Muscular, wild, peppery.
Only 444 cases made, this Syrah comes from a warm site on the South Okanagan and was matured in barriques (30% new French). Aromas here are wild purple berries, peppery spices, dried herbs and dusty black cherry with leather, tobacco and cocoa. The entry offers liberal sweet fruit and supple weight, it grows more muscular mid-palate and leans toward espresso and smoked meat with spice rub flavours. Good length and balanced acidity but oak seems to dominate the finish. .
Pair with grilled or roasted meats aged goat cheeses or rich winter stews.

©copyright 2015 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 2nd, 2015

Supple, potent, opulent.
Osoyoos-based Moon Curser Vineyards makes a range of wine, many rare in Canadian soils.
The expressive Contraband Syrah was aged in a mix of new and neutral Hungarian and French oak.
As fragrant as usual, it suggests opulent aromas of cherry cola and pipe tobacco, dried roses and black raspberry. It's a mouthfilling red, supple and chocolaty with loads of purple fruit, licorice, spice and vanilla flavours. Potent and inky it features a long coffee flavoured finish.
Pair with grilled or roasted meats aged goat cheeses or rich winter stews.

©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 19th, 2022

Supple, expressive, slick.
Osoyoos-based Moon Curser Vineyards makes a range of wine, many rare in Canadian soils.
The expressive Contraband Syrah was aged in Hungarian oak and doles out a perfume of purple flowers and concord grapes, black cherry, cola spices, licorice, black pepper and rich chocolate aromas. It has a supple entry is juicy and fruit-forward with a slick texture. It is intensely concentrated with cocoa tannins and an espresso flavoured finish. .
Pair with grilled or roasted meats aged goat cheeses or rich winter stews.

©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 27th, 2021

Smooth, wild, spicy.
Osoyoos-based Moon Curser Vineyards makes a range of wine, many rare in Canadian soils.
The Contaband Syrah shows blackberries and black raspberries, sarsaparilla, warm mocha and a hint of violets. The entry is smooth and grows more textural mid-palate. Fresh but with a wild savoury side, it doles out cocoa, espresso, black fruit and peppery spice flavours and trails toasted oak across the finish. .
Pair with grilled or roasted meats aged goat cheeses or rich winter stews.

©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 18th, 2020

Muscular, toasted, concentrated.
Dead of Nightis a blend of Tannat (Madiran's tannic red variety) and Syrah, both from the South Okanagan and if you've had this wine before, there are no surprises perhaps just more deliciousness.
Expect toasted oak and spice aromas woven with plums and espresso, leather, blackberries, bacon fat and dark chocolate. It has a brooding character, is muscular and grippy, dark and meaty. Flavours of toasted spices, coffee and black chocolate dominate.
A wine to pair with anything from the BBQ.
Pairs great with Gone Crackers Canadian Chedder & Chive
 
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 12th, 2023