Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 327,163 strong:

Register Today!

Culmina Family Estate Winery Hypothesis 2014 Wine Review

Culmina Family Estate Winery Hypothesis 2014

Culmina Family Estate Winery Hypothesis 2014

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada

Community Score:92/100

Community Reviews: 6

  Add My Review


Price: $42.95

Drink: 2022-2028

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 14%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine


Winery: Culmina Family Estate Winery

Agent: Arterra Wines Canada Inc.

Natalie's Score: 92/100

A full-bodied, towering BC red wine blend of 33% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. Hypothesis is the winery's nod to their best guess or hypothesis as to what the land can offer, and the specific blend of grapes, each year. The 2014 vintage shows lots of strength. Aromas of blackcurrant and fresh blackberry. decant 1-2 hours. Pair with grilled steak.

Food pairings: roast pheasant, grilled rib eye steak, gourmet burgers.

Best Beef Wine

This Culmina Family Estate Winery Hypothesis 2014 was reviewed on November 26, 2021 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2013  2012  2011 

  Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

  • BCLDB
  • 852012
  • $42.00 
  • Check Stock

Reviews and Ratings

Deborah Podurgiel - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

From Culmina, Hypothesis is an estate grown blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc from Arise Bench on the Golden Mile Bench. Lovely, rich, full-bodied and dry, the 2014 vintage is harmonious with dark cherry compote, dark plum, blackberry, chocolate, dried fine herbs, cloves, pepper spice with a hint of mint finishing long, supple and smooth on the palate. Drinking beautiful now. Tasted September 2021 with a filet mignon topped with blue cheese.

Matured for 16 months in a combination of new, one-year-old and 2-year-old French oak barrels.
Jennifer Havers - WSET Level 3 rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Wow! Bold and flavourful Bordeaux blend. Aromas of currant, eucalyptus, mint, tobacco, and leather. Full bodied, with some structured tannin and medium acidity. Save this for a special steak night, decant for an hour before serving.
Jon Steeves - Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Rich, robust, full bodied, highly concentrated. Inky, big grippy tannins. These tannins will settle down with further aging 5-10 years out. Long finish with persistence of blackberry, cassis, savoury, baking spices. Paired well with rare filet mignon and roasted root vegetables. Tasted 2014 vintage in February 2020, not decanted. 92 points
Matt Steeves - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Culmina's Hypothesis showcases the impressive high quality wines Canadian wine industry icon and pioneer Don Triggs and team have been creating from their estate vineyards perched up high along the Golden Mile Bench in the heart of the Okanagan Valley.  Hypothesis 2014 is blend of Merlot, Cab Franc, and Cab Sauvignon, that highlights Clumina's strength of blending both art and science to create wines of excellence.

Hypothesis 2014 shows great complexity on the nose and palate with loads of dark fruit, plum, Black Sage, menthol, dark chocolate, graphite and sous bois. Full bodied, concentrated with great freshness and balance, this impressive Bordeaux-blend highlights the fresh and structured Golden Mile Bench fruit with support from 16 months in new and second fill French Oak. Hypothesis is a Canadian icon in the making - ideally suited for starting a vertical in your cellar. Tasted May 2020. 92+ points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca
From the Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia wine region, Culmina Hypothesis 2014 is a beautiful, easy-to-enjoy, full-bodied red wine blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc. Deep violet in the glass, with spicy dark fruit, cedar spice aromas on the nose, vibrant, smooth and savoury with blackberry, black plum and dark chocolate flavours on the palate. Tannins are fine-grained and powdery. Hypothesis is the winery's nod to their best guess or hypothesis as to what the land can offer, and the specific blend of grapes, each year. The 2014 vintage shows a lot of finesse. - Community Wine Reviews

If you liked the Culmina Family Estate Winery Hypothesis 2014, you might also like these wines:

Recipes for Culmina Family Estate Winery Hypothesis 2014

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Pongráz Sparkling Wine
Cap Classique Rosé,
Western Cape W.O. ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 327,163 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  

337,646

WINE
REVIEWS

327,163

ACTIVE
MEMBERS
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award