Bright, silky, pleasing.
The Centenario range of Graffigna's wines, pays tribute to the 100th anniversary of the winery, which was founded by Santiago Graffigna in 1870.
It is always a pleasing white, offering pear and guava, grapefruit and honey with hints of smoke, spring blossoms and mineral. It has a silky weight, a kiss of honeyed sweetness, and bright acidity. Overall good length, with a fresh zesty finish.
Pairs Great with Gone Crackers Roasted Shallot & Herb
 
©copyright 2016 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 8th, 2016

The Gamekeeper's Reserve is a wine made for rich dishes - grilled meat and stews.
The aromas are smoked cherries and black currents, roasted herbs and spice rub with leather and game meats at the core. The palate is peppery and savoury as well - brown spice, dark chocolate and espresso mingle with sweet black fruit. It's a very grounded and earthy wine with very good acidity to give it lift and a spicy cocoa finish.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 7th, 2013

Lively, zesty, honey.
One of our staple Rieslings, the Fritz's was developed specifically for our local market.
It offers tangy aromas of peaches and apricots in honey, slate and lemon drops with citrus blossoms. It is off-dry but balanced by racy acidity. Similar flavours of stone fruits, gala apples and honey appear on the palate. It has nice depth and weight with a lovely zesty finish.
Pair: Spicy chilled noodles, sushi or curries.
©copyright 2015 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 24th, 2015

Made by Gunderloch, specifically for Canada, the Fritz's Riesling is a lively melange of lemon/lime, peach jam, green apples, honey and spring blossom aromas. The palate sings with similar sweet yet tangy fruit which is nicely offset with mouthwatering acidity.
A great accompaniment to spicy, chilled noodles, sushi or curries.
Solid value!
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 11th, 2013

Lively, zesty, honey.
One of our staple Rieslings, the Fritz's was developed specifically for our local market.
It offers tangy aromas of peaches and apricots in honey, slate and lemon drops with citrus blossoms. It is off-dry but balanced by racy acidity. Similar flavours of stone fruits, gala apples and honey appear on the palate. It has nice depth and weight with a lovely zesty finish.
Pair: Spicy chilled noodles, sushi or curries.
©copyright 2015 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 24th, 2015

Second review: Nov. 2016
An in-your-face Pinot with effusive aromas of cherry cola/sarsaparilla, violets and raspberry. The palate is smooth, fruity and spicy but offers good freshness and some smooth tannic structure.
©copyright 2015 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 24th, 2016

Fragrant, supple, stylish.
The family owned and run Hahn winery was established in 1980 by Nicky and Gaby Hahn. Their Pinot Noir offers fragrant raspberry, a potpourri of cedar chips and violets, cherry, baking spice, leather, mocha and dried herbs. It is supple in the mouth with generous fruit layered with cedar, cocoa and floral to mimic the nose. Stylish and fresh with a ling spicy finish.
Pair: wild mushroom and roasted shallot risotto, plum glazed duck, squash ravioli or lam
©copyright 2015 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 7th, 2015

Fragrant, supple, modern.
The family owned and run Hahn winery was established in 1980 by Nicky and Gaby Hahn. This modern Pinot delivers plush notes of sweet plums and cherry, vanilla, cedar, star anise, dried violets and cocoa nibs. It's a fresh wine with balanced acidity highlighting red ad purple berries. It has a supple weight and smooth texture; fine spices and cocoa trail on the finish.
Pair: wild mushroom and roasted shallot risotto, plum glazed duck, squash ravioli or lamb.
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 3rd, 2021

Harper's Trail is pioneering the Kamloops wine region with their Thadd Springs Vineyard along the South Thompson River. Owned by Ed and Vicki Collett, this wine was made at the Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland by chief winemaker Michael Bartier.
At only 8.5% alcohol, this is one great off-dry sipper.
The nose offers apricot and peaches, wild honey, yellow apples and spring flowers. It has a fantastic mouthfeel, which is both tangy and lush at the same time. Here, lime and stonefruit, apples and quince vie for your attention. It has lovely freshness, a dollop of sweetness and very good concentration with a racy, mouthwatering finish.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 6th, 2013

A single vineyard Chardonnay made from vines grown in higher altitude Eden Valley at 550 meters above sea level and the lower Barossa Valley. It spent 12 months in French oak barrel and was made using indigenous yeasts.
It has a leesy nose with lemon meringue, spiced butter, a hint of caramel and pineapple with loads of honeysuckle. The palate is buttery, creamy and concentrated. Sweet spice and citrus are present with marzipan on the finish. Delicious, elegant and vibrant with wonderful length.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 22nd, 2013

Unapologetic, luscious, creamy.
An unapologetic Chardonnay-lovers Chardy, it has aromas of butterscotch pudding, pineapple chunks, vanilla, honey and baking spices. The palate is equally demonstrative with plush butter, spice and caramel liqueur flavours. It is smooth, seductively sweet and lengthy.
Pair with roasted chicken, creamy corn chowder, smoked cheddar and creamy pastas.
©copyright 2018 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 12th, 2018

Unapologetic, luscious, creamy.
An unapologetic luscious wine with a nose of creamed butter, pineapple chunks, vanilla caramels, honey and baking spices. The palate is equally demonstrative with plush butter, spice and caramel liqueur flavours. It is smooth, seductively sweet and lengthy.
Pair with roasted chicken, creamy corn chowder, smoked cheddar and creamy pastas.
©copyright 2017 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 25th, 2017

Supple, fresh, spicy.
The Judge is an impressive blend of estate Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot housed in a muscular bottle.
An intense nose delivers black currents and plums, mocha and brown spice aromas. Glycerol in texture and weight it has a notably bold structure with restrained fruit and a long finish trailing dark chocolate, espresso and plenty of spice. Good freshness here keep it all in balance.
Pairs great with Gone Crackers Olive Oil & Cracked Pepper
 
©copyright 2019 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 30th, 2019

Supple, fresh, evocative.
The Judge is an impressive blend of estate Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot housed in a muscular bottle.
The nose offers roasted bell peppers and peppery spices on the savoury end, then evocative notes of licorice, vanilla, cherry gelee, smoked plums and purple flowers add a fragrant lift. Supple but still fresh, it is a well-woven palate of mocha and baking spices, cracked pepper and bright fruit flavours. Great structure and balance, a wine suited for Hester Creek's premium red.
©copyright 2018 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 11th, 2018

Value, ripe, honeyed.
Made not in the traditional method as Champagne but in a method called methode transvasee, which transfers it from bottle to tank and back again.
A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rhine Riesling it is aged for over one year to add complexity. Expect very ripe aromas of wild honey, musk melon, stone fruits and some toasted, leesy undertones. The palate follows suit with intense honeyed flavours layered with stone fruits and orange blossom water.
Good complexity for the price.
Pair: salmon tartar, Sushi, and fried seafood, salty snacks, creamy cheeses.
©copyright 2015 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 9th, 2015

12 stands for the vintage in which it was created, making it their 2012 white blend.
This year it's a blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. The nose emits lychee and rose petals, lime oil and pink grapefruit with exotic spice. It has a plush mouthfeel and a good dose of citrus to clean up the residual sweetness. Expect similar flavours of tropical fruit, exotic spice and honey in the mouth. Great value for sipping or pairing with turkey sliders, crab cakes or spicy coconut curries.

©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 26th, 2013

Charming, juicy, fizzy.
Made from Riesling , Gewurztraminer and Merlot (for colour) this wedding-perfect sparkler is a pale watermelon pink with aromas of sweet summer berries, peach fuzz, tangerine, honey and white grapes. It's a fizzy wine with a kiss of sweetness, juicy fruit and good overall vibrancy.
Fresh, fun and charming.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 25th, 2020

Charming, juicy, fizzy.
Made from Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Ehrenfleser and Kerner, plus Merlot (for colour), this wedding-perfect frizzante sparkler is a pretty pale watermelon pink with aromas of sweet summer berries, peach tangerine, honey and white grapes. It's a fizzy wine, delicate and juicy with a kiss of sweetness and good overall vibrancy.
Fresh, fun and charming.
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 11th, 2021

Charming, juicy, fizzy.
Made from Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Merlot (for colour), this wedding-perfect frizzante sparkler is a consistently pretty bubbly. Pale watermelon pink, it delivers aromas of candied apples, juicy peaches, grapefruit, honey and maraschino cherries. It's sweet and juicy and laden with berry and stone fruit flavours. Delicate and charming.
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 11th, 2021

Charming, juicy, fruity.
Made from Riesling with a splash of three red varieties (to add colour), this wedding-perfect sparkler is pale pink with aromas of sweet summer berries, tangerine peel, honeysuckle and ginger with notes of orchard fruits. It is off-dry - a kiss of sweetness - with flavours of orange marmalade, peach melba and summer berries. It boasts an amiable mousse and a mouthwatering finish.
©copyright 2016 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 7th, 2016

Robert Oatley named the Tic Tok range after his grandfather James Oatley, a clockmaker who arrived in Sydney as a convict in 1815. His skills led him to a pardon only six years later and subsequently his clocks became known as works of art.

I've like this wine since I first tasted it a few vintages ago, this time I wasn't quite as pleased.
The aromas here are creamy pears, tangerine, spiced caramel, smoky honey and over-ripe musk melon and dried pineapple chunks. The palate is an echo of the nose - honey, yellow apples, ripe peach and citrus peel with a zesty and spicy finish. Medium length finish but all in all not as fresh as previous vintages.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 8th, 2013