Trevor Sabourin

Serafino Sorrento Grenache 2012, Mclaren Vale

The nose is very ripe and sweet, offering raspberry/strawberry jam, fig, dark plum/prune, along with leather, forest floor, tobacco, nutmeg, menthol, and a slight floral hint. The fruit is more tart (yet still ripe) dark cherries and raspberry on the palate, with considerable spicy white pepper, clove, and menthol backing it up. There is some alcohol heat, though the mouthfeel remains plush and fairly smooth. The body is medium-full, with the acidity medium-high and tannins moderate and well-integrated. Good length finish with berries, menthol, spice, and slight earthiness.

Concha Y Toro Winemaker's Lot 148 Carmenère 2012, Las Pataguas Vineyard

C.C. Jentsch Cellars Viognier 2013, BC VQA Okanagan Valley

The nose offers ripe, sweet aromas of peach and nectarine, honey, cantaloupe, lemon zest, yellow pear, white flowers, wax, nutmeg, and almond. The palate is similar, but with noticeably more lemon/lime citrus, more nutmeg and clove, some yeastiness, and some phenolic bitterness which comes across as nutty and citrus zest character. It is almost full bodied, round and creamy on the palate, and has medium-high acidity. The balance is impressive, as viognier can tend toward overly high alcohol and lower acidity. Good length, finishing with lemon, almond, biscuit, and clove.

Bartier Bros. Unoaked Chardonnay Cerqueira Vineyard 2013

Very round and ripe, but quite mineral. Aromas of lemon, yellow apples and pears, apricot, honeysuckle, beeswax, wet stone, and biscuit. Repeats on the palate, with a bit more leesy character. Smooth, soft palate and restrained alcohol. Acidity is just a touch over medium.

Bartier Bros. Syrah Cerqueira Vineyard 2012, Okanagan Valley

Incredible, pure dark fruit and floral aromatics really shine on this wine, thanks to the use of only neutral oak. Dark cherry, blueberry, blackberry, violet, lavender, anise, white pepper, smoke, sage, leather, tobacco, and just a bit of meatiness on the nose. More bright dark fruit on the palate, with some crushed rock minerality and tannic grip making for a vibrant mouthfeel. Good length. Very elegant.

Moon Curser Afraid Of The Dark 2013, BC VQA Okanagan Valley

Nice nose: gala apple, peach, pineapple, orange zest, honeysuckle, fresh ginger, nutmeg, marzipan, wet stone, and some lees. The palate is soft, round, and features a nice mix of tropical and stone fruit and warm spices, but with some phenolic bitterness. Good length, but slightly boozy finish.

Stoneboat Pinot Gris 2013, BC VQA Okanagan Valley

Excellent, supple mouthfeel and delicate minerality. Very understated and elegant. Aromas of peach/apricot, ripe lemon, pineapple, yellow apple, white flowers, a touch of lees and hay, and almost a suggestion of vanilla. Medium bodied and soft on the palate, but with medium plus acids, and some vague spice character.

C.C. Jentsch The Chase 2013, BC VQA Okanagan Valley

This is a fairly typical, medium-bodied, moderately oaky Bordeaux-style blend, made from almost a third each of cab franc, cab sauv, and merlot, with small portions of petit verdot and Malbec. The aromas are a mix of red berries, cassis, and plums, along with substantial tobacco, smoke, and cedar, with hints of menthol, bell pepper, and pencil shavings. On the palate the fruit is mostly raspberry, cherry, and blackberry, the oak manifests as cocoa/mocha, and some leather, herbs and warm baking spice join in. The acidity and tannins are both moderate, and there is a bit of alcohol heat.

The Ned Pinot Noir 2013

Lovely nose of dark cherry, raspberry, red plum, strawberry, violet, menthol, sage, smoke, anise, nutmeg, forest floor, and just a bit of oak influence (vanilla and cocoa). A bit hot and boozy on the palate, though fresh flavours of tart dark cherries and red plum still manage to dominate. There is more cocoa on the palate than on the nose, along with a sense of crushed stone emerging. Medium high acids and at least medium tannins reign in the alcohol a bit. Medium long, red fruit, cocoa, and tobacco tinged finish. The high alcohol seems to detract from the wine's balance a bit.

Château Floréal Laguens, Ac Premières Côtes De Bordeaux

A gorgeous, very approachable right-bank Bordeaux. Tons of ripe fruit aromas of plum, blackberry, and raspberry. Vanilla, cedar, and a touch of eucalyptus and cinnamon as well. On the palate it is plush, mouthfilling, and velvety, but kept balanced by bright acidity and a nice, well-integrated tannic structure. The aromas repeat, but with more baking spice notes. Long finish, with vanilla, plum, and mocha. Great value.