The Reserve Pinot Noir from Cassini Cellars follows suit with the rest of the portfolio - well-made wines with good structure.
It is a very earthy and succulent style - black cherry and bacon fat, beet greens, crushed violets and cedar with underlying tart red fruit notes. It has mouth-watering acidity with flavours of red fruit and spice layered with cedar and pipe tobacco. The texture is silky, the finish lengthy.
Recommended pairings: roast turkey, duck, creamy mushroom pasta or grilled salmon.
Silver winner, InterVin International Wine Awards 2011

©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 29th, 2011

BC Syrah excites me more than any other red variety right now - but I prefer those with finesse like ths one, not the meaty, brooding and extracted versions.
Attractive aromas of black raspberries, sweet vanilla, violets and cedar chips with oak spice and finely ground white pepper. There is also an appealing sweet and tart character to this wine - cherry and berry flavours are rounded out with vanilla and peppery spice. It is fresh and supple with a solid, smooth and flavourful finish.
Very good!

©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - October 21st, 2011

Although it is labeled Cabernet~Merlot it's actually a five variety blend which is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon followed by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and a pinch of Syrah.
The aromas are spicy and sweet - black cherries, plums, mixed berries, cocoa and espresso with a core of savoury herbs and brown spice. Powdery tannins cling to the palate, there is plenty of acidity here. A straightforward red that'll pair with tomato based sauces and stews.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 2nd, 2012

This Pinot Noir comes from CedarCreek's home vineyard (Block 4) at the winery, on the east side of Lake Okanagan. The vineyard is carefully maintained to let the best fruit available shine - which is done by thinning the bunches so much that what falls to the ground is as much as what stays on the vine until harvest.
Aromas of smoked cherries, beetroot and fine spices with hint of grilled wild herbs, forest floor and cocoa. Expect sweet fruit on the palate, smoke and tart red fruit notably, cranberry and sour cherry and plenty of cedary flavours. Very juicy with a nice texture and decent finish.
Decant before serving and pair with creamy washed rind cheeses, salmon or Burgundian specialties.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 13th, 2010

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

Haywire's first vintage Pinot Noir leads with aromas of juicy cherry, raspberry and violets with earthy, rainforest floor notes at its core. Lovely concentration on the palate - it is silky, the fruit is rich and is layered with spice and earth. A Pinot Noir that has BC written all over it - plenty of bright acidity and a savouriness which welcomes dishes, such as salmon, creamy mushroom ravioli or a rich beet risotto.

Mention WineDiva for free delivery on direct purchases from Okanagan Crush Pad
 
©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - February 7th, 2012

Howling Bluff Estate Winery makes the Summa Quies (I recently reviewed and praised) Pinot Noir as well as this Three Mile Wines Stone Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir.
At first nose, it offers fresh and fragrant aromas - raspberry and red cherry, crushed violets and cedar chips; secondary aromas are warm spice and rainforest floor. That appealing juicy freshness also comes through on the palate - berries, spice and cigarbox lead to cocoa finish. The tannins are firm but superfine, the finish is smooth.

©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 7th, 2011

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

A blend of: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese, aged in French and Slovonian oak barrels and puncheons and is made from grapes in La Stella's sustainably farmed vineyards in the South Okanagan.
Sweet, upfront fruit aromas - cherries and ripe berries with hints of dried fruit, leather and tobacco with chocolate and a seam of mediterranean herbs throughout. It has nice structure with plenty of fruit on the palate, finely woven with leather, tobacco and cedar flavours - the finish is smooth with hints of toast and dark roasted coffee. .
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - November 9th, 2010

This Okanagan Falls Pinot Noir spent ten months in French oak barrels, 33% new.
It has welcoming raspberry jam and cedar aromas, strawberries and crushed flowers with anise and fine exotic spice, a hint of white pepper and undertones of forest floor and beet greens. The entry is solid - mocha, red berries and toasted spice flavours with a savoury, smoky edge. Lovely structure and concentration, smooth but with tightly woven tannins and a long finish trailing coffee grounds and fine spice.
Decant if drinking now, or MFV suggests you can cellar this wine until 2019.
©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - January 28th, 2011

Here is a fun and approachable Pinot Noir that oozes cherries and cola spices, violets and leather but is also grounded by some very agreeable earthy undertones. The palate echoes its aromas offering similar cherry, exotic spices and cocoa. It is silky and has a long mouth-watering finish trailing sweet and spicy flavours.

©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - February 8th, 2011

Meyer Family Vineyards makes this declassified Pinot Noir from vineyards all over the Okanagan Valley. It's a solid, affordable style with spicy cherry and summer berry aromas, anise and violets and undertones of forest floor. Impressive intensity in the mouth, nice complexity and liberal cherry, spice and cocoa flavours. A silky texture leads to a powerful finish sprinkled with fine, ripe tannins.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 4th, 2012

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

A solid, approachable red blend with plush aromas of prune plums and chocolate, sweet black cherries, baking spices and vanilla. It is smooth and straightforward in the mouth offering flavours of ripe dark fruit, spiced mocha, tobacco and vanilla.
Equal parts Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon with 25% Cabernet Franc and a splash of Petit Verdot.

©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - October 28th, 2011

When I crave Merlot, this is the style I want in my glass...
Very attractive aromas of plums in chocolate, sunwarmed summer berries, leather, warm spice and vanilla with a dark earthy heart. It's wonderfully plush on the palate, rounded and smooth with spiced berry, leather, mocha and tobacco flavours - the finish is long with plenty of oak spice lingering.
Excellent!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - January 13th, 2010

There is no lack of oomph in this Pinot Noir. The mid-range tier of Mission Hill Estate's Pinot Noir is very aromatic - it offers black cherries and forest berry aromas layered with allspice and floral undertones. It is velvety in the mouth with abundant fruit and fine oak spice flavours - it will please a crowd.
A very approachable wine that will pair well with roasted beet risotto or seared duck breast.

©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 28th, 2011

The formerly-known-as Twisted Tree, has undergone a momentous overhaul with dark yet intriguing paper-cut labels created by New York-based artist Andrea Dezso. Deszo's work has been exhibited at several museums and galleries worldwide as well as two subway stations in NYC.
Rarely known outside of Madiran, France (also now found in Uruguay, Europe and North America in small amounts), the rather meaty and tannic Tannat actually shines in this blend with Syrah.
It is impressively rich and chocolaty on the nose with plums and kirsch, purple flowers and some undertones of wild herbs. It is a broad and mouth filling wine with a chewy texture that is followed by a long, bittersweet cocoa and espresso finish.

©copyright 2011 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 29th, 2011

This ruby-hued red is fresh and light - perfect for chorizo hash at brunch, Camembert and appetizers in the afternoon and grilled salmon in the evening.
It is a peppery wine with tart red fruit, violets, leather and undertones of forest floor. It is light-medium bodied with loads of bright acidity giving lift to red cherry, cranberry, smoked spice and savoury/meaty flavours.
A straightforward but charming wine.

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

Another winner from Painted Rock winery!
This Merlot presents aromas of spiced plums, black cherries, dark chocolate and licorice with a savoury/smoked core. It's concentrated on the palate and leads with dark fruit layered with roasted coffee, toasted oak and spice. Powdery tannins cling across the palate - it's a full-bodied and focused wine with a substantial finish.
A wine you could lie down for five years or decant and drink now.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 4th, 2012

Painted Rock continues to win accolades with their estate grown wines from above Skaha Lake, near Penticton.
This vintage, the Syrah was aged 18 months in oak barrels (80% new with 60% being French and 40% being American oak).
It's has a decadent nose of chocolate liqueur, vanilla and sarsaparilla rounded out with violets, blueberry and blackberry, toffee and mint. Supple on the tongue, it will seduce you with sweet fruit, dark chocolate and baking spice. There is a lovely floral component on the palate with gobs of white pepper, which trails on the finish. Great balance with plenty of acidity that begs for a bite to eat - Im thinking spicy chorizo pizza, smoked gouda and caramelized onion grilled cheese.
©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - May 9th, 2012