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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
JoieFarm En Famille Reserve Chardonnaytext
89POINTS
16¼/20

JoieFarm En Famille Reserve Chardonnay 2015

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe En Famille set of JoieFarm's wines are barrel selections, and don't happen every year. For this 2015, barrels from the Skaha Bluff and Joie's home vineyard on Naramata Bench were drawn. 2015 is a really tricky year for whites in the Okanagan; the hottest on record led to an early harvest. Many folks lost their acids before they knew it. This wine is showing very well considering the year. French oak ferment (20 percent new), 70 percent native ferment, full MLF, limited sulphur and eight months in oak with regular battonage. The additional time in bottle (this is a new release) has aided this wine. You still feel the toasty warmth of the wood and the heat of the vintage, but it's seamlessly enveloped by the rich, ripe density of the fruit at this stage. Dense pear, baked apple, quince, white peaches on a bed of almond butter, carried along a river of lemon curd acidity. Toasted hazelnuts linger on the finish. This is a big, ripe wine, yes, but intentionally, and with elegance. If you're looking for Cali with BC verve, here you go.Tasted: 06 September 2017Tasted by: Treve RingPrices:
BC$29.90750mlwinery direct, private wine shops
AB$38.00750ml 
Producer: JoieFarmDistributors: Winery Direct
International Cellars Inc.
Grape: ChardonnayCSPC: 150862UPC: 692739000071