One of the most scenic estates in the Okanagan is Burrowing Owl. I am familiar with many of these wines as they are frequently on the shelves of Vintages. I have always felt that the wines were out of reach because they do tend to get a little pricy when they cross into Ontario. I was shocked to find how well priced all the wines are at the estate.
If the wines, and the scenery are not enough to entice you to visit Burrowing Owl. The Sonora Room is the restaurant attached to the winery. The food is outstanding and the views from the patio are second to none. All courses have a suggested wine pairing. During my visit I had a chance to taste 4 back vintages of Chardonnay.
In my mind Burrowing Owl specializes in Bordeaux varietals but that’s not to say that there aren’t some kickass white wines in the portfolio as well.
2015 Pinot Gris – **** – $25.00 – There is some nice depth to this wine. Right from the nose you get some interesting Apricot and Peach aromas. The backbone to this wine is a nice mineral note that sticks around on the finish.
2014 Chardonnay – **** – $25.00 – There is something restrained about this wine. It’s complex, but I would say that this wine is more like a trip to the symphony than it is going to a rock show. The nose offers up pineapple and orange with nice vanilla and spice tossed in there. The texture on the mid palate is nice and creamy with butterscotch that lingers for a bit. This wine opens up a little bit more with every sip you take and while there is nice balanced acidity there is a long finish.
2015 Sauvignon Blanc – ****+ – $25.00 – This was a very exciting wine. It’s almost like a creamsicle on the nose but there is a slight smokiness that keeps it from smelling too sweet. There is a nice mineral note that pokes its head through on the finish of this wine mated with beautiful acidity. This is a perfect wine to pair with your west coast salmon or halibut if you can get your hands on it.
2013 Cabernet Franc – ****½+ – $33.00 – The grandeur of this wine is immediately apparent when you take your first sip. This sits heavy on the palate with the very concentrated fruit flavours invading your whole mouth. Plum, Blackberry, Raspberry, Currant and there is a nice campfire smoke that wraps itself around all the fruit. This is intense and full bodied… simply put this is a kickass franc.
2012 Cabernet Sauvignon – ****½ – $35.00 – The nose shows pencil shaving, cherry and black currant. There is a nice acidity that balances this wine out. This seems to walk a line between old world and new world in it’s character. The fruit is perfectly ripe without being jammy. Everything about this wine is perfectly in balance.
2012 Meritage – ****½ – $45.00 – 40% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot. This will need a bit of time in a decanter or a few years in a cellar to bring the tannin under control. The aromas are Cherry, Strawberry, Currant and Plum but there is a whisper of Spearmint and Eucalyptis. The complexity on the nose follows through once you taste your first sip. The fruit is perfectly ripe without being cooked and there is a nice acidity to this wine that keeps it perfectly balanced.
