Always complex and layered, look for brambly berries,
cool cassis, licorice'n'mint, fresh tobaco, spiced herbs and brooding, smokey
oak notes on the glass escaping nose and the elegant, dry palate where fine,
grippy tannins linger on a long, spicy finish.
2. La Frenz Winery 2014 Grand Total
Reserve - 91-93pts
Built for the long-haul, with excellent concentration
and refined, youthful tannins, this blend of 42% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon
and 25% Cabernet Franc delivers an intense and powerful nose of dark
fruits, menthol, Christmas spices, toasted oak with a hint of sweetness
emanating from the ripe fruit aromas.
3. Upper Bench Estate Winery 2014 Yard
Wine - 92+pts
For this beautifully aromatic and intensely dark
blend, Upper Bench co-fermented Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes (a 70/30
split, respectively) and then aged them in 25% new French oak barrels for 18 months prior to
bottling. The finished wine is equal parts 'pretty' and 'dark' with
eucalyptus-mint, spicy cocoa and black cherry-cassis notes on the sensual nose
and brooding, blackberry, cola, cocoa, toasted oak and minty flavours on the well-balanced,
fine-tannin palate.
4. Cassini Cellars 2014 Maximus - 92+pts
This is a Meritage-style, big'n'bold red that excels
in long, hot vintages (not that surprising for Bordeaux varieties) and 2014 was
just such a vintage in the Southern Okanagan. The latest Maximus is comprised
of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec
offering a dark and brooding nose of black licorice, menthol, cassis liqueur, blackberries,
toasted vanilla, tobacco and light spices.
5. LaStella 2014 Espressivo - 92pts
Offers a feminine-earthy profile, on the herbaceous, floral and brambly berry nose
and on the medium-bodied, concentrated palate graced with
vanilla'n'spice-kissed berry flavours and framed by mouth-watering, yet,
effortless acidity and engaging, yet, refined tannins.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca
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