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 (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)