The summer of 2021 was difficult for Church & State Wines and the other Oliver wineries with the Nk’Mip Creek wildfire. Despite these challenges, the winery team was still able to release some terrific whites wines.
The 2018 vintage was the first released by Arnaud Thierry at Church & State and here is his take on the 2018 harvest.
2018 Harvest
During the 2018 vintage, we had a nice spring with a little of water but good for the growth. The summer was dry and smoky. With the arrival of fall the temperatures went quickly down and the weather was clearer.
We had a slow maturation with good conservation of acidity and development of aromatics. It gave us elegant whites with a good balance between freshness, aromatic and volume. We had to wait the reds a little to get a good volume in mouth with mature tannins and fruity aromatics. It was the first time of my life I finished the harvest under snow!
Arnaud Thierry, Winemaker
Branding update
All 2018 reds and 2019 whites have changed over to the new design. There are 2 styles; Estate Series and Vineyard Collection.
The Estate Series is a mid-tier series of multiple single variety and blended wines that we have put together that we produce on a larger scale, or are widely available. We use the same methods in the vineyard. The main change in the label here is the C&S logo that is predominant at the top of the label. We feel it is a clean and crisp label design.
The Vineyard Collection label you will notice has a die-cut where the logo meets the top of the label. It also has a vineyard seal in the bottom-mid section of the label that is an ode to the vineyard/terroir which the variety was grown on. To be in the Vineyard Collection, a wine must be chosen by the winemaker to be a prime example of what that variety can achieve from that specific terroir and vintage. We feel updating the look of the brand has allowed Church & State to showcase itself seamlessly on a liquor store shelf or in a wine cellar.
Caroline Lachapelle, Operations Manager
The White Wines
Church & State Pinot Gris 2018
10% is aged in barrels. The rest is aged in the tank. The ageing for all was 6 months.
Alcohol 12.9% |TA 5.1 gm/L | RS 4.6 gm/L
Aromas of pineapple, tropical fruit and citrus. Like a walk in a Hawaiian pineapple cannery! On the palate, soft acidity balances the fruit flavours of pineapple, mandarin orange, nectarine and white peach. 91 Points.
The PG paired perfectly with Summer Chilled Borscht soup.
Church & State Wines Coyote Bowl Series Chardonnay 2018
Pressed in whole bunches and fermented in barrels for 3 weeks. Aged in French oak barrels for 8 months.
12.5% Alcohol | TA: 5.5 G/ L| RS: 2.5 G/ L
The chardonnay has a complex nose of green apple, almond and ripe bananas. Flavours of pineapple, white peach and apricot with a mineral backbone. The mouthfeel is smooth with balanced acidity and a long, rolling finish. 91 Points
Paired with pasta and Alfredo sauce.
Church & State Foundation Series Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018
12% of the wine was aged in French oak for 6 months, the remaining in stainless steel tanks.
11.5% Alcohol | TA: 5.92 G/ L| RS: 5.16 G/ L
Bright yellow appearance with hints of green. Initial aromas of key lime and grapefruit that open into white peach and tropical fruit. A light to medium body wine finishing with strong fruit character. 91 Points
Church & State Viognier 2018
Fermented in French Oak barrels for 8 months.
Alcohol 12% |TA 5.4 gm/L | RS 3.7 gm/L
A beautiful light straw-coloured wine from the Coyote Bowl and Bella vineyards. The Viognier burst forth with a floral aroma of jasmine, lychee and sweet grass. The wine has a light oily mouthfeel with bright acidity and flavours of apricot, nectarine, honeydew melon and Meyer lemon. 91 Points
Church & State Marsanne 2018
Hand-harvested directly to press in whole bunches and barrel fermented for 3 weeks. Aged for 8 months in French Oak barrels.
Alcohol 12.5% |TA 5.3 gm/L | RS 1.8 gm/L
This golden wine opens with aromas of fresh apricot, peach, honey and a floral finish. The wine has a rich luscious mouthfeel so chill before serving. Flavours of yellow peach, mandarin orange with an elegant marzipan and vanilla finish. 91 Points
Church & State Wines Roussanne 2018
Aged for 8 months in French Oak barrels. 12.1% Alcohol | TA: 5 G/ L| RS: 3 G/ L
The Roussanne has a rich straw colour with a golden reflection. A beautiful bouquet of white blossoms and tropical fruit. A wine of character and complexity, with notes of orange, pear, tropical fruit and lemon zest. A viscous mouthfeel and minerals linger on the long finish. 92 Points
The Roussanne was paired perfectly with pan-fried black cod, summer squash and potato salad.
Church & State Trebella 2019 ($21.65)
Aged for 8 months in French oak barrels.
Truly a white wine for red wine enthusiasts. A magnificent Rhone-style blend of Marsanne (40%), Roussanne (40%) and Viognier (20%) weighing in at 14.5% Alcohol. Fat and lush with notes of peach, unripe pineapple, vanilla and honey. Rich and appealing with an opulent, weighty and oily mouthfeel. Do not overchill the wine to experience all the nuances! Flavours of tropical fruit, nectarine, almond, honey and Mandarin orange with a complex and lengthy finish. This was my favourite white wine of the seven tasted. 93 Points
The Rhone Blend was paired perfectly with the Heirloom Tomato Tart topped with fresh basil and thyme.
Sparkling Wines
Church & State Frizzante Muscat 2018
The Muscat grapes are from the Brentwood Bay Vineyard on Vancouver Island.
Alcohol 11.5% |TA 5.4 gm/L | RS 13.14 gm/L
A terrific off-dry bubbly. Light, soft, round and filled with pear, honey, and apricot. Perfectly balanced sparkling wine. 91 Points
Gold Medal winner at 2021 All Canadian Wine Championship.
Church & State Sparkling Pinot Gris 2018
The Pinot Gris grapes are also from the Brentwood Bay Vineyard on Vancouver Island. Méthode Traditionnelle, on the lees for 12 months.
11.9% Alcohol | TA: 7.9 G/ L| RS: 10.5 G/ L
The colour is pale yellow with green hues. The sparkling wine is bright, fresh, and lightly floral. Aromas of crisp citrus opening to notes of apple and pear. The palate is balanced in acidity and expansive with subtle fruit flavours and a long finish that ends with a zest. 91 Points
For the complete portfolio of Church & State wines please visit the winery website.