A blend of 89% Merlot with 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc bringing additional aromatic and flavour complexity to this impressive wine. Ruby red with a garnet hue, the nose shows savoury dark fruits, plum, sweet spices, with a hint of wood smoke and familiar Okanagan Black Sage. A fantastic expression of premium Okanagan Merlot. Great intensity, exceptionally well balanced, the youthful fine grained tannins make this a great choice to enjoy with grilled steak, mushroom risotto, or firm aged cheese. Decant and enjoy over the next decade. Tasted September 2022. 93-94 points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca
CTVs Kriss Vann and Sommelier Matt Steeves showcase some great wines and spirits which are sure to impress the in-laws this holiday season. Wines that will suit every palate and budget, including white, red, bubbly, and some spirits too. And whether you're celebrating in-person with your bubble, or dropping off some holiday cheer for a virtual gathering, these are some great options to check-out this season.
Ottawa, ON November 2021 Matt's review: CheckMate Artisanal Winery produces some of the finest Chardonnay and Merlot from their Golden Mile Bench winery situated in the heart of the Okanagan Valley. CheckMate's 2016 Black Rook Merlot is an outstanding expression... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON April 2020 Matt's review: CheckMate Artisanal Winery produces world-class Chardonnay and Merlot from their Golden Mile Bench winery situated in Canada’s wine capital, Oliver, BC. 2014 End Game is a rich and concentrated expression of ultra premium Okanagan... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON February 2020 Matt's review: A ripe and delicious expression of a big juicy Okanagan red. Major's Block is a robust and spicy blend of Shiraz and Merlot with a splash of Petit Verdot and Zinfandel adding further... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON September 29, 2018 Matt's review: Burrowing Owl's 2015 Cabernet Franc, from the southern part of British Columbia's pocket desert, the Okanagan Valley, is a deep ruby colour showing rich and concentrated dark plum, black cherry, blueberry pie, grilled peppers,... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON February 2018 Matt's review: For over 20 years Burrowing Owl has been producing some of Canada's finest wines, from the Wine Capital of Canada, Oliver, BC. Their 2014 Meritage is a blend of (31%) Merlot, (21.4%) Cabernet Franc,... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON September 2017 Matt's review: CheckMate Artisanal Winery produces some of the finest Chardonnay and Merlot in the world from their Golden Mile Bench winery situated in Canada's wine capital, Oliver, BC. The 2013 Black Rook Merlot is an... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON June 2017 Matt's review: CheckMate Artisanal Winery is quickly becoming recognized as one of Canada's leading wineries, producing world-class Chardonnay and Merlot from their Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley, BC winery. 2014 Fool's Mate Chardonnay is a gorgeous... Continue Reading →