Balanced, elegant, complete.
Chateau Eugenie is the result of a long lineage of winemakers; the first traces of winegrowing date back to 1470. Located in the heart of the Cahors vineyard area, the vines of Chateau Eugenie are planted on the terraces of the valley's slopes and enjoy some remarkable sunshine.
This Malbec (85%) and Merlot blend delivers black and red wild berries, leather, garrigue, chocolate and baking spice, vanilla and cherry syrup.
The palate is brimming with high-toned red fruit and trails coffee on a long finish. Beautifully balanced and elegant.
A definitive food wine for meat, hearty stews, bean casseroles and grilled mushrooms.
©copyright 2025 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 1st, 2025

Charming, finesse, juicy.
Stoneboat, on the Black Sage gravelbar in Oliver, is now owned by Rudy Verhoeff and Kyla Richey, former professional volleyball athletes. They also own Valley Commons, is a winery established in the District Wine Village in Oliver in 2021. Both wineries fall under the Verhoeff Group of Companies, which is headed by Paul Verhoeff, Rudy's father. The family also owns a flooring company, a brewery and restaurants in the Fraser Valley.
Made primarily from clone 115 (with splashes of 114 and 828) it was aged 11 months in French oak (11% new).
It's a delightful Pinot brimming with sweet wild raspberry and violet aromas layered with cedar, rainforest floor and a dash of finely ground spices. The palate is as juicy and bright as the nose; it is fine-boned and finessed with lovely balance and structure overall. Charming.
©copyright 2025 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 1st, 2025

Woven, fresh, balanced.
Without doubt, Michael Bartier is one of British Columbia's most talented and humble winemakers. He makes honest wines and trusts the site and the fruit to dictate the wine. This Cab Franc (with 8% Merlot) comes from fruit grown on the Black Sage gravel bar in the estate Cerqueira Vineyard and it was aged 14 months in neutral French oak.
Expect aromas of plums and wild berries, vanilla, spice, wild herbs and green olives. Sweet fresh fruit lines the palate; it is nicely woven with lovely balance. The finish trails, tobacco and cocoa flavours.
©copyright 2025 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 23rd, 2025

Restraint, honest, savoury.
This Northern Rhone-meets-Okanagan style of Syrah (with 7% Merlot) grown on Bartier's Cerqueira vineyard on the Black Sage Gravel Bar in Oliver was aged in neutral oak barrels before bottling.
It is a savoury red with smoked meat and spice rub aromas layered with black pepper, cola, plum and black raspberries. Black fruits and charred coffee beans, leather, toasted spice, and cocoa flavours linger on the palate. Don't expect a Shiraz, this is a wine with more restraint.
©copyright 2025 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 23rd, 2025

Fresh, purity, woven.
Bartier Bros' new Pristine label is a series of wines made by Michael Bartier in the Okanagan Valley, from grapes grown in Washington State.
This coppery-pink Cabernet-based rose comes from 40-year-old vines and suggests sweet red berry aromas woven with peach and blood orange, honeysuckle and cedar. It has a lovely purity and freshness with some nice structure to stand up to white meat, roasted veg and fish dishes.
©copyright 2025 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 23rd, 2025

Elegant, expressive, silky.
Spearhead sits high above Kelowna on a cool climate site well-suited to Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Made from Dijon clones 943 and 115 grown at 650m above sea level. It was aged 13 months of French oak, 25% new.
On the nose, bright cherry and raspberry aromas are garnished with violets, caramel, tangerine, forest floor and saddle leather. It has a silky texture and sweet expressive red fruit flavours layered with spice and fresh cut cedar flavours. It is fresh, elegant and has a long and earthy finish.
©copyright 2025 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 21st, 2025

Persistent, lovely, silky.
Spearhead sits high above Kelowna on a cool climate site well-suited to Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. I haven't had this wine since the 2019 vintage when it was made with a mix of Dijon and Pommard clones. This 2023 is all Dijon (115, 114, 943, 777) and is matured 13 months in French oak, 40% new.
An unfiltered Pinot with fragrant notes of forest berries and cherry pipe-tobacco, vanilla, dried violets and rainforest floor. The entry is silky, structure grows across the palate and it presents lovely fruit and spice flavours. Notable persistence here with hints of tealeaf on the finish.
©copyright 2025 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 21st, 2025

Fresh, savoury, spiced.
The 2020 vintage Cabernet was harvested from T7's North Oliver Bench’s Blue Terrace Vineyard and Front Yard Vineyard in Naramata. In Oliver the rich, rocky soils provide a foundation for superior grape quality while those from Front Yard Vineyard on the Naramata Bench add complexity.
Expect green olives and wild sage aromas woven with black current, plum, cocoa, tobacco and leather. The entry is fresh and it has notable structure and tannic grip. Red fruit, cigar and spice flavours dominate the palate.
Pair with almost anything you can throw on the grill or with hearty pastas or hard cheeses.
Pairs great with Gone Crackers Canadian Chedder & Chive
 
©copyright 2025 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 21st, 2025

Expressive, purity, juicy.
Bartier Bros' new Pristine label is a series of wines made by Michael Bartier in the Okanagan Valley, from grapes grown in Washington State.
This Pinot Gris rose is just as the label states, pristine. It's a pale salmon-y-pink tone and is scented with peach and pear, apple and pink grapefruit with a whiff of tangerine and wild flowers. It's snappy with juicy orchard and citrus fruit flavours. It's not fancy, just delicious. Expressive and purity.
©copyright 2025 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 16th, 2025

Snappy, zesty, crisp.
Bartier Bros' new Pristine label is a series of wines made by Michael Bartier in the Okanagan Valley, from grapes grown in Washington State.
This Sauvignon Blanc has a fresh, light nose with notes of gooseberry and sweet grass, crisp pears and green apples with herbs and lime. On the palate it's snappy with mouthwatering acidity and a zesty finish. It's a more direct white with some phenolic texture on the finish.
©copyright 2025 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 16th, 2025