Pristine, pretty, expressive.
Good intensity on the nose with pretty aromas of honeysuckle and exotic citrus atop guava and crunchy orchard fruits. The palate echoes the nose, it is very expressive and zesty with excellent concentration. The finish is long and mouthwatering with a grapefruit-y linger.
©copyright 2015 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 10th, 2015

Silky, expressive, elegant

The Mavety family has been growing grapes high above Vaseaux Lake in the South Okanagan since 1971. Since 1991 they have been making their own wines under the Blue Mountain label.

Consistent and elegant with an Old World charm, the 2012 offers roasted cherries, smoke, sous bois, fine spice, leather and herbal notes atop vanilla, raspberry and blueberry. The palate is silky; it boasts bright acidity and an attractive weight. High-toned fruit makes for an expressive palate - it's juicy and lengthy with very good focus.
New label.
©copyright 2014 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 7th, 2014

The Mavety family has been growing grapes high above Vaseaux Lake in the South Okanagan since 1971. Since 1991 they have been making their own wines under the Blue Mountain label.
Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Gamay Noir is their focus.
Consistent and elegant with an Old World character the 2011offers spicy and savoury notes of leather and pepper, beet greens and dried herbs atop rhubarb and tart red berries, smoke and cedar. The palate is smooth it is a restrained style with plenty of acidity. Good concentration and flavours of juicy red fruits, spicebox and cigar. The finish is lengthy and trails bittersweet cocoa.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 16th, 2013

Elegant, complex, silky.
The 2007 is made from equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It was aged on lees for seven years to enhance complexity then disgorged prior to release in March 2015.
Blue Mountain is renowned for elegant and elaborate bubbles - this one is a stand out. The aromas here are hazelnuts, warm apple turnovers lemon and pear with a hint of summer berries. It has a solid autolytic character from its time on lees and flavours of juicy citrus, toasted nuts and creamy fruit. It has beautiful weight and focus with a tiny bead as well as a long and powerful finish lifted with mouthwatering acidity.
©copyright 2015 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 11th, 2015

Value, consistent, balanced.
Made from Monastrell, Tempranillo and Garnacha, which was aged 12 months in barrel before bottle aging. This consistently great value red offers aromas of muddled strawberry and cherry, saddle leather and iodine, cigarbox and cocoa with spice. It has good balance, supple fruit, spice and cocoa flavours with finely textured tannins to add substance.
A solid wine, made for food. Think roasted meats, hearty pastas, potato tortilla or stews and hard cheeses.
Pairs great with Gone Crackers Olive Oil & Cracked Pepper
 
©copyright 2016 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 23rd, 2016

Pablo is named for the iconic 20th century contemporary artist, Pablo Picasso. Although most of us could never afford his art, we can certainly afford this awesome value wine.
It is made from fruit grown on gnarled old bush vines planted up to 100 years ago.
Plush black raspberry and wild briary berries, toffee, toasted spices, mocha and molasses atop a core of sunbaked earth. The palate is supple and boasts generous fruit; purple berries and raspberry frolic with violet pastilles, vanilla and spiced chocolate. This is a substantial wine with impressive intensity and textural tannin across the palate.
Pair with braised meats, red sauces, rustic stews and hard Spanish cheeses.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 13th, 2013

Value, expressive, fragrant.
Pablo is named for the iconic 20th century contemporary artist, Pablo Picasso and the wine is made from fruit grown on gnarled old bush vines planted up to 100 years ago.
Consistently good value, the 2014 is again seductively scented with chocolate, licorice, Bing cherries, raspberries and blueberry tea with rose petals and sweet spices. It is supple on the entry and grows more textural mid-palate. Fresh berry fruit is layered with sarsaparilla, tealeaf and spice, which rolls into cocoa flavours on the finish. Good freshness and overall structure.
Pair with braised meats, red sauces, rustic stews and hard Spanish cheeses.
©copyright 2016 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 18th, 2016

Second Review: March 17/2016

Smoked paprika, raspberry, red cherry and leather aromas with fresh cracked black pepper and tealeaf. It is earthy and somewhat exotic, less concentrated than the last time I tasted it but overall good intensity and bright acidity. It finishes with cedar, red berries and spice.
©copyright 2015 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 17th, 2016

Potent, supple, delicious.
Pablo is named for the iconic 20th century contemporary artist, Pablo Picasso and the win is made from fruit grown on gnarled old bush vines planted up to 100 years ago.
Consistently powerful and expressive it offers potent raspberry, vanilla, high-toned forest berries, leather, tea leaf, cola spices and pepper. The palate is supple and spicy with generous fruit flavours wrapped in espresso and chocolate. Overall it checks all the boxes, balance, structure and complexity - at an awesome price.
Pair with braised meats, red sauces, rustic stews and hard Spanish cheeses.
©copyright 2015 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 23rd, 2015

Lovely, fizzy, pretty.
Made of Glera this bottle is labelled as DOC because it's considered too modern looking to be designated a DOCG. Sandro Bottega has the patent on the "mirror effect" bottle wrapping of this (and it's pink and silver siblings) in Italy.
This lovely version shows acacia, honey and tree fruits; the palate is equally pretty, fruity and pristine with an apple-y finish.

10-14g/L RS
Pair wine with Parmigiano Reggiano, Parma ham, pickled ‘giadiniera’ salad.
Pairs Great with Gone Crackers Roasted Shallot & Herb
 
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 5th, 2021

Lovely, fizzy, pretty.
Made of Glera this bottle is labelled as DOC because it's considered too modern looking to be designated a DOCG. Sandro Bottega has the patent on the "mirror effect" bottle wrapping of this (and it's pink and silver siblings) in Italy.
This version shows honey and orange blossom, orchard fruits and acacia. Crunchy apple and creamy melon flavours dominate the palate. It's off-dry and fruity with soft bubbles and a lively finish.

10-14g/L residual sugars.
Pair wine with Parmigiano Reggiano, Parma ham, pickled ‘giadiniera’ salad.
Pairs Great with Gone Crackers Roasted Shallot & Herb
 
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 30th, 2023

Pretty, blushing, charming.
A jewel of a bottle, this fizzy pink Pinot Nero rose is made from grapes grown in the south of Lombardy (on limestone soils similar to Champagne). It's a spumante with a pale pink/apricot hue and aromas of red fruits like raspberry and cherry atop orange blossoms and dusty mineral notes. The palate is silky, it has lovely weight, freshness and concentration followed by and a zesty finish. 10-12g/L RS
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 3rd, 2021

Pretty, blushing, charming.
A jewel of a bottle, this fizzy pink Pinot Nero rose is made from grapes grown in the south of Lombardy (on limestone soils similar to those in Champagne). It's a spumante with a pale pink hue and aromas of red berries and red apples, peach fuzz, honeysuckle orange blossoms. Off-dry and moussey it's a vibrant and juicy bubbly with flavours of red berries and apples drizzled in honey. 10-12g/L RS
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 9th, 2023

Floral, fizzy, expressive.
Made entirely of Glera, this fresh spumante leads with sweet orchard fruits, apple skin, delicate floral notes, think orange blossoms, and hints of honey and exotic fruit. It has a kiss of sweetness (this one weights in at 10-14g/L residual), but it's not distracting at all--just makes the palate fruit more expressive. The fish has snappy citrus and a seam of marzipan.
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 5th, 2021

Floral, fizzy, delicate.
Made of Glera and Pinot Nero this new release (was released later in 2020) vintage Prosecco leads with peach stone notes layered with red berries and cherries, honey and delicate floral tones. The palate reflects the nose and trails citrus peel and sweet raspberry flavours.
10-14g/L
Pair with sun-dried tomatoes in oil, Parmiginao reggiano, baked ham or salmon, pizza or brunch.
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 5th, 2021

Charming, juicy, delicate.
Sandro Bottega's internationally popular spumante wines include this sweet and fragrant moscato, which doles out honey and apricots, white raisins and lemon drops, tangerine and rose petal aromas. Sweet and fizzy it's juicy and fresh, delicate and delicious.
Production zone, Northern Italy.
Pairs Great with Gone Crackers Roasted Shallot & Herb
 
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 30th, 2021

What a pretty bottle!
Plus, it's filled with Sandro Bottega's internationally popular Vino dei Poeti (wine of the poets) pink Prosecco. Fresh and sweet aromas will charm you... Strawberries and blood oranges with acacia blossoms lead to a lively palate of Maraschino cherry, berry and orange peel with a hint of bread dough on the finish.
Moussey and fresh.
Celebrate Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or any day, without spending a small fortune!
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 30th, 2013

Floral, tangy, mouthwatering.
A stunning silver wrapped bottle, my favourite among the trio of rose gold (pink) and gold versions, which presents floral talc, melon and starfruit, honey and candied citrus peel. A creamy mousse and crisp and tangy demeanor. It's a drier style with a mouthwatering finish.
Pairs Great with Gone Crackers Roasted Shallot & Herb
 
©copyright 2019 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 5th, 2019

This estate grown Syrah expresses what BC can do with Syrah.
It was aged 16 months in French, American and Russian oak and offers aromas of blackberries, cracked black pepper, plum, black cherries in dark chocolate, espresso, leather and hints of licorice. The palate shows its more succulent side with black fruit and loads of black pepper, dried herbs, toasted spices and bittersweet mocha atop savoury spice rub and smoked meats.
It's a gutsy wine, chewy, meaty and concentrated with very good balance.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 26th, 2013

Burrowing Owl's premium Bordeaux blend is comprised of 55% Cabernet Franc with 25% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon with a sprinkling of Malbec and Petit Verdot.
Expect smoked cherries, vanilla, black currents, plum cake, licorice and baking spice aromas atop a savoury core. It has excellent structure and fruit concentration; luscious chocolate is layered with sweet spice and black fruit. The tannins are fine and ripe and mocha flavours trail across the finish.
Excellent!
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 19th, 2013

This wine not only introduced me to British Columbian Pinot Gris but also had me enamored with it when I first tasted it in the late 1990s. It's still a thrill to drink with its floral and tropical aromas of guava, young pineapple and banana with honeysuckle and tangerine. It has a lovely texture and a fresh palate is dominated by citrus flavours, which fold into tropical fruit, lime and green pears.
Pair with spicy crab cakes, mushroom based dishes or poached salmon in lemon sauce.

©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 23rd, 2013