90POINTS
16½/20
Black Swift Vineyards Oak Street Vineyard Chardonnay 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOak Street Vineyard sits on the rocky Okanagan Valley Golden Mile Bench sub-appellation. Facing east, it’s an ideal location to catch the gentle morning sun while avoiding the scorching afternoon heat. The result is a more extended and more useful growing season, promoting optimal ripeness with bright acidity. The site boasts several chardonnay clones: 53, 76 and 96 adding to its complexity, all aged in new French puncheons for 14 months. This “proper” chardonnay via Jason Parkes comes with plenty of vanilla, orange, and spice, with a honeysuckle undercurrent. The palate is full of flavour and weight with pineapple, melon and more honeysuckle. Just a baby, this needs a year or two to settle into itself, but it should come out the other end even better.Tasted: 21 February 2019Tasted by: Prices:BC | $39.99 | 750ml | Cellar door, select retailers, restaurants |