SpearHead wines
SpearHead Winery is located on the benchlands of South East Kelowna. Winemaker Grant Stanley makes wines from 15 acres of vines.
SpearHead Riesling 2019 (Okanagan Valley)
Pale straw in colour; spicy, aromatic, minerally, lime skin bouquet with a hint of petrol; light to medium-bodied, just off-dry, grapefruit and lime flavours with tangy acidity. Drink now but will hold for several years. (90)
SpearHead Pinot Gris Golden Retreat Vineyard 2019
White gold colour; minerally, peach pit nose with a floral top note; medium-bodied, dry, fresh and lively, white peach and lemon flavours; beautifully balanced. Well-structured with a lovely mouth-feel and an engaging touch of bitterness on the finish to give added interest. Drink now or hold through 2003. (90)
SpearHead Chardonnay Clone 95 2018
Medium straw colour; lightly toasty, minerally, apple bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, spicy (clove), slightly smoky, yellow apple flavour with well-integrated toasty oak. Beautifully balanced and lingering. Fine mouth-feel. Drink now or hold 1–2 years. (91)
SpearHead Pinot Noir 2019
Ruby red in colour; intense nose of ripe raspberries, raspberry jam and spicy oak with a note of violets; medium-bodied, dry, spicy, raspberry flavour touched by oak; well-structured and firm with ripe tannins, a lively spine of acidity and a juicy raspberry finish. Drinking well now but will reward cellaring for 1–2 years. An elegant wine. (90)
SpearHead Pinot Noir – Unfiltered 2018
Deeper ruby in colour than the 2019; floral, cedary, raspberry bouquet with an undergrowth note; medium-bodied, dry, smoky-tarry flavours of plum and oak spice with ripe tannins and balancing acidity. Drink now but can be held 2–3 years. (89)
SpearHead Golden Retreat Vineyard – Unfiltered 2018
More intense ruby colour than the previous 2018 Pinot Noir. Cedary, spicy, plum and black cherry nose with smoky, toasty oak notes; medium-bodied, dry, richly textured, with flavours of red and black fruits; beautifully balanced, ripe tannins and fleshy, juicy fruit flavours that hold through the long finish. Cellar 1–3 years, (91)
Other wines tasted:
Reif Estate Vidal Icewine 2017 miniature – $7.95
Reif Estate Vidal Icewine 2017 (Niagara River, $7.95, 50 mL, LCBO #582247)
Coppery-amber colour; honeyed, barley sugar nose; medium-bodied, sweet, orange marmalade, honey, burnt sugar and toasty flavours; harmonious, unctuous but perfectly balanced with acidity, giving the wine great length. (92)
Cave Les Vins de Roquebrun ‘R’ Premium 2018 (Pays d’Oc, $14.95, Vintages #18149)
Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend. Deep ruby-purple colour; herbal, blackberry nose with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry, savoury, blackberry and black olive flavours with fresh acidity and well-integrated oak. Great value. (89)
