Another excellent vintage for Tinhorn Creek's Gewurztraminer - I love the crisp and fragrant style.
The 2012 leads with lychee and rose-scented cold cream, exotic spice and a spritz each of tangerine oil and pink grapefruit. It boldly walks the line between crisp and slick (an almost oily texture). It has a whisper of sweetness that underscores the tropical fruit, sweet spice and lengthy grapefruity finish. Lovely concentration and freshness.
Perfect for pairing with lightly spiced dishes such as chilled noodle salads or pork, turkey, ceviche or an Alsatian onion tart.

©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - May 22nd, 2013

The long popular Conundrum White now has a red sibling, which winemaker Charlie Wagner (of Mer Soleil) tells me shares a single grape variety in both blends - the fragrant Moscato.
Although I prefer this white blend a bit drier with a mouthwatering dose of acidity, it continues to give people what they want. Aromas here are candied ginger, white raisins, apricot and peach, Turkish delight, lychee and honeysuckle rounded out with Meyer lemons. The palate is sweet and spicy with an attractive weighted palate. The flavours are an echo of the aromas, the finish is long and fresh.
Perfect for spicier dishes such as Pad Thai, curries, fresh three-alarm salsa and Indian lime pickle.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - May 22nd, 2013

Consistently one of my favourite BC white wines, the Quails' Gate Chenin Blanc has beautiful notes of guava, pear and melon, honey and citrus blossoms with a smoky core. It's a mouthwatering white that is tangy and has a clean, fresh palate dominated with zesty citrus flavours. It has a smoky/mineral character and very good length.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - May 16th, 2013

Another divinely fragrant 2Bench White vintage from Tinhorn Creek.
This vintage is a blend of 53% Chardonnay, 21% Sauvignon Blanc, 17% Semillon, 6% Viognier and 3% Muscat. It leaps out of the glass with lychee, peach and ginger jam, melon and grapefruit with a whiff of rose scented cold cream. It has a lovely texture and an appealing weight with wonderful concentration. Spicy and juicy and quite potent with a spicy grapefruit peel flavoured finish. Recommended pairings: Asian or Latin flavoured dishes, mild seafood curry, chicken and mango salad or grilled tuna.

©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - May 16th, 2013

An delightful expression of creamy yellow Bartlett pear, honeysuckle, orange blossoms and a spritz of exotic citrus. It is simply fantastic on the palate - weighted and slick with wonderful concentration. It has a whisper of sweetness offset with racy acidity. The flavours of citrus peel and crisp pear cling to your tongue and persist on a lengthy finish.
Recommended pairings: salmon, spicy crab cakes, prawns, baked chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce or seasonal turkey dinners.

©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - May 16th, 2013

Terravista owners, Stella and Bob Tennant established Terravista Vineyards near Penticton after selling Black Hills Estate several years ago. The Figaro (one of two whites they make) is made from white Rhone grape varieties, Viognier and Rousanne.
It has a pristine nose of white blossoms, exotic citrus, apricot and peach stone with undertones of ginger. The palate is tangy and crisp but it has a lovely silky (almost oily) weight. Attractive clean fruit layered with lime, grapefruit and honey flavours, which cling to the finish.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - May 9th, 2013

A delightful blushing salmon-copper rose that is reminiscent of those from the South of France.
Made from almost equal parts Cabernet Franc and Syrah, it is a sensationally fragrant wine that provides strawberries, kumquats and citrus blossoms on the nose. The palate has the perfect amount of sweetness to make the strawberries in cream, pink grapefruit and orange peel flavours pop and the perfect amount of acidity to make your mouth water in anticipation of the next sip. Enough punch and structure to hold up to some serious eats; salmon, white meats; Dungeness crab on a croissant, gourmet pizza - you name it!
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - May 2nd, 2013

The always highly anticipated JoieFarm Re-Think Pink! Rose is the benchmark for pink wine in British Columbia. They've been making it in a serious manner (before pink became uber-popular) since day one and although it changes vintage to vintage and some years are better than others, we still eagerly await its release.
The 2012 is spot on. Drier than the last vintage with a brilliant cran-ruby hue, it maintains the previous blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay with a splash each of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris.
It has a berry bowl of aromas - Raspberry, wild summer berries and strawberry are layered with nectarine peel and pink grapefruit. The palate is focused; it is tart and tangy with flavours of strawberry, vanilla, orange peel and raspberry tea. Excellent length with a mouthwatering finish.
Pair with... Almost anything. Fish, white meats, cheese and charcuterie, salads and starters, picnics, a good book...
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - May 2nd, 2013

Charlie Wagner's decadent Chardonnay offers liberal ripe pineapple, baking spice, honey and Meyer lemon underscored with orange blossom and vanilla and wrapped in butterscotch. It's creamy and silky in the mouth; it is spicy and buttery with welcoming vibrancy to keep it fresh. A perfect accompaniment to grilled cheese of smoked cheddar and pears on toasted sourdough or skillet cornbread from the Rutherford Grill.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 11th, 2013

A portion of this delicious Viognier was barrel fermented in older French oak barrels to add complexity. Made from grapes harvested in Naramata and the more southerly Similkameen Valley it offers exotic spice, honeysuckle, Meyer lemon and stone fruit aromas are spiked with lime and honey. It has a captivating concentration and weight; honeycomb, anise and citrus flavours are rounded out by a hint of caramel and ginger biscuits. Lovely length and vibrancy.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 9th, 2013