Burrowing Owl 2020 Meritage 750ml

This year's Meritage blends 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, frown in Eva's Vineyard in Osoyoos and BOV Vineyard on the Black Sage Bench. Each component was vinified separately for 15 months (97% French, 3% American) with 75% new wood, before the top barrels are singled out for the blend. Post-blend, they were barrelled for another 3 months prior to bottling. This vintage marks a shift away from the very spiced Hungarian wood, which is all the better to show off the purity of the Southern Okanagan fruit. Wild black cherry, blackberry, black plum is seasoned with thorns and kissed with a scrubby herbal spice, and easy freshness. Tannins are fine and structural, well placed to take this into the coming years. A lovely new direction for this iconic BC wine.

Score: 90 points --Treve Ring, Gismondi On Wine (2019 vintage)