This is the fifth year we have been fortunate to taste Four Shadows Vineyard & Winery wines. The wines continue to impress with the degree of refinement increasing with each vintage. Before going to the tasting notes here are the latest Four Shadows News and comments on the harvest.
Tasting Room Update
The tasting room will open for the season Friday, April 28th. The wine-tasting offering will include 5 current releases. New this summer, Four Shadows will also offer flight tastings (4 wines) in the picnic area and soon charcuterie boxes will be available for enjoyment in the picnic area.
The 2022 Harvest
Wilbert Borren provided the following comments last fall:
Another really interesting year! The 2022 season began with a cool, extended spring, resulting in later-than-average bud break and flowering. This put our season about 2-3 weeks behind schedule, but fortunately, the weather this fall has been nothing short of amazing, allowing proper ripening throughout our vineyard.
We have seen a return to average fruit yield after a couple of years of lower-yielding crops. Irrigation this year was a bit of a challenge with the prolonged dry weather well into the fall. The fruit on our vines this season is just gorgeous- we’re seeing very clean, beautiful clusters. Brix levels are generally lower than those of our 2021 fruit, but our season will be wrapping up very shortly if the weather continues to hold.
We are scratching our heads over a few curiosities as we begin to harvest. Typically, we can count on Chardonnay to be the first of our six varietals to ripen, and every year since 2011 we have concluded harvest with our latest-ripening red, Merlot. However, this year’s harvest began on October 13th with Merlot, and Chardonnay was on the vine until October 17th.
Similarly, the two different blocks of Riesling ripened opposite to what we usually anticipate. The steep upper slope of our property is planted with about 4 acres of Riesling. We also have a small planting of Riesling at the bottom of our vineyard, just along Upper Bench Road. Most years, the Riesling up top is harvested first, often 4-5 days prior to the lower vineyard. While it is all still currently on the vine as of today (October 17th ) we will be harvesting the lower block of Riesling later this week, followed by the upper block.
Our vineyard crew is certainly enjoying the beautiful mild temperatures, and we are thankful and blessed for another beautiful crop. This year, we are putting to use our brand-new crush pad, and have started crushing and pressing our own fruit for the first time. By doing this on-site for ourselves, we have greater flexibility to harvest exactly what and when we want. This year we will be keeping a limited amount of our Pinot Blanc fruit for the first time. Stay tuned for more on that.
It has been a great year and we look forward to the rest of our harvest!
Four Shadows Pinot Blanc 2022 ($22.99)
The gently pressed Pinot Blanc from the estate vineyard was mixed with a touch of Chardonnay and Riesling.
Alcohol 11.1% / pH 2.99 / TA 7.5 / RS 6.93 102 cases produced.
Classic light aromas of orange blossom, honeydew melon and pear. The dry wine has vibrant flavours of green apple, Anjou pear and lemon zest. The wine has a creamy textured mouthfeel, a hint of minerality and a long finish. 91 Points.
Also pairs well with shucked oysters, butter lettuce salad and sourdough bread. Enjoy the wine with delicate seafood and light cheeses.
Four Shadows Classic Riesling 2022
Alcohol 9.7% / pH 2.97 / TA 8.475 / RS 32.03 528 cases produced.
A lovely pale straw colour. Aromas of white peach and stone fruit. Flavours of pineapple, mango, ripe apple, honeycomb, and Meyer lemon.
The wine has a vibrant mouthfeel. The perfect iconic classic Riesling with high acidity and sweetness in natural balance.
This is the flagship wine from Four Shadows. 92 Points.
Gold Medal winner at the 2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards.
Paired perfectly with Quesadilla and Salsa, the wine sweetness enhances the spiciness of the dish.
Four Shadows Dry Riesling 2021 ($23.99)
14% Alcohol / pH 2.99 / TA 7.5 / RS 4.67 Only 54 cases were produced.
The alcohol level is significantly higher than previous vintages due to the extreme heat of the 2021 growing season.
A lovely pale straw colour. On the nose, there are aromas of jasmine, guava and green apple. Flavours of lime zest, green apple, honeydew melon, green kiwi, and pineapple with a touch of minerality lead to a crisp, lingering finish. The perfect BC Riesling for my palate. 93 Points
Double Gold at the Savor Northwest Wine Awards 2023 and Gold Winer at 2022 All Canadian Wine Championships. Gold Medal winner at the 2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards.
Four Shadows Pinot Noir 2020 ($28.99)
14.2% Alcohol / pH 3.5 / TA 6.3 / RS 2.35 146 cases were produced.
Aromas of cherries, raspberry and a hint of violets and herbs. Flavours of red cherry and cranberry with toasted French oak and a hint of the forest floor. A well-balanced medium-bodied pinot with smooth tannins and a long finish. 92 Points. Excellent value for under $30.
Four Shadows Merlot 2020 ($26.99)
15.1% Alcohol / pH 3.49 / TA 6.23 / RS 3.66 267 cases were produced.
Aromas of black fruit. A bold full-bodied Merlot with flavours of black currants, blackberries, plum and dark chocolate with beautifully integrated oak leading to a hint of vanilla. Smooth ripe tannins with a lengthy finish. Enjoy with your favourite BBQ beef. 92 Points
Silver Medal winner at the 2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards.
Here is the link to purchase Four Shadows wines and information on the four previous releases – 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.