REVIEWS

SpierHead Riesling 2011

There is sweet, peachy fruit below but this riesling finishes dry, with plenty of acidity and additional flavours of lime and mineral on a lean yet silky frame.  Very nice balance.  Suitable for light fish.  It was produced in small quantity. 89pts

Beppi Crosariol  - Globe and Mail

This wine begins with aromas of citrus and herbs. On the palate, there are bright lemon flavours with a refreshing, tangy acidity. Even though the wine has almost 12 grams of residual sugar, the balance gives it a finish that is crisp and seems dry. 89pts

John Schreiner on Wine

A classic terroir expressing gem filled with orchard and citrus fruit, good minerality and excellent texture – especially considering the low alcohol. Acid level is not for the faint of heart, yet, serves its purpose – balancing the fruit and full-ish body – leaving the wine with a (mostly) dry finish. 88 pts

Iconwines – Liam Carrier

…lots of lime together with other citrus, stone, and tropical fruit flavours… There was also almond, some stoniness and steeliness to this wine. Long length with a mouth watering citrus and peach finish. I rate this as a very nice wine, again drink it now for it’s youthfulness, or age it 1-3 years and see how it evolves in the bottle.

Karl Klip - My Wine Pal

Grapes from Spierhead’s Gentleman Farmer Vineyard are used in the production of this clean, crisp wine. Aromas of peach, citrus, lime peel, honey and some floral notes jump from the glass. On the palate there are flavours of green apple, citrus notes, peach and some nice minerality. This will be a good wine for the Thanksgiving table.

Cassandra Anderton - Good Life Vancouver

Well worth the quest to get your hands on some of this before the summer fades away. Fabulous nose of lychee an flowers, fresh and with beautiful acidity, this is an excellent Okanagan Riesling (from the nicely named Gentelman Farmer Vineyard). Among an impressive lineup of competitors, it certainly holds its own. The only problem lies in finding a supply.”

Georgia Straight – Jurgen Goethe

Fantastic!  It has a very pretty bouquet of spring blossoms, lemon drops, green apples and lime.  In the mouth it’s racy and vibrates with a punchy lime oil, green apple and wet stone flavours.  There is a lick of sweetness here, wonderfully managed – the acidity cleanses the palate nicely.  A delightful Riesling, perfect for quaffing or pair with white meats, greens with citrus vinaigrettes or seafood.  91 pts 

Daenna Van Mulligen – Wine Diva

SpierHead Chardonnay 2011

An appealing, fruit-forward Chardonnay, this begins with citrus aromas, leading to flavours of lime, guava, melon and peach, with cloves on the lingering finish. 90 pts.

John Schreiner on Wine

SpierHead Pinot Noir 2011

The previous vintage was judged the best Pinot Noir in the Canadian Wine Awards last year.  This one proves that the wine was not a one-shot wonder.  This is an elegant, delicate wine, with appealing flavours of raspberry and cherry with a silky texture.  90 pts.

John Schreiner on Wine

SpierHead Chardonnay 2010

Fantastic example of Chardonnay...which is exceptional this time of year! The cool-climate vineyards of British Columbia certainly hold potential for Chardonnay, and the styles of local Chardonnay vary across the map. Newly opened SpierHead Winery in southeast Kelowna has released a limited production of six wines, including 385 cases of Chardonnay. This bottle steers to the elegantly restrained side of the Chard spectrum. It's a handsome white showing classic apple and peach aromas, with complementary toasty and nicely integrated oak.
Bottom line: "Great with roast chicken."

James Nevison - The Province

Readers rated this wine: 5 Stars

Located in the south east of Kelowna, one of British Columbia’s newest wineries is making its mark. This chardonnay is lovely – delicate lemony aromas, white blossoms, pear, tangerine peel and hints of toast and caramel. The palate is restrained but elegant and very fresh. Bright and juicy across the finish with a long sweet finish trailing toasted nut and spice flavours.

Daenna Van Mulligan - WINE DIVA

 

SpierHead Pinot Noir 2010

Spierhead Pinot Noir 2010, British Columbia Here’s a fine start from a new Okanagan winery southeast of Kelowna near the top of Spiers Road (hence the name). It’s medium-bodied, with jammy-berry flavour yet a lean elegance that also carries cinnamon, herbs and a hint of vanilla from the oak. There’s a moderate tannic backbone for added structure, too. Pair it with light red-meat dishes or roast poultry. Available at private wine stores in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island as well as through the winery. 89 pts.

Globe and Mail – Beppi Crosariol

…they’re going full burgundy: elegance, even austerity, and above all, balance. It’s not an easy road because there isn’t a backup if the goods aren’t there. Luckily it’s a success… for this freshman effort, they’ve taken the rare and welcome tact of pricing the wine waaaay below the competition: $17.90, making it the lowest priced serious pinot in the Okanagan.

Neal McLennan - Western Living Magazine

Dark in colour, this wine is made with three Pinot Noir clones. It spent 11 months in French oak. The aromas include hints of the oak, along with spicy cherry. On the palate, there are cherry and strawberry flavours, with a texture that is evolving toward the silkiness of the varietal. This wine has 12.1% alcohol, accounting for its lively feminine style. 90 pts

John Schreiner on Wine

Lots of red fruits, in particular red cherry followed by raspberry and red currants. There was also some perfume, sweet spices and cedar on the tongue. And a slight herbal edge was detected on the mid-palate. It has a medium length with cherry and cedar flavours, and mouthwatering acidity on the finish.

My Wine Pal – Karl Klip

This is the first vintage of Pinot Noir from the winery’s southeast Kelowna vineyard which has yielded a pleasant, food-friendly and red fruit centric wine that has been appropriately priced. A shrewd move which allows the firm opportunity to over-deliver on expectations for an $18 Pinot Noir – and they do. …

Nice sweet cherry notes on the nose blend nicely with light French oak aromas and a hint of vanilla. The dry palate offers similar flavours and a nice vein of acidity. 86 pts

Liam Carrier - Iconwines

This is SpierHead’s first release of Pinot Noir.  Three different clones of Pinot Noir were used, all fermented separately and aged in French oak barrels.  A light bodied, voluptuous wine with soft tannins flavours of dark cherries, forest floor and vanilla spice. 
The fruit is sourced from their Gentleman Farmer estate vineyard on the bench lands of South East Kelowna.  SpierHead’s gold medal-winning 2010 Pinot Noir was judged to be the #1 Pinot Noir in Canada, coming out on top among almost one hundred entrants.

Wineries Refined of British Columbia

Fantastic value, but be warned: these wines have a nasty habit of selling out fast.  Rich concentration of ripe fruit, but a very deft, classic Pinot Noir balance and finish.  Surely one of the best new Pinots to come out of the Valley.

Jurgen Gothe - Georgia Straight

It’s pretty easy to like this soft, slippery Pinot long on juicy fruit.  It’s not complex but it’s fun to sip.  Kelowna is beginning to flex its Pinot muscles.  All we need are more examples and less showy oak to join the fold.  Buy this soft, cherry scented and flavoured red and try with a piece of grilled or roasted chicken and enjoy all winter.  Terrific value.  88 pts.

Anthony Gismondi – Gismondi on Wine

This wine has alluring aromas to unwrap – whiffs of aged wood, cinnamon sticks, ripe cherry and bruised flowers.  The medium-bodied palate is chock full of cherry, earthy fall forest and floral notes.  Bright acidity and moderate, if slightly drying tannins, make it a natural for pairing with grilled pork or roast chicken.

Treve Ring – Wine Access Magazine

SpierHead Pursuit 2010

A sumptuous new blend from the still fairly new winery on Southeast Kelowna bench; since Day 1, the label has distinguished itself with big reds in particular.  The mix is dominated by Merlot, then Cab Sauv, then Cab Franc.  That 18 months in French oak shows through in the soft and mellow weight and the spicy, tangy finish.  A lovely wine, especially in its price range.

Jurgen Gothe – Georgia Straight

This is their second level wine.  It is made of 57% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 16% Cabernet Franc.  Same grapes as the Vanguard, but different proportions.  Likewise these wines are also barrel aged for 18 months in 100% French oak, with only 44% being new barrels.  This wine has medium garnet colour with a slight ruby tint; translucent to the core.  The nose was a bit subdued, but I did pick up red and black fruit, plums, vanilla, milk chocolate, and a hint of cedar.  On the palate it was dry with medium levels of acidity, tannins and alcohol.  You get juicy red cherry along with red currant fruit flavours.  The cedar flavour is more pronounced than in the Vanguard.  The milk chocolate and vanilla from the aromas continue to the palate.

Karl Klip – My Wine Pal

This is a new wine for East Kelowna’s SpierHead Winery which sees a second Bordeaux inspired blend added to its portfolio.  An assemblage of 57% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 16% Cabernet Franc, the Pursuit seems to be after a pleasing balance of juicy, dark berry fruit and meaty, menthol cigarette flavours supported by a savoury spine of charred oak and fresh acidity.  Lively, relatively light and engaging, this wine fulfills its aim admirably.  Will hold for a few years, but best enjoyed in its youth as you’re waiting for the winery’s slightly more tannic and full(er)-bodied Vanguard to mature. 89 pts.

Liam Carrier – ICON Wines

This is a bargain Bordeaux blend with 57% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 16% Cabernet Franc.  It also spent 18 months in French oak (44% new).  The wine begins with aromas of black currant, blackberry and herbs.  On the palate, there are flavours of black currant, coffee and cedar on a firm texture.  89 pts.

John Schreiner on Wine

SpierHead Vanguard 2010

The other one from SpierHead, its premium Bordeaux blend of Merlot and Cab Sauv in equal proportions (48 per cent each), topped with a four-percent fillip of Cab Franc.  This has seen several vintages.  It’s round and mellow, with some heady tannins; a rich, dessert like finish like German prune-and-custard cake.

Jurgen Gothe – Georgia Straight

The wine has a translucent garnet colour.  Swirling it in the glass produces nice legs, giving some indication of alcohol content in the wine.  It is 13.9%.  I enjoyed the nose of this wine; very pretty. It is still youthful with red fruit, red currants, dried cherries on the fruit side, and then some cloves, vanilla and spice, licorice and dark chocolate.  I also picked up a whiff of cedar from the 4% Cabernet Franc.  Lots of aromas swirling around in the glass.  The wine is dry with medium acidity, tannins, and alcohol.  This is a very good quality wine that you could enjoy now for it’s juicy flavours, or let it age and develop tertiary characteristics. 

Karl Klip – My Wine Pal

This is the winery’s flagship release, a New World ode to Bordeaux with a final blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc offering a lovely, impressively ripe nose of cassis, blackberry, sweet pepper, spearmint and light, toasted oak aromas.  … Lively acidity, medium tannins and a good balance of dark fruit, charred oak and lingering spice on the finish makes the Vanguard an excellent match for prime rib with all the fixin’s.  88 pts.

Liam Carrier – ICON Wines

The wine spent 18 months in French oak (55% of it new).  It begins with appealing aromas of cassis and vanilla.  It is bright and vibrant on the palate – like so many 2010 reds – with flavours of black currant, cherry, blackberry and raspberry and with a hint of spice on the finish.  91 pts.

John Schreiner on Wine