West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAilm is a new project from a pioneering family, the Stewart Family, of Quails' Gate. The name Ailm, inspired by the ancient Irish Tree Language known as Ogham, honours the family's heritage and generational connection to horticulture. All the fruit is South Kelowna estate grown, and the BdB employs chardonnay fermented in stainless, with full MLF, before heading to bottle and 28 months en tirage prior to disgorge with 6.5 g/L. Lemon curd, baked green apple, vanilla wafer is shaped with brisk, riffing lemon acidity that shapes this through the dry and stony finish. Nice structure and focus here, drinking now and with time ahead.Tasted: 04 December 2025Tasted by: Prices:
West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOur second look at the 2021 Blanc de Blanc grown at Westpoint Vineyard, just across the street from Ailm Estate, confirms what I thought last year: it is an attractively scented wine. Look for a tight bead, persistent mousse with fresh light brioche, honey, and green apple that dominate the palate as well. The textures are soft, and the finish is long and dusted in salinity and minerals that keep it clean. Oysters or mussels would be fine matches. The wine undergoes a complete malolactic fermentation, which softens the acidity and adds layers of complexity and roundness. It is aged on its lees for 28 months and gets a final dosage of 6.5 g/L using Chardonnay to maintain the core story.Tasted: 09 October 2025Tasted by: Prices:
West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe folks at Quails’ Gate know chardonnay, and it shows in the inaugural release of a blanc de blanc chardonnay under the new Ailm Estate (East Kelowna) label. The fruit is sourced from Westpoint Vineyard, home to chardonnay vines that already appear to have an affinity for high-end sparkling wine. Look for a persistent mousse with a tight bead, fresh brioche, and honeyed apple nose. The flavours spill onto the palate with a rush of acidity and an all-important softness of texture that invites you into the glass. The finish is long and dusted in salinity and minerals that keep it clean. Oysters or mussels would be fine matches. The wine is aged on its lees for 28 months and gets a final dosage of 6.5 g/L using chardonnay to maintain the core story.Tasted: 27 September 2024Tasted by: Prices:
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