Savoury, plush, lengthy.
The 5th Element red earth, wind, water, fire and wine is a Merlot dominant blend with Syrah, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot picked from estate vineyards, Blind Creek in the Similkameen Valley and the Castle Vineyard on the Golden Mile. It spent 18 months in French and American oak (35% new).
Kirsch black plum and vanilla aromas mingle with baking spices, Turkish coffee, cedar, violets and chocolate. It is inky and textural; coffee chocolate, dusty plums, sage and toasted spice flavours line the palate. Balance and power.
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 16th, 2021

Fragrant, fresh, effusive
Named after the Jackpot Goldmine in the South Okanagan, Road 13's Jackpot label has several wines including this Malbec. It's a new one for me, and it delivers.
Fragrant black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, vanilla, candied rose petals, licorice, clove and cinnamon aromas dominate the nose. The palate is just as effusive--licorice, mixed spices, black fruits and marzipan with a grape-y finish. Good freshness overall with chalky tannins.
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©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 17th, 2021

Notes of smoked spices, roasted meat, stewed plums, bacon fat, leather and blackberries are echoed on the palate, along with cocoa, espresso and juicy black fruits. It's quite weighty and opulent but shows good balance overall.
A wine for game, grilled proteins, hearty mushroom pastas.
©copyright 2019 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 30th, 2019

Cocoa, spicy, savoury.
A Merlot-dominant made by the Golden Mile Bench's Road 13, Seventy-four K is named for the rows of vines, end-to-end you would have to walk 75km to cover the distance.
Lavender wrapped cherry, paprika dusted raspberry, pencil shavings, cocoa, sage and dried violets are expressed on the nose. The palate is savoury and spicy, has a leaner body than the nose suggests, and trails flavours of bay leaf, sage, toasted, spice, tobacco and leather.
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 17th, 2021

Significant, spicy, savoury.
Made from Syrah and Merlot this spicy, savoury and earthy blend delivers black plums and wild berries, cracked black pepper and seasoning salt aromas. The palate is juicy, succulent, smooth and balanced. It has a long spicy finish.
©copyright 2019 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 31st, 2019