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Burrowing Owl Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Canada, British Columbia
Best-seller
92 WA 92 Points (WineAlign)
92 WA 92 Points (WineAlign)
4.1 VO 4.1 Points (Vivino)
90 GOW 90 Points (Gismondionwine)
Country Canada
Province British Columbia
Region Okanagan Valley
Producer Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
Vintage 2018
Color Red Wine
Varietal(s) Cabernet Sauvignon
¥6,270  (incl. tax)
Country Canada
Province British Columbia
Region Okanagan Valley
Producer Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
Vintage 2018
Color Red Wine
Varietal(s) Cabernet Sauvignon
Data
Closure Cork
Volume 750ml
Alcohol 14.5%
Product Code B005R00218
Inventory In Stock (86)
Owning & Enjoying

Tasting notes

A deep coloured, intense and brooding Cabernet built for the long haul. The nose shows pure blackcurrant, damson plum and blackberry with complex notes of dried sage, violet, clove, burlap and some charred meat and vanilla. Firmly structured with plenty of acidity and ripe tannins, the concentrated youthful black fruit will age gracefully for a decade with the dried herbs, floral notes, licorice, pepper spice and graphite notes evolving along the way.

Rhys Pender, Master of Wine

Pairing

Pair with braised lamb shanks with root vegetable mash, grilled vegetables or eggplant Parmigiana.

Cellaring

Enjoy through 2028

Press
92WineAlign
Megha Jandhyala This elegant, perfumed cabernet sauvignon made with fruit from Burrowing Owl’s Osoyoos and Oliver vineyards displays vibrant flavours of ripe blackberries and roasted plums, dried sweet and savoury herbs, and vanilla, along with the scent of a redolent, old, and storied cigar box. There is understated and integrated oak influence here: the winery uses a variety of casks including French, Hungarian, and American oak barrels, of varying ages (including 43% new barrels). This intricate tapestry of flavours is supported by bright acidity and supple tannins. The finish is excellent: ripe fruit and spice lead and subtle toasted coffee notes follow, along with a soft, diffused warmth from the alcohol. A wonderfully complex and balanced wine that will be even more delightful with the patina of age. If it is to be enjoyed now, decanting will help the flavours open. Tasted February 2022
92WineAlign
John Szabo, MS Burrowing Owl has crafted an exceptional 2018 cabernet sauvignon. It delivers an impressive mix of ripe red and black fruit, integrated wood spice, vanilla and cacao, evergreen and cedar, with complexity comfortably above the mean. The palate is properly mid-weight, with firm, structured tannins and equal acids, leading into a long finish. A well-balanced and consequential wine, best after 2024 or so, or hold into the early '30s. Tasted February 2022.
4.1Vivino
90Gismondionwine
Winemaker Kent MacDonald has quietly taken Burrowing Owl to another level. No wild reinventions or reimaginations here, just solid winemaking. Take this cabernet sauvignon. There's density and freshness to the fruit; integrated, quality oak; and diligent tannin management that makes this structured but drinkable now. A herbal lift would add a missing aromatic component, but otherwise this checks all of the boxes.
Reviews & Ratings

GOLD - 2021 National Wine Awards of Canada!

Production

Appellation

BC VQA Okanagan Valley

Vintage Notes

2018 was a moderate growing season that started with an earlier budbreak and a warmer than average May. The season cooled during the summer months and rebounded with favourable September and October temperatures. The cooperative weather allowed us to retain acidity and provide quality fruit with increased crop levels. While the sun and heat create intense fruit flavours, the cool evenings preserve the natural acidity in the grapes keeping the wine fresh and lively.

Viticulture

Grapes were harvested by hand from Burrowing Owl Estate Winery’s vineyards in Osoyoos and Oliver on November 1st, 7th and 8th.

Vinification

Our Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were harvested by hand from Burrowing Owl Estate Winery’s vineyards in Osoyoos and Oliver on November 1st, 7th and 8th. They were sorted by hand, then destemmed and gently crushed before being fed by gravity flow into stainless tanks for skin maceration and alcoholic fermentation to occur with temperatures ranging from 18 to 32°C. Both free run wine and pressed wine were then transferred into barrels for malolactic fermentation followed by ageing for 18 months. The selection of barrels helped round out the tannins, and contributed complex savoury, toasted and spicy notes to the wine. After the blending of the barrels, the wine was bottled unfiltered and left to mature in bottle until its release.

Ageing: 66% French, 24% Hungarian, 9% American, and 1% Russian with 43% new, 2% one-year, 44% two-year, and 11% three-year and older oak

Producer

Producer Description

It's All About The Wines

The winery and vineyard lie within one of Canada's most unique ecosystems which includes the northernmost tip of the Sonora Desert. The location (on a southwest-tilting, sandy plateau) near the north end of Osoyoos Lake, is one of the most highly rated grape-growing locations in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys, and for that matter Canada. In 1993, when Jim Wyse began to replant the vineyards which had been carefully selected for their ability to produce world class, premium quality grapes, the winery was not part of his long term vision. Having recognized the potential of this location, Jim was gratified to see wines made with his grapes gaining immediate recognition. Finally, the decision to build Burrowing Owl Estate Winery was confirmed and a winery license was obtained in 1997. Construction began in early1998 and completed just in time for that year's harvest. The site has since been enhanced with a beautiful fine-dining Restaurant and luxurious Guest House.

One of Canada's most unique ecosystems

The varied and deceptively fragile desert ecosystems within the adjoining vineyards continually challenge the environmentally sensitive team at Burrowing Owl. Alternative pest control systems are the standard. More than 100 bluebird boxes and two bat nurseries invite insect-eating guests to stay awhile and dine in the vineyards. Ground nests of meadowlarks are protected by barriers in springtime to prevent farm machinery and vineyard workers from inadvertently destroying them. Snakes are safely relocated. Bears and big horned sheep are discouraged from sharing the harvest but never harmed.

Today, with its dramatic vantage point in the middle of the vineyard, Burrowing Owl Estate Winery is a winemaking facility that combines state-of-the-art technologies with proven, classic winemaking traditions. A gravity-flow system handles ripe grapes delicately, preserving their rich fruit character. Extensive underground cellaring capacity ensures that long term barrel aging is never limited by space.

Vineyards in Oliver, Osoyoos and Keremeos

The winery owns and manages all of the vineyard land growing grapes for the Burrowing Owl wines. The land base consists of 210 acres of producing vineyards distributed between three different locations: Black Sage (the  original 145 acre site) which contains an equal amount of red and white grapes, Osoyoos (54 acres on the eastern slopes above Osoyoos Lake, home to Bordeaux varietals and Syrah reds) and Keremeos (11 acres of Sauvignon Blanc in the Similkameen Valley). In total 16 varietals are grown and tended by a qualified and dedicated vineyard team.

Still, it takes special skills to turn these assets into fine wines. Their vineyard managers contribute a wealth of knowledge and experience that is unsurpassed in the valley. Their dedicated team takes special pride in the success of these vineyards. And of course, they work closely with the winemaking team at Burrowing Owl to co-ordinate crop levels, ripeness targets, and the many other parameters necessary to produce only the finest quality wine.

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