Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 92/100

If you had a chance to try vinAmité’s Chanson d’amour 2023 this summer, then you already know how beautifully balanced, tasty and elegant this wine is. A dry, medium-bodied and supple white wine blend of 75% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Gewürztraminer, 6% each Semillon and Pinot Gris with a dollop (3%) of Chardonnay, it is perfumed with honeysuckle, orange blossom, minty and mineral notes, citrus zesty on the palate with a crisp and long finish. As its name suggests, it is also so easy to love. Tasted September 2024.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 92/100

Hester Creek Estate Winery’s Old Vines Cabernet Franc 2021 was produced from low yields of hand-harvested Cab Franc grapes from vines over a half-century old sourced from Block 3 of the winery’s historic Golden Mile Bench vineyard. In addition, grape clusters were destemmed and the whole berries were cold soaked for three days to intensify these flavours. Beautifully crafted, the wine is rich on the nose and fruit-driven on the palate, and I agree with the winemaker’s notes that “the 2021 Cabernet Franc harvest is of outstanding quality with excellent depth of flavour.” Currently, the wine is showing oodles of ripe raspberry, red currant, cherry, bramble leaf, pink roses, dried herbs, dried sweet tobacco and cracked pepper flavours, dry, medium-plus-bodied, savoury and generous on the palate with a lengthy, velvety finish on a nutty and warm vanilla note. The wine was aged for 18 months in French and American oak barrels and will easily drink through 2028. Thoroughly enjoyed in September 2024 and perfectly matched with a grouse breast schnitzel accompanied with a dollop of red currant jelly.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 92/100

Refined, lithe and beautifully balance, Fort Berens Estate Winery Reserve Merlot (2021) is bright ruby red in the glass, elegant and fresh on the nose, fruity and medium-plusish-bodied on the palate with mixed red berry, red currant, cranberry, plum and juniper berry, elegant and velvety with structured tannins. Amazingly well-crafted, this is a refined and fresh Reserve Merlot to enjoy now through 2028. Tasted September 2028.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 94/100

Loooove this Cabernet Franc Reserve 2021 from Fort Berens Estate Winery. It IS a beauty and rivals their 2018 vintage (the 2018 was awarded Gold at the 2021 National Wine Awards of Canada and rated as one of Canada's Top Cabernet Franc wines). On the 2021 Reserve, it is raspberry fields forever on the nose, rich and fragrant with crushed dark raspberry, red currant, dried sweet tobacco and well-integrated oak spice, fruity and full-bodied with meaty, fennel, bramble and bay leaf flavours ultra-balanced, savoury and velvety on the palate. Once again, an amazing, complex and concentrated Cab Franc from FB just beginning to show its best and to drink through 2028+. Tasted on September 17th 2024 to toast in the Super moon and partial eclipse, with beef prime ribs from the grill. Did I howl at the moon?! You betcha!

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 93/100

What an exquisite Cab Sauvignon from Hester Creek Estate Winery's Source Collection. Deep ruby in the glass (almost opaque but still bright) with medium-plus-intensity aromas of blackberry, black currant, brambleberry and dried sweet tobacco leaf, savoury herbs, menthol, crushed stone (gravel?) lavender, violets, sandalwood with a vanilla and orange zesty twist. (after decanting and resting for three days in wine fridge). Dry, medium-plus-bodied with medium-plus juicy acidity, fine-grained pleasantly grippy tannins somewhat drying with a savoury medium-plus-length finish on the palate. Needs a bit more time in bottle to unwind and open up -- better in 2025 or 2026. But if having tonight, do decant for an hour or two and pour slightly chilled (so much fruit on this Cab!) with prime rib from the grill. Overall: Pretty terrific and an excellent quality Cab but needs a bit of time to show its absolute best. Tasted September 2024.