Deborah scored this wine: 92/100

From Kaleden, British Columbia, Lakeboat Vineyard and Winery 2022 Pinot Gris is fresh, vibrant, silky and so expressive of the Okanagan Falls/Kaleden terroir. Not a sub G.I. yet, but there is something very different about the wines from here. They are crisp, lithe and refined. This Pinot Gris is almost ethereal with a silky veil of ripe white-fleshed peach, apple, Asian pear with nuances of lemon blossom and lingering with just a hint of petrichor on the finish. It's an amazing summer sipper chilled on its own or bring it along to the beach with a picnic. Tasted March 2024. Lakeboat Winery and Vineyard wines are part of The Wine Umbrella / Dames Wine fundraising wines, which benefit Les Dames d’Escoffier’s Scholarship Fund.

Deborah scored this wine: 92/100

Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Benchmark Series 2022 Pinot Noir is fresh with bright raspberry and cherry aromas mirrored on the palate with dried fine herbs, earthy and mocha notes, perfectly balanced with food-friendly, medium-plus-acidity to handle even the richest duck dinner. Tannins are fine and textured with good length and depth on the palate. Elegant and classy. Tasted March 2024 and paired with roast duck dinner, a pouring and pairing made in gastronomical heaven!

Deborah scored this wine: 92/100

Love, love, love the freshness and elegance on this 100% Riesling bubble! Seven Stars Rigel is named for the 7th brightest and youngest star in the night sky and the brightest star in Orion. Crafted in the traditional method (as in the making of champagne) by winemaker, Mary McDermott, the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation or prise de mousse in bottle. Fresh, youthful and zesty with subtle spring florals, it is dry and crisp on the palate with lime zest, flinty mineral, toasty flavours with a lemony mousse lingering on a fresh brioche note. Perfect chilled on its own any day of the week, with salads, smoked salmon and creamy cheeses. Tasted April 2024 The Riesling grapes for Rigel are sourced from Mark Antonello's Fool’s Gold Estate in North Oliver.

Deborah scored this wine: 92/100

From world renown biodynamic vigneron and winemaker, Gérard Bertrand, Heritage An 1152 Cahors (2020) is a broody, fully bodied and seductively smooth Malbec, savoury and ultra-balanced with layers of blueberry, ripe dark fruits, vanilla, subtle dark spices, fresh acidity, firm but approachable fine-grained tannins with a ripe blueberry medium-plus-length finish. So smooth and delicious, enjoy it now through 2028. If having tonight, do decant it for one hour prior to pouring it with a juicy filet mignon. Tasted February 2024. An 1152 is part of Gérard Bertrand's "Heritage" collection and history of terroirs of the South of France. "The year 1152, marked a historic union between France and England. Henry Plantagenet, future king of England, opens the doors of London to the whole world."

Deborah scored this wine: 92/100

Garnet Valley Ranch is a natural, peaceful and pristine ranch and vineyard located on a 320-acre site in Summerland, British Columbia that was purchased by Okanagan Crush Pad Winery in 2012. The first blocks were planted in 2014 and, as of 2023, the high-altitude vineyards had 55 acres in Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Chenin Blanc. Depending on the varietal, vines thrive in soils of volcanic, glacial, alluvial coarse sand, limestone and rock. From here, Garnet Valley Ranch's inaugural sparkling wine was crafted from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Elegant and toasty on the nose with ripe red berry, yellow apple, toasted brioche, fresh lemon zest and savoury fine herbs, it is fresh with a fine and persistent mousse. Traditional Method Sparkling 2016 rested on its fine lees developing aromas and flavours in bottle for 72 months. A finely finessed bubble that truly expresses its terroir, it is drinking beautifully now. Chill and enjoy it on its own, for special occasions and with all manner of seafood. Tasted December 2023 and March 2024.