WINESPEAK: LA STELLA WINERY, LASTELLINA 2008
www.edible-britishcolumbia.com
Salt Tasting Room: Le Vieux Pin and LaStella Cellar Tasting, October 27, 2009
www.thevancouverite.com
John Schreiner, October 2009
Le Vieux Pin 2008 Chardonnay ($35). The wine is made from the Chardonnay Musqué clone, noted for its spice and intense fruitiness. To preserve that unique flavour profile, half the wine was fermented in tank, the rest in barrel, and the entire lot was barrel-aged. The wine is crisp, with a backbone of steely minerals. It tastes of baked apples and citrus. 90 points
Reforming the White Zinner, BC Vine Living
www.bcvineliving.wordpress.com
The Costs of Youth, The Price of Quality: Building BC’s Wine Industry
www.justgrapeswine.com
The Wine Doctor - DR. Neil Pollock
» Read full article
Wine Tasting At Le Vieux Pin Served Elegantly In Riedel Glasses – BC Wine Trails June 2009 » Read full article
Le Vieux Pin Apogee Merlot, Okanagan Valley BC, 2006 - 91 Points
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 14th, 2009 www.winescores.ca
Le Vieux Pin Gewurztraminer, Okanagan Valley BC, 2008 - 90 Points
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 13th, 2009 www.winescores.ca
Sélections Mondiales des Vins Canada, the most important international wine competition in North America, took place from May 26th to 31st, 2009, at the Palace Royal Hotel. The jurors present at the event emphasized the outstanding quality of the competing products.
Apogee Merlot 2006 (92 points) won 1 of 60 gold medals (and the only Canadian Red wine to win in this category)
Wine Access 2009 International Value Wine Awards
Judges' Choice — Le Vieux Pin 2008 Gewurztraminer
Judges' Choice — Le Vieux Pin 2008 Vaila Rose
All Canadian Wine Championships 2009
Gold — Le Vieux Pin 2008 Sauvignon Blanc
Wine Access Magazine, March 13, 2009
Le Vieux Pin 2007 Céleste Chardonnay - 88 Points
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Relatively new winery, Le Vieux Pin is focusing on top quality wines in the Okanagan. With low yields, they make concentrated wines perfect for cellaring. Spicy, savoury notes, orange clove and roasted nuts show on the nose. The Céleste shows slightly towards dried fruits on the forepalate, while the intensity and power of the wine dominates the mid-palate and finish. A bit too much for on its own, a pairing with roasted poultry or game meats would be a great match. Drink now, or cellar through 2012. Tasted By: Tom Firth
Intriguing Architecture and Wine at Le Vieux Pin - BC Wine Trails, Spring 2009
» Read full article
Georgia Straight, Jurgen Gothe Uncorked - February 5, 2009
Le Vieux Pin Époque Merlot 2006
The first wine from this operation that I've tasted — somehow I never found myself in the same room with it before. The bottle is hand-to-hand-combat heavy: use two hands to pour if you have it above the good stemware. It's got a gorgeous deep-purple colour, concentrated fruit, a rich texture, and a velvety, lip-smacking finish. There's textbook-good balance to this wine, and I'll take it over the preceding any day. (Note to Washington-state wine writer who recently wrote that le vieux pin means "view of the pine". Doesn't.)
Planning a wine country adventure? He's another great valley for you. - By Bruce Shoenfeld » Read full article
Le Vieux Pin - Where Terroir is Absolute - BC Wine Trails. » Read full article
The Wine Access 2008 Canadian Wine Awards saw a record 1000 entries from 5 provinces. 16 hand-picked judges representing 7 provinces blind-tasted their way through this selection, tasting each wine up to 4 different times. Finalists were tasted by all 16 judges who ultimately awarded 32 gold medals, 115 silver medals and 262 bronze medals.
Results are as follows:
Silver Medal
Le Vieux Pin 2005 Kalalla Vineyard Epoque Merlot
Le Vieux Pin 2005 Lumena Vineyard Apogee Merlot
Bronze Medal
Le Vieux Pin 2005 Kalalla Vineyard Epoque Merlot (Single Vineyard
category; if no indication, then award is for traditional varietal category)
Le Vieux Pin 2005 Lumena Vineyard Apogee Merlot (SV)
Le Vieux Pin 2006 Stag Vineyard Perigee Pinot Noir (SV)
Le Vieux Pin 2007 Lumena Vineyard Aurore Sauvignon Blanc (SV)
Wine Access magazine's Canadian Wine Awards, Canada's leading national wine competition and the benchmark competition of its kind for Canadian wines, is open to all wines that are 100 per cent Canadian grown, fermented and bottled. Since its inception in 2001, the Wine Access Canadian Wine Awards has alternated between venues in Canada's Eastern and Western wine-growing regions. Visit canadianwineawards.ca.
Le Vieux Pin Joins Urban Diner
We warmly welcome the latest exceptional BC winery to join the Urban Diner community, Le Vieux Pin. » Read full Article
Stalking vineyard enemy No. 1
By Alexandra Gill - The Globe and Mail
Vineyard enemy No. 1 is the European starling, a non-native bird that travels in flocks of thousands. During harvest, they descend in doomsday-like clouds to feast on the fast-ripening grapes that are just now reaching their full sugar potential for making wine.
Falcons are the best way to control the starlings because they're natural predators," says Erich Jaster, vineyard foreman at Le Vieux Pin (and Lastella), a boutique winery in the South Okanagan now on its fourth vintage.
In Le Vieux Pin's first year, vineyard manager Harold Gaudy tried using cannons, but says the noise pollution weakened the nearby plants. » Read full story
THE INTOXICATING OF TERRY DAVID MULLIGAN
LOOK Magazine 2008
"The wines by Jeff Martin of La Frenz (Penticton) are proud, outspoken, gifted, and the best-kept secret in all of Canada could be Oliver's Le Vieux Pin — a classy winery with world-class wines."
The Largest International Wine Competition in North America
Vaïla Kalala Vineyard (97 points) , Vaïla Echovitis Vineyard (91 points), Déja (87 points) and Epoque (87 points) are recipients of a Grand Gold, Gold and 2 silver medals.
Sélections Mondiales des Vins Canada, the most important international wine competition in North America, took place from May 30 to June 5, 2008, at the Hotel Palace Royal. The jurors present at the event emphasized the outstanding quality of the competing products.
In 2008, the organization received 2 131 products from nearly 700 producers and 30 countries.
Vaïla Kalala Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2007 was amongst the wines that received the highest distinction at Sélections Mondiales des Vins. » View results
Northwest Palate Magazine, March/April 2008
Le Vieux Pin (BC) 2006 Vaïla Pinot Noir Rosé Stag Vineyard Okanagan Valley — Highly Recommended — Produced with handcrafted care, this irresistible rosé exhibits richly focused cherry, strawberry, and cinnamon flavors. The huge structure features 14.6% alcohol and soft, mouthcoating acidity. A back-bite of quinine balances the ripe fruit through the long, satisfying finish. A treat with tapas. $25 CDN