42% Cab.Franc, 35% Merlot, 23% Cab.Sauv. Toffee, black cherries & cocoa nibs.
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Wine Specs
Vintage
2022
Vineyard Designation
Golden Mile Slopes
Acid
5.8
pH
3.8
Aging
drink now
Bottling Date
Jan.2024
Residual Sugar
2
Alcohol %
14.4
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
42% Cab.Franc, 35% Merlot, 23% Cab.Sauv. Toffee, black cherries & cocoa nibs.
Vineyard Notes
Situated just below and then continuing south of the Golden Mile Bench Sub-GI, the Golden Mile Slopes GI is an area of around 600 hectares on the footslopes of the alluvial fans and above the Okanagan River flood plain to the east. The area includes the vineyards around Deadman Lake, a kettle lake formed from a large block of ice falling off a retreating glacier. Approximately 165 hectares (408 acres) of vineyards are planted with around 60% red varieties.
Located on the west side of the valley the area receives plentiful morning sun with shading from Mount Kobau in the late afternoon. The GI shares the typically warm climate of the South Okanagan with cooling night-time breezes descending from Mount Kobau helping to retain fresh acidity. Away from any moderating effects of the valley lakes, the area of the Golden Mile can be prone to extremes of both heat in summer and potentially cold in the winter months.
The landscape was formed from deposits of glacial meltwater and is predominantly made up of glaciofluvial sands and gravels along with alluvial fan deposits. The Golden Mile Slopes Sub-GI excludes the floodplain of the Okanagan River which is poorly suited to viticultural production due to high water table and shoulder season frosts. The vineyards are situated on coarse-textured, stony soils.
Production Notes
As the vineyards of this blend still mature, we recommend to drink this “baby vineyard Meritage" now while it provides all the finesse. We do not expect that the wine will mature into a deeper profile as the plants are young and not able to provide such expressions yet.
Winemaker Notes
At harvest time, healthy & ripe grapes are selected for the wine as we handpick. The binned grapes get processed the next morning, assuring a cool night will chill the grapes down naturally for a cold start in the cellar. They are then destemmed but not crushed, fermenting in stainless steel tanks on the skins. The Merlot & Cabernet Franc were co-fermented as they were ripe and picked at the same time. The later ripening Cabernet Sauvignon was fermented separately.
During the fermentation we use a combination of punch down and pump over to extract flavour, colour and keep a uniform fermentation going. Prior to malolactic conversion the skins are pressed off and the “new wine” remains in temperature control tanks to support the super sensitive bacterial process.
The two batches aged separately in French oak barriques (46% new and a combination of older barrels), unfiltered, for 12 months.
It resulted in a balanced oak profile as the fruit is so dominant. Bottled with a screwcap in January 2024.
Food Pairing Notes
So versatile when it comes to food pairing. This wine is made to complement your dishes, not to outdo them. You won’t get tired of this wine as it has a wonderful structure combined with soft tannins and fruit. Have it with roasts, BBQ, charcuterie, dark chocolate or just a good book.
Production
small batch
Other Notes
First Meritage for 8th Generation Vineyard.
Wine is registered with Meritage Alliance
https://www.meritagealliance.com/what-is-meritage/