Stevens Block 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. One of four acres which was planted in 2006 with French clones 4 and 5; has the steepest slope and is the coolest part of the Old Main Road site. The soil is comprised of alluvial deposits making up a silt loam overlaying a clay loam. As the vines have matured this section of the vineyard has developed its own unique terroir and has justified its own designation. Paying homage to Janice Stevens-Meyer and her family, we have named this block “Steven’s Block”.

Production Notes

At the winery the fruit was fed directly into the press with an ensuing long gentle whole cluster 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 indigenous fermentation of 6 weeks occurred in a stainless-steel vessel, subsequently the wine was left on its fine lees for a further 10 months in older French oak barrels. A natural malolactic fermentation occurred.