Jenise, Bill & John-what am I getting into here

[David M. Bueker]

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In the case of the Nkmip wine, it's a 14.8 alc cab that is soft and tastes of cocoa and coffee, per their own site:
http://www.nkmipcellars.com/product/NK-Mip-Qwam-Qwmt-Cabernet-Sauvignon

More, but older info, here:
http://www.wineterroirs.com/2006/07/nkmip_okanagan.html

As to Burrowing Owl, they are all 14.5 alc wines, 22 months in oak:
https://www.burrowingowlwine.ca/wine/2012-athene/
https://www.burrowingowlwine.ca/wine/cabernet-franc-2012/
https://www.burrowingowlwine.ca/wine/cabernet-sauvignon-2/

The winery recommends pairing with venison, elk, and osso buco, so I assume the wines are enormously extracted, tannic, and heavy.

Sorry.

[David M. Bueker]

We tasted through all 4, and none of them were enormously extracted. The Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc was the best of the bunch for drinking now because of its fresh, sweet berry fruit and spicy touches. The Cabernet Sauvignon was in fact quite tannic, but not at all heavy.

I've been to both. They're both on desert like sandy soils pf Black Sage bench at the south of the Okanagen Valley in BC.

Nk-Mip is within sight of the CA/US border, one of the southern most and the only Indian owned winery The Black Sage land is all Indian reservation teritory because it was considered worthless as being too dry. But it's great for vines and they can grow on their own roots, and Irrigation is essential.
Nk-Mip is a large venture with the winery part of a resort. A lot of money is being spent there, the winery is state of art.

Well worth visiting, especially the snake show and to walk the desert paths, and to take the winery tour and tasting, but while the wines (when I was there in 2011) were OK, they didn't impress me as much as some others did.

Of the two, I'd go for Burrowing Owl.

[David M. Bueker]

Indeed the Burrowing Owl wines were the better bottles. Thanks for the details Peter.

[Jenise]

Burrowing Owl's first winemaker was American Bill Dyer, previously of Sterling fame. Under him the wines were excellent, especially the whites IMO. He was assisted in this effort by the son of the wealthy owner-founder who at some point took over. His wines were absolutely awful--Junior clearly wasn't ready. One of the last times I was in the Valley, we stopped in to see if anything had improved. I tasted four whites, none of which were palatable and one of which was oxidized, so left without even trying the reds. Your report is more positive than I'd have bet on.

[David M. Bueker]

I took a look at the clunky and slow Burrowing Owl website, and could gain no insight on the winemaker or their winemaking philosophy.

Sorry you had such a poor experience. The three reds I tried were all at least good. The Cabernet Franc was very drinkable and fun.

The son only ran things from 2005 to 2010. Then, new guy:
https://localfoodandwine.wordpress.com/okanagan/burrowing-owl-estate-winemaker-bertus-albertyn/

Some of his philosophy in the article.

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks Jeff.

Burrowing Owl's first winemaker was American Bill Dyer, previously of Sterling fame. Under him the wines were excellent. He was assisted in this effort by the son of the wealthy owner-founder who at some point took over. Wines went seriously downhill--Junior clearly wasn't ready. One of the last times I was in the "Valley, we stopped in. I tasted four whites, none of which we're palatable and one of which was oxidized, and left without trying the reds. Your report is more positive than I'd have bet on.

One of Devine Wines staff was there this past year, thought most of the wines very much hit or miss..and way overpriced.

Sorry, I came too late so don't have too much to add. The BO Cab franc is usually one of their better wines, but as people say, they are often very inconsistent, as could be said of most (not all) wines and producers in BC.

Yeah, what Jenise said re BO. I hadn't realized they had changed winemakers again - that is the risk of having a bad spell, people give up on you and don't bother going back unless they hear something good about them. Your post constitutes hearing something OK, so when I am down that way this year, I may drop in and see what they are up to - I used to cellar quite a bit of stuff from 'Tunneling Hooter" but currently have nothing.

The N'kmip winery has always seemed adequate but no more, however they do have a reserve series I haven't looked at yet, that may be good.

Sorry I didn't notice this thread earlier (been busy!)