palate is tangy and equally spicy; sweet juicy fruit is at the core of this wine. It is fresh and charming with good bones and a silky texture.
Pair: Grilled salmon, Asian inspired dishes, spicy sausage.
©copyright 2015 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 17th, 2015

Plush, postured, fresh.
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 2020 Merlot was small batch fermented and matured 18 months in 30% new French oak barrels.
Expect a plush and inviting nose of spiced plums and black cherry, licorice and mocha atop olive tepanade and leather. Salted licorice, vanilla, cherry chocolate and spiced oak flavours line the palate. It's a fresh and postured wine, silky and a little savoury. Good length and structure.
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 12th, 2022

Woven, elegant, supple. A standout in Painted Rock's portfolio, their complex Syrah never fails to impress.
The Syrah grapes come from two west-facing sloped vineyard blocks (clones 99 & 100) and it was aged 18 months in 30% new oak; of the new oak 80% was French and 20% American. The remaining 70% was aged in second fill French.
Superbly scented. Sweet black raspberry aromas are woven with white pepper, candied violets, cedar, licorice, chocolate, pipe tobacco and baking spice. It has a supple entry and generous fruit alongside white pepper, vanilla, cola spice and espresso flavours. It's an elegant and statuesque Syrah with lovely freshness and notable persistence.
Pair: spicy chorizo pizza, smoked gouda and caramelized onion grilled cheese, cheese fondue or game.
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 30th, 2022

Tinhorn Creek's premium Merlot offers plums and red currents, cherries and sweet spices, vanilla and leather on the nose. Expect an earthy palate with mixed fruit, tobacco, bittersweet cocoa and spice flavours. Very nice balance here, a wine to pair with roasts, stews, grilled prime beef and Camembert cheese.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 29th, 2013

Savoury, tangy, textural.
Cabernet Franc and Tinhorn Creek, invariably intertwined.
Always a solid; this vintage doles out tangy red berries, brown spices, roasted bell peppers, fleur de sel and smoked meat aromas. The palate is sweet, smoky and savory as well; wild berries, bittersweet cocoa and spice flavours dominate. It also has great levity and fine textural tannins with a slick finish.
Pair: Grilled sausages or grilled portobello mushrooms with blue cheese, burgers or rich tomato ragu pasta.
Pairs great with Gone Crackers Blue Cheese & Cracked Pepper
 
©copyright 2017 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 6th, 2017

Succulent, muscular, balanced.
I think this wine perfectly illustrates the potential of Syrah in BC - this vintage it is both classic and succulent.
The nose is especially pungent; notes of bacon fat and smoked brown spices, leather and espresso, toasted oak and bittersweet cocoa reveal a core of wild black berries. On the palate however, the fruit leads the charge; black berries, smoked meat, dark mocha and savoury spice flavours appear. It has a spicy and muscular countenance but bright acidity adds levity.
©copyright 2017 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 1st, 2017