Twenty-five wines coming from BC and around the world made it to my near-perfect 
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star category this year. I’ve arranged these fantastic wines into BC wines followed by wines from the rest of the world. Italian wine showed up prominently with my near-perfect wine scores. Chardonnay showed prominently as well, primarily from BC. You should still be able to purchase these wines either directly from the winery, some at BC Liquor stores or private wine shops.
If I taste any additional wines that fit this esteemed category before the end of the year, I will add them at the bottom of this article. Many wines also made it into my 4.5 star category. I can highly recommend these wines as well. Finally, I will post my perfect 5-star wines in a separate article.
BC Wines
Maverick Estate Winery Chardonnay 2021 – Medium-plus lemon colour. Light but rich tropical fruit aromas, plus vanilla and butterscotch. Full body, smooth and round with lower acidity. Buttery. Ripe pineapple, butterscotch and light toastiness on the palate. Delicious.
Fort Berens Estate Winery, White Gold Reserve Chardonnay 2017, Lillooet – A lighter bright lemon colour. Light aromas of apples, white flowers, and vanilla, plus a touch of toastiness. Medium-minus body, soft and round with a light mouthfeel. Light flavours of roasted apples, vanilla, and tasty sweet spices that linger on the finish. Buttery. A very elegant wine. A touch of pepperiness on the finish.
Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Estate Cuvée 2020 Chardonnay (BC $29.90) – A deeper bright lemon colour. Medium intensity, well-knit together aromas of oak, butterscotch, ripe apples, pineapple and sweet spices. Dry, smooth, medium-plus body with a thicker mouthfeel. Pineapple, ripe apples, butterscotch flavours with a touch of oak and sweet spices. Medium-plus length.
Spearhead Winery Saddle Block Chardonnay 2020 (BC $30) – A deep, bright lemon colour. Medium-plus intensity nose with a mix of ripe and roasted pineapple and pears, plus honey and caramel aromas. Dry, round and thick with a silky smooth, creamy mouthfeel. Roasted apples, pears and apple flavours with pepperiness toward the finish. A silky smooth finish with the ripe and roasted fruit flavours persisting, plus touches of oak and pepperiness.
Spearhead Winery Clone 95 Chardonnay 2020 (BC $30) A bright medium lemon with a green tint. Subtle, light aromas of citrus, pineapple, roasted pears and oak, and a touch of almonds. Dry, fuller body, very silky, with a round and thick mouthfeel. Fresh and roasted pineapple and pears, plus a touch of apricot, then caramel and nutmeg toward the finish. Medium-plus length finishing with a thick mouthfeel, pineapple, plus pepperiness, and touches of caramel and nutmeg.
Seven Stones Winery Rain Stone White 2021 (Similkameen Valley) – 96% Chardonnay and 4% Orange Muscat in this blend. A cool ferment in stainless steel. A medium-plus bright lemon colour with a tinge of green. Stone fruits, green fruits, tropical fruits and a hint of orange on the nose. Medium-plus body, smooth and round with medium acidity. Stone fruits to start with tropical fruits on the mid-palate to the finish, plus a hint of orange on the finish.
Okanagan Crush Pad free form Blanc de Noir 2017 – zero dosage for this sparkling wine made from organically grown Pinot Noir grapes. This wine is also vegan-friendly. Medium-plus lemon colour. Quite aromatic; crab apple, bruised apple, and apricot aromas. Medium-plus body, with small creamy bubbles. Round but offset with the higher acidity and bubbles. Crisp apples, and apple skin, plus other tart fruit flavours. Quality!
Okanagan Crush Pad free form Blanc de Noir 2018 (BC $44.90. A wine club exclusive.) – A medium gold colour with lots of frothy bubbles upon pouring. Aromas of pears, bruised apples, and touches of honey, dried apricots, stones, almonds, and lees. Slightly off-dry, medium-plus body and flavour intensity. Tiny creamy and biting bubbles. Flavours of pears, cut apples, apple skins, brioche, and almonds. Big mouthfeel. Medium-plus length.
Aasha Wines Palolem Chardonnay 2018 (BC $30) – Medium-plus bright lemon colour. Medium-plus deeper aromas of ripe pineapple and apple, with lesser amounts of lees, butterscotch, and pears. Medium-plus body, dry, buttery and round with a pleasant acidic prickle. Pineapple and apples with light butterscotch, lemon, pears, sweet spices and oak on the palate. An elegant wine.
Frind Estate Winery Midnight 2020 (BC $25.99) – no decanting. Opaque ruby from rim to the core. Medium-plus aromas of juicy, ripe dark berries, plus cocoa and coffee. Dry, silky smooth with low acidity and very light fine tannins. Ripe black fruit, plums, and touches of coffee and floral flavours. Medium length finishing with plums and some tart black fruit plus coffee.
Frind Estate Winery The Premier 2020 (BC $39.99) – no decanting. Opaque ruby colour to the rim. Lighter aromas of plums, ripe raspberries, cassis, and candied red cherries, with touches of vanilla, cedar and floral. Off-dry, medium-plus body with a thicker plush mouthfeel. Red apples and plums to start, then add sweet spices, red cherries, and cedar on the palate. Fine tannins that get a bit drying on the finish. Red apples and red plums on the finish plus some tartness.
Stag’s Hollow Winery Syrah 2020 (BC $30) – Deeper, mostly ruby colour, almost opaque at the core. Medium-intensity sweet aromas of red fruit, red berries, strong cinnamon and other sweet spices. Add plums and black fruit with decanting. Dry, soft and plush, but not quite mouth-filling. Red fruit, raspberries, red cherries, plums and candied cherries on the palate. Floral with air. A medium-plus length finishing with red fruit, candied cherries, a touch of toast, sweet spices, and pepperiness. Light tannins.
Liquidity Wines Greta and the Dress of Life Cabernet Franc 2019 – A very different label compared to the rest of Liquidity’s labels. It really stands out. Artwork by Bruce Pashak. Medium, very translucent garnet colour. Very aromatic; red apples and red cherries, sweet spices and capsicum. Sweet aromas. Dry, lighter body, more on the lean side. Nice red fruit and cinnamon spice flavours. Light tannins and medium acidity. Very good quality.
Liquidity Wines Dividend 2019 – A blend of 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Cabernet Franc, fermented separately and aged in French oak, then blended together. A deeper garnet colour, but translucent. Lighter aromas of oak, red fruit, red cherry, and a hint of sweet spices. Dry, light-body, lean mouthfeel. Capsicum, plums, red cherries and other red fruits, plus some vanilla and cinnamon flavours. Medium length. Light tannins, but enough for structure.
Foxtrot Vineyards Raisin d’Etre Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020 (not for sale. Will be preserved in the Foxtrot library) – This vineyard is located just below their Estate Vineyard and is planted to clone 828. The 828 clone has high sugar production, is full-flavoured with blackberry, plum and good acidity. It produces a balanced wine. This wine has a deeper garnet colour. Elegant, light aromas of red fruit, vanilla and chocolate. Fuller body, round and silky. Soft acidity and tannins. Cassis, ripe black cherries and touches of chocolate and nutmeg on the palate. Ripe sweet fruit and cinnamon on the finish. Medium length. Very easy to enjoy this wine!
BC Cider
I also really enjoyed this cider from Creek & Gulley to include in this list.
Creek & Gulley Cider Aurora 2021 – this cider is a collaboration with Lightning Rock Winery. The wine has a pretty rhubarb red colour. Cherry, strawberry, and apple aromas. Medium body with a lean mouthfeel and nice small creamy bubbles. Red fruits, cherries and floral flavours. Complex!
Wines From Around The World
New World Wines
Terre Brûlée le Blanc 2020, South Africa (BC $21.99) – made from Chenin Blanc grapes. This wine has a deep, bright gold colour. Light aromas of honey, toast and baked apple. Dry, soft and smooth. Medium-plus body and light acidity. Baked apple, toast, a touch of pear and caramel.
Elk Cove Vineyards Estate Riesling 2020, Oregon – Petrol and black liquorice aromas. Quite unique. Dry, medium-minus body, with a lean mouthfeel. Petrol and apples to start then bring in apricot flavours. Tart to start and then smoothes out to the finish.
Robert Mondavi Winery Oakville District Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, California – A deeper garnet colour. Rich and ripe aromas of black cherries, candied cherries and cedar. Medium body and acidity. Candied cherries and plum flavours. Fine tannins, but providing a dry tannic finish. A balanced wine.
Old World Wines
Chateau de Pommard Ladoix, Les Grechons, Premier Cru 2018, France – This Premier Cru vineyard is adjacent to the more well-known Corton appellation. It has light sweet apple and stone fruit aromas. Light body, soft and dry. Apples, butterscotch and vanilla flavours, with a touch of nutmeg and some pepperiness on the finish. Elegant.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. Extra Dry, Le Rughe, Italy – (15g/l residual sugar) Pale lemon with a green tint. Light intensity nose with lime and white flower aromas. More than off-dry, with small bubbles and a light mouthfeel. Lime and tropical fruit flavours. A delicate wine. Was suggested as an aperitif wine.
Villa Sandi Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze 2020, Italy – A very pale lemon colour. Light stone fruits and citrus aromas. Dryish, with small creamy and biting bubbles. Tropical fruit flavours plus minerality.
Bisol 1542 Cartizze Valdobbiadene, Superiore di Cartizze DOCG, 2021, Italy – Bisol is a quality producer of Prosecco wines. If you have not tried their wines, you should. Cartizze is the top tier of Prosecco wines with the grapes coming from a very small region at the top of a steep hill. There are only 107 hectares of grapes grown here. This wine has a medium lemon colour. Floral, apple, and stonefruit aromas. Off-dry with a medium-plus body. Medium-sized biting bubble. Tasty stone fruit flavours then marzipan on the finish.
Zeni 1870 Amarone della Valpolicella 2018, Italy – Deep, dull garnet colour. Ripe rich dark fruit aromas. Off-dry, medium body with a round mouthfeel. Medium-plus tannins. Capsicum, sweet spices, and red cherry flavours. A touch of pepperiness on the finish and a hint of chocolate.
Antinori Estates Badia A Passignano Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione 2018, Italy ($67.99) – Clear medium-intensity garnet colour. Ripe juicy and candied red fruit aromas. Medium-plus body, smooth and round, with a thicker mouthfeel. Ripe black berries and sweet spices flavours. Medium acidity and tannins.
FONTODI Chianti Classico Fontodi 2019, PANZANO, Italy (BC $44.99) – an organic win made with 100% Sangiovese grapes. 18 months in oak barrels. A deeper garnet colour. Cedar, red fruit and cinnamon aromas, are very sexy. Medium-plus body, dry, smooth and silky mouthfeel. Medium-minus acidity. Candied red fruit and red cherry flavours. Medium length with drying tannins.
