Although the Fort Berens winery is pioneering a new wine making region in the Fraser Canyon, they will not have grapes from their own estate until 2011. In the interim, they have done some nice work with grapes purchased from the Okanagan Valley.
I think this is an engaging wine - full of youthful freshness and approachable flavours. Summer red berries, cocoa, red licorice, sweet spice and hints of leather and vanilla. The palate is subtler- flavours of red fruit, dry earth and roasted coffee beans with a hint of wild herbs. There is some complexity and bright acidity followed by a long finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 7th, 2010

The White Gold is made in the Fort Berens Lillooet winery from Black Sage Bench Chardonnay grapes. It was matured in oak barrels for six months, 50% new.
Sweet churned butter aromas morph into spiced pear compote and Meyer lemon with undertones of caramel, toasted oak and vanilla. Lovely weight and freshness on the palate with citrus, toasted spice, vanilla, star anise and creamed butter. Very good length and balance. Well done!
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - February 27th, 2013

The 2011 vintage will be the first for Fort Berens estate fruit and for their new winery, which was started this spring. In the interim, Fort Berens has been sourcing their fruit from the Okanagan Valley.
The 2009 Cabernet Franc comes from the Black Sage Bench south of Oliver.
Aromas of black and red currents, leather and roasted jalapeno with cocoa, peppery spices and beet greens. It is earthy on the palate, the fruit leans toward tart, there are herbs and spice flavours here with chocolate flavours lingering.
It has balanced acidity and powdery tannins.

©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 15th, 2011

Located near Lilooet, BC in the Fraser Canyon, the Fort Berens property was home to a trading post some 150 years ago - hence their name.
This Chardonnay is fresh and fruity, offering pear, pineapple and melon aromas with hints of vanilla caramels. The palate follows suit with fruit cup flavours layered with caramel, toasted spice and vanilla. It has attractive acidity and flavours of star anise lingering across the finish.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - January 19th, 2012

Vineyards in Lillooet you ask? I did as well.
Fort Berens owners Rolf de Bruin and Heleen Pannekoek borrowed the name of the Hudson's Bay Company's Fort Berens, a trading post used by gold prospectors flocking to the area 150 years ago. The couple, who moved from the Netherlands in 2005, built an estate winery on their property in the Fraser Canyon where the trading post of Fort Berens used to sit. The current release of wines are made from grapes sourced from the Okanagan Valley.
There is obvious oak in this Chardonnay - expect aromas of toasted spice, apple and pear, vanilla, coconut and creamy vanilla notes. Similarly on the palate you'll find toasted spice, coconut, vanilla with a hint of marzipan. The finish is mouth-watering and has an almost, liqueur-like intensity.

©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - February 1st, 2011