Meyer Family Vineyards Chardonnay Tribute Series - Joannie Rochette Old Main Road Vineyard 2017
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wonderful chardonnay is both swashbuckling and full of finesse. Bold lemon drop, peach, barely ripe pineapple and aromatic sage distinguishes the stylish, showy nose. The flavours are a parade of citrus, tropical, caramel and clove spice. Finesse is revealed in its balance of succulent acidity; the nuanced interplay of oak (22% new French barrique) and opulent fruit; magnificent texture-enhancing lees work; and an elegant, minerally finish. Old Main Vineyard is a significant site for Meyer: clay-based, sloped, and bearing mature vines planted in 1996. Joannie Rochette's story is a heartwarming tale of tragedy and triumph that this wine critic will never forget. She heroically won an Olympic figure skating medal in the 2010 Vancouver games just 48 hours after losing her mother. Joannie is becoming a doctor now, and I applaud Meyer's tribute to this worthy, inspiring Canadian.Tasted: 10 September 2019Tasted by: Prices:
Meyer Family Vineyards Chardonnay Tribute Series - Joannie Rochette Old Main Road Vineyard 2017
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe 2017 Tribute Series Chardonnay honours Joannie Rochette, a Canadian figure skating Olympic medallist. The fruit comes off the Old Main Road Vineyard in Naramata, a site with a gently sloping northern aspect planted in 1996 to silty loams and clay. Minimalist winemaker, Chris Carson’s ferments, are long, cool and slow and in this case, were followed by 11 months ageing in French oak (22 percent new) resting sur lies with no battonage. The results are stunning, beginning with one of the best-structured chardonnays I have tasted in BC. Look for a bony, mineral, white wine flecked with bits of lemon, green apple, sea salt dusted in dried desert herbs — all you could want in a serious bottle of chardonnay at a fantastic price.Tasted: 24 July 2019Tasted by: Prices:
Meyer Family Vineyards Chardonnay Tribute Series - Joannie Rochette Old Main Road Vineyard 2017
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMeyer Family Vineyards are known for their single-vineyard chardonnays and pinot noirs. This Tribute Series Chardy is from the family's Old Main Road Vineyard in Naramata, a gently sloping northern aspect site planted in 1996 on silt loams over clay. The 2017 Tribute Series Chardonnay honours Joannie Rochette, a medalled Canadian figure skater. After a gentle pressing, this was fermented long and cool in stainless before heading to French oak (22 percent new) to complete fermentation and rest sur lees for 11 months without battonage. This was then bottled unfined and unfiltered. Structural and boned with reductive threading, this bursts with lemon, green apple, stones, dried thyme spicing and fine mineral salts. This site was planted in 1996 tounknown clone(s).Tasted: 03 December 2018Tasted by: Prices: