Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 95/100

From Fort Berens Estate Winery in Lillooet, British Columbia, a beautiful, elegant and refined reserve Chardonnay, brilliant medium-gold in the glass, and an all-day sniffer perfumed with pronounced aromas of sun-kissed citrus blossoms, honeysuckle, ripe apple, lemon pudding, minerally and hazelnut fresh and youthful with a titch of vanilla and tropical fruit notes reminiscent of a warm Caribbean night. This Chard is dry, medium-plus-bodied and super silky; I would almost say viscous, but it is not heavy on the palate at all. Balanced with medium-plus-acidity, it is a mouthful of ripe apple, lemon pudding, minerally and well-integrated toasty oak spice and anise flavours with a hint of vanilla and great mid-palate replays of scented citrus blossoms, spicy, lemony and tropical fruit with a long velvety finish lasting more than a minute (yes, I timed it). The wine will continue to evolve in bottle as it is just beginning to show its best. Drink through 2028+ Tasted July 2024.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 92/100

Love the silky texture on this spicy Wild Goose Pinot Gris (2023)! Bright light gold in the glass, this Okanagan Valley, B.C. Pinot Gris is fresh with medium-intensity aromas of ripe pear, apple, white florals, white pepper, earthy and fine herb notes with a touch of minerality. Dry and medium-bodied, the wine is almost viscous on the palate and balanced with juicy medium-plus acidity with a long and silky grapefruit pithy finish giving it a refreshing and pleasant bite. Nicely balanced and a perfect pairing with a bone-in pork roast accompanied with pear compote. Tasted July 2024. In 1983, founder Adolf Kruger purchased a piece of land east of Okanagan Falls. When he visited the newly acquired property, he discovered a large flock of Canada geese feeding along its rocky terrain and as he approached the geese took flight. This vision inspired him to call the property Wild Goose Vineyards. In July of 2021, the Wyse family of Burrowing Owl Vineyards acquired the winery and vineyards.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 94/100

Truly, Fort Berens Estate Winery's best Riesling to date! I know I say this a lot about their wines, but the truth is they DO keep getting better and better! Fort Berens Estate Winery Riesling (2023) is a brilliant, pale straw colour in the glass with pronounced aromas of freeesssh yellow apple, orange blossom, licorice, mineral, Meyer lemon with notes of warm vanilla, a just a hint of petrol on the nose and just as amazingly delicious on the palate. This vintage is dry, medium-bodied with brilliant acidity for food and a mouth-wateringly long finish on a creamy Meyer lemon note. In short, it’s so, so satisfying and checks all the boxes for a dangerously drinkable Riesling! Tasted July 2024 with sautéed halibut filets finished with a squeeze of fresh Meyer lemon juice.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 93/100

Tohu Sauvignon Blanc 2022 is so fresh, you have to tell it to behave itself ;). This is a super fresh, summertime Sauvignon Blanc for sure. But it won’t hit you between the eyes with gooseberry, grassy flavours and eye-winking acidity; it is more like a silky caress on the palate with layers of fresh apple, tropical fruit, passionfruit and fine herb notes with Meyer lemon, lime and grapefruit zest in support on a long, crisp, minerally finish. Very elegant, beautifully balanced and easy to love, price point is great as well at $19 on this vegan-friendly, Awatere Valley, Southern Marlborough beauty. Tasted July 2024.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 90/100

Wow! You can’t get a better Syrah at this price point! From Bodegas Y Viñedos Casa Del Valle in Castilla-La Mancha, Monpas Syrah 2019 is produced from certified organic grapes. Dry, full-bodied and velvety smooth, it is smoky from beginning to end and earthy with ripe black currant, black olive, dark berries, plum and subtly spicy flavours juicy, mouth filling and lingering on the palate. Absolutely gorgeous for the price. Drink through 2026 and give it a light chill prior to pouring it with an equally juicy steak from the grill. Tasted July 2024.