Gray Monk Estate Winery
We were proud to feature Gray Monk in March 2020.
A true expression of BC wine. Built upon tradition and generations of commitment, Gray Monk stands proudly overlooking Okanagan Lake, with stunning panoramic views of mountains and vineyards, it offers a true taste of Okanagan living. They offer one-of-a-kind, award-winning BC VQA wines – including their number one selling Pinot Gris.
Gray Monk was established in 1972 by George and Trudy Heiss. Today, they have over fifty acres of lush vineyards overlooking Lake Okanagan, which produce some of the world’s finest wines.
Tasting Notes
EHRENFELSER, 2017
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Ehrenfelser
Vineyard: Estate and East Kelowna vineyards
Alcohol: 11.4%
Residual Sugar: 28.6 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,200
Appearance: Bright, pale straw colour.
Nose: Lightly minerally nose with pear and grapefruit aromas.
Palate: Light to medium-bodied, off-dry, honeyed grapefruit and nectarine flavours; beautifully balanced with citrus acidity that gives the wine great length on the palate. Great mouth-feel.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Zucchini blossom and lemon risotto, swordfish with mint pesto, cilantro marinated chicken, roasted peaches with mascarpone ice cream, seared scallops with white wine sauce, and grilled eggplant and prosciutto pizza.
ODYSSEY MERITAGE, 2016
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Merlot (50.1%), Cabernet Sauvignon (18.8%), Cabernet Franc (18.7%), Malbec (6.2%), and Petit Verdot (6.2%)
Vineyard: Various Osoyoos, Oliver, and Black Sage Road vineyards
Alcohol: 13.4%
Residual Sugar: 0.37 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 764
Appearance: Deep ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, cigar leaf, plum and blackcurrant bouquet with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, well-extracted fruit flavours, beautifully balanced and harmonious with well-integrated oak and ripe tannins to give structure. Great texture.
Quality: Outstanding. 92-94 (based on cellaring). Drinking well now but 2-3 years will enhance the bouquet and enrich the mid palate.
Critic Rating: 92-94 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Moroccan beef stew with couscous, French onion soup, grilled lamb with tzatziki sauce, roasted duck breast with pecan purée, steak with salsa verde, and roasted vegetable tarts.
ODYSSEY PINOT GRIS, 2018
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 1.68 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 400
Appearance: Bright, pale straw colour.
Nose: Lightly minerally, peach pit bouquet with lemon zest notes and a suggestion of oak.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, zesty, white peach and pear flavours with a fresh citrus finish.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now through 2020.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Spaghetti carbonara, seared scallops with jalapeño vinaigrette, fried chicken with gravy, Mediterranean white bean soup, mascarpone stuffed crêpes, and chicken piccata.
ODYSSEY CABERNET FRANC, 2016
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Various Oliver and Osoyoos vineyards
Alcohol: 12.6%
Residual Sugar: 0.3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 518
Appearance: Deep ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, blackcurrant and blueberry bouquet with notes of tobacco and oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, black and redcurrant flavour; elegant, beautifully balanced, lovely mouth-feel with fine-grained tannins.
Quality: Outstanding. 92-94 points (based on cellaring). Hold 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 92-94 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Wild game hen with a black lentil purée, grilled lemongrass pork chops, barbecued hamburgers, roasted kale and mushroom ravioli, and parmesan polenta with sausage ragu.
ODYSSEY WHITE BRUT, 2017
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Blanc (34.2%), Riesling (33%), and Chardonnay Musque (32.8%)
Vineyard: Various vineyards in Lake Country, Okanagan Falls, and Kelowna
Alcohol: 11.4%
Residual Sugar: 8.93 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 859
Appearance: Bright. Clear with tiny bubbles and fine mousse. Pale straw in colour.
Nose: Lemon, lime and orange, green apple.
Palate: Medium acid, light body. Lemon and other citrus notes, pear. Slight bready notes.
Quality: Very Good+. 89 points. Drink now.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Linguini with clams and fennel, lemon garlic butter shrimp, asparagus salad with balsamic vinegar dressing, grilled chicken breast with grapefruit glaze, and spring rolls with plum dipping sauce.
MERLOT, 2018
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA British Columbia
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Various vineyards in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys
Alcohol: 14.3%
Residual Sugar: 3.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 6,500
Appearance: Deep ruby in colour.
Nose: Cedary, plum and cherry bouquet with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry and savoury with dark chocolate and plum flavours with a touch of smoke, Lively acidity and ripe tannins.
Quality: Very Good+. Drinking well now, but could hold for a couple of years.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Macaroni and cheese with truffle shavings, turkey meatloaf with bacon and fennel, chicken and chorizo jambalaya, beef wellington with blackberry sauce, and braised short ribs in merlot sauce.
ODYSSEY ROSÉ BRUT, 2017
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Meunier (55.8%), Gamay Noir (26.2%), Pinot Noir (18%)
Vineyard: Various vineyards in South Kelowna and Lake Country
Alcohol: 11.8%
Residual Sugar: 8.1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,005
Appearance: Bright, semi-opaque. Salmon coloured core with a fine mousse.
Nose: A fruit salad of strawberry, cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, cranberry, rhubarb, and pear.
Palate: Medium acid, light+ body. Bright red berry fruit, lime and lemon citrus.
Quality: Very Good+. 89 points. Drink now.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Smoked salmon deviled eggs, crab cake sliders with pineapple salsa, roasted chicken thighs with herbed butter, pan-fried haddock with fries, and potato salad with crispy bacon.
ODYSSEY MERLOT, 2016
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Various Oliver and Osoyoos vineyards
Alcohol: 14%
Residual Sugar: 1.44 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 739
Appearance: Deep ruby in colour.
Nose: Cedary, spicy, cherry pit nose vanilla oak notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, well-extracted dark stone fruit flavours; well-balanced and firmly structured; Seamless on the palate with good length. Lovely mouth-feel.
Quality: Outstanding. 90-92 points (based on cellaring). Can be opened now, but will reward with a couple of years cellaring.
Critic Rating: 90-92 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Blackened salmon with mango salsa, roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, baked lasagna, grilled veal with thyme and rosemary, and filet mignon topped with goat cheese and pancetta.
GEWÜRZTRAMINER, 2018
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Gewürztraminer
Vineyard: Various vineyards in Kelowna and Kaleden, BC
Alcohol: 11.8%
Residual Sugar: 20.84 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 3,500
Appearance: Bright, clear. Pale straw core.
Nose: Rose, lychee, orange blossom, honeysuckle.
Palate: Medium acid, medium- body. Slightly off dry. Lychee, tangerine, baking spice, a hint of honey.
Quality: Very Good+. 88 points. Drink now.
Food Pairing: Sriracha shrimp tacos with cilantro-lime slaw, pumpkin gnocchi with sage butter sauce, spicy Singapore noodles with curry, Korean barbeque chicken wings, and spice-rubbed grilled pork chops.
PINOT NOIR, 2018
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA British Columbia
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Various vineyards in north and central Okanagan Valley
Alcohol: 12.6%
Residual Sugar: 4.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 5,500
Appearance: Bright, semi-opaque. Garnet core.
Nose: Cherry, raspberry, strawberry, pepper, green herbs.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Red cherry, earthy notes, leather, cigarette ash.
Quality: Very Good+. 89 points. A flavourful pinot noir with personality. Will age well for 2-3 years.
Food Pairing: Duck breast with a cherry gastrique, braised venison stew, grilled brussels sprouts with chanterelle mushrooms, baked rainbow trout with roasted red peppers, and pork tenderloin with apple cider reduction.