Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRigour & Whimsy are a tiny garagiste, a family-owned winery based in Okanagan Falls, sourcing vineyards across the Okanagan for their creative and adventuresome (and artfully labelled) portfolio, one that changes annually. This traditional method fizz comes from an upper Peachland vineyard that ripened very late in October 2020 with snow dusting the vineyard and bins. Once snow removal was complete, this was whole cluster pressed into barrel and stayed there with no racking or bâtonnage until moving into a stainless tank in early February for a yeast dose before heading to bottle. When I last tasted this, it was 6 months on lees. This recently released, RD (recently disgorged) edition shows how the wine looks after 25 months on lees in bottle. Pouring a deep lemon hue, this brisk, high acid bubble has much more completion than the last time I tried it, with a gentle padding of lees softening the sharpness of pomelo, tangerine, and underripe green apple. There's an earthy ale note that runs throughout, and lingers on the snappy finish. A very worthy experiment in lees aging on tradmet fizz.Tasted: 26 June 2023Tasted by: Prices:
BC
$38.00
750ml
winery direct
Producer: Rigour & WhimsyDistributors: Juice Imports The Living Vine Grape: Chardonnay
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRigour & Whimsy are a tiny garagiste, a family-owned winery based in Okanagan Falls, sourcing vineyards across the Okanagan for their creative and adventuresome (and artfully labelled) portfolio, one that changes annually. This traditional method fizz comes from an upper Peachland vineyard that ripened very late in October 2020 with snow dusting the vineyard and bins. Once snow removal was complete, this was whole cluster pressed into barrel and stayed there with no racking or bâtonnage until moving into a stainless tank in early February for a yeast dose before heading to bottle and six months' rest on lees. It was disgorged on August 25, 2021. The short time on lees has made for frothy, loose bubbles, while the time in barrel has lent a strong oxidative note to this fizz. Bruised pear, yellow apple, and salted pineapple rind take this to a brief, bitter citrus-kissed finish. Best taken with a chill over the short term.Tasted: 30 July 2022Tasted by: Prices:
BC
$38.00
750ml
winery direct
Producer: Rigour & WhimsyDistributors: Juice Imports The Living Vine Grape: Chardonnay
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