Winemaker’s Cut is Michal Mosny’s latest wine adventure. Currently, Winemaker’s Cut only produces single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah wines. As a winemaker, Michal first came to my attention when Lunessence won the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for their 2014 Riesling Ice Wine.
The Vineyard
Deadman Lake Vineyard is located between Oliver and Osoyoos, BC. The vineyard lies 100 meters south-west of Deadman Lake and roughly 1200 meters north of the renown Spotted Lake. The terrain is rich in minerals with the soil also showing traces of magnesium, calcium, sulphur and sodium. The heavy mineral concentration is evident in the wines. Winemaker’s Cut employs sustainable farming methods. The vineyard honours a zero policy for pesticides, herbicides, and artificial fertilizer.
Deadman Lake Vineyard is host to a unique microclimate. Vineyard temperatures can reach 40°C and often remain above 30°C for several days at a time. This supports adequate on-the vine ripening time. Extended seasonal daylight hours prolong daily photosynthesis. Michal can effectively use dry farming techniques. This is due to the lack of high winds and the terraces situated above the vineyard that evenly distribute precipitation.
The Winemaker
Michal Mosny has a distinctive winemaking style. Passionate about wine, of course, he is equally as focused on life balance; ever striving to maintain equilibrium in relation to others, nature, and to God. Both originally from Slovakia, Michal and his partner in the CUT endeavour, his wife Martina, and their dog Milo, are forever sharing in food and wine with good friends.
Michal provided the following comments on his winemaking style. “Let the wine do the talking, naturally. This is our motto. We implement natural and sustainable farming practices and our modern and effective winemaking equipment allow us to gently process each vintages yield. Minimal sulphur use, extended skin contact to balance fruit to tannin, and strategically selected barrels enable us to capture a moment, cut from vineyard vine and let the wine do the talking, naturally.”
The New Released Wine
Winemaker’s Cut Sauvignon Blanc 2017
2017 was a vintage with mixed expectations. An early and very humid Spring jumped into a super hot and humid first week of Summer and then the never-ending smoke that blocked the sun. Fall was nice and cool and the harvest showed us that 2017 was a great year for wine in Okanagan.
Hand harvested September 24, 2017, at 3 tons per acre and 23.2 Brix. Cold soaked and cold fermented in stainless steel with only 20% in Slovakian barrels. Gently pressed and aged in 20% oak.
Technical Data: Alcohol 13%, 3.25 Ph, 8.2 TA, 5.7 RS
Light lemon in colour. Aromas of citrus, stone fruit, lemon zest, and tropical fruit. On the palate lemon, lime, pineapple and kiwi fruit with a dry, crisp minerality leading to a lingering long finish. A fruit-forward style wine that is great with seafood or standalone.
The 2016 release was a gold medal winner at 2017 All Canadian Wine Championship. You can find my previous review here.
Winemaker’s Cut Syrah 2016
The 2016 vintage started with an early bud break due to a warm dry spring and hot summer. Fall saw rain that put a swift end to the harvest.
Cold soaked and stainless steel fermented, free run press and then a full malolactic fermentation, Aged for 10 months on American, French and Slovakian oak.
Technical Data: Alcohol 13%, 3.8 Ph, 6.6 TA, 2.5 RS
Deep garnet colour. Aromas of black fruit, black licorice, vanilla, sweet spice and white pepper. On the palate, a dry, medium-full bodied and fruit forward wine with silky tannins and a medium-long finish.
To see how this Syrah compares to other BC wines go to Top 10 Best Value BC Syrah
If you would like to buy either of these outstanding BC wines the link to the winery site is here.