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Great Northwest Wine - Platinum winning Moon Curser wine reviews

We are delighted that three Moon Curser wines won Platinum medals at the 2022 Great Northwest Wine Platinum Awards! A competition that only gold medal winning wines are invited to enter.

Kudos to our fab winemaking and vineyard team who are busy working hard getting our vines ready for the spring season and wines ready for the bottling. 

Read the full wine reviews at the below links:

Moon Curser Vineyards Arneis 2021 - Highlight - "At this point, it could be viewed as the standard for the variety in the Northwest because of its critical success, structure and scale of production."

Moon Curser Vineyards Malbec 2020 - Highlight - "Perched above Lake Osoyoos near the Crowsnest Highway, New Zealand-trained founding winemaker Chris Tolley and Christian Scagnetti continue to wow critics for their brilliance with varieties that many consumers are unfamiliar with. Malbec is among those."

Moon Curser Vineyards Touriga Nacional 2020 - Highlight - "Several years ago, winemaker Chris Tolley amazed our Platinum panel with his Carménère, so it makes sense that his dry expression with this Port variety would achieve Platinum, too".

All three are SOLD OUT at the winery. Some availablity through private retailers and restaurants in BC, see Conspirators page.

Calgary Herald - New wines for a new year

"Check out these bottles made from lesser-known grapes this winter...

Even in Canada, you can find wines made from less common varietals. Some of my favourites are Moon Curser’s brawny Touriga Nacional, Stags Hollow’s waxy, citrus-inflected Albarino, both from the Okanagan Valley, and the meaty, cherry-infused baco noirs from Henry of Pelham in Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula. They are all worth seeking, though quantities are generally small and sell out quickly. ..."

Read "New wines for a new year".

11 Best Wineries in Oliver & Osoyoos, BC

"Looking for the best wineries in Oliver & Osoyoos to visit during your stay in the sunny Okanagan?"

We were delighted to have Kirsten Wendlandt feature Moon Curser, along with a few of our neighbouring wineries in the South Okanagan.

View The Best Wineries in Osoyoos article.

You can also get more ideas on what our town is like in the Osoyoos Travel Guide

TheWineDiva.ca - WineDiva's Annual Holiday Lists

We're delighted to see the following Moon Curser wines in Daenna Van Mulligen, WineDiva's Annual Holiday Lists. Click on the heading to view the lists.

Top 50: 2022

Moon Curser Contraband Syrah 2020

Gift Bottles 2022

Moon Curser Viognier 2021

Sparkling Wines 2022

Moon Curser Moonlit 2021

Nuvo Magazine - The Must-Have Advent Calendars of the Season

"With gift shopping, cookie baking, and tree decorating in full swing, navigating the world of advent calendars is not for the faint of heart. We’ve made a list and checked it twice: from coffee to beauty, NUVO has curated Advent calendars that promise to deliver festive fun.

...

Moon Curser Wine Advent Calendar

Over at Moon Curser winery, it’s all elves on deck wrapping the brand’s wine Advent calendar, featuring 12 mystery bottles. Moon Curser makes wine from varieties like touriga nacional and dolcetto (both super rare for the Okanagan) so they’re the perfect pick for the oenophile. This year’s box includes current releases (including some that are sold out) plus library wines from the cellar. Mooncurser.com"

Read full "Must-Have Advent Calendars of the Season" article.

Castanet - Award-winning B.C. wines abound in 2022

"...The Platinum Awards held by Great Northwest Wine, covering wines from the Pacific Northwest, recently wrapped up. The competition is only open to wines that have prior gold medal wins.

B.C. took home a handful of platinum awards. Moon Curser Vineyards in Osoyoos gathered a few for some varietals that rarely have a starring role in the Okanagan—the 2020 Touriga Naçional, 2020 Malbec (both bold reds) and the 2021 Arneis, a white wine common to Italy’s Piedmont region...."

View Allison Markin's article Award-winning B.C. wines abound in 2022

TheWineDiva.ca/WineScores.ca - 2022 Releases, 9 wines rated 90+ Points

To view Daenna Van Mulligan's full review, click on the wine.

Moon Curser Contraband Syrah 2019 - 92 Points

Moon Curser Dead of Night 2020 - 92 Points

Moon Curser Touriga Nacional 2020 - 92 Points

Moon Curser Arneis 2021 - 92 Points

Moon Curser Tempranillo 2020 - 92 Points

Moon Curser Viognier 2021 - 92 Points

Moon Curser Syrah 2020 - 91 Points

Moon Curser Roussanne Marsanne 2021 - 90 Points

Moon Curser Heist Rose 2021 - 90 Points

Moon Curser Malbec 2020 - 89 Points

Moon Curser Petit Verdot 2020 - 88 Points

Moon Curser Moonlit 2021 - 88 Points

The Vancouver Sun - Anthony Gismondi: B.C. wine for the week of Oct. 27 - Moon Curser Arneis 2021 - 89 points

Moon Curser Arneis 2021, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 

89 points

"Arneis is a somewhat rare white variety from Italy’s Piedmont region. Moon Curser has released several quality versions of its Osoyoos East Bench Arneis, and 2021 is another."

Read Anthony Gismondi's BC Wine for the Week review here.

John Schreiner on wine - "Moon Curser's original wines", 12 wines rated 90+ points

"Moon Curser Vineyards produces no Pinot Gris, no Chardonnay and no Gewürztraminer even though these are three of the most widely grown varietals in the Okanagan. With a few exceptions, Chris and Beata Tolley, owners of this Osoyoos winery, did not plant many of the popular grape varieties. For the most part, their wines are made with varietals that few other wineries, if any, are growing. That may have struck some as commercially risky. However, the Moon Curser portfolio is exciting, never boring and usually delivers surprises..."

Overview of John's ratings:

95 points

Moon Curser Dead of Night 2020
Moon Curser Touriga Nacional 2020

93 points

Moon Curser Roussanne Marsanne 2021
Moon Curser Petit Verdot 2020
Moon Curser Contraband Syrah 2020

92 points

Moon Curser Arneis 2021
Moon Curser Viognier 2021
Moon Curser Heist Rosé 2021
Moon Curser Tempranillo 2020
Moon Curser Malbec 2020
Moon Curser Syrah 2020 

90 points 

Moon Curser Moonlit 2021

View full wine reviews and article by John Schreiner - "Moon Curser's original wines".

Gismondi on Wine - Moon Curser Malbec 2020 - 91 points

"Moon Curser Malbec 2020 - 91 Points - 16 3/4 / 20

Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada. A thin-skinned grape, malbec adores heat within reason. Thus, it is well suited to the south Okanagan and its Osoyoos East Bench home. At Moon Curser, 2020 is described as an "unforgettable season" that "allowed for fantastic flavour development and balanced accumulation of sugars and acidity." Post its stainless steel ferment, the wine is aged in 225L barriques (25% new). It is a juicy mix of spice and blueberries streaked with violets, earth, and a touch of milk chocolate. Attractive, warm and spicy, this will have many fans. Barbecue ribs come swiftly to mind. The tannins are dense and long but should only be a mid-term interference. Very well done.

TASTED BY: ANTHONY GISMONDI"

View Moon Curser Malbec 91 points by Gismondi