Expressive, chocolaty, supple.
This vintage the Athene is 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 52% Syrah. It is aged in American and Hungarian oak, half new, half one-year-old.
It is stylish and expressive with grapey aromas wound around blueberry, chocolate, mocha and baking spice with a meaty core doused with wild herbs. It is supple with great structure; it is smooth, chocolaty and spicy with cherry and wild berry flavours rolling across the finish. Overall, great balance and structure.
Pair: Pepper crusted rib-eye steak, hearty mushroom ravioli with Parmesan and herbs or seasonal game meats.

©copyright 2017 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 5th, 2017

Berries, fresh, spiced.
The Cab Franc grapes came from the Burrowing Owl Vineyard in Oliver and the estate Eva's Vineyard in Osoyoos. Post fermentation the wine was moved into separate mixed origin barrels for malolactic fermentation followed by 15 months of ageing.
Wild red berries, leather, tobacco, cedar and dried wild flower aromas mingle with sage, thyme and peppery spices. It's medium-full bodied with cherry wood, earth, brown spice, leather, charred tobacco and green cedar flavours. Good freshness here, with a somewhat bitter finish.
Pairs great with Gone Crackers Blue Cheese & Cracked Pepper
 
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 6th, 2022

Fragrant, delicious, satisfying.
This estate Cabernet Franc was oak aged for 18 months, bottled unfiltered and then saw additional bottle age.
Fragrant sweet cherry and plummy aromas are melded with currents, dried violets, cedar, pipe tobacco and sarsaparilla. Wonderfully fruit-forward, plush and mouthfilling, it has a lengthy licorice and mocha finish. A delicious wine, concentrated and very satisfying.
Pairs great with Gone Crackers Blue Cheese & Cracked Pepper
 
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 8th, 2020

Fragrant, fresh, smooth.
The Cab Franc grapes came from the Burrowing Owl Vineyard in Oliver and the estate Keller and Eva vineyards in Osoyoos. Post fermentation the wine was moved into separate mixed origin barrels for malolactic fermentation followed by 18 months of ageing.
Expect a fragrant wine with aromas of cherries and licorice, cola, mocha and purple flowers. The palate is smooth and fresh with bright cherry flavours along with leather, tobacco, brown spice and dark biscuits. Nice balance and length--this wine delivers. My favourite of the red wine portfolio at BOV.
Pairs great with Gone Crackers Blue Cheese & Cracked Pepper
 
©copyright 2024 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 7th, 2024

Supple, powerful, potent.
Oliver-based Burrowing Owl has maintained a house style and quality consistently over the years. This Cabernet Sauvignon is reflective of that with its intensity. Chocolate, black currents, vanilla, baking spices, pencil shavings and patchouli aromas lead to an equally plush and potent palate. It has heft; it is concentrated and generous with mocha and dark purple fruit flavours that nicely benefit from impressive acidity.
©copyright 2016 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 7th, 2016