{"id":7292,"date":"2026-01-21T06:58:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T06:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/21\/what-i-ve-been-tasting-british-columbia-wines-jan-2025\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T06:58:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T06:58:00","slug":"what-i-ve-been-tasting-british-columbia-wines-jan-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/21\/what-i-ve-been-tasting-british-columbia-wines-jan-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"What I’ve Been Tasting – British Columbia Wines Jan 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Scoring is out of 5 stars<\/strong>
The “+” sign represents a wine that has something extra about it,<\/span>
but not enough to send it to the next level<\/span><\/p>\n

______________________________________________________<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are some wines I found on my database at the end of 2025; all wines can be purchased at the venue as indicated, while some wines are unfortunately sold out; I include them anyway, just in case you can find, or can put your hands on, a bottle somewhere. All wines below are from British Columbia, Canada.<\/span><\/strong> <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Alderlea Vineyards 2023 Pinot Gris<\/strong><\/em><\/span> ($26.45 – winery)
Pretty salmon colour that delivers peach and other stone fruit flavours plus a real good hit of acidity – wowza.  (*** ½+) <\/strong><\/p>\n

Alderlea Vineyards 2023 Lizzante<\/strong><\/em><\/span> ($29.90 – winery) \"BC
This bottle of traditional bubbles is zippy and zingy, just how I like my bubbles to be. Sure it’s fresh and lovely with a whole lotta tasty thrown in for good measure: citrus, green apple, bready and yeasty with acidity that’s very balanced and brings this wine to a new level of yum.  (****+)<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Country Vines Winery 2022 Contact Pinot Gris<\/em><\/strong><\/span> ($24.14 – winery)
Salmon to orange in colour, which matches what’s going on in the glass. Orange, nectarine and fuzzy peach candy – it tastes pretty good and with a little grit on the finish from the skin contact it ends up pretty a pretty well-balanced wine.  (*** ½+)<\/strong>
    
Culmina 2022 Unicus – Gruner Veltliner<\/strong><\/em><\/span> (sold out)
The interesting part of this wine is that it is a Gruner from BC, Canada – that’s where the intrigue stops. It has some grassy and peapod notes with some nice acidity; but there is very little else to get jazzed about.  (***+)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Culmina 2022 Viognier<\/strong><\/em><\/span> (sold out)
Hot Damn, finally something in the Culmina line-up I can get behind. This is pleasant Vio with all the tropical fruit notes that goes with it: pineapple, peachy and tangerine are the most noticeable of flavours, but it keeps giving up more the longer in sits in glass.  (****+) <\/strong><\/p>\n

Deep Roots Winery 2022 Reserve Gamay<\/strong><\/em><\/span> ($34.90 – winery)
The concentration on this Gamay is wonderful and really shows off what BC can do with the grape: big on cherry with notes of white pepper – exactly what it should be. Not the first Deep Roots Gamay I have liked and if past is prologue, certainly not the last.  (****)<\/strong>
        
Dirty Laundry 2022 Pinot Gris<\/strong><\/em><\/span> ($21.99- winery)
There is a pleasantness of white fruit right off the top: namely peach and pineapple, there’s also a seam of acidity that helps to balance that sweet feel from the fruit. Very tasty.  (*** ½+)<\/strong>                                                                        
Dirty Laundry Vineyard 2023 Pinot Gris<\/em><\/strong><\/span> ($25.29 – winery)
Juicy Gris with notes of floral, peach blossom, apple and even some lemon candies.  (*** ½) <\/strong><\/p>\n

Hester Creek 2023 Sauvignon Blanc \/ Semillon<\/strong><\/em><\/span> (sold out)
Sweaty notes with some grassy and lanolin components.    (***+)<\/strong>     <\/p>\n

Hester Creek 2022 GSM<\/strong><\/em><\/span> ($34.99 – winery)
This Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre delivers: lots of juicy raspberry fruit and that is just compounded with the aromas wafting out of the glass. This is a real delight.  (****+) <\/strong>                                                                           
Hester Creek 2022 Old Vine – Cabernet Franc<\/strong><\/span> ($29.99 – winery)
Smooth, silky and quite easy drinking: earthy, smoky, cigar box and licorice all play a part in the enjoyment of this one.  (*** ½+) <\/strong>    <\/p>\n

\"BCHester Creek 2022 The Judge<\/strong> <\/em><\/span>($49.99 – winery)
Merlot dominant at 47% … this is juicy and fruit forward with just the right amount of spice while tannins drift in and out finishing off with mocha, blackberry and cassis.  (****)<\/strong>                                                                            
Hester Creek 2021 The Judge<\/strong><\/em><\/span> (sold out)
Tried the 2022 before the ’21 and I have to tell you I am liking this version just a touch better. Same 47% Merlot, but the 2021 has developed a smoothness and suppleness: blue and black fruit, mocha-cherry, nice balance, it even has notes of licorice and a touch of pepper. The medium length finish helps to enhance what is already there and the oak plays a nice background role instead of possibly being upfront and in your face. The 14.5% alcohol is well-hidden.  (****+)<\/strong>   <\/p>\n

Hester Creek 2022 Syrah<\/strong><\/em><\/span> ($29.99 – winery)
A nice complex Syrah with good fruit and spice: Blackberry, cassis and black cherry with notes of chocolate and floral on the finsh.  (****)<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Hester Creek 2024 Meritage – Columbia Valley Collection<\/strong><\/em><\/span> ($22.99 – winery)
This is made from Washington State fruit that is true to the fruit from that region; there is plenty of wild strawberry at the core of this wine. Juicy and tasty.  (*** ½)<\/strong>                                                        
Hillside Winery & Bistro 2023 Unoaked Pinot Gris<\/strong><\/em><\/span> ($25.00 – winery)
Start here with that pretty salmon colour, move down the line on the palate – first sip – where you get some sweet fruit and also thrown in is a little bitter for balance. The wine then goes for a stroll along the tongue where acidity makes it punchy and jumpy: peach, nectarine and lemon join the fray. This is just tasty as hell and ready for summer sipping.  (****)<\/strong>                                                                        
Inniskillin Okanagan Estate 2022 Okanagan Reserve Pinot Gris<\/strong><\/em><\/span> ($25.29 – winery)
Comes across as pure apple from start to finish, including the skin – it has it’s moment of refreshment and also drinkability.  (*** ½+)<\/strong>   <\/p>\n

Moraine 2022 Riesling<\/strong><\/em><\/span> ($25.00 – winery)
Here we see some yellow apple, mainly of the delicious variety, plus floral and subtly sweet nuances invading the finish.  (*** ½)<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Moraine Winery 2021 O’Port<\/strong><\/em><\/span> ($45.00 – winery) \"BC
Quite possible the best bottle of Canadian Port I’ve ever tasted. Made from a blend of Merlot, Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc there’s a smoked coffee character to this wine that layers in bittersweet chocolate, cassis and blackberry – so good that Gorgonzola might be required.  (**** ½)<\/strong>   <\/p>\n

Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery 2017 The Crown Merlot<\/strong> <\/em><\/span>($45.99 – winery)
Made from Merlot, this faux-Port is a grab on the senses: smooth and chocolatey with notes of mocha and black cherry. Pass the blue cheese.  (**** ½)<\/strong>                                                                    
Privato Vineyard and Winery 2020 Woodward Collection – Grande Reserve Pinot Noir<\/strong><\/em><\/span> ($86.24 – winery)
What I liked it this bottle was it’s simplicity of flavours and aromas: lively cherry fruit, a juicy core that delivers on more red fruit, all with an earthy finish. No doubt this is Pinot.  (*** ½) <\/strong>                                                                       
River Stone Estate Winery 2023 Pinot Gris<\/span><\/strong><\/em> ($27.49 – winery)
Onion skin colour with dry notes up front: peach pit and apple skin – there’s even a hint of pear skin to give it a well-rounded flavour. This one has a serious side to the normally playful Gris.  (*** ½+) <\/strong>        <\/p>\n

Solvero Wines 2020 Pinot Noir<\/strong><\/em><\/span> ($40.35 – winery)
Juicy fruit kicks things off right from the first sip. Then comes the usual earthy note, some sour cherry and rhubarb also rears its head – wood is well-integrated and does get in the way. Nice job.  (*** ½+) <\/strong>    <\/p>\n

SpearHead Winery 2022 Pinot Noir Okanagan Valley<\/strong><\/em><\/span> (41.40 – winery)
A pinot that plays both sides of the red fruit spectrum: sour and sweet;  it balances them both very well.  (*** ½+)<\/strong>   <\/p>\n

\"BCVolcanic Hills Estate Winery 2020 Gidda Family Estate Zweigelt<\/strong> <\/em><\/span>($46.00 – winery)
Zeigelt is not everyone’s cup of tea, but this one hits all the buttons for a good one. There’s a nice fruit sensation and well-balanced acidity. The finish is smoky-dark fruit which makes this a perfect fit with some BBQ. I totally dug this wine – haven’t had a Zweigelt this good since Lailey and Derek Barnett.  (****) <\/strong>                                                                <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

  __________________________________<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Scoring is out of 5 starsThe “+” sign represents a wine that has something extra about it,but not enough to send it to the next level ______________________________________________________ Here are some wines I found on my database at the end of 2025; all wines can be purchased at the venue as indicated, while some wines are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-vintages-releases"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7292"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7292\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}