Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaHaywire's inaugural Vintage Bub is a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir from Secrest Vineyard in Oliver. Even from a warm vintage like 2013, you’d be hard-pressed to guess that the fruit came from so far south. This was on lees for 52 months prior to disgorgement and, though I don’t find it overly autolytic, it’s aging beautifully, combining lemon with baked apple, mushroom, and hazelnut. The soft, creamy mousse gives way to a broad, mouth-filling texture and a decidedly dry finish with vibrant acidity. Well-balanced, it’s a moreish style of sparkling wine that is quite serious. At or near peak for my palate. This has gone up in price since it was last tasted in 2018, but still represents fine value.Tasted: 14 November 2019Tasted by: Prices: BC 44.90 winery direct, private wine stores
Producer: Okanagan Crush Pad WineryDistributors: HQ Wine + Spirits Le Sommelier Inc. Blend: Chardonnay - Pinot NoirCSPC: 161530UPC: 626990194170
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe folks at Haywire never cease to surprise. They seem to be working years ahead of the pack as evidenced by the release of this Vintage Bub - the first extended aged bubble from the Summerland winery. They laid away 500 cases back in 2013 and five years later it’s been disgorged and bottled to showcase the magic of bottle-aged sparkling wine. The pinot noir and chardonnay is from Oliver's Secrest Vineyard, now owned by Haywire. It was fermented in concrete and stainless. A slightly deeper colour cues the extra ageing, as does its gout anglais oxidative notes that swirl out of the glass. Earth, mushrooms, bread dough and citrus drenched flavours make for a long, impressive finish. Serious wine and another harbinger of the future of sparkling wine in the Okanagan.Tasted: 31 July 2018Tasted by: Prices: BC 44.90 winery direct, private wine stores
Producer: Okanagan Crush Pad WineryDistributors: HQ Wine + Spirits Le Sommelier Inc. Blend: Chardonnay - Pinot NoirCSPC: 161530UPC: 626990194170
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaVintage Bub is the first of an extended aging program for Haywire's impressive fizz program. 500 cases of the 2013 vintage were put aside and given an additional five years of lees aging before release. This is pinot noir and chardonnay from Oliver's Secrest Vineyard, fermented in concrete and stainless, before bottling in November 2015. You can consider this the older and more experienced member of their fizz family, a project overseen by sparkling winemaker Jordan Kubek. The maturity is evident right away, through a deeper hue and oxidative aromas, with earthy, wild mushroom dough, brioche, green apple peel, all with a backbone of lemon-laced acidity propping up and elongating this wine. Lovely precision, excellent length, amazing value. Will be released in summer 2017.Tasted: 31 May 2018Tasted by: Prices: BC 44.90 winery direct, private wine stores
Producer: Okanagan Crush Pad WineryDistributors: HQ Wine + Spirits Le Sommelier Inc. Blend: Chardonnay - Pinot NoirCSPC: 161530UPC: 626990194170