90 POINTS – “The 2013 Sparkling Riesling confounds and may not at first be so obvious in its charms. Aromatically speaking it is chock full of apples and pears in variegated layers. There is weight on the palate and a feeling of lees that draws it inward. As I recall, the inaugaural 2010 Brut Riesling was no shrinking violet and stole hearts. The 2013 is more secretive, less forthright and needs time to open up. At present there is a light that glows behind a shroud of cloud. More than “one more night” will be needed to open the door, when the “the moon is shinin’ bright, lighting everything in sight.” Drink 2018-2022. Tasted April 2016″ Michael Godel, APRIL 2016, WineAlign.com
90 POINTS – “This is youthful and exuberant but also nicely compact and complex. There is lemon, pineapple, fresh herbs and wet stone on the nose, with a subtle subtext of youthful yeast/graininess. It’s mid-weight, firm and juicy but not austere. The fruit hits excellent length with some feint honeyed and floral complexity as well. Tasted April 2016.” David Lawrason, APRIL 2016, WineAlign.com
90 POINTS – “Well with the arena of aridity, salinity and sheer marketability, here is a showy Tantalus with super searing lemon flavours emerging out of great atmosphere and aromatic intensity. Some Riesling taketh away and some are mouth watering, like this. The stone fruit goodness attacks and sticks to the tongue like sap, then glides effortlessly down. Tantalus might make me think of things that are out of reach, “standing in water, but dying of thirst, this is my thanks and this is my curse.” Yet this early to market 2015 Riesling offers an antithetical view, ready, willing and able to please. Drink 2016-2019. Tasted April 2016. Michael Godel, APRIL 2016, WineAlign.com
90 POINTS – “This pours pale pink but is not labelled as rose, instead its ‘blanc de noir”. It is from a single block of pinot noir planted in 1985. It has a gentle, pretty nose of strawberry-cherry fruit and lovely twiggy spice. Not a lot of autolytic character. It’s light, bright and racy on the palate with brisk acidity and an almost lemony-grapefruit finish. Some stoniness as well. Ultra refreshing style. Very good to excellent length. Tasted April 2016.” David Lawrason, APRIL 2016, WineAlign.com
90 POINTS – “A single block of Clone 93 Pinot Noir planted in 1985 is responsible for this breath of fresh Okanagan Valley Blanc de Noir. Fashioned with the omnipresent Tantalus acidity, this rages out with aridity, salinity and palpable tension. Only Pinot Noir can act like this, with layers of sous bois and fraises du bois. The age of the vines, the early-picked necessity and the allowance for needful and natural expression has resulted in a wine simply stressed as terroir and boîte. Carries the acidity and the tension across and through the palate. Finishes as dry as it started. Drink 2016-2020. Tasted April 2016.” Michael Godel, APRIL 2016, WineAlign.com
90 POINTS – “A ‘Blanc’; in name only, this is pink sparkling wine, and very pretty at that, full of red berry fruit, bright floral notes, very engaging and inviting. The palate is virtually bone dry and crisp, refreshing, with very good length. All in all, this is succulent and lively bubbly, properly made, with integrity. Modest (but good) length and depth of flavour/complexity are the only things holding this back from even greater pleasure. Tasted April 2016.” John Szabo, APRIL 2016, WineAlign.com
90 POINTS – “This is a stylish, youthful pinot with fairly deep colour. The nose shows quite lifted floral raspberry-cherry fruit I am coming to associate with the Kelowna region of the northern Okanagan, along with a touch of cedary garrigue. Oak is nicely fitted with mild smoke and light toast. It’s mid-weight, firm and elegant with fresh acidity, firm gritty tannin and some wet stone/earth on the finish. The length is very good to excellent. It’s tightly wound and needing a year or three in bottle, but this is fine example of northern Okanagan pinot. Last tasted April 2016.” David Lawrason, APRIL 2016, WineAlign.com
90 POINTS – “This is a very fine and firm, well structured pinot noir from Tantalus, with a distinctive ‘northern’ feel, which is to say full of resinous pine and fresh wild berries, highly engaging and inviting. Tannins are still quite grippy, pushed into action by bright acids, but this has the stuffing to knit together nicely over the next 2-3 years, or hold into the ’20s handily. Genuine length and depth. Solid wine. Tasted April 2016.” John Szabo MS, APRIL 2016, WineAlign.com
89 POINTS – “The vintage was not shy to gift dark, optimum-achievement in phenolic fruit and along with that ripeness comes even deeper tonal intent. Red hyperbole is elevated by striking acidity, setting this Pinot Noir up for really high expectations. The palate does not disappoint. Flavours range from black cherry to charred meat making for a highly gustatory experience. Chewy and enjoyable describes the time spent with this wine. It will offer great pleasure in the short term. Drink 2016-2018. Tasted April 2016.” Michael Godel, APRIL 2016, WineAlign.com
