Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Athene 2018

Jennifer Havers rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Blended from 51% Syrah, and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of blackberry, dark cherry, and evergreen, with notes of black pepper, graphite, and warm herbal spices. Full bodied on the palate, with some drying tannins, and bright acidity. Berry and fruit notes on the palate are rich and ripe, with hints of evergreen, spice and pepper on a lengthy finish. Enjoy with any grilled meats.

Matt Steeves rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

Athene blends two of the most popular Okanagan reds (51% Syrah, 49% Cabernet Sauvignon) from Burrowing Owl's estate vineyards on the Black Sage Bench in the heart of the Okanagan Valley. Although Merlot is the most planted red varietal in the Okanagan, Syrah may be the Okanagan's most promising and impressive big red varietal and Athene showcases it beautifully. Deeply coloured, the nose and palate show layers of dark fruits, dark chocolate, sweet spices, black tea, graphite, and pepper all in a beautifully balanced and harmonious style that's drinking wonderfully now and will evolve gracefully over the next decade. Athene's Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon were hand picked in late October then co-fermented and aged for 18 months in a blend of 2/3 new European oak and the balance in a mix of one to three year neutral oak. Bottled unfiltered to preserve the great complexity in this wine, Athene is a well structured, elegant and softly textured wine that highlights the best of premium wines from the Black Sage Bench. A testament to the great terroir and winemaking team at Burrowing Owl. Tasted October 2022. 93+ points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca