BC, Okanagan Valley, VQA Naramata Bench

100% Chenin Blanc | Dry | 12.6% ABV

93pts Carl’s Wine Club 

This might be THE wine of the summer… from the sunkissed Hidden Hollow vineyard on the Naramata Bench. A bone dry, highly energetic unoaked white wine with tremendous zippiness and lipsmaking acidity. The nose is citrucy in a form of Lemon and orange zest, floral with distinctive chamomile aromas, and a hint of exotic fruits like cantaloupe or dragon fruit. The palate is firm and directional with flavours of fresh pressed Meyer lemon, orange zest, pink grapefruit, pear, quince and a great deal of flinty minerality on the finish. A light hint of white pepper can also be found at the end of this very lengthy finish. On the second day, the zippy and citrucy personality opens up and become more textural and generous showing lemon cream and lemon custard. The progression and the evoluation on the second day was so impressive that I adjusted the score a half point up for this exciting quality. A spectacular wine and arguably the best Chenin Blanc in the country. (CWC, 22/07/23).

Pairings: Chinese chow-mein, shrimp jambalaya

Drink now until 2028

Canada, BC, Okanagan Valley

70% Merlot, 30% Pinot Noir| Dry | 12.7% ABV

92pts Carl’s Wine Club

Vibrant, expressive and serious, this rosé has so much to offer. On the nose, generous aromas of orange, strawberry pie, red apple and a hint of fresh herbs like basil and parsley. On the palate, the texture is round and gracious, offering distinctive flavours of fresh squeezed navel orange, field strawberries and the bitterness of a rhubarb stick, which brings precision to this small batch rosé. The finish is snappy and lively, and so far one of the most complex rosés of the 2022 vintage! Well done Richard Da Silva… (CWC, 04/04/23).

Pairings: seafood pasta, burrata & tomato salad

Drink now until 2025

BC, VQA Okanagan Valley

55% Syrah, 45% Malbec| Dry | 14.1% ABV

91+pts Carl’s Wine Club

This wine has evolved gracefully and improved drastically since I tasted a year ago! The wine went from good to great, which can indicate a glorious next few years for this wine if this keeps improving at this rate. Definitly a spectacular BBQ option! (CWC update, 22/07/2023).

I like the almost equal split of Syrah and Malbec in this very unique wine. The structure is impressive with bright acidity on full display, well-rounded, with jammy fruits. The nose is generous with aromas of dark plum, cassis, tobacco, licorice and cedar. The palate starts with a wave of vanilla followed by dark and blue fruits dominated by blueberry jam and blackberry. The mid palate is dense and packed with flavours of licorice, dark cocoa, clove and toasty spices. The back palate is long and tenacious with a stunning peppery finish which sustains and supports the snappy tannins. If you like obvious oak, crack this wine in its youth, and if you like moderate oak, wait a few years! 30min of decanting is recommended. (CWC, 14/11/22).

Pairings: Cajun dishes, venison steak

Drink between 2024 and 2030

BC, VQA Okanagan Valley

100% Pinot Noir | Dry | 13.8% ABV

92pts Carl's Wine Club

There is a real sense of continuity when I taste the 2020 version of the Da Silva Pinot Noir. A New World, Washington state style of wine is clearly on display with fantastic richness and density. The nose is generous with aromas of violet, ripe raspberry, cassis and fresh herbs. The front palate is smooth and soft showing ripeness of fruits led by raspberry, plum, strawberry and dark cherry. The mid-palate is seriously packed showing a savoury aspect but also an additional layer of kirsch and vanilla. On the finish, the flavours expand with toasty spices like cinnamon and cloves but also a light tobacco leaf sensation which adds an extra layer of complexity. A very well made and classic New World Pinot Noir, fairly young but clearly approachable. (CWC, 21/11/22). 200 cases made.

Pairings: cheese ravioli, duck cassoulet

Drink between 2023 and 2030

BC, VQA Okanagan Valley

100% Merlot | Dry | 14.8% ABV

90+ with potential of 92pts Carl's Wine Club

From two prized vineyards located on the Naramata Bench and West Bench in Penticton, this classic Da Silva Merlot is very expressive and explodes right out of the gate. Nose of cassis, dark plum, coffee, dried herbs and a hint of cloves, this wine announces a well balanced vintage, between power and elegance. The palate is a great reflection of the nose and the vintage, showcasing flavours of red and blue fruits, nothing over ripe, like Damson plum, dark cherry, blueberry jam, and red currant. The mid palate displays a mix of barrel characteristics, which will dissipate with time, as well as espresso coffee and chewy tobacco. The finish is medium long and offers a spark of mint, which brings freshness and length, plus a hint of pepper and cinnamon. Wait for a couple years before opening this wine with great potential. (CWC, 23/07/23). 227 cases made.

Pairings: beef wellington, lamb skewers

Drink between 2025 and 2032

BC, VQA Okanagan Valley

100% Pinot Noir | Dry | 14.6% ABV

92+pts Carl's Wine Club

This is an extremely lengthy and complex Pinot Noir, with a gracious elegance on display. Even at this early stage of it's curve, this wine shows a lot of potential with aging. The nose offers red currant, strawberry, forest floor, and cedar. The palate is medium body, with precision and tension, with a pure expression of Pinot Noir. Flavours include raspberry, cranberry jam, violet, fresh sage, cocoa, and tobacco. The finish is toasty with a bit of creamy cappuccino. With a premium price point, this wine absolutely delivers premium complexity, incredible length, and an exciting future if you can lay it down a few more years. This very small batch Pinot Noir can be a signature wine for Da Silva. (CWC, 04/01/23). 74 cases made.

Pairings: slow roasted beef stew, rice stuffed peppers

Drink between 2023 and 2030

BC, VQA Okanagan Valley

100% Chardonnay | Dry Wine | 13.0% ABV

94-96pts Carl’s Wine Club

This Chardonnay is stunningly complex and tenacious showing a great mix between fresh citrus fruits and roundness of the tropical edges, and a layer of stoney minerality. On the nose, the aromas of lemon meringue pie come up first, quickly followed by a burst of tropical fruits, chamomile tea and ginger. The palate is very well layered and tremendously complex offering yellow baked apple and Meyer lemon on the front palate before hitting some tropical notes with grilled pineapple and mango, before developing distinctive toasty and oak spices like cardamom and clove, white pepper, pie crust and caramel. The length of this wine is absolutely spectacular. One of the best BC Chardonnays, without a doubt! It is showing beautifully just a month after bottling, but I expect that this wine could score 96 points with just a few more years of bottle aging. (CWC, 08/04/23). 100 cases made.

Pairings: grilled halibut, paella

Drink between 2024 and 2030

The Da Silva family story begins in 1955 when the first members of the family first immigrated from Portugal to the Naramata Bench with only a suitcase in hand.

From these humble beginnings, they bought their first family farm in 1959. Today, Da Silva Vineyards & Winery continues the family farming tradition with a deep-rooted connection and respect for place.

Vigneron Richard Da Silva brings a lifetime of studying and understanding of the diversity of the Okanagan terroir and its influence on wine. His passion and experience is palpable as he creates small lot wines reflective of the personalities of each vineyard he tends to using low interventions techniques and extended cellar aging.