Savoury, toasted classic.
Road 13, which as of 2019 is certified organic, is a strong proponent of Rhone Valley grape varieties such as this Syrah, which was harvested from all seven of Road 13s Syrah blocks (it is blended with 1% Viognier) from the east and west side of the south Okanagan Valley. It was aged in 20% new French and American oak barrels before bottling.
Dark chocolate and white peppery notes meld with blackberry, vanilla, paprika dusted plums and licorice. It has a classic Syrah character; meaty and savoury with distinct charred spice flavours. Hints of cigar ash trail on the finish. It's a toasted and extracted red with sooty dry tannins.
Pair hard cheeses, protein rich meals, or grilled mushrooms.
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 1st, 2021

Savoury, potent, inky.
Road 13 is a strong proponent of Rhone Valley grape varieties such as this Syrah grown in the Blind Creek Vineyard in the Similkameen Valley.
The summer of 2017 was one of the hottest and driest on record for the valley and smoke from fires north and south were an issue--in the best cases it reflected sunlight off vines, assisting in intensity and moderate sugars and alcohol.
In this case, a potent wine was born. Blended with small amounts of Viognier and Merlot it is an inky wine with savoury spice, blackberry and plump black cherry aromas atop salted licorice, baking spice and mocha. Equally potent, the palate has thick slices of meat, toasted brown spice and dark cocoa flavours leading to a roasted espresso finish with pepper and salted licorice. Somewhat brooding, it has a supple weight, some drifting heat on the finish and some angularity in its tannic grip.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 4th, 2020

Smooth, intense, savoury.
Spicy smoked meats, leather, dried herbs and white pepper aromas are propped up with cherries, strawberry and dark cocoa. It's a smooth and savoury wine with good freshness, black fruit and a good dose of meatiness on the palate. A solid wine that suggests big slabs of grilled beef; so if that's your thing, this could be your wine.
Pair: grilled foods, hard cheeses, robust dishes or stews.

©copyright 2019 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - October 22nd, 2019

Meaty, intense, savoury.
Made from 70% Syrah, 24% Malbec and a splash each of Viognier and Gamay.
Savoury is the word of the day with this bottle, it punches out wild black fruit muddled with tar/iodine, smoked brisket, spice rub, mocha, dried sage, saddle leather and bacon fat. Equally intense and, meaty, on the the palate; espresso, toasted spices, char and bittersweet cocoa, which hauls across the finish. Good brightness keeps this extracted wine from excessive broodiness. If you like big wines and big slabs of grilled beef, this is your lucky day.
Pair: grilled foods, hard cheeses, robust dishes or stews.

©copyright 2017 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 2nd, 2017

Slick, intense, supple.
Made from 70% Syrah, 24% Malbec and a splash each of Viognier and Gamay.
Impressions of chocolate covered cherries and plum cakes, brown spices and espresso with hits of vanilla lead to a supple palate with rich mocha and black fruits. Slick, glycerol texture and impressive concentration trailing spiced mocha on the finish. If you like big wines and big slabs of grilled beef, this is your lucky day.
Pair: grilled foods, hard cheeses, robust dishes or stews.

©copyright 2018 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 14th, 2018