Burrowing Owl 2017 Merlot 750ml
Merlot has been a strong performer at BOV and remains among its top reds year in and year out. 2017 is fully ripe, if not a touch overripe, reflecting a sunny, warm summer in the south Okanagan. The attack is full-bodied with rich black fruit, a hint of raisins, mocha, and a dusting of Okanagan sagebrush. It is big and powerful, but with enough balance in the finish to keep you coming back to the glass. Best served now with rich dishes like grilled lamb or T-bone steaks.
Score: 89 points -- Anthony Gismondi, July 2020
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A fresh, medium bodied Merlot nicely combining bright cherry and black plum fruit with complex floral violet and orange zest notes, subtly integrated vanillin oak and some richer Christmas cake and chocolate notes. The palate shows ripe elegant tannins, juicy fresh plum, strawberry and blackberry with complex nutmeg, cedar, clove, paprika, dried black olive and black licorice notes combining on a long finish. Pair this with either garlic and rosemary studded grilled leg of lamb or portobello mushroom rubbed with tapenade or rabbit braised in clove infused red wine.
--Rhys Pender, Master of Wine