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Old Main Road Chardonnay 2022

$32.26
GOLD, 92 Points, National Wine Awards of Canada 2024
SILVER,
Chardonnay-du-Monde 2024
92 Points,
Anthony Gismondi

Previously known as our "Tribute Series Chardonnay", which named an outstanding individual for their contributions and devoted $75,000 to several Canadian charities and organizations over the past 15-years. The "Old Main Road Chardonnay" will continue to be produced in the same style from 26-year old vines on the famed Naramata Bench. The 4-acre vineyard has a northerly aspect allowing for slow ripening fruit producing a greater spectrum of flavour, acid and minerality.

The 2022 vintage aged in French oak barrels (25% new) for 11 months.

We produced 760 cases.

Specifications

  • Alcohol 13.5%
  • Acidity 6.7 g/L
  • Appellation Naramata
  • Bottling Date August 28, 2022
  • ph 3.46
  • Region Okanagan Valley
  • Type White
  • Varietal Chardonnay
  • Vineyard Old Main Road Vineyard
  • Vintage 2022
  • Winemaker Chris Carson
  • Notes

    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 (25% new) to complete fermentation. The wine was left “sur lie” for 11 months without
    battonage. A natural malolactic fermentation occurred in late spring. In keeping with our philosophy to maintain as much as
    possible a hands-off approach in the cellar to allow the true expression of the terroir this wine is unfined and coarsely filtered.