Best Buy! This label was started in the late '90s by a couple who later moved to New Zealand to make wine. Now it is a brand for Burrowing Owl Vineyards in the southern Okanagan Valley. The wine is as beautiful as it is delicious, opening with aromas of strawberry, apricot, orange zest and rose petal. on the palate, it's a bright, delicious wine with flavors of strawberry, … [Read more...] about Calliope 2011 Rosé, British Columbia, $14
British Columbia
Calliope 2011 Figure 8 White, British Columbia, $17
Calliope began in the late 1990s as the winery for Cherie and Ross Mirko. After they moved to New Zealand to pursue winemaking opportunities there, the brand went silent until a couple of years ago, when Burrowing Owl revived it with this line of delicious and affordable wines. This blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris opens with aromas of herbs, Granny Smith … [Read more...] about Calliope 2011 Figure 8 White, British Columbia, $17
Calliope 2011 Viognier, British Columbia, $16
Viognier is a high-pH variety, meaning it has a tendency to have lower acidity, making it a flabbier wine. However, in British Columbia, this can be mitigated by the cooler nighttime temperatures that provide naturally higher acidity. That is certainly the case in this example, which opens with aromas of melon, lemon, almond oil and orange, followed by flavors of Honeycrisp … [Read more...] about Calliope 2011 Viognier, British Columbia, $16
Calliope 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, British Columbia, $17
This label for Burrowing Owl Estate Winery near Oliver, B.C., is a line of bright, delicious wines. This Sauvignon Blanc opens with aromas of lime, herbs, faint melon, a hint of apple and slate. On the palate, it offers flavors of Granny Smith apple, grapefruit and lime zest. Pair with scallops, halibut or baked chicken. Rating: Excellent Production: 1,200 … [Read more...] about Calliope 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, British Columbia, $17
JoieFarm 2010 Reserve Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, $40
Owners Michael Dinn and Heidi Noble selected their best eight barrels of Pinot Noir for this reserve-tier wine that uses grapes from the Naramata and Skaha benches. This is a beautifully balanced wine with aromas of cherry, cedar, cured meat and toast, followed by flavors of red currant, raspberry and a whisper of intriguing smokiness. Pair this with duck, game meats, smoked … [Read more...] about JoieFarm 2010 Reserve Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, $40