Dawn reviewed this wine:

My main joy as a wine educator is seeing the surprise and delight when someone really ‘gets’ what wine is about. Thanks to Gray Monk Estate Wineries and their 2011 Gewürztraminer, that’s what happened sitting round my dining room table yesterday evening for the #ONTastesBC Tweet-up. One member of my tasting team had previously stated her dislike of Gewurztraminer so trepidation was in the air when the bottle was opened and the wine poured. For me it was actually exciting because I knew something about the wine that my friend didn’t, namely that this was an off-dry Gewürz, not the sweet Gewürz of her memory. One hesitant sip and she was hooked, an interesting lesson on how the winemakers can so influence the style of wine. The fruit was harvested from vineyards in both Kelowna and and the juice was left in contact with the skins for an extended period of time before cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The colour is a clear yellow green, with those wonderful distinctive Gewürz aromas of herbal spice, fresh melon and ripe peaches whilst the flavours have lichee, melon and tropical fruits notes. It has a crisp, fresh, rich finish and served chilled, is good on it’s own, with salads or Asian cuisines. Availability in Ontario VINTAGES #321588 Alcohol 12.5% Price $ 19.95 Note: Vintages rates this DRY. Winemaker: George Heiss Jr. & Roger Wong At Gray Monk Estate Winery, the Heiss family has been a pioneer of the wine industry since 1972, from growing grapes to supporting the promotion of British Columbia’s world famous VQA wines. In 1998 the family was honoured with the Founder Award from the Okanagan Wine Festival Society for the winery’s outstanding contributions to this unique wine-growing regionoptimum growing conditions allow cool climate Gewurztraminer varietel to flourish.

Dawn reviewed this wine:

Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin 2008 is indeed a grand vin. Born out of the serendipity partnership between Groupe Taillan of Bordeaux, France and Vincor Canada (now Constellation) it exhibits all the class and passion such a partnership brings to the vineyard. In Bordeaux, fourteen grape varietals are allowed; in Osoyoos, winemaker Pascal Madevon uses five in the following proportions; 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot which are coaxed into a dream of a wine. And how romantic is the fact that the rootstock and clone combinations are prepared in Bordeaux, shipped to Canada and planted by hand in high density to ensure superior fruit quality and that all pruning, leaf stripping and picking is done by hand? Magnifique! French oak barrels age the wine for a period of 18 to 20 months and racking from barrel to barrel takes place every three. So, how does this paragon of the winemakers art taste? Spectacular! Given that the wine can be enjoyed until at least 2018, it’s almost a shame to drink it half way through it’s predicted life span – almost but not quite! With a deep ruby moving to garnet colour, Le Grand Vin gives a raspberry and toasty aroma whilst the hot, dry climate of Osoyoos encourages the predominant Merlot to produce rich, flowery, black cherry and spice notes, good tannins and a wonderful, lasting finish. At $45.95 it ain’t cheap, but oh my goodness it’s worth it! and because it’s only available through the LCBO/Vintages, exclusive. Definitely the wine to drink as a onesome, a twosome, a foursome or if you really want to impress someone but please, don’t take it to the neighbourhood barbeque where it may be treated like any old plonk. Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin 2008. Buy yourself a bottle and save it for a rainy day...if you can!