Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaChardonnay is a “Small Cap” wine at Laughing Stock, in this case, limited to 442 cases. The fruit is a combination of crisp Naramata Bench chardonnay, and coolish Okanagan Falls fruit. It’s all whole-cluster pressed and aged in a mix of French oak barrels (25 percent new) with 14 percent in concrete eggs. Wildfire clouds of smoke retarded the ripening process in 2018, pushing pick times back into the late fall where cooler weather further added hang time and intensity of fruit to the wine. It’s generous and bright with creamy sweet fruit, but there is some lift and freshness that keeps it all in line. It's one of the best Laughing Stock chardonnays I have tasted since its inception. Best with rich fall risotto or roasted turkey.Tasted: 02 August 2019Tasted by: Prices:
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRich, warm, and showy, this year’s LS chard grapes came from the Naramata Bench and OK Falls. After a whole cluster press this fermented and aged in 14% concrete egg and the remainder in French oak (25% new), with full MLF and ample battonage. The resultant effect is exactly as intended: creamy and decadent, with lemon curd, thick cream, baked pear, vanilla, heady white florals, bacon fat and kisses of butterscotch. The palate is wide, and acidity is moderate, with a backbone of lemon peel tugging this along to a spicy finish. More older school Cali than modern Okanagan, unfortunately.Tasted: 03 September 2019Tasted by: Prices: