Whoa Nelly!
A potent and powerful rose blended from Gamay, Cabernet Franc and Gewurztraminer grapes. The colour is a bold ruby - like the colour of raspberry juice - with sweet and smoky aromas. Strawberries, cherries and cranberry, crushed flowers and cedar chips. It is tart on the entry, flavoured with cran-raspberry flavours, fine spices, plenty of pepper and citrus zest. The palate is a combo of sweet and sour with fine, dry tannins throughout, the acidity is good but it's a bit hot at 14% alcohol...
Would pair with sweet and sour pork or grilled pizzas...
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 18th, 2009

Sweet yet tart, this just slightly frizzante (prickly on your tongue) rose is simply fun...especially when paired with spicy dishes.
Aromas of Maraschino cherries, pink grapefruit, strawberry jam and a hint of pepper. The palate offers tart crab apple and sweet Maraschino cherry flavours - the acidity is vibrant and makes your mouth water, readying your mouth for the next sip.

©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 22nd, 2011

A blend of Okanagan VQA Gamay, Pinot Noir, Ehrenfelser and Schonberger, this brilliant cranberry-hued wine has aromas of wild berries and herbs, peppery spices and citrus. The palate is expectedly off-dry - but not cloyingly sweet - there is plenty of bright citrus and cran-rhubarb flavours.
A simple, fun and fresh rose sipper that pairs well with spicy Indian dishes.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - January 25th, 2010

This is a well-made Meritage blend from BC's new Cassini Cellars in Osoyoos.
It's a savoury 59/37/4 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec featuring loads of dark berry and black cherry aromas, leather, vanilla and garrigue notes. The palate is supple with good structure, fine tannins and plenty of acidity and it presents flavours of forest berries and spice.
This is a wine to pair with game meats or grilled veg.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - July 8th, 2009

This more elegant version of a BC Merlot has plenty of red fruit aromas with hints of floral, wild herbs and cocoa. Expect a lovely supple palate texture and flavours that echo the aromas. Integrated tannins, fresh, high-toned fruit and herbs with hints of cedar on the finish.
Cassini suggests red pastas, beef, pork and cheese to pair with this wine.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - October 11th, 2009

The aromas in the Cassini Reserve Pinot Noir are quite sweet - ripe raspberry, cedar, lush chocolate with savoury, meaty undertones. The palate is smooth, bright and juicy with plenty of pepper and cocoa. A good showing for this new BC winery.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 4th, 2009

A very savoury Syrah with plenty of dark fruit, roasted meat and bacon fat aromas with wild sage, bittersweet chocolate and spice notes. The palate follows suit, concentrated and savoury with juicy fruit and loads of pepper. Stylish with a long finish.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 7th, 2009

A wonderfully fragrant young Pinot Noir with aromas of sun-warmed raspberries, cedar chips, crushed violets, hints of blueberry, leather, mixed spice and obvious peppery notes. The palate is bright, expect a sweet entry tasting of summer berries, fine spice, vanilla and mocha. It presents a silky texture, loads of acidity and fine tannins. Will pair well with the typical options of salmon or duck or drink it with cheesey mushroom polenta.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 8th, 2009

This very solid Merlot from British Columbia's established CedarCreek winery has aromas of warm plums and forest berries, coffee and cocoa and a savoury core of smoked meat and roasted herbs. The palate is juicy and fresh, there are plenty of ripe berry, bittersweet chocolate and espresso flavours with spice lingering through the finish. Good concentration with a slighty powdery texture and impressively long finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 8th, 2010

An exceptional and elegant offering from one of BC's newest wineries. A Meritage blend (60/22/18) of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc it presents bright red fruit and leather, crushed flowers and herbs with cedarbox notes. It is very stylish on the palate, medium to full-bodied with a fine grained texture and plenty of juicy fruit. The production on the 2007 vintage is limited to 450 cases, so grab a couple when you see it!
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - July 8th, 2009

Dunham Froese is a small winery in the southern Okanagan town of Oliver, located at the base of the soaring McIntyre Bluff. The Amicitia (Latin for 'friends') pronounced ah-me-CHEE-tee-ah is a red blend of Merlot and Syrah.
The aromas are intense pepper, cherries, chocolate and plum with savoury, meaty undertones. Red berries and plums appear on the palate, again with loads of pepper, leather and bittersweet chocolate flavours. There is lifted acidity, the texture is dusty, somewhat drying and the finish has mouth-coating tannins.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - May 14th, 2009

Pronounced ah-me-CHEE--tee-ah, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Syrah are grown in an organic vineyard located at the base of the soaring McIntyre Bluff near Oliver BC. It has aromas of rich chocolate, cherries and plum pudding, cola spices and molasses with hints of vanilla and hazelnut. On the palate, blackberry, plum and spiced toffee flavours make up a powerful and dense wine with good structure and a meaty core. Fine cocoa tannins linger on the finish - a very different wine from the 2007 vintage.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - October 25th, 2010

Smoked cherries and red berries entice you followed by vanilla, sweet herbs, leather and a core of tobacco and crushed purple flowers. The palate entry is quite light but grows more powerful with flavours of cherry, leather and tobacco with savoury, smoke and peppery spices. It has nice bright acidity and firm tannins hold tight to the finish.
Mostly Cabernet Franc with 15% Merlot to flesh it out.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - January 19th, 2010

One for the barbecue.
Aromas are cherries in vanilla and plums with sweet spice followed by savoury notes - sauvage, roasted herbs, mocha and char grill. The palate entry is fresh with a mix of tart red fruit and berries before the savoury layers kick in - grilling meat, smoke and dried herbs. The finish is smooth the flavours meaty, the oak just peeks through but does not overwhelm the wine.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - February 2nd, 2010

Rich dark fruit and peppery spice aromas with tobacco, earth and fresh wild herbs. The palate although almost brooding, gives up sweet fruit with earth, tobacco and dark cocoa flavours. The texture is powdery, it has impressive power and structure with a nice balance of fruit and acidity.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 5th, 2010

A composite of cherries and red berries, wild herbs and forest floor, cedar and a hint of crushed floral. It's a nicely rounded Pinot with substance, the palate is smooth and presents plenty of juicy berry fruit, cigarbox and a hint of bittersweet cocoa. It finishes nicely with sweet tannins and lingers with fine spice.
Very tasty.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 3rd, 2009

Expect a dense Merlot with plush aromas of blackberry and raspberry, crushed dark flowers and spiced chocolate with earthy undertones and a pinch of white pepper. The palate is potent, laden with flavours of spiced cherries and chocolate. The tannins are encompassing but fine, and they linger long after you've put your glass down.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - May 14th, 2009

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

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

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