NEWS ARCHIVE
Northwest Palate Magazine, January/February 2008
Le Vieux Pin (BC) 2005 Belle Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley - Highly Recommended
-Bold, smoky aromas of toffee, black fruit, and mocha, with violet hints. The full-bodied palate is rich and concentrated, with ripe plum and cherry wrapped in satiny tannins. Supple texture upfront, but firmer on the back end, with lingering toasty oak and spicy cinnamon. Delicious now with barbecued duck, or hold for further discovery. $45CDN
Le Vieux Pin (BC) 2005 Apogée Merlot, Okanagan Valley - Exceptional
Smoky, spicy aromas of chocolate, vanilla, cedar, coconut, and bourbon engage your attention. The palate rewards with rich cassis and blackberry flavors and a mocha-laden creaminess. Well balanced by juicy acidity and plush tannins, with a gratifying cassis and cappuccino finish. Much more integrated and supple than six months ago. Should evolve nicely over the next few years. (414 cases made.) $65CDN
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Vancouver Courier, January 18th 2008
When you dine out, don,t leave the wine out, by Tim Pawsey
"Wine" out Vancouver confirms some facts that would have been unthinkable even a decade ago: that everyone�including the French�now offers at least a few B.C. wines, often at the top of their lists, and that most top tier rooms wouldn't be caught dead without a smattering of hot labels such as Burrowing Owl or Le Vieux Pin.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine
2006 Le Vieux Pin Vaïla Rosé
This is just the second vintage for this winery, whose inviting labels look like handwritten notes. The rosé captures the bright color, fresh fruit and silky texture of its Pinot Noir grape; it's a perfect salmon or turkey wine, and one you could happily sip as an apéritif.
| 90 points | 2006 | Vaïla Rosé | Pinot Noir | Okanagan Valley | $24 |
Sashay your way into gorgeous new Yew at Four Seasons Vancouver and you'll find not only are the dishes superlative (and for $35, too) but for a few dollars more you can sip Le Vieux Pin's strawberry-toned Vaïla rosé with fresh prawns and soba noodles, or supple Burrowing Owl Merlot, paired perfectly with tender, eight-hour braised lamb shoulder. You can find Desert Hills Gamay well-matched with Sloping Hill Berkshire Pork confit knuckle at Social at Le Magasin, or sip Golden Mile Road 13 with Mistral's cassoulet�just one choice on a super $25 menu.
Vancouver Magazine International Wine Competition, January/February 2008
A winner in the Rich Red category
Le Vieux Pin Époque Merlot 2005
B.C. $45
Intensely concentrated, deadly serious blockbuster from the South Okanagan.
Western Living Magazine, October, 2007
RADAR TRAVEL - South Okanagan by Jennifer Cockrall-King
In the here and now, Le Vieux Pin winery and resort is making waves. Tastings are by appointment only and small batches keep quality sky-high. From the full-disclosure labelling on each botle, organic and sustainable management of the wines and exclusive accommodations planned for this and the two other upcoming boutique wineries (Lastella and Selona), winemaker Daniel Bontorin and his business partners display a contagiously idealistic commitment to becoming world class.
» Read Full Story (PDF 230KB)
Best of the West, October 20, 2007
Michael Vaughan - National Post Weekly Wine & Spirits Columnist
Talking about prices, I discovered the best Canadian Merlot ever made at a tiny new winery I just happened to visit. The lush, well-structured, ripe cassis and black cherry driven Le Vieux Pin 2005 Apog�e is quite astounding and at $65 worth every penny. Tiny yields (only 1.75 tons per acre with 3,300 plant density) resulted in tremendous fruit concentration and a whopping 15.1% alcohol. Despite the latter, it is beautifully balanced.
Fall 2007 Crush » View slideshow
Le Vieux Pin
The winery is now open for tasting by appointment please call 250.498.8388 for your personal tasting. » View slideshow
Le Vieux Pin open for wine tasting by appointment
The wines from Le Vieux Pin had been largely inaccessible to most consumers until now. Last year a few select restaurants smartly bought out most of the first vintage and some lucky friends and wine connoisseurs tasted the product privately. The buzz was out, but wine production was limited and the winery itself was still under construction.
» Read full story
CityFood Magazine, April 2007
Aurore and Epoque. Destined to become the hottest new labels in the Okanagan?
Le Vieux Pin is a new, idealistic, and extremely well-funded winery in Osoyoos with a goal nothing short of perfection. The total bottling of their first vintage might barely fill a child's wheelbarrow, but while you and I can expect to have a difficult time getting any of it, Rob Feenie, Vikram Vij and Pino Posterero already do.
Le Vieux Pin
Le Vieux Pin wines, Vaïla, Aurore and Époque recently appeared in the "Recommended Wines" feature of AppellationAmerica.com.
» Read Vaïla review
» Read Aurore review
» Read Époque review
Fall 2006 Crush
» View slideshow
The Okanagan's super 2005 wines
By John Schreiner, May 10, 2006
Le Vieux Pin Pinot Noir 2005 (barrel sample): This Oliver winery will open in early summer, with superb wines. This wine is a big, brooding Pinot Noir, dark in colour, with spice and herbs (basil) on the nose and flavours of black cherries and plums.
Le Vieux Pin Apogée 2005 : This is the winery's premium (they like to call it hedonistic) Merlot, selling for $65 when released. It is a big, plump red, with great concentration — flavours of ripe plums, black cherries, chocolate and long, ripe tannins. » Read full article
Le Vieux Pin is featured in the Edible British Columbia Newsletter
Le Vieux Pin has produced their first vintage with remarkable results. The winery is on the east bench in Oliver and is in the process of construction (they made the wines at Fairview Cellars this year), but promises to look like an old French barn. A resort is also planned for the site. The architect, Robert Mackenzie, also designed Burrowing Owl, Red Rooster and Nk'mip, some of the Okanagan's more elegant wineries. » Read full article
Construction of Le Vieux Pin is well underway
Construction began in November 2005 and is due for completion in June 2006. This 35 hundred case high-end winery is built in the provincial tradition.
» View slideshow
Fall 2005 Crush
» View slideshow