The Mavety family has been growing grapes high above Vaseaux Lake in the South Okanagan since 1971. Since 1991 they have been making their own wines under the Blue Mountain label.
Pinot Noir is a focus of Blue Mountain (as is Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Gamay Noir).
Consistent, elegant and simply delicious, the 2010 Pinot Noir is sweet and spicy on the nose - red cherries, red currents and leather with fine spice mixed with white pepper, violets, sandalwood and tobacco with undertones of wild herbs. It is silky but still substantial - similar flavours of juicy cherries, berries, spice and cedar glide across your palate. It is long and powerful with cocoa trailing on the finish.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 28th, 2012

The Poplar Grove Merlot was aged in French oak barrels for 21 months and then bottle-aged for another 13 months. Although it is dominated by Merlot, it does have an addition of 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon.
It's a powerful red - completely opaque in colour and heavily scented with black plums, spicecake and treacle or molasses, vanilla and dark roasted mocha notes. It has a liqueur-like concentration and flavours of sweet dark berries, plums, dark chocolate and spice.
Brawny and potent.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 27th, 2012

A generous marriage of old and new world styles, this South Okanagan grown Syrah reinforces my excitement over Syrah in BC, grown in the right place and properly handled.
Aromas of spicy raspberries and sweet blackberries, violets and white pepper are rounded out with smoked meat, cedar and brown spices.
It has an impressive structure, opulence and focus. There are gobs of tannins, polished but still obvious. The finish is firm and trails bittersweet cocoa flavours.
Buy three (if you can) - decant and drink one now, then place the other two in your cellar and retaste in five years.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 26th, 2012

Victoria's oldest family owned winery, Tahbilk, was first established in 1860 (150 years ago) and purchased by Eric Stevens Purbrick in 1925. The Purbrick family is now four generations in, and the vines from which this wine was made were mostly planted in 1949.
It is a fantastic Cabernet, which offers sweet Ribena and black berry notes, vanilla and allspice, coffee liqueur and patchouli. The palate follows suit - dark chocolate, cassis and tobacco flavours, it has a powdery texture and pleasing acidity to balance.
Great structure and impressive length with some grip on the finish.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 21st, 2012

The Mount Edelstone Vineyard was planted in 1912 by a descendant of the man who founded South Australia - George Ronald Angas. The now 100 year old Shiraz vines are the original ungrafted and dry-farmed vines - a rarity, anywhere in the world.
Since 1952 this wine has been made as a single vineyard Shiraz and it's one of Australia's treasures.
Expect aromas of damson plums, black raspberries and bittersweet chocolate, dried purple flowers, sweet spice and pepper. There is a mineral/earthy core to this wine on the nose and in the mouth. It is supple and spicy with dusty plums, toasted spice and dark cocoa. It is a profound wine with exceptional complexity and a freshness to give it lift.
A piece of history in each glass - an absolute treat!

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 21st, 2012

Clare Valley winemaker and pioneer, Jim Barry and his wife Nancy purchased 70 acres of prime grazing land from their neighbor in 1964 and planted their first vineyard with Shiraz. That neighbor's name was Duncan McRae, hence the label.
I am a huge fan of Clare Valley reds - I love the juiciness and bright high-toned fruit provided by the region's cooler-climate. The McRae Wood maintains its vibrancy wonderfully at six years old - expect sweet purple berries - mulberry and blueberry with violets and vanilla, toffee, chocolate and baking spices followed by vague savoury undertones. The palate is velvety and is highlighted with the same sweet purple berry fruit and spiced mocha. Perfectly balanced with a long juicy finish.
Truly fantastic!

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 21st, 2012

Moon Curser (formerly Twisted Tree) is named for gold-smugglers trying to cross the Canada, U.S. border under the cover of darkness during the gold rush era. Often the brightness of the moon would foil their plans and they would be caught in their illegal activities.
Dead of Night is a blend of Tannat (Madiran's tannic red grape variety) and Syrah from the South Okanagan. The aromas here are spicy and succulent - black cherry, plum and black currents, licorice and sweet spice anchored by black pepper and smoky/savoury notes. The palate is fresh but chewy with assertive acidity and a tart, peppery finish.
This wine is young, it may need some time to soften, if drinking now, I recommend you decant or serve with protein.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 15th, 2012

This Tempranillo was aged for 14 months in French and American oak barrels then bottled and left to age some more.
It's a delicious wine, which is scented with cherry and strawberries, leather and sweet spices with a core of red plums and vanilla. The sweet berry and cherry flavours you get on the nose pop back onto the palate - it is juicy and very charming with coffee liqueur, smoked spices and earthy flavours.
A wine with an attractive rustic elegance, which will pair well with tomato based sauces, slow roasted meats and firm, grilled fish.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 15th, 2012

Named in honor of Legendary Aussie winemaker and founder of Mount Pleasant, this wine was first produced in 1987. The vines grow on heavy, rich volcanic soil in Mount Pleasant's Old Hill Vineyard.
It's a profound wine - dark and spicy with wild briary berries and mulberry aromas, leather and pepper, violets and baking spice. Luscious purple fruit front-loads on the palate layered with chocolaty flavours. It is smooth, the acidity balanced, the concentration impressive and the finish lengthy with ripe, but firm tannin.
The historic McWilliams, is one of Australia's First Families of Wine.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 13th, 2012

Grown on volcanic red clay soils in Tyrrell's oldest (average vine age 50 years) and best vineyard blocks, the Vat 9 is a refined wine, which offers spicy cherry and mulberry aromas, mocha and fresh mint, violets and pepper with smoky/meaty tones. The palate, although well structured offers high-toned fruit with plenty of freshness to give it lift. Flavours of red plums and red berries, mocha and pepper hold tight across the palate and are layered with cocoa on the finish.
A very nice balance of an earthy, structured wine with elegant fruit.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 13th, 2012