B.C. Wine Tasting on Twitter - #ONtastesBC

I had the opportunity to taste these 6 wines for the #ONtastesBC Tweet-Up held on January 24 at 8pm EST. It's a shame that we do not get more wines from our sister province out West.

Part of this promotion, as well as the feature in the current Vintages magazine, is to help spread the word and bring more B.C. wines into Ontario. As a consumer, I am also hoping that this will help, somehow, some way, open up the borders (between provinces!) to allow wine to move more freely from West to East (and vice versa). To show your support on Twitter, use the hashtag #FreeMyGrapes.

GRAY MONK GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2011 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#321588) (D) - $19.95
Quite aromatic with lemon, mineral and herbal spice aromas. Light-bodied with crisp, tart lemon, citrus, orange rind and some lychee on the palate. Has very bright acidity. Finish is medium-length and spicy. Score: 87 pts

QUAILS' GATE CHARDONNAY 2011 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#377770) (D) - $20.95
Nice aromas of apple, pear and butter waft from the glass. Medium-full bodied with nice aroma replays, plus some minerality and French oak on the palate. Some herbal/leesy notes come through on the mid-palate. Very good acidity and the finish is medium-long. Score: 89 pts

MISSION HILL RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#545004) (D) - $19.95
Nose seemed a bit closed with apple, oak, peach and pineapple aromas. Full-bodied with a round core of ripe orchard and tropical fruits on the palate. American and French oak is well-integrated. Easy drinking, crowd pleasing wine. Score: 87 pts

EAU VIVRE PINOT NOIR 2008 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#308353) (D) - $24.95
Seems higher than 13.3% alcohol. Complex aromas of earth, tar, dark red fruits and cranberries. On the palate, there is beetroot, strawberry, cranberry, earth and some cedar on the palate. Medium-bodied with smooth, integrated tannins, and a short finish. Score: 88 pts

MISSION HILL QUATRAIN 2009 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#218636) (XD) - $44.95
Blend of 35% Merlot, 30% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Cabernet Franc. Very nice aromas of dark fruits, blackberries, blackcurrants and (French) oak. Full bodied with good structure. It's very smooth with blackcurrant, dark cherry, ripe dark fruits on the palate. Refined tannins are well-integrated. Well-balanced with a long finish and hints of sweet fruit. Very approachable right now, but could be cellared another 1-2 years. Gorgeous! Score: 91 pts

OSOYOOS LAROSE LE GRAND VIN 2008 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#626325) (XD) - $45.95
Blend of 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, and 3% Petit Verdot. Fruity aromas jump out of the glass, followed by leather, cedar, kirsch liquer and raspberry. Core of dark fruits surrounded by very chalky tannins. Well-balanced with mouth-watering acidity. Finish is long with hints of mocha. Should be even better once tannins settle in 3+ years. Score: 91 pts