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91POINTS
16¾/20
Maison Smith Montpetit Chardonnay 2023
Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Cawston Flats are home to this Similkameen Valley chardonnay grown at the estate Champs Alizés vineyard. The chardonnay is handpicked at 2 tons per acre, whole cluster pressed and cold fermented in oak for 7 weeks. The wine and fresh lees goes to barrel to finish the ferment before ageing in 50% new French oak barrels that get regular bâtonnage every 2 weeks. Full malolactic provides this wine with a magical, creamy texture mixing with nutty stone fruit, bright acidity, and rich toasted oak. It's an impressive start for this winery, making it well worth watching. The Similkameen is beginning to fulfill its wine promise, making wild and excellent wines. The Valley is surrounded by high elevation mountains, oriented north-south, allowing maximum sunlight but with no lake impact to moderate temperatures. By mid-afternoon, the winds howl, keeping the vineyard fresh and dry. Summer brings dramatic diurnal effects, with temperatures rising and falling some +/- 20C in 24 hours. The soils mix poor, deep sandy loams and rich valley bottom soils, along with rocky hillsides and benchlands dotted with alluvial fans. Maison Smith Montpetit soils sit at Cawston Flats located at the 49th parallel. They are marked by a mix of heavy, rich soil over river rock with loam, sand and gravel (2-5 ft deep). It has some river/water table influence and is part of the windiest area. Diminished vigour enhances grape quality, helps organic viticulture, and gives some frost protection.Tasted: 24 February 2025Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml | winery online/direct, select private retailers |
Grape: ChardonnayUPC: 699838450844
