Dark plummy aromas supported with cocoa and earthy-smoky notes and lifted with mint. Smooth on the palate showing fresh dark fruit and prune flavours with spice and cedar and meaty flavour nuances. Quite full-bodied and layered.
©copyright 2007 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - October 7th, 2007

This weighty, masculine bottle is more than a hint at what is the seriousness that is Oculus. Canada's own Opus One? Bright red berry fruit, cassis and plums, chocolate, coffee, green bell pepper and spice. Intense grip in the mouth, a bit boozy with dusty tannins. The wine is still a baby and will improve even more with some cellar time.(47%merlot, 25% cabernet sauvignon, 20%cab franc 8%petit verdot).
©copyright 2006 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - July 7th, 2006

One of the new release from Mission Hill's Legacy Series is primarily Merlot with 19% each Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon with 10% Petit Verdot. It has bold, juicy aromas of wild berries and plums dark flowers, mocha and vanilla with savoury herbs and grilled bell pepper undertones. There is plenty of ripe berry fruit and bittersweet chocolate on the palate. Expect good concentration and balance with a powdery texture throughout and a long dark finish.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 7th, 2009

This is a very aromatic bright ruby-hued wine with maraschino cherries, vanilla, blackberry and cocoa with hints of hazelnuts. The palate has a lovely silky texture and layers of red fruit, cedar, cocoa and hints of spice. A very easy drinking Pinot Noir great for weekday dinners.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 3rd, 2009

This classic BC Pinot Grigio has always provided good value and good sipping.
A pretty golden coppery colour it releases aromas of peach stone and honey, citrus blossoms and ripe white fruit notes. The palate is rounded and quite rich, with refreshing sweet fruit flavours and a long crisp finish with just a hint of spice.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 29th, 2010

An excellent value Pinot Noir!
For under $20 you get this juicy, typical offering with sweet, earthy aromas - cherries, cedar box, wild berries and woodsy, forest floor and leather tones. On the palate it is silky and bright with plenty of cherry/berry, cedar and fine spice flavours. It has great acidity and plenty of fruit with a lingering finish.
Very good.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 22nd, 2009

An easy sipping Sauvignon with pretty floral and peachy aromas, citrus blossom and pears with just a hint of the cut grass aromas typical in SB. Smooth on the palate - surprisingly lush with rounded acidity - and flavours of pomelo, tangerine zest, minerals and cut grass - crisp and tasty with a mouth-watering finish.
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - October 31st, 2008

In October 2008, Mission Hill launched two well kept secrets. An impressive red blend called Quatrain and this pewter labeled Perpetua. This is an elegant Chardonnay meant to age like those from Burgundy.
It shows citrus and soft orchard fruit aromas, brown butter and toast with loads of minerality and citric flavours. The texture is creamy, the finish is long and clean.
Cellar worthy
Or...serve with white fish or pasta in lemon-butter sauce.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - January 23rd, 2009

A well-made blend of 41% Syrah, 32% Merlot, plus equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc this premium will impress.
On the nose expect assertive black cherry and briary berry aromas, vanilla and clove a hint of crushed flowers and allspice with savoury and herbal undertones. The palate texture is quite supple. Expect plush cherry and plums, vanilla and espresso with spicebox flavours lingering on the finish. The tannins are ripe and still chewy, the finish is long and chocolaty...
You could drink now, but it would benefit from 6 months to a year more in the cellar.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - November 5th, 2009

NEW!
Mission Hill recently gave birth to Quatrain, a little brother to the mighty Oculus. The brilliance of the Quatrain is not only its immediate drink-ability but its $20 lower price tag. A fine blend of Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet it's inky ruby in colour with cassis and fresh plum aromas, coffee and spices, chocolate and black currents. Ripe, fresh and quite lush on the palate, it is nonetheless a food wine - pair with braised short ribs or creamy mushroom pasta.
Reviewed in Infamous Magazine November 2008
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - November 4th, 2008

Mission Hill's Select Lot Collection Syrah may need a bit of more time to mature but it will not disappoint. Still very youthful it presents aromas of dark chocolate, plums and wild berries, espresso and dark, mineral rich earth. The palate follows suit; it is dark, earthy and concentrated with savoury tones and plenty of hot spices.
Expect a powerful wine with fine, firm tannins.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 9th, 2010

Fresh aromas - crisp pear and apple with juicy citrus underlined with honey, caramel and spiced vanilla notes. On the palate it's crisp on the entry, creamy mid-palate with pear, lemon and honey flavours followed by oak spice on the finish.
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - July 23rd, 2008

Very tempting creme brulee and grilled pear, golden pineapple and roasted nut aromas. The palate has lemon pudding, sweet spice and vanilla caramel flavours with plenty of tropical citrus and pineapple, the finish is crisp.
Pair with smoked cheeses, creamy pasta or roast chicken...
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 10th, 2009

Creamy pears and mixed tree fruit aromas with vibrant citrus and sweet spice notes. It tastes like biting into an anjou pear - the texture is softly rounded with more spice and crisp citrus on the palate.
Easy sipping or pair with seafood pasta.
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - July 22nd, 2008

Good value! Consistent and tasty, this wine has aromas of creamy orchard fruits, melon and pear with stone fruit tones and just a hint of green leaf and blossoms. The entry is smooth, the fruit is juicy, there is a suggestion of spice and exotic citrus and floral flavours. Fresh, an easy quaffer with a clean, crisp finish that would pair well with fish.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - March 23rd, 2009

Light ruby in colour with red cherry and cranberry aromas, tobacco, cedar and spices. Fresh and light-bodied with bright, tart berries, tobacco, crisp mineral flavours and more cedar and spice lingering on the finish. Perfect for summer salads, salmon and soft cheeses.
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - July 9th, 2008

The Mission Hill Rose returns as a welcome addition to your summer sipper options - great for sipping, snacking on the patio, or pair with cheese, fish, hearty salads...
Expect aromas of sweet spice, strawberry jam and blackberries, with a fragrant potpourri of dark flowers and cedar. The palate is brimming with juicy cherry and berry fruit, cigarbox and tart, zesty flavours. Nicely balanced acidity cleans up a kiss of sweetness.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 10th, 2010

Elegant.
Aromas are of fresh, sweet currants and plums, pepper and savoury herbs with cedar notes. Medium-full bodied and smooth on the palate showing black cherries, leather and rich dark earth followed with fine, integrated tannins and lingering spiced cocoa.
As an added bonus, a very drinkable 13% alcohol means a glass won't bring on the sandman.
©copyright 2007 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 18th, 2007

Lovely cassis, tobacco, chocolate and creamy berry aromas. It is supple on the entry, has a fine, elegant mid-palate with bright acidity, juicy red fruit, spice, tobacco and more chocolate. Ripe tannins, fine grained and lingering...
Very good quality for value BC Cabernet.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 21st, 2009

A stand up version of Cabernet in British Columbia.
Expect aromas of juicy currents, hints of purple fruits, cigarbox, vanilla and chocolate with earthy/leathery undertones. It is bright on the entry with fresh black and red currents, wild herbs and plenty of oak and char grilled flavours on the finish with ripe tannins lingering.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - November 26th, 2009