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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Coolshanagh Chardonnaytext
93POINTS
17¼/20

Coolshanagh Chardonnay 2016

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaCoolshanagh produces a small amount (1200 cases) of estate-grown chardonnay all off west south-west facing vineyard at 49.6 degrees north. To me, this is an authentic cult wine because it’s extremely limited, and the quality is very fine. Burgundy is the model, winemaker Matt Dumayne is in charge, and sensibly the wine is much more about the scrubby pine trees and grasses that dot the landscape that clings to a ledge high above the lake. The grapes are fermented whole-cluster in neutral French oak and new French foudres with smaller amounts placed into egg-shaped concrete fermenters. The two lots are mixed and placed in concrete eggs for ten months of lees contact. Size matters at Coolshanagh (the name translates to meeting place) and because the vineyard is small. the fruit is picked block by block, several times. In 2016 it began in mid-September and ran into early October. Post ageing and lees stirring, it was bottled without fining or filtration. It is the most elegant Coolshanagh yet, offering electric acidity, creamy lees textures, and rich, layered apple and pear with some of the best French oak framing I have experienced in the Okanagan. Wow.Tasted: 13 October 2018Tasted by: Prices:
BC$36.90750mlprivate wine shops
Producer: Haywire by Okanagan Crush PadDistributors: Le Sommelier Inc.
Renaissance Wine Merchants Ltd.
Grape: ChardonnayCSPC: 399691UPC: 626990166085