Our first visit to Ex Nihilo Vineyards was during the summer of 2016. I can still remember the perfect lunch in the vineyard with their fabulous sparkling Rosé.
This fall I had the opportunity to try six Ex Nihilo Vineyard wine released in 2019. This is a diverse portfolio of classic cool-climate white and elegant red wines.
But first some winemaking background.
The Winemaker – Jim Faulkner
Jim joined the Ex Nihilo Family in 2020 after working in various positions at Cedar Creek, Summerhill Pyramid Winery and Church and State. Most recently Jim was the head winemaker at West Kelowna’s Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery since 2009.
Jim loves that every day is different in the winery. Some days you’re in the vineyards and it’s social and some days you’re squishing grapes and it’s physical. But every day is a good day.
When he is away from the winery, Jim calls his greatest passion spending time with his wife and two children, preferably in a foreign country with wineries and vineyards.
It is noteworthy that Jim was previously involved in making wines with Ex Nihilo during their early years.
BC Harvest 19
“2019 was off to a beautiful start, the summer was warm and relatively dry, allowing the fruit to ripen evenly across our vineyards. Fruit yields were substantial, with all vineyards producing high quality clusters that weathered the rainy start to fall. Despite a frosty few days, the vines maintained their leaf canopy and the fruit continued to develop flavours while the cool snap of the fall season captured beautiful acid levels to compliment the natural sweetness of the berries. This harvest will produce wines with medium alcohol levels, bright acidity, and bold tannins making them the perfect cellaring contenders.“
Marissa Neuner Winemaker Ex Nihilo Vineyuards
The White Wines
Ex Nihilo Riesling 2017
Alcohol: 12%, Residual Sugar: 7.8 g/L , Total Acidity: 7 g/L
In 2017 the late hanging fruit was picked after a snowstorm and freezing temperatures. The result of the brief freeze is a rich and luscious wine with more concentrated flavours. Fermented to ‘off-dry’ and more Germanic in style keeping the residual sweetness and natural acidity balanced.
A delicate perfume of floral and mandarin orange peel. Flavours of Meyer lemon, lime, red apple and honeydew melon. A soft and round riesling. Perfect when paired with Thai or Chinese food. 90 Points
Ex Nihilo Pinot Gris 2018
Alcohol: 13.6%, Residual Sugar: 6.3 g/L, Total Acidity: 7.5 g/L
The grapes were hand-harvested, destemmed and pressed into stainless steel to ferment over 13 days. The wine aged ‘Sur lie’ over the winter months before naturally clarifying.
When you open the wine there is a lovely aroma of rose petal, Anjou pear, green apple, tropical fruit and citrus.
In the glass, this is a bold white with a rich mouthfeel that is enjoyable both summer and winter. Flavours of pear, ripe apple, honeydew melon, candied lemon with a hint of ginger. The finish is long and heavy for white wine. 91 Points.
Ex Nihilo Privata Chardonnay 2018
Alcohol: 13%, Residual Sugar: 2.1 g/L, Total Acidity: 6.1 g/L
The fruit was hand-harvested, destemmed, and gently pressed the whole berry into oak barrels. 85% French, 15% American Oak. 10% new barrels and 90% neutral. Barrel fermented over 22 days. The Chardonnay underwent malolactic fermentation occurring naturally in the barrel over the winter months, with bi-weekly batonnage to ensure maximum lees contact until it was lightly filtered to maintain fruit integrity and reveal the striking golden colour. Aged nine months.
The Estate grapes bring forth tropical and stone fruit aromas complemented by caramel, citrus peel, and brioche. The palate is full of brighter Lake Country fruit, toasty oak and buttery caramel with adequate acidity and a hint of dryness. The finish has a lingering minerality and sea salt. 92 Points.
The Red Wines
Ex Nihilo Merlot 2017
Alcohol: 14.7% Residual Sugar: 2.8 g/L, Total Acidity: 5.1 g/L
The grapes were hand-harvested, destemmed, and fermented whole berry in stainless steel for 22 days. The wine was pressed off to oak barrels (87% French, 13% American, 5% New Oak) to complete malolactic fermentation over the winter months. Aged for 20 months.
Gorgeous deep garnet red. Aromas of red berries, pomegranate and vanilla. Flavours of ripe black fruit, dark chocolate and leather. Ripe smooth tannins, optimum acidity and a lazy longer finish. Enjoy now. 91 Points.
Ex Nihilo Night 2016
Alcohol: 14.7%. Residual Sugar: 2.3 g/L, Total Acidity: 5.6 g/L
Ex Nihilo Night was created in honour of the mysterious balance the night brings to the vineyards. The cool night air flows off the Mountain Range and Lakes and lowers the vineyard temperature just enough to slow down the ripening process to develop richer fruit with more complexity.
All grapes were hand-harvested, destemmed, and fermented whole berry in stainless steel for 18 days. The wine was pressed off to French and American oak barrels to complete malolactic fermentation over the winter months. Aged for 20 months.
80% French. 20% American. 7% new oak.
Grapes from the Black Sage and Golden Mile Benches create this elegant blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 17.5% Cabernet Franc, 2.5% Petit Verdot.
Aromas of black fruit, cassis and tobacco. Flavours of black cherry, plum, fig and dark chocolate. The balance and structure of this wine define perfect elegance! An extremely smooth and supple mouthfeel. 94 Points
The wine ranks #2 in Best Wines between $40 and $80 right now on Vivino.
Ex Nihilo Pinot Noir 2018
Alcohol: 13.2%, Residual Sugar: 2.1 g/L, Acidity: 5.8 g/L
Hand-harvested destemmed and cold-soaked whole berry under carbonic maceration for six days. Gently fermented over 13 days, and pressed to 15% American, 85% French oak barrels to undergo malolactic fermentation. Aged on lees for 10 months.
The pinot aromas flow from the glass and transport you to an Old English Garden full of spring Violets. This is a medium-bodied wine in the style of the Santa Barbara pinots. Flavours of ripe cherries, smoked caramel and a hint of the forest floor. Elegant tannins and a soft finish. 92 Points
For the complete portfolio of Ex Nihilo Vineyards wines please visit the winery website.
Note: Updated October, 2020 to include Jim Faulkner as the new Winemaker.