Micro Cuvée Chardonnay 2022

Vineyard Notes

The 2022 vintage was a classic Okanagan growing season with a typical Spring budburst in early May and beautiful weather into June. We had beautiful flowering weather from late June into July which resulted in good yields across the valley. July and August were consistent with previous years although slightly cooler slowing the vines growth cycle. Leading up to harvest, the crop level was significantly higher compared to past vintages and needed more time to ripen. The weather was perfect for ripening with warm days and cool nights providing a lengthy hang time for our Pinot Noir blocks to develop flavours and physiological ripeness. The white varieties were harvested later than normal but the fruit was able to develop a great balance of sugars to acid and superb flavours.

Our estate-operated “Old Main Road Vineyard” is located on a terrace on the famed Naramata Bench. The vineyard is within the sub-geographical indication (sub-Gi) which was designated in 2019 and recognized as being geologically unique in the production of wine grapes. It was originally planted in 1996 with 100% Chardonnay vines and has a gentle northerly aspect with the soil comprised of alluvial deposits making up a silt loam overlaying a clay loam. The northerly aspects of the vineyard cause the vines to slowly ripen the fruit producing a greater spectrum of flavor while still retaining a good level of acidity and minerality.

Production Notes

At the winery the fruit was fed directly into the press with an ensuing long gentle pressing employed. Only the finest, purest juice from the early stages of the pressing was used for this wine with the more astringent so called “hard press” kept separate. A long, cool fermentation began in stainless steel vessels where it remained for most of the ferment. The must was then transferred to 100% French oak (50% new). The wine was left “sur lees” for 11 months without battonage. A natural malolactic fermentation occurred in late spring. For the Micro Cuvée we individually taste and select barrels that we feel stand out; one new French oak puncheon from the Allier Forest, two new French oak barrels from the Tronçais Forest and three one-year-old puncheons from Allier Forest were selected. In keeping with our philosophy to maintain, as much as possible, a hands-off approach in the cellar to allow the true expression of terroir, this wine is unfined and coarsely filtered.