2007 Joie “A Noble Blend”

This is a blend of Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Kerner, Pinot Gris and Ehrenfelser. Pale lemon-gold appearance, with a hint of green. Nose is light and clean, refreshing citrus-pineapple with a hint of sweetness. Medium body off-dry on the palette with good acidity. Complex Okanagan peach and green apple flavours with tropical fruit notes. Very good! Another winner from Joie Wines. About $27 at Kitsilano Wine Cellar.

Burrowing Owl Chardonnay 2006

Clear, medium lemon-gold appearance. Significant clover-vanilla oak tones on the nose, with green fruit or grapefruit and a hint of earthiness. Medium body dry with good acidity; oak tones balanced with pepper/mushroom qualities. A bit of a harshness that develops through good length. I lined up to buy this wine; not quite sure why. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery.

Joie Riesling 2007

Medium, clear lemon-gold. Pineapple-petrol on the nose with just a hint of sweetness; tempting to say it’s got a sage quality that I recognize from the interior of British Columbia (I grew up in Kamloops; Joie is in the Okanagan valley). Nice balance of sweetness and acidity on the palette, with tropical fruit and stone fruit notes. Very good to excellent; Joie is fast becoming my favourite BC producer. About $27 at Kitsilano Wine Cellar.