Fragrant, spritzy, tangy.
A lightly bubbly (frizzante) rose, which dances on your tongue. It offers up fragrant notes of peaches, strawberries and orange blossoms with earthier notes of cedar chips and rhubarb. It is tangy and faintly spicy, has a pristine character and leans on the drier side of the fence.
Good weight and concentration with enough backbone to stand up to heartier dishes; turkey, chicken, oily fish, but also perfect for spicier cuisines.
©copyright 2017 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 16th, 2017

Savoury, sauvage, spicy.
Deeply coloured and scented with purple berries, charred spices, vanilla, toasted oak, mocha and savoury spice, this Cabernet is more rustic on the palate. Sauvage (rare cooked meats). tomato leaf, brown spices and tobacco lead to a bittersweet finish.
©copyright 2019 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 13th, 2019

Powerful, complex, substantial.
Painted Rock's premium blend Red Icon has jumped $20 in price since last vintage, a trend we're seeing in many BC wines. The 2019 vintage is a blend of 42% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec and 15% Petit Verdot, all blocks were harvested, fermented and barrel aged (18 mos in 30% new French oak) separately, then blended unfiltered before bottling.
It is scented with pipe tobacco and plumcake, dark chocolate, cedar, wild berries and espresso. The palate is supple and fleshy with generous fruit, salted licorice, tobacco, dark mocha and mixed forest berries. It's a powerful wine, concentrated and substantial, and still very youthful. I tasted a day after opening and it was still quite taut.
Open now and decant, or hold for the next decade.
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 30th, 2022

Expressive, supple, fresh.
Grown on the Parsons Hollow Vineyard in the new sub-GI of Skaha Bench, and aged 18-months in French oak (40% new) this expressive Merlot suggests red plum and toasted spices, cherries and vanilla, star anise and saddle leather. Sweet expressive fruit lines the palate--it has a supple entry and is nicely balanced. There are some underlying flavours of high-toned red berries and with coffee and chocolate. Good persistence.
Pairs great with Gone Crackers Canadian Chedder & Chive
 
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - October 26th, 2022