Pinot Noir Vertical

Where it was grown
Wendell Orchards, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley
Arrowleaf Estate, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley
Ritchie Farm, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley

When it was grown
2021 was one of the hottest and driest years on record in British Columbia. The early part of summer brought the highest temperatures ever recorded in the Okanagan followed by prolonged drought that lasted well into the fall. This resulted in a smaller than average crop of very ripe, concentrated grapes. Harvest started in early September and was finished by mid October. All in all, it was an extreme growing season that has created the potential for some truly unique wines.

How it was made
The grapes were harvested in early-October and the fermentation took place in multiple batches, some were inoculated with yeast and others were left to go wild. The wine went into French oak barrels (10% new) for malo-lactic fermentation and 9 months of lees aging before blending and bottling in late summer.

Technical Details
Alcohol 13.5%

Where it was grown
Wendell Orchards, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley
Ritchie Farm, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley

When it was grown
2020 was a year of ups and downs in the vineyard. An unusually warm stretch of winter weather started the year off in a pleasant way until an arctic cold front moved in and damaged a lot of the fruitful buds on the vines. This resulted in a 40% reduction in overall yield. The silver lining, of course, is that with reduced yield generally comes exceptional quality. It turned out that the vines needed a light load this vintage as the summer and fall were cooler than normal causing the fruit to ripen late. All in all, 2020 is a stellar but scarce vintage.

How it was made
The grapes were harvested in mid-October and the fermentation took place in multiple batches, some were inoculated with yeast and others were left to go wild. The wine went into French oak barrels (10% new) for malo-lactic fermentation and 9 months of lees aging before blending and bottling in late summer.

Technical Details
Residual Sugar 1.5 g/l
Acidity 5.3 g/l
Alcohol 13.0%
Cases Made 638

Where it was grown
Wendell Orchards, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley Ritchie Farm, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley

When it was grown
The 2019 vintage was a welcome return to cooler weather that was more in line with the long-term average. The forest fires that caused widespread smoke in the previous three vintages did not happen in 2019; instead we got clear skies for most of the summer and early fall. An extended rainy period proved tricky during harvest but the wines turned out to have good balance, finesse and aromatics.

How it was made
The grapes were harvested in mid-October and the fermentation took place in multiple batches, some were inoculated with yeast and others were left to go wild. The wine went into French oak barrels (10% new) for malo-lactic fermentation and aging. It was racked in late spring to remove most of the lees and returned to barrels until it was bottled in late summer.

Technical Details
Residual Sugar 1.7 g/l
Acidity 5.0 g/l
Alcohol 13.0%
Cases Made 1865