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94POINTS
17½/20
Osoyoos Larose 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaI previewed the 2022 Osoyoos Larose Grand Vin last fall, well ahead of its expected release in fall 2026. As with almost every release since 2001, it shows potential far beyond that first glimpse. I caught up with the 2022 again last week, and it is already beginning to wow this taster. In fact, I think I said wow three times when I first nosed it. Osoyoos Larose is owned and produced by Groupe Taillan from Bordeaux. Raphael Merlaut, a family member, was in BC to meet his on-site General Manager and Winemaker, Michael Kullmann, during one of several tastings to determine when it will be released. There is a large team behind this wine, including renowned Bordeaux consultant Éric Boissenot, who helps craft a wine that leans towards structure, restraint, ageability, and a sense of place, namely the Osoyoos Bench in the South Okanagan. The vineyard has undergone extensive renovations to address winter damage in 2023 and 2024. Amidst all that, they have produced a gem of a Grand Vin in 2022. The new bottle/package includes a label change, a move to Diam corks to prevent cork taint, and a wax-dipped bottle to support sustainability through aluminum capsules and provide better control of oxygen ingress as the wine ages in the bottle. The blend is a 74/14/7/4/1 mix og merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, petit verdot and malbec (the cabernet sauvignon has been increased to add structure now that global warming is making it easier to ripen every year). The nose is near perfect, awash in a fragrant perfume of red and black cherries and plums that spreads across a silky palate streaked with savoury desert scrub. A strong backbone, ample acidity, and perfect balance point to endless aging potential. In fact, Osoyoos Larose has long been known as one of Canada's best wines to cellar, and the '22 will be no exception. The 2022 vintage also marks a major milestone as the first year the vineyard was certified Organic by PACS. The grapes grow on an 80-acre bench, divided into over 30 distinct blocks.Tasted: 10 March 2026Tasted by: Prices:| BC | $80.00 | 750ml | winery direct |
Blend: Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc - Petit Verdot - MalbecCSPC: 129999UPC: 871610001554
