Dry, citrusy, clean.
The Quails' Gate version of this aromatic varietal delivers snappy notes of exotic spice and lime, tangerine, marmalade, rose oil and lychee. It's a drier style and has good weight and concentration. Clean and precise, it's dominated by expressive citrus flavours.
Pair: Coconut curry tofu, salad rolls with sweet and spicy sauce, pork and turkey.
Pairs great with Gone Crackers Undressed.
 
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - July 16th, 2020

Elegant, vibrant, tangy.
The Quails' Gate version of this variety is a less potent one, yet equally attractive. The nose exhibits exotic spice with grapefruit, peach and lime with orange blossoms. It's not entirely dry, but it is tangy and vibrant, more linear in its acidity.
Pair: Coconut curry tofu, salad rolls with sweet and spicy sauce, pork and turkey.
©copyright 2016 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - October 10th, 2016

Racy, classic, crunchy.
The Quails' Gate version of this variety is classic; lychee, rose-scented old cream, crunchy nectarines, exotic spices and lime blossoms. It has a kiss of sweetness but under winemaker Nikki Callaway has dried up a bit in recent vintages. Racy on the plate with crunchy fruit and chamomile tea flavours, which roll back into crunchy nectarines on the finish.
Pair: Coconut curry tofu, salad rolls with sweet and spicy sauce, pork and turkey.
Pairs great with Gone Crackers Undressed.
 
©copyright 2017 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - October 10th, 2017

Brooding, grippy, lengthy.
Okanagan Valley's well-loved Quails' Gate winery produces this quite brooding Merlot delivers charred plums and blackberry, leather, tobacco, roasted spices, vanilla and chocolate aromas. Tobacco and black fruits, toasted oak, that broodiness really comes through in the mouth--with a charry and extracted character. The tannins are polished and it shows good persistence.
Pair: A wheel of Camembert and crusty bread, grilled meats or hearty mushroom pastas.
©copyright 2025 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 10th, 2025

Textural, ripe, toasted.
Plums and black cherries, vanilla, mint, espresso and tobacco with leathery undertones. The palate offers sweet and ripe fruit, cocoa and toasted oak flavours. It's more textural than smooth with plenty of toasted oak flavours trailing on the finish. Overall good balance but the oak overwhelms the fruit.
Pair: A wheel of Camembert and crusty bread, grilled meats or hearty mushroom pastas.
©copyright 2015 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 22nd, 2015