Seamless, lovely, juicy.
Without doubt, Michael Bartier is one of British Columbia's most talented and humble winemakers. He makes honest wines and trusts the site and the fruit to dictate the wine. My favourite of his reds, the GSM Grenache (43%), Syrah (38%), Mourvedre (20%) is harvested from the estate vineyard on the Black Sage Bench, and was aged 16 months in 225L French oak barrels.
Raspberries and cherry twizzler notes are woven with Turkish coffee, black chocolate, violets and sweet pipe tobacco aromas. It has a silky, fresh and genuine palate and it really highlights the Grenache fruit and the Syrah's white pepper flavours. Lovely balance and cohesiveness, it then culminates in a lengthy finish of brown spice, purple berries and tea.
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 14th, 2022

Seamless, woven, juicy.
Without doubt, Michael Bartier is one of British Columbia's most talented and humble winemakers. He makes honest wines and trusts the site and the fruit to dictate the wine. This first release GSM Grenache (44%), Syrah (36%), Mourvedre (20%) was aged 14 months in 225L French oak barrels.
It's an extroverted wine, evocative of Southern Rhone blends similar to this one; expect sunwarmed cherries and licorice root, strawberries and toasted spice, roasted coffee beans and finely ground white pepper aromas. Juicy red fruit sprinkled with white pepper, salted Dutch licorice, leather and tobacco flavours are woven on a seamless palate. Medium-bodied and truly enjoyable--a wonderful new addition to the portfolio.
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 12th, 2021

Earthy, textural, fragrant.
Grown on the Black Sage gravel bar in Bartier's estate Cerqueira vineyard, this 2022 Merlot spent 15 months in neutral French oak before bottling.
Expect fragrant black cherry and purple flowers, vanilla, licorice, cedar, pipe tobacco and mocha aromas. It's a smooth wine with a savoury/earthy character. Bittersweet chocolate, spice, green olive and espresso flavours mimic the nose. It has texture and restraint and cocoa tannins that cling to the finish.
Pair: Anything you can throw on the grill or a nice round of brie cheese.
©copyright 2025 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 27th, 2025

Fresh, smooth, genuine.
Grown on the Black Sage gravel bar in Bartier's estate Cerqueira vineyard, this fresh Merlot doesn't resemble so many of the over-oaked versions the Okanagan used to be known for. Aromas are of spiced plums and blackberries, dark chocolate, charred cedar, vanilla and sage with a hint of marzipan. Expect classic Merlot mid-palate roundness; it's a fresh and smooth wine that trails espresso, brown spices, coffee and dark cocoa flavours.
An honest red with a sense of place.
Pair: Anything you can throw on the grill or a nice round of brie cheese.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - October 15th, 2020

Fresh, textural, savoury.
Grown on the Black Sage gravel bar in Bartier's estate Cerqueira vineyard, this 2022 Merlot spent 15 months in neutral French oak before bottling.
Expect notes of plums and tobacco, leather, brown spice and licorice, dark chocolate, pencil shavings and freshly turned soil. It has a smooth and fresh entry, quite an earthy character overall, and a textural finish. Cocoa, purple fruits, tobacco and spice flavours echo the nose. br>Pair: Anything you can throw on the grill or a nice round of brie cheese.
©copyright 2024 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 7th, 2024