This year I had many terrific wines to taste and review. Wines that I rate as 5 star I deem as needing nothing to add or subtract. They are perfect as-is. I had one wine that reached that status this year so instead of making a separate article for that wine, I am including it in this article. My 4.5-5 star wines are also excellent and I don’t hesitate to recommend them. I had 40 wines that fit into that category this year. Many of these wines came from Italy, and there are BC and Ontario wines on the list! Our neighbours to the south are also included in my top wines for 2023. I’ve classified the wines into White & Sparkling Wines and Red Wines to make it easier to search through the list. I also placed the BC and Ontario wines at the top of each list, followed by the international wines. Enjoy and congratulations to all the wines and wineries that made my list. I put the list out now so that you have time to visit your local wine shop or government liquor store to stock up for the holidays. I do have a few more wines to taste this year, so if some reach the above categories I will add them into this article.
4.5 – 5 Star Wines
White and Sparkling Wines
Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Estate Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc 2022, BC (BC $25.90) – A Sauvignon Blanc with style. Lighter citrus and ripe stone fruit aromas. Dry with a medium body and lean mouthfeel. Medium-plus flavours of citrus and ripe stone fruits, plus a touch of toast and prominent minerality. Medium-plus length. 
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Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery Charlotte Estate Petite Milo 2021, BC (BC $22) – “Charlotte” is the wife of English horticulturist Fenwick Fatkin who invited local growers around Mount Lehman in 1928 to showcase their daffodils in an effort to make this area a “second Holland”. There is now an annual flower show in the Fraser Valley. This is a unique wine that you must try. There is such a variety of aromas and flavours with lemon, green bean and stone fruits on the nose, to stone fruits, floral and honey on the palate. A nice smooth round mouthfeel. Medium-plus length. Try with seafood. –
Tantalus Vineyards Old Vines Riesling 2020, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley – 2020 was a great growing season, made small bunches of grapes with great fruit flavour concentration. This wine is made to live for decades according to David Paterson. It has a bright, medium-intensity lemon colour. Medium-intensity aromas of petrol and lemon. Dry, lighter body, with a light, lean mouthfeel. Citrus followed by peach and petrol flavours. Stony minerality. This wine can age for many years. Quality. –
Big Head Wines Chardonnay Stone 2022, Ontario – From the winery, “Hand-picked and whole cluster pressed on October 17, 2022. Juice was pumped to two 2000L concrete diamonds for fermentation. After 1 month, one diamond was pumped to a 1400L terracotta vessel. Both vessels continued to ferment until March 2023. Once dry, both vessels were blended, all lees reincorporated, and pumped to terracotta for another month of aging. The wine was pumped to stainless steel for cold stabilization and lightly filtered prior to bottling.” It has a medium-intensity bright lemon colour. Medium-plus intensity rich ripe tropical fruit with a touch of oak on the nose. Dry, medium-minus body with a semi-round mouthfeel. Ripe tropical fruits with a touch of sweet spices and pepperiness. A light tannic structure. Medium acidity. Medium length. –
Big Head Wines RAW Riesling 2019, Ontario – Their RAW series of wines are from free-run juice fermented in smaller concrete tanks and bottled unfiltered. From the winery, “The fruit was clean and an estimated 20% was botrytis affected. Fresh whole cluster carbonic maceration for 7 days in stainless tank and then we pressed into a 2000L concrete vessel. Alcoholic fermentation finished in concrete after 3 months and then spent an additional 9 months aging in same.” A deeper lemon colour with a touch of copper. Interesting aromas of cracked peppercorn and dried lime peel. These aromas continue to the palate, plus dill on the palate. This wine is dry and round with a thick mouthfeel. Medium-plus acidity. I also picked up touches of honey and apricot on the palate. Off-dry finish. A wow wine. –
Bonterra Organic Estates Chardonnay The Roost – Single Vineyard 2020, California – The grapes for this wine come from a biodynamic vineyard called Blue Heron Ranch in Mendocino County. It is surrounded by two mountain ranges so gets wind, but the fog is blocked and we have a warmer climate. Biodynamics is a holistic approach to farming where everything works in a circular motion. You have animals, plants, and the human element. With animals on the farm, such as using sheep grazing, you have natural manure that goes into the soils that nurture the plants. They are trying to eliminate the need for outer resources, which is a more natural approach to farming. They don’t want to leave the earth the way that we found it. They want to leave it better for future generations. This wine has a deeper, bright golden colour. Medium-intensity deep aromas of ripe pears, pineapple, butterscotch and light nutmeg. Medium-minus body, soft, round and buttery smooth. Lighter acidity and mouthfeel Ripe apple and citrus with some pepperiness. Medium length with a dry, clean finish. A balanced, classy wine. –
Domaine Barmes-Buecher Grand Cru Steingrubler Riesling 2020, AOC Alsace – 2020 was a hotter vintage compared to 2019 according to Sophie. Their harvest started early in August. The wine was aged for 2.5 years in 600-litre barrels. This wine has a medium-intensity lemon colour. Light citrus, stone fruits, and floral aromas, plus a touch of peach skin and toastiness. Dry, medium body, round with a thicker mouthfeel. This thicker mouthfeel is balanced by higher acidity. Rich, ripe, bright flavours of stone fruits, pears and apricots in particular, plus citrus and floral. Mineral. Long length. –
Cave Saint Désirat 2020, AOC Condrieu, Rhone, France – made with Viognier grapes. 30% of the grapes are fermented in barrels and 70% are fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine in barrels underwent malolactic fermentation then ageing for nine months. This wine has a medium-plus bright lemon in colour. Medium-plus intensity aromas of toast, tropical fruit (pineapple) and floral. Dry, fuller body with a round, thick mouthfeel. Ripe tropical fruit and stone fruit flavours, along with touches of sweet spices, butteriness, grape stem and pepper. A longer length. –
Domaine Sylvain Gaudron MT Brut Nature AOC Vouvray, France – This sparkling wine is made with the same method, but has no added dosage, plus has longer bottle aging than the Brut. A medium lemon colour. A light toasty lees nose. Fuller body, a mix of small creamy and biting bubbles. Tart crisp apple, toast, and a touch of citrus. Medium length. –
Cave de Ribeauvillé Gewurztraminer Collection 2021, AOC Alsace, France – A medium lemon colour. Nice aromas of floral, lychee and roses. Again these aromas continued to flavours, plus the addition of orange and very ripe stone fruits. Dry and soft mouthfeel with light pepperiness on the finish. –
Argiolas, Costamolino, Vermentino di Sargena D.O.C. 2022 – from the Sardenia region located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Africa is 120 km south while Rome is 400km east. The temperature in Sardenia is very hot with no rain for 7-8 months each year. They spend time to try growing different clones to see which does the best in the area. When they are ready to plant vines in a new field, they select the clone(s) that will do the best in that soil. The Vermentino wine we tasted was grown in limestone clay soil which gives minerality. The vineyard is also located near the sea which they feel also helps promote minerality in the wine. This wine has a medium-plus intensity bright lemon colour. Aromas of pine needles, nettles and citrus. Dry, fuller body with a round, waxy mouthfeel. Medium plus acidity leaves a pleasant acidic prickle in your mouth. Fresh fruit flavours, stone fruit, honey, and a touch of nettles. Spearmint, pepperiness and stony minerality on the finish. This wine is sub $17 at BC Liquor stores. A great deal! –
Donnafugata Ben Rye, Passito di Pantelleria D.O.C. 2021, Italy – from the island of Pantelleria within the Sicily region. The island is closer to Tunisia than it is to the Italian mainland. Pantelleria means daughter of the winds. Ben Ryé, the name of this wine, is Arabic, meaning “son of the winds”. Vines are bush-trained on the island. The white grapes used for this wine are known as Zibibbo (Moscato di Alessandria). They harvest the grapes closer to the coast and dry 30% of them for 20 days (appassimento). 70% of the wine comes from free-run juice (non-appassimento) from more island vineyards. This wine has a medium intensity, clear, bright copper colour. Pronounced aromas of orange, honey, marmalade, and apricots. Fuller body with medium sweetness and a thick round mouthfeel. Medium-plus length. Rich ripe apricots, orange, marmalade, dried stone fruit and a touch of pepperiness. Delicious. –
Adega de Cantanhede Marques de Marialva Baga Blanc de Noir Brut NV, Portugal – A non-vintage sparkling made from the Baga grape. It has a medium lemon colour. Light lemon and crab apple aromas and flavours. Medium-sized cream plus biting bubbles. Medium length. –
José Maria da Fonseca Alambre 20 anos, Moscatel, Península de Setúbal, Portugal – Jose Maria da Fonseca was the first Portuguese winery to bottle still red wines. The area for this wine comes from along the Atlantic so you have the ocean and rivers, and humidity for the grapes to ripen slowly in sandy soils. This is an exceptionally delicious fortified wine aged in oak barrels for 20 years. The wine is oxidized due to being in the oak barrels so no further ageing is needed in the bottle. It has a clear medium-intensity copper colour. Pronounced aromas of molasses and ripe stone fruits. Medium-bodied, this wine gets lighter on the mid-palate. Bright acidity. Medium sweetness with a smooth mouthfeel. Apricots, molasses and a touch of pineapple. Some pepperiness on the mid-palate and a touch of citrus on the finish. Pair with blue or aged cheese. –
Bodega Garzon Single Vineyard Petit Verdot 2020, Uruguay – Deeper garnet colour. Medium-minus aromas of dark fruit and cocoa. Medium body with a smooth mouthfeel. Lower acidity and fine tannins. Soft flavours of McIntosh apples and dark fruit. –
Nicholas Feuillatte Reserve Exclusive Brut, France – This Champagne has a nice bready aroma. Medium body and body. Citrus plus crisp and bruised apple flavours. –
Phelps Creek Vineyards Chardonnay 2019, OR – Light apple and sweet spice aromas that continue to the palate. You also get butterscotch and tropical fruits on the palate. Buttery mouthfeel. –
Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards Skin Ferment Orange Muscat 2021, WA – A bright lemon colour with bright orange aromas. Medium-minus body, soft and dry with a lean mouthfeel. Citrus, orange and lime flavours. Light tannic structure. Delicious! –
Red Wines
Seaside Pearl Lover’s Lane Merlot 2020, BC (BC $39) – Why is Lover’s Lane on the label? According to the winery, “The Old Yale Road is a historic early wagon road that serviced the Fraser Valley. Today, Yale Road running east is a heritage site called the “Old Yale Wagon Road.” Known fondly by locals as “Lovers Lane,” lovers of all ages meet and take romantic walks along Old Yale Wagon Road. Seaside Pearl’s Lovers’ Lane Cabernet Sauvignon is sure to impress your sweetheart.” A wine with a light touch full of delicious juicy berries, plums and sweet spices aromas and flavours. Medium length. –
Gold Hill Winery Cabernet Franc 2017, BC (BC $42.99) – A deep garnet colour. Medium-intensity aromas of black cherries, blackberries, plums, sweet spices, cedar and oak. Dry, medium body with round mouthfeel. Flavours of black plum, black cherry, blackberry, and red fruit, with touches of vanilla, tarriness, leather, stewed fruit, and oak. Medium length. –
Stratus Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2020, Ontario – Aged 549 days in French oak barrels; 30% new oak and 70% neutral oak barrels. A medium-plus translucent to the core garnet colour. Lighter aromas of juicy red berries and a touch of capsicum. Dryish, fuller body, with a round mouthfeel. Juicy red berries and a touch of capsicum and red cherries on the palate. Medium-plus length finishing with tart red fruit and medium-plus intensity tannins. A quality wine. 2020 was an exceptional year for grape growing and wines made in the Niagara region. –
Rosewood Estate Winery & Meadery Pinot Noir 2020, Ontario – From the winery, “Fermented using non-selected indigenous yeast. Matured for 18 months in both new and neutral French oak barrels. Bottled without fining (vegan friendly) or filtration.” This wine has a medium-intensity translucent to the core red cherry colour. light red cherry nose with a touch of leather with some air. Smooth, soft and fruit palate. A mix of red fruits, red cherries and a touch of floral and cedar. Light acidity and tannins. Medium length with light, drying tannins and some sweet spice flavour. –
Rosewood Estate Winery & Meadery Shoulders of Giants 2019, Ontario – made with Cabernet Franc grapes whole cluster fermented using non-selected ambient yeast, then aged for 28 months in neutral French oak barrels on its natural lees. Bottled without fining or filtration. It has a deep garnet colour. Deep fruity aromas of dark berries. Dry, full bodied with a round, thick, soft mouthfeel. Ripe berries, candied berries, black fruit and a touch of capsicum on the palate. Medium acidity. Medium length with medium intensity drying tannins. Quality. –
Michele Chiarlo Cerequio, Barolo D.O.C.G. 2019, Italy – from the region of Langhe within Piedmont. 1956 the winery was started. They try to represent and offer success for all the wineries in their region. Cerequio is the name of the vineyard outside the town of La Morra. The vineyard covers 16 ha. Their family owns 8 ha of this vineyard. In the first classification of vineyards in 1880, Cerequio was viewed as one of the top Cru of Barolo. The Cerequio vineyard tends to be a few degrees warmer than the other Barolo vineyards as the town of La Morra, which is uphill from the vineyard, blocks some of the cold breezes in the area. We were told that it takes 8-10 years for the wine to mature and then begin to take on a balsamic character. This wine, made from the Nebbiolo grape, has a medium-intensity clear garnet colour. Medium-minus intensity aromas of Old World oak, red fruit and red cherries. Pretty aromas. Dry, medium-plus body smooth, soft, and round mouthfeel. Fresh, sweet red cherries, Old World oak, and touches of pepperiness and vanilla. Medium intensity fine-grained tannins. Medium-plus length finishing with cedar and red fruit flavours. A light mouthfeel overall. –
Rivera Il Falcone, Castel del Monte Rosso D.O.C.G. Riserva 2016, Italy – This wine comes from the area of Puglia which is a long region along the back of the “boot” of Italy where all the land is close to the sea. It has a Mediterranean climate. 1950 was the first vintage for the Rivera family. The family’s property is in the centre appellation of Puglia, called Castel del Monte. One of the important grapes in the region is called Nero di Troia. A late-ripening varietal with thick skin. As it was a hard grape to grow, wineries would blend it with another semi-indigenous grape called Montepulciano. In vineyards they would plant two rows of Nero di Troia and one row of Montepulciano, repeating. In 1971 when the appellation was formed, the father at the winery thought this wine had such a good personality, that it should get a new name. Il Falcone goes back to the Emperor in the region who was an avid hunter. He used birds, with the Falcon being a hunting bird. This wine, a blend of both varietals, 2/3 Nero di Troia and 1/3 Montepulciano, has a deeper, clear garnet colour. Medium-minus intensity aromas of Old World oak, sweet red cherries and red fruits. Nice aromas. This wine has a medium-plus body, and a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Medium tannins and acidity. Sweet ripe red cherries, red fruit and a touch of Old World oak flavours. Medium-plus length. Drying finish with sweet ripe red fruit flavours. –
Mastroberardino Radici, Taurasi D.O.C.G. Riserva 2016, Italy – coming from the Campania region. The family started the winery in the 1700s. This family we were told introduced the region’s wines using their indigenous grapes to the world. In particular, the Aglianico red grape is used for this wine. Taurasi is the region where they grow the Aglianico grape. The soil in this region is volcanic. This wine has a deep clear garnet colour. Light red cherry, honey, and oak aromas. Fuller body, smooth, soft and round mouthfeel. Nice ripe red cherry flavour plus tart red fruits and light oak. Medium acidity. Stony minerality to the finish. Medium length, Puckering finish with red fruit and a touch of sweetness. –
Masi Riserva di Costasera, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico D.O.C.G. 2017, Italy – from the Veneto region. Masi has been in the Canadian market for many years. This is the 7th generation running the winery. The Classico region is a specific geographic area, the heart of the appellation. Made with 100% dried grapes before fermentation: Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara, and Oseleta. Oseleta was a forgotten grape but then rediscovered 40 years ago. This grape provides acidity, lots of tannins, and deep structure to the wine. The drying process of the grapes in Italian is known as appassimento. This wine has a deep, opaque garnet colour. Medium-intensity aromas of butter, cedar, sweet spice, and red cherries. Fuller body, round and soft, with a thick mouthfeel. Buttery, sweet spices, dark fruit and red cherry flavours. Medium acidity and soft tannins. Delicious. –
Vasse Felix Tom Cullity 2019, Australia (BC $179.99) – Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with 22% Malbec, but can vary from 16-22% depending on the vintage. These are the oldest Cabernet and Malbec vines in the region that are own-rooted, and grown on their Home Vineyard. This wine has a deep clear mix of garnet and ruby colour. Very ripe berry fruit nose, plus light touches of oak, ripe cherries, blackberries, nutmeg, chocolate and capsicum with swirling. Dry, medium-minus body soft with a lean mouthfeel. Ripe berry fruit, light pepperiness, oak and capsicum. Red cherries are added with swirling. Fine-grained light tannins. Longer length. A touch of sweet spices on the finish. Quality. –
Vignoble Demois Cuvée des Templiers 2014, AOC Chinon, France – Made from Cabernet Franc grape. This wine has a deep garnet colour. Medium-intensity nose with aromas of cedar and cherries. Dry, medium body with medium tannins. Cedar, berries, red cherries and a touch of candied cherries on the palate. A very balanced, structured wine. –
Ricasoli Brolio Riserva DOCG 2019, Italy – Clear, medium-plus intensity garnet colour. About 75% opaque. Medium to pronounced aromas of cedar, red fruit, sweet spices; cinnamon in particular. Very expressive aromas. This wine is dry, fuller-bodied and pronounced flavours. Smooth and round mouthfeel. Lots of berry fruit, red fruit, black cherry and plum flavours, along with sweet spices and touches of floral and cedar. Medium-plus length finishing with red fruit, red cherries, sweet spices, and black pepper. Drying tannins. –
Companhia Agrícola do Sanguinhal Quintas das Cerejeiras Grande Reserva 2017, Lisboa – This wine is made of 40% Castelão, 30% Touriga Nacional, and 30% Aragonez grapes. The grapes were fermented in stainless steel tanks then aged for 6 months in new French barrels and 18 months in used 300-litre French oak barrels before ageing in bottle for two years before going to market. This wine has a deeper clear garnet colour. Light juicy berry fruit, with touches of vegetal, dark fruit, chocolate and oak aromas. Dry, medium body with a soft mouthfeel. Juicy berries, red cherries, and sweet spices on the palate. Medium-intensity fine-grained tannins. Medium-plus acidity. Some tart berry fruit on the finish. Medium-plus length. A quality wine that is only made in excellent vintages. –
Terralsole Brunello di Montalcino 2016, Italy – A medium brick red colour. Ripe red cherries, some berries and tarriness on the nose. Medium-minus body, dry with a lean mouth feel. Cherries, candied cherries and light oak on the palate. Light tannins and medium acidity. –
Tenuta Viglione Marpione Primitivo Riserva 2019, Italy – A deeper garnet colour. Deep ripe aromas of raspberries. Dry, medium-minus body with a light mouthfeel. Nutmeg and red berry flavour with light pepperiness on the finish. Light tannins. A refreshing red wine. –
Allegrini Palazzo della Torre IGT 2020, Italy – from the Valpolicella region, this wine is made in the Ripasso style, but not all the grapes were previously dried and used for Amarone wine. It has a deep ruby colour. Rich ripe dark fruit nose plus some herbaceousness. These aromas continue to flavours on the palate. This wine is dry with a medium-plus body and lean mouthfeel. Medium plus length with cherry flavour on the finish. –
Marqués de Riscal XR Reserva 2017, Spain – This wine came from their best quality barrels. The winery originally granted the workers wine for their personal consumption and were asked to pick the barrels they would like for themselves. The workers knew the best barrels and marked an XR on each barrel so they knew which to request for themselves. It truly is an excellent wine! This wine has a deep ruby colour. Ripe, juicy berry nose. Fresh ripe berry fruit and sweet spices plus light pepperiness. Medium acidity and light tannins and mouthfeel. Medium-plus length. –
Stoller Family Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2017, OR – A bright, clear red cherry colour. Light aromas of light toast and red cherries. Medium-plus body, round and smooth with a thicker mouthfeel. Rich red fruits, cherries, sweet spices and oak on the palate. Sturcture + fruit! –
Archery Summit Dundee Hills AVA Pinot Noir 2021, OR – light cherry, raspberry and cranberry aromas. Light body, lightly round, and a light mouthfeel. Red fruit, cherries, and sweet spices on the palate. An elegant wine. –
Masi Mezzanella Amandorlato Recioto della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2015, Italy – A deep garnet colour. Rich ripe sweet black cherry aromas. Medium sweetness. Capsicum and ripe cherry flavours. Medium acidity. Tannins firm up on the finish. –
Carpineto Vino Nobile di Monteulciano Riserva 2010, Italy – Mediu-plus garnet colour. Rich aromas of ripe dark fruits plus a touch of earthiness. Off-dry, full body with a smooth mouth feel. Lower acidity and soft tannins. Ripe red and black fruit flavours plus sweet spices. Light tannins. –
S by Signorello Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, California – A deep ruby colour. Rich, ripe black cherry nose continues to the palate. A touch of capsicum. Full body, dry with medium tannins and acidity. –
5 Star Wine
I tasted this wine at Taste Washington in Seattle. Syrah does very well in Washington state, although many people look at Washington more for their Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Amavi Cellars is a quality producer. Congratulations to Amavi Cellars.
Amavi Cellars Syrah 2020, Washington State – Opaque ruby in the glass. Lighter aromas of raspberries. Dry, medium-plus body, round with a medium-intensity backbone. Raspberries and black cherries on the palate. Light acidity and a touch of oak. A mix of light pepperiness and sweetness on the finish.
