2016 Reserve Viognier Released
/2016 Reserve Viognier comes out with a bang!
TASTING NOTES
Naramata Bench terroir and a long hang-time have created a wine with refined aromatic intensity. Think of this as a “summer chardonnay”. Our Viognier has intriguing fragrances of spring blossoms and honeysuckle, with hints of Chai spice.
WINEMAKER NOTES
After a warm early start to the growing season, moderate heat through the rest of the season resulted in the viognier grapes developing fine aromatic intensity. Handled gently to preserve the delicate aromatics, the fruit was de-stemmed and given brief skin contact before draining off skins and cold settling. A portion (29%) was barrel fermented in 1st (14.5%) and 2nd fill French oak barrels, while the balance was allowed a long slow fermentation in stainless steel. After 5 months in oak with frequent lees stirring, creating a rich silky palate, the wine was racked and blended. Finished dry.
DOUBLE GOLD & BEST OF CATEGORY | All Canadian Wine Championship
All Canadian Wine Championships 2017 Results
Viognier
Double Gold
Hillside Winery, BC 2016 Viognier $21.00
Gold
Ruby Blues Winery, BC 2016 Viognier $25.00
Oliver Twist Estate Winery, BC 2016 Viognier $22.00
Silver
Blasted Church Wines, BC 2016 Mixed Blessings $22.00
Red Rooster Winery, BC 2016 Rare Bird Series Viognier $22.00
Gold Hill Winery, BC 2014 Viognier $18.99
Bronze
Perseus Winery, BC 2016 Viognier $18.99
Lang Vineyards, BC 2016 Viognier $21.99
Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, BC 2015 Reserve Limited Edition Viognier $19.99
Other awards:
SILVER /National Wine Awards of Canada Wine Align 2017
Bronze/San Francisco International Wine Competition
Michael Pinkus, On the road with the grape guy review
This Viognier ticked all the boxes for me; first there’s a freshness of fruit, namely lemon, white peach and tropical notes giving it both freshness and fruitiness – but there’s also some lanolin that balances out the fruity nature of this wine – plus it has an excellent length of finish and acidity that brings it all together.
Price: $22.00 - Rating: ****
Hillside Merlot Gjoa Vineyard 2011
Bronze, NorthWest Wine Summit
Anthony Gismondi Review:
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada The Gjoa Vineyard sits just below the winery along the lower Naramata Bench and was first planted in 1995. The mature vineyard fruit neatly meshes with Hillside winemaker Kathy Malone’s philosophy to make “bench” only wines. The nose is fresh with red fruit plum aromas and mocha coffee undercurrent. Similar flavours spill on to the palate with a long, spicy, mineral undercurrent and now mostly silky tannins. Ready to drink with roast beef. Its aged 13 months in barrels; new (14%) American and older French oak.TASTED: 11 AUGUST 2017TASTED BY: ANTHONY GISMONDIPRICES: BC 30.00 winery direct PRODUCER: HILLSIDE WINERYDISTRIBUTORS: LONE TREE CELLARS
VARIETAL: MERLOT
89POINTS
16¼/20
John Schreiner on wine:
Hillside Merlot 2011 Gjoa’s Vineyard ($24.99). This is a remarkably complex Merlot, especially since 2011 was a cooler vintage. The flavours here certainly are ripe, with a core of sweet cassis flavours and with polished tannins. 92 score
