Four premium Chardonnays from Meyer Family Vineyards highlight the wonderful flavours from the 2021 vintage. The wines include fruit from the Naramata Bench and Okanagan Falls sub-GIs. For more background on the winery see – Meyer Family Vineyards – Top BC Wine Exporter. Let’s start with Chris Carson’s comments on the 2021 growing season and vintage.
2021 Harvest and Vintage Notes
“The 2021 vintage began with typical spring temperatures but with lower-than-normal precipitation, budburst began in early May. Starting in June we saw the beginning of forest fires in the valley as well as smoke from northern California and Oregon. Then came the heat dome with temperatures reaching 48 0C some days which continued for roughly a week to 10 days. Those extreme temperatures reduced yields significantly in our Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blocks. Once the temperatures returned to seasonal averages in August, we had exceptional weather stretching into September and finishing with a typical October. We began harvesting our Chardonnay on September 12th. Due to the reduced yields, the 2021 vintage could be one of the most flavourful in recent memory.”
Winemaker – Chris Carson
The Wines
Meyer Stevens Block Chardonnay 2021 ($27.04)
The estate-operated “Old Main Road Vineyard” is located on a terrace on the famed Naramata Bench sub-GI. One of four acres which was planted in 2006 with French clones 4 and 5; has the steepest slope and is the coolest part of the Old Main Road site.
The soil is comprised of alluvial deposits making up a silt loam overlaying a clay loam. As the vines have matured this section of the vineyard has developed its own unique terroir and has justified its own designation. The “Steven’s Block” notation pays homage to owner Janice Stevens-Meyer and her family.
At the winery, the fruit was fed directly into the press for gentle whole cluster pressing. Only the finest free-run juice was used for this wine. The wine started with a long, cool ferment with wild yeast in stainless steel. Then left on its fine lees for a further ten months in older French oak barrels. Natural full malolactic fermentation.
Alcohol: 13.5% / pH: 3.44 / TA: 7.5 g/L
Vibrant citrus aromas with bright floral notes. Medium-bodied and medium-plus acid and a wonderful buttery mouthfeel. Flavours of lemon curd, pineapple, white peach, honey and a strong mineral backbone. 91 Points
Meyer McLean Creek Road Chardonnay 2021($32.26)
The estate “McLean Creek Road Vineyard” was originally planted in 1994 and is located in the Okanagan Falls Sub-Gi. It has a predominantly steep southerly aspect with the soil comprised of alluvial and glacial deposits making up a mix of gravel and sandy loams. The Chardonnay is planted in two separate blocks, one on the far east side of the south-facing slope and the other on the west end of the slope. The variation of east and west leads to differences in flavour development and in turn more complexity in the finished wine.
The wine started with a long, cool ferment with wild and cultured yeast in stainless steel. The young wine was then transferred to 100% French oak (22% new) to complete fermentation. The wine was left “sur lie” for 11 months without battonage. Full malolactic fermentation.
Alcohol 13.5% / pH:3.52 / TA:7.5g/L
A bright, fruit-forward wine that is lightly oaked creating an elegant cool-climate Chardonnay. Enchanting aromas of honeysuckle and citrus. The wine has flavours of Meyer lemon, green apple and mandarin orange. The finish never ends! 92 points
Meyer Old Main Road Chardonnay 2021
Previously known as our “Tribute Series Chardonnay”, which named an outstanding individual for their contributions and devoted $75,000 to several Canadian charities and organizations over the past 15 years.
The “Old Main Road Chardonnay” continues to be produced in the same style from 26-year-old vines on the Naramata Bench. The 4-acre vineyard has a northerly aspect allowing for slow-ripening fruit producing a greater spectrum of flavour, acid and minerality.
The wine began fermentation in stainless steel and finished in French oak (22% new), where it aged 11 months on the lees without stirring. Full malolactic fermentation.
Alcohol 13.5% / pH:3.55 / TA:7.6 g/L
On the nose are citrus, pineapple, and butter. The buttery texture has flavours of pineapple, peach and vanilla. Fine oak integration and balance with a long finish make for a sophisticated chardonnay. 92 Points.
Meyer Anarchist Mountain Dekleva Chardonnay 2021 ($32.26)
Anthony Dekleva planted these Chardonnay vines in 1985 which are mysterious unknown clones. The Anarchist Mountain Vineyard was previously the home of JAK’s sister Terry Meyer Stone and her partner Andrew Stone and is located in Osoyoos, BC. Tony Dekleva was a miner by trade, and he shook the whole valley when he blew a hole in the side of the mountain to create a cave that serves as the reservoir for irrigation. This vineyard has the highest elevation in Osoyoos at 518 m and has a westerly aspect with silt soil over clay loam.
The wine began fermentation in stainless steel and finished in French oak (22% new), where it aged 11 months on the lees without stirring. Full malolactic fermentation.
Alcohol: 13.5% / pH:3.64 / TA:6.6 g/L
Citrus and honeysuckle aromas. The mouthfeel is creamy with flavours of bosc pear, white peach and mandarin orange with a hint of spice and minerality. The finish is smooth and long. 92 Points
Here is the link to buy these elegant BC Chardonnays – Meyer Family Vineyards website