The 2022 Meyer Family Vineyards’ Pinot Noir from the McLean Creek Road Vineyard was exceptional, at least in my humble opinion, with a score of 94. So how does its Chardonnay counterpart fare. Do grapes challenge each other or are they simply unfeeling grape juice?
Only the finest, purest juice from the early stages of pressing was used for this wine. After the pressing the must was transferred to 100% French oak (22% new). The wine was left “sur lie” for 11 months without battonage.
Aroma: This light golden coloured wine has a very rich core of apple, pear, mango, honey and lemon meringue pie. Reading above you noted oak was “involved” with this wine but like the 2022 McLean Creek Road Vineyard Pinot Noir you’ll be hard pressed (no pun) to pick up oak. It has been so well integrated into the wine it has became part of the wine instead of standing “on the other side”. If you are an oaky from Panoche and like discernable oak serve cool as opposed to cold. As this Chardonnay warms the oak heats up a bit.
Palate: The 2022 Pinot Noir certainly was not a raging bull Pinot Noir nor is this a raging Chardonnay or a Travis Bickel if you prefer. Both the 22 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are in their youth and initially the fruit in both seems shyly quivering off stage. You can just taste the fruits in the aromatic component described above but knowing what I know about the McLean Creek Road Vineyard the fruit does not swagger but lies in wait for you in year three.
Personality: I am a very deceptive wine as you may possibly think I am weak kneed and wobbly but do a Dr. Bones deep scan the fruit is there. Just be a bit patient please!
Food Match: Pan fried monkfish in butter, garlic, salt and pepper with wild rice or smashed potatoes.
Cellarbility: Best to wait until 2025 to start drinking and then challenge a snooty Burgundian Chardonnay and see it lose. I say this wine will evolve over the next few years peaking at 2028.
Price: $32.36 CDN. For shipping/availability in the EU and U.S.A. contact the winery.
RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 92/100. Therefore the 22 McLean Creek Road Vineyard Pinot Noir wins the challenge with its 94.
(Meyer Family Vineyards 2022 McLean Creek Road Vineyard Chardonnay Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Falls. BC VQA, Meyer Family Vineyards, Okanagan Falls, 750 mL, 13.5%).
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