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93POINTS
17¼/20
Mission Hill Terroir Collection No. 8 Jagged Rock Vineyard Chardonnay 2017
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaI was dazzled by this alluring chardonnay when tasting it blind at the National Wine Awards of Canada. My notes say, 'lovely terroir expression' eerily channelling the name of this Mission Hill tier, 'Terroir Collection.' Lush Meyer lemon curd, ripe peach and heady honeysuckle scents appear in a more restrained form on the palate. Here the wine shows 'rocks and lemons' according to my blind note, with delicate layers of ripe orchard fruit, beautifully expressed oak, and a salty mineral finale. Jagged Rock Vineyard is a head-turning site near Oliver in the sun-drenched South Okanagan, allowing full ripening, but 425 metres of elevation and evening shading ensure the fruit is as streamlined as it is ripe. Smart and thoughtful winemaking sees this chardonnay refined in small French oak casks (only 6% new which explains the subtle oak nature), large French oak barrels (32%), and 10% of this chardonnay saw time in the small clay sphere called a Clayver. Almost a year and a half of resting upon the lees have built textural interest and added complex toasty aromas and flavours. Elegance, precision, tense fruit and a clear terroir expression are one for Dungeness crab cakes or lemony grilled chicken. A year or two of age will reveal even more complexity.Tasted: 10 September 2019Tasted by: Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml | winery direct, restaurants |
Grape: ChardonnayUPC: 776545991232
