Mark Flesher

9.1

Served going to a bunch of experienced palates. Was getting quite a few old Napa Cab guesses, some that were thinking it could have been either Australian Shirazzie or Washington Syrah. Shay mentioned it was likely a warmer climate, so he got that. I completely understand pretty much all of those guesses is this one seemed to have a little bit of a roasted black fruit, clove, barbecue kind of character to it. With salted kettle chips it definitely brought the barbecue and grilled character out. This wine still had plenty of depth and a lot of character displaying a surprising amount of pepper on the finish. In their youth, these have an insane amount of tannin despite being rather on the medium-bodied side, and I really was not experiencing that here. Much improved, smoother, tannins have fully integrated. Optimal time to consume this was probably three or four years ago but in my opinion it was doing quite well today. — 6 years ago

with Shay, joe and 1 other

Jennifer Chambers

9.0

For $20, this is a great bottle. Enjoy with a group of friends, a bowl of kettle corn and game night. — 7 years ago

David Morden

9.5

Pale gold. Caramel corn and kettle corn on the nose. Salty delicious. Smooth vanilla and somewhat spicey. Remind me of fall. So good. Long finish. — 7 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.4

Sweet kettle corn and buttery croissant blanketing floral and lemon nuances. Piercing powerful acidity. Baked lemon and white pepper flavors. Amazing wine. All terroir driven without a hint of malo. — 8 years ago

Brett Tribble

9.6

If you questioned whether a rose can be lumped in with cougar juice, question no longer. Orin Swift’s absolute apogee of a rosé satisfies like no other. Plenty of malolactic roundness settles firmly in the middle of fresh deliciousness. A drained glass speaks of kettle corn on warm dry slate. — 8 years ago

Bill Bender

9.1

Darker hues than I've ever seen from this bottling. Rather amber and dark. Marzipan, kettle corn, carmelized fruit. I enjoy tasting these but they always guarantee a hangover for me. — 9 years ago

Steven Beishuizen

9.0

To be honest, the Malbec seems to be the least consistent of Kettle Valley's expressions. I find the variation wild between vintages of this stuff. The 2011 eight years after vintage has some graphite going on with perhaps some under-ripeness of fruit making an appearance, but the brambly blackberry fruit quickly gives way to a wave of blueberry here that works ok with the heavy dose of wood. It's weird to say, but would you say this is missing a tar note? — 6 years ago

with Anita

Chip Hughes

9.2

Kettle corn, pineapple and Maldon salt. Shows the usual restraint and balance; no new oak. Quite ripe, yet the burst of expected heat on the finish doesn’t happen. Every year, this becomes more like a top Côte Chalonnaise white. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.0

This wine is very forgettable. There was some fruit on the nose, but more of a muted presence. Perhaps a little too old? Bottle variation? Whatever it is, this one was in last place in a lineup of 2012 Plumpjack, 2005 Cayuse En Cerise, 2013 Sleight of hand Psychedelic, 2009 Alban Reva, 2001 Dutschke Semmler, and a 2015 Montagu Hyde. Died immediately when paired with braised pork. Did have some velvety black fruit character throughout but it had nothing exciting to contribute. Didn't even wake up with salty kettle chips. I would like to try a newer offering perhaps? — 7 years ago

with Dan and Shay

Ian Riach

9.1

Enjoying a great Canadian wine at a great Canadian tradition: Calgary Stampede. Excellent blend from B.C. Excellent day at the rodeo! — 7 years ago

Chris Harvey

9.1

Restrained and delicate nose of thyme and cranberry. Tart red fruit on the palate. Pairs nicely with kettle corn — 8 years ago

Sharmian

9.0

Plum, black cherry, pepper, ketones when first opened. Good with BBQ rib eye steak. — 8 years ago

Alix Wiggins

9.0

Slight funk on the nose; like early stages of kettle souring. Fruity - dried cherry, sour cherry, strawberry. Perfect picnic wine — 9 years ago

with Steve

Tracy Byrnes

8.9

An aged beauty. Kettle corn. Round. Creamy. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

A very nice bottle of wine. I would say this one is drinking the way it was intended to drink. Ready to go. Full throttle for a Chardonnay. Nose of dried herbs, kettle corn, youthful fruit, minerals. Entry a lot of peach, guava, popcorn kernel. Lots of stone ground fruit, dried herbs, dense. Powerful. I don't think this one could drink any better than it is now. Opened to thank a friend for serving an excellent lineup of Peter Michael and Colgin four days before! This one is at the top of the hill right now. — 6 years ago

with Dan

Wesley Manning

9.0

$19 in Orange County whole foods. Balanced. Acid refreshes your pallet for more spicy seafoods like gumbo, steam kettle hot pots, etc. — 7 years ago

Evie Olson

10

There’s so much here it’s hard to put in words! Magical is a good descriptor... Notes range from orchard fruit, white flowers, hay, kettle corn, with a striking minerality always coming through. — 7 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.1

Caramel candied apples, fresh hot kettle corn and stewed vanilla pears saunter over the rim of the glass while summertime drunken peaches delight those caramel apples as they sashay across the dance floor of your palate. Sweet sea salty kisses on the confident finish. A bolder white to conclude a sultry summer day. — 7 years ago

Steven Beishuizen

8.9

Deep and sweet. Cola, blackberry, and cough syrup. Really not an equivalent to Port as the Portuguese grapes are so distinctive by comparaison, but this is a nice sipper and pairs well well with a hunk of cheese. — 8 years ago

Evie Olson

10

Intense aromas of lemon curd, meringue, and graham cracker crust which is balanced perfectly by a persistent earthiness and herbal note. There is obvious minerality and a lovely growth of flavour in the mid-palate. Flavors reminiscent of banana cream pie & kettle corn yet it's 100% refreshing and bright, with a clean & light finish. — 8 years ago