John Schreiner (Appelation America)
2005 Chardonnay
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"...The bottle was empty
and we wanted more.
You can’t say that for
every Chardonnay." |
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This superb 2005 Chardonnay is a textbook example of subtle elegance. The aroma is fresh and clean, with a hint of toast from the barrels. On the palate, there is a delicate touch of vanilla, folded into flavours of peach and citrus. A light buttery note suggests that part of the wine at least was barrel fermented. But oak was used sparingly, as was malolactic fermentation. As a result, the wine still has exuberant fruit. There is a lively harmony to this wine and a refreshing lightness on the palate. The bottle was empty and we wanted more. You can’t say that for every Chardonnay.
92 Points
John Schreiner (Appelation America)
2004 Meritage
This is a delicious wine, with red fruit aromas simply spilling from the glass. There is a core of sweet fruit flavours on the palate – plums, cherries, red currents, black berries – with a rich and spicy finish. A half bottle saved for the second day was a revelation. The wine blossomed to full-bodied richness, with satisfying layers of flavours and a very long finish. Clearly, this wine should be cellared or decanted for immediate consumption. This big, dark wine begins with aromas of spiced plums. The wine presents a rich palate of flavours, including plum, black cherries, pepper and cola, with overtones of leather and minerals and a finish of black cherries and liquorice. The abundant fruit rests on a firm texture of ripe tannins. The wine will cellar well for several years but it also is drinking well now.
90 Points.
John Schreiner (Appelation America)
2004 Syrah
This big, dark wine begins with aromas of spiced plums. The wine presents a rich palate of flavours, including plum, black cherries, pepper and cola, with overtones of leather and minerals and a finish of black cherries and liquorice. The abundant fruit rests on a firm texture of ripe tannins. The wine will cellar well for several years but it also is drinking well now.
89 Points
Vines Magazine, 2007 Winter Edition (Michael Bottner)
2004 Cabernet Franc
This wine combines elegance and pure drinking pleasure. Look for aromas of currant, mushroom and smoke, and lip-smacking flavours of jammy currant/black cherry fruit, dark chocolate and sweet oak, supported by ripe, velvety tannins. A great partner for duck, lamb, roast beef and hard cheeses.
4 Stars
Open cedary spicy, sweaty nose with a touch of game leather and tobacco with chocolate cranberry fruit. Round and smooth on the palate with spicy, smoky, cigar, chocolate cherry flavours. Similar to last year's this franc is rich and ripe with a long warm oaky finish. Well done for a variety that can be tough to love when it's not ripe.
90 Points
Vines Magazine, 2005 Summer Edition
2003 Merlot
It's impossible not to like the full-bodied fruit and luscious texture of this wine. This vintage is packed with berry, cassis and plum flavours with some neat violet and spice notes. It's ready to drink now but will reward your patience if cellared for three to five years.
5 Stars
Vines Magazine, 2005 Summer Edition
2003 Merlot
It's impossible not to like the full-bodied fruit and luscious texture of this wine. This vintage is packed with berry, cassis and plum flavours with some neat violet and spice notes. It's ready to drink now but will reward your patience if cellared for three to five years.
5 Stars
Ontario Vintages, November, 2005
2003 Burrowing Owl Pinot Gris
This Pinot Gris shows all the best traits of the breed. It's a little quiet on the nose, but the palate opens up into a variety of quite luscious fruit in the apricot-peach zones. There's that touch of spiciness to keep it interesting, fine balance, and a long, clean finish. It's beautiful with lightly-spiced seafood, chicken or pork dishes. Drink now.
4 Stars
Vines Magazine, 2005 Summer Edition
2003 Burrowing Owl Syrah
Burrowing Owl Syrah seems to get bigger and richer with each passing vintage. This offers big meaty aromas of smoke, cassis, blackberry, coffee and cracked peppercorns. On the palate, this velvet-textured Syrah reveals an intense array of blackberry, chocolate, smoked meat and mint notes. The longer it spends in the glass, the more the wine's depth and character is revealed. The ripeness says Australia but the complex gaminess is strictly northern Rhone. Drink after 2007.
4 Stars
July 31, 2005 Issue - Wine Spectator - Page 120
2003 Merlot - 87 Points
Dark aromas of black cherry and plum promise sweet, ripe fruit and this delivers. Very good texture, harmony and expression of varietal character. Long, cherry and vanilla-tinged aftertaste. Drink now through 2007. 6,147 cases made. – B.S. (the reviewer’s initials)
John Schreiner, January 22, 2005
2003 Pinot Noir
A big, dark wine with deep, spicy plum flavours and a strapping 14.8% alcohol – is sold out already, but should be available on restaurant wine lists during the next several months.
2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
When the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, a meaty blackberry/plum tasting red, was released in December, 400 cases were snapped up in four days of fevered Internet sales. The winery had to cap sales of the wine so there will be some to sell next year at its Okanagan tasting room.
2002 Meritage
The Burrowing Owl style has the elegance of a fine bordeux with the ripeness of the south Okanagan, meaning the wine will cellar well but can also be enjoyed now.
Anthony Gismondi (www.gismondionwine.com)
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
2002 Chardonnay - 89 points
Open ripe, apple/lees nose with streaks of peach and some cool floral characters that remind us of Sonoma. Promising entry with mineral, apple and honey flavours on the palate and lime rind in the finish. Fine elegant styling and weight but is should improve further throughout the year. Well done.
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