Lunessence Winery & Vineyard
We were proud to feature Lunessence Winery in June 2020.
Lunessence Winery & Vineyard honours a commitment to crafting fine wines which showcase the unique terroir of the Okanagan Valley.
We believe in sustainable, environmentally sensitive viticulture, respecting the vineyard as a living and varied ecosystem. Each bottle is a proud expression of the earth it came from. The powerful yet soothing notes of classical music reverberate throughout our winery. It is our belief that exposure to classical music helps produce well-balanced wines.
Tasting Notes
SAUVIGNON BLANC MUSCAT, 2017
Lunessence Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietals: Sauvignon Blanc (70%), Muscat Cannelli (20%), Viognier (3%), Chardonnay (3%), Semillon (3%)
Vineyard: Slow Vineyard, Naramata Bench
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 20 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 396
Appearance: Very pale white gold colour.
Nose: Lightly grassy, honeysuckle nose.
Palate: Medium-bodied, just off-dry with a tangerine and honey flavour carried on racy acidity to cut the sweetness. A well-balanced wine with a fine mouth-feel and refreshing finish.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or within the next twelve months.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Spinach and roasted artichoke casserole, pan-seared grouper with balsamic brown butter sauce, grilled chicken topped with fresh pico de gallo, garlic and herb-baked oysters, and goat cheese and zucchini frittata.
MERLOT, 2018
Lunessence Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Select vineyards in Oliver, BC
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 3.6 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 563
Appearance: Deep garnet in colour.
Nose: Cedary, sweet tobacco, black plum nose with a note of violets and oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, elegant, lovely mouth-feel; firmly structured with a tannic lift on the finish. Very St. Emilion in style.
Quality: Outstanding. You can drink it now, but you’d be rewarded by holding it for 18 months – two years.
Critic Rating: 90-92 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Grilled flat iron steak with blue cheese butter, barbecued burgers with mushrooms and swiss cheese, roast beef panini with caramelized onions, grilled chicken with tangy BBQ sauce, and tomato and lentil-stuffed peppers.
QUARTET, 2018
Lunessence Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietals: Gewürztraminer (60%), Riesling (32%), Pinot Blanc (7%), Oraniensteiner (1%)
Vineyard: Oliver & Estate vineyards
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 15 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,279
Appearance: Very pale in colour.
Nose: Lightly floral, apple and melon bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, grapefruit, lychee and green melon flavours with an engaging note of bitterness on the finish for added interest.
Quality: Very Good+. Drinking well now.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Mango chicken curry, grilled soft-shell crab with apple and fennel salad, Thai-style chicken drumsticks with roasted potatoes, scallops with pesto cream sauce and asparagus, and pork and veggie skewers on the barbecue.
CRESCENDO, 2018
Lunessence Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietals: Merlot (43%), Cabernet Franc (40%), Cabernet Sauvignon (9%), Petit Verdot (8%)
Vineyard: Select vineyards in Oliver, BC
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 2.9 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 467
Appearance: Deep ruby colour.
Nose: Cigar box, blackcurrant nose.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, elegant and beautifully balanced flavours of blackcurrant and plum with well-integrated oak and great length. Very Bordeaux-like.
Quality: Outstanding. Drinking beautifully now, but will repay cellaring for a couple of years.
Critic Rating: 91-93 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Rosemary and garlic-crusted ham, walnut and mushroom-stuffed venison, roasted lamb loin with cabernet sauce, filet mignon with garlic-wasabi sauce and quinoa, and vegetarian chilli with chickpeas and squash.
RESERVE RIESLING, 2017
Lunessence Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Select vineyards in Oliver, BC
Alcohol: 10.5%
Residual Sugar: 25 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 175
Appearance: Golden colour, quite deep for a three-year-old Riesling.
Nose: Minerally, lightly floral nose of grapefruit with a honeyed tone.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry; bitter orange and lime flavours finishing on a crab apple note with some astringency from grape skin tannins.
Quality: Very Good+. The bouquet will blossom with another year in bottle.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Cajun spiced pork chops, smoked trout with capers and cream cheese, pumpkin ravioli with sage butter sauce, lemongrass chicken stir-fry, and sweet and spicy grilled shrimp skewers.
PINOT NOIR, 2017
Lunessence Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Select Naramata Bench vineyards
Alcohol: 12.1%
Residual Sugar: 3.3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 66
Appearance: Deep ruby-purple in colour.
Nose: Cedary, slightly smoky nose of cherry and red plum.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, spicy, vanilla oak and plum flavours with ripe tannins. Well-balanced and savoury with a fine tannin structure.
Quality: Very Good+ / Outstanding; dependent on cellaring. Hold for a year or two to allow the oak to meld.
Critic Rating: 89-90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Beet root and feta pasta salad, caramelized brussels sprouts with pancetta, roasted quail with rice pilaf, fried duck breast with plum dipping sauce, and mushroom-stuffed chicken with garlic butter sauce.