East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNine months down the road this wine is just getting better in the bottle. Its been almost three years since I first tried this from barrel, and it continues to impress. It is the first Tantalus Reserve Pinot, ably marked by its gold Dempsey Bob mask and wax dipped capsule. Winemaker David Paterson makes a barrel selection from his top parcels, centered on clone 667 with lesser volumes from clone 115 and 828. The attack is sweet and round but with a delicate underbelly flecked with plums, black cherries, and wafting notes of raspberries dusted with cinnamon and pepper. Although it weighs in at 14.5 percent alcohol, the balance is perfect and as it ages it just seems to build on its delicate, sweet pinot personality. Forty percent whole cluster, native fermented and aged 16 months in all French oak (30 percent new). Can’t wait for the 2016.Tasted: 20 January 2019Tasted by: Prices:
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaI first encountered this wine a year ago in the cellar and was blown away by its promise back then. A year later in bottle it hardly disappoints. The first ever Tantalus reserve pinot stands out from its gold Dempsey Bob mask and a wax dipped capsule, to its delicate sweet pinot personality. Winemaker David Paterson makes a barrel selection from his top parcels, centered on clone 667 with lesser volumes from clone 115 and 828. The attack is sweet and round but with a delicate underbelly flecked with plums, black cherries, wafting notes of raspberries dusted with cinnamon and pepper. Sonoma Coast meets East Kelowna and I love it. Forty percent whole cluster, native fermented and aged 16 months in all French oak (30 percent new). Get it while you can.Tasted: 27 June 2018Tasted by: Prices:
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaImpressive packaging in this inaugural Reserve Pinot Noir, from the gold Dempsey Bob mask on the label to the soft, long wax on the capsule. The wine is a barrel selection from their top parcels centered on clone 667, complemented by smaller parcels of our Clone 115 and 828. Forty percent whole cluster, entire native fermented, this spent 16 months in French oak (30 percent new) before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Dusky, textural and forest-led, with perfumed dark plum, black cherry, wild blackberry, lifted with pretty raspberry blossoms and seated with fine, firm tannins. The finish is lengthy with sun ripened blackberry dusted with peppercorns. This is a confident, elegant pinot, ripe though handled with a light touch, distinctly Tantalus, and highly impressive. 100 cases made.Tasted: 27 June 2018Tasted by: Prices: