Verdant, crunchy, tangy.
CedarCreek is now entirely certified organic.
The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc has a very verdant Marlboroughesque style. Gooseberry and snappy green apples, peach, lime and elderflower notes lead to a similarly punchy palate. It is juicy and has the same racy citrus and crunchy fruit flavours the nose suggests. Good length, a mouthwatering finish.
©copyright 2024 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 25th, 2024

Fresh, balanced, savoury.
Made from Cab Franc grapes grown on the Fort Berens estate in the new GI of Lillooet, and blended with others from the Okanagan. The 2020 suggests black currents and vanilla, pipe tobacco, baking spices and a little chocolate. The palate entry is fresh and medium-bodied with coffee, leather, tobacco, spice and dark cocoa flavours. Overall, good balance.
Pairs great with Gone Crackers Blue Cheese & Cracked Pepper
 
©copyright 2024 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 24th, 2024

Tangy, fruity, balanced.
The family heirloom known as Covert Farms, is a 650-acre multi-functional regeneratively-farmed estate that was established in 1959 at McIntyre Bluff.
Covert Farms' 2022 rose is a slamon/ruby shade made from organically certified Merlot, Cab Franc and Cab Sauv. Expect cranberry and sage, pomegranate, raspberry, vanilla and notes of fresh wildflowers. That dulcet fruity nose is echoed on the palate; it has a fleshiness and a spiced and tangy finish.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 31st, 2023

Stylish, pristine, juicy.
Made from Pinot Gris grown in the certified organic Whispered Secret Vineyard on the cooler south side of the Similkameen Valley, this outstanding white was slow fermented (one month) in a mix of stainless steel tanks and barrels, and French oak puncheons. It was then matured for three months on fine lees.
Sweet Bartlett pear aromas are layered with honey, melon, peach, fresh mountain stream and wildflowers. The palate is fresh, lively and slick with notable purity. Juicy and stylish, and of the best Pinot Gris' coming out of BC.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 30th, 2023

Earthy, youthful, muscular.
Clos du Soleil's flagship estate red is made from four Similkameen vineyards and the 2020 is comprised of: Cabernet Sauvignon (33%), Merlot (34%), Cabernet Franc (21%), Malbec (9%) and Petit Verdot (3%). The wine was aged 18 months in French oak barrels before bottling.
Definitely more brooding than the 2019, this 2020 leads with leather and cherry cola then black chocolate, tobacco, graphite, roasted plums, soy sauce and espresso. On the palate pencil shavings, dark chocolate, leather and toasted spice flavours give way to tobacco, cedar and coffee. It's got nice acidity and textural tannins and definitely will benefit from time in bottle.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 29th, 2023

Pretty, juicy, zesty.
This vintage, a blend of 67% Sauvignon Blanc and 31% Semillon this classic Bordeaux blend was partially fermented in stainless steel and oak puncheons, then aged on lees in both oak and stainless.
It's likely my favourite wine from Clos du Soleil as it has a joyful character and plenty aromatic. Expect melon and peaches, pear, grass clippings, honey and wildflower aromas. The palate is zesty, ever-so-slightly off-dry with nice snap. Bold honeydew melon and sparkling peach flavours dominate. Such a pretty and approachable wine.
Pair: oysters and other seafood, white meats, appetizers or cheese platters.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 29th, 2023

Dry, concentrated, lively.
Clos du Soleil's 2022 Malbec rose seems slightly darker thank last vintage? This year its a ruby/salmon hue and delivers notes of fresh earth and orange peel, strawberry, tobacco, cedar, dried flowers and wild cherries. An attractive slick texture suggests flavours of smoked sour cherries, wild herbs and grilled tangerines. Expect lively acidity and great concentration--a definitive food rose.
Pair: Picnic fare, spicy dishes, grilled sausage, cheese and tapas platters, among so much more.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 29th, 2023

Savoury, fresh, organic.
Covert Farms is a regeneratively-farmed 650-acre fourth-generation, family-owned organic farm and winery estate located just north of Oliver.
The Amicitia is a Merlot (35%), Cabernet Sauvignon (28%), Cab Franc (16%), Malbec (11%), Petit Verdot (8%) and Syrah (2%) blend aged 14 months in French and American oak.
Notes of tobacco and dried cherry are woven with creamy dark chocolate, violets, coffee, ground spices, vanilla and wild sage. It has a supple entry with flavours to echo the nose then it grows more textural toward the finish. Nicely integrated good freshness and balance.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 24th, 2023

Buoyant, tension, dry.
This vintage of Michael Bartier's consistently outstanding pink is differs in composition each vintage and the 2022 is 2% Merlot, 2% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay and 51% Gewurztraminer; the grapes were hand harvested from the home estate Cerquiera Vineyard on the Black Sage Terrace in Oliver, BC and their second vineyard in Summerland.
A light salmon-pink it has earthy notes of tobacco and dried flowers along with tangy red berries, orange peel, quince and citrus. It is dry and juicy shows exotic spice, summer berries and tobacco flavours. Expect tension and texture.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 24th, 2023

Racy, tangy, precise.
A new offering from the Black Sage Terrace's Bartier Bros., this racy white blend is made of 44% Gruner Veltliner from Coldstream in Northern Okanagan and 56% Riesling from Okanagan Falls.
The nose suggests green apples and starfruit, beeswax and dried white flowers and lemon/lime underscored by mineral. It is dry and tangy with notable precision and purity. The finish is zesty and mouthwatering.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 24th, 2023