Silky, supple, woven.
All the fruit for this wine (Merlot 65%, Cabernet Franc 35%) comes from the Fort Berens estate vineyard in the Fraser Canyon, in Lillooet.
It was made in the appassimento style, whereby a portion of the grapes were dried to add intensity. It was then aged in barrel and then bottle before its recent in November 2019
Expect smoked spies, blackberry and black currents, espresso and dark cocoa, dry earth, tobacco and hints of star anise. It has a silky texture and glycerol-type weight with woven flavours of dried fruit, mocha and charred tobacco--the finish is slightly sharp and it comes in pretty hot at almost 15% alcohol.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 14th, 2020

Harmonious, smooth, woven.
All the fruit for this wine (Merlot 67%, Cabernet Franc 33%) comes from the Fort Berens estate vineyard in the Fraser Canyon, in Lillooet. The components are fermented and aged in French oak barrels. The top three barrels were selected for the Red Gold.
Notes of blackberry and chocolate, espresso and leather, salted licorice and balsamic along with brown spices and cedar. Fresh, harmonious and woven. The finish is long and smooth.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 8th, 2023

Savoury, supple, fresh.
Some of the grapes for this red meritage come from the estate vineyard of Fort Berens in the Fraser Canyon, in Lillooet. The remainder some from the Similkameen Valley and the Okanagan Valley, which is why it is labelled British Columbia.
This wine was made in an appassimento style, a portion of the grapes were dried in a hop-drying barn, to add intensity. It was then aged in barrel for 12 months and an additional 12 months in bottle before its recent in November 2018
Old World charm: it offers red currents, dark cocoa, tobacco, green bell peppers and savoury spice aromas. Supple on the tongue the fresh red fruit reappears in the mouth. Overall good balance, sweet tannins and a long spiced finish.
©copyright 2019 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 28th, 2019

Spicy, spunky, fresh.
This Pinot is part of the newer reserve tier from Fort Berens and it offers sweet raspberry, red cherry and bruised violet aromas woven with dark cocoa, fine spice, dusty earth, tealeaf, wild herbs and vanilla. It is fresh and lively in the mouth with similar tealeaf, spiced cocoa and berry fruit flavours. It's a spunky wine, but shows its heat at nearly 14% alc.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 17th, 2020

New, stylish, classic.
The new reserve tier from Fort Berens stands out from their classic white label wines with a grey label. It is made from estate grown grapes blended with those from the Rise Vineyard in Vernon. Expect rhubarb and red currents, dried wild flowers, tealeaf and fine spices on the nose. The palate is fresh and savoury, a classic style with good balance. Stylish. *No image or price available.
©copyright 2019 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 27th, 2019