I first tasted River Stone wines at Garigiste North in Kelowna in 2015. It is wonderful to see how the wines have progressed and the recognition the winery has received eight years later.
Here are the tasting notes for the latest River Stone Estate Winery releases.
The Wines
River Stone Sauvignon Blanc 2022 ($23.90)
The grapes for the Sauvignon Blanc came from the Boulder City Vineyard and a neighbouring vineyard located just North of Oliver on the valley’s west side.
The grapes were hand-picked at peak ripeness for the style of wine desired, then destemmed. Grapes were left to cold soak for several hours and then pressed into tanks. The juice was then allowed to settle before transferring to another stainless steel tank, where it was inoculated with yeast starting the temperature-controlled fermentation. The wines were racked several more times over the next few months before finning, filtering, and bottling.
Alcohol 12.3% / pH 3.12 / TA 7.57/ RS 8.2
This is a wonderful Sauvignon Blanc, one of the best I have tasted this year! Aromas of citrus and tropical fruits with floral jasmine notes. Flavours of lemon/lime, pineapple, honeydew melon and passionfruit with green apple on the finish. A beautifully textured mouthfeel. 92 Points
Gold Medal Winner, WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada 2023
River Stone Splash 2022 ($22.90)
This is a blend of 44% Viognier, 35% Pinot Gris and 21% Gewürztraminer.
The grapes were hand-picked at peak ripeness, then destemmed and pressed after a short period of skin contact time. The juice was then allowed to settle before transferring to another stainless steel tank, where it was inoculated with yeast starting the temperature-controlled fermentation. Each wine is fermented individually with select yeast strains. Following fermentation, the wines were racked off the lees several times over the next few months before blending, fining, filtering and bottling.
Alcohol 13.6% / pH 3.26 / TA 6.75/ RS 8.2
A vibrant aromatic white with tropical fruit aromas. Favours of passionfruit, guava, honeydew melon and grapefruit. A lovely textured mouthfeel with acidity and sugar in perfect balance. Make sure not to overchill so the tropical notes shine through. 91 Points
River Stone Malbec Rosé 2022 ($24.90)
The grapes for the Malbec Rosé were sourced from growers in the South Okanagan, including River Rock Vineyard. The Malbec was hand-picked and destemmed.
The Rosé is made in a traditional style where the grapes are cold-soaked for between 24 and 48 hours and then fully pressed, separating the pulp from the juice. This enhances the extraction, giving a rich, dark Malbec colour and some of the skin tannin, which enhances the wine mouthfeel. Then, the clarified juice undergoes cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks.
The wine is further aged for 3 months on the finer lees, where complexity and mouthfeel are developed. The 2022 vintage was then blended with 10% Pinot Gris and 5% white Merlot, back sweetened slightly, fined, filtered and bottled.
Alcohol 12.1% / pH 3.29 / TA 6.38/ RS 6.46
One of the few Rosé made from Malbec in the Okanagan, this wine has a gorgeous pink and orange colour. Aromas of strawberry, cherry and rose petals. Flavours of strawberry, pomegranate, and Key lime with savoury notes. A vibrant mouthfeel and long finish. 92 Points
Bronze Medal Winner, WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada 2023.
River Stone Malbec 2021($38.90)
The grapes for this wine were sourced from the estate River Rock Vineyard, and from Red Brick Vineyard in Osoyoos. 2021 is the vintage from the infamous heat dome.
All grapes were hand-picked, sorted and gently destemmed. Approximately 80% of the fruit was left whole berry, uncrushed. The grapes were cold soaked for between 3-5 days and then fermented in both stainless steel tanks (2200 and 2850 litre) and small fermentation totes to maximize skin-to-juice contact. The wine was transferred, following pressing, to tanks to settle then transferred to barrels where malolactic fermentation was completed. The wine was aged in French oak barrels (33% new) for approximately 14 months.
Alcohol 14% / pH 3.72 / TA 5.78/ RS 1.78
The juicy flavourful Malbec is a medium-bodied wine with a deep purple colour. Aromas of violets and black fruit. Flavours of blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, with a hint of cloves, tobacco, coffee, and toasted oak. 91 Points.
Silver Medal Winner, All Canadian Wine Championship 2023
River Stone Corner Stone 2019 ($46.90)
The River Rock vineyard was planted with this wine in mind. Corner Stone, is the winery’s signature wine and is a Bordeaux style blend which includes Merlot (33%), Cabernet Franc (33%), Cabernet Sauvignon (16%), Malbec (12%), Petit Verdot (6%).
Each varietal contained in the blend was handpicked. The grapes were sorted prior to destemming. Approximately 80% of the fruit was left whole berry, uncrushed. The grapes were cold soaked for between 3-5 days and then fermented in both stainless steel tanks (2200,2850 and 5000 litres) and small fermentation totes to maximize skin-to-juice contact. The Cabernet Sauvignon was co-fermented with some of the Merlot.
Upon completion of fermentation the wine was transferred to the press and then to tanks to settle before being transferred to barrels where malolactic fermentation was completed. The wine was aged in French oak barrels (33% new) for approximately 12 months. At this time select barrels were chosen for the blend. After blending the wine was returned to barrels and further aged for another 6 months, for a total of 18 months prior to final filtration and bottling.
Alcohol 14% / pH 3.85 / TA 5.9/ RS 2.6
Once decanted the wine and opens with beautiful aromas of black cherry and blackberry. This is a rich medium to full-bodied red with fruity flavours of black currant, dark chocolate, coffee, tobacco and a hint of smoke and savoury spices. The smooth ripe tannins are well rounded and the finish is long. 94 points
Gold Medal Winner, National Wine Awards of Canada 2022. Gold Medal Winner, All Canadian Wine Championship 2023
River Stone Stones Throw 2019 ($36.90)
Stones Throw is a premium red blend of Merlot (70%), Cabernet Sauvignon (14%), Malbec (11%), and Petit Verdot (5%). All varietals are grown in the estate vineyard within a Stones Throw of each other.
Each varietal contained in the blend was hand-picked, with the grapes hand-sorted prior to destemming. Approximately 80% of the fruit was left whole, uncrushed. The grapes were cold soaked for between 3-5 days and then fermented in both stainless steel tanks (2200 and 2850 and 5000 litre) and small fermentation totes to maximize skin-to-juice contact. The Cabernet Sauvignon and some of the Merlot were cofermented ( approx. 50/50 blend) The wine was transferred, following pressing, to tanks to settle then transferred to barrels where malolactic fermentation was completed. The wine was aged in French oak barrels (33% new) for approximately 14 months. Following aging, blending trials were done, and final filtering, and bottling resulted in the 2019 Stones Throw blend.
Alcohol 14% / pH 3.8 / TA 5.78/ RS 2.32
The wine opens with vibrant aromas of cassis and dark cherry and a hint of cigar. Flavours of blackberry, black cherry, blueberry and black currant with savoury notes. The tannins are not as velvet smooth as Cornerstone but still a terrific Bordeaux-style red blend. 92 Points.
Gold Medal Winner, WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada 2023
Here is the link to buy these elegant BC wines – River Stone Estate Winery
For information on previous River Stone vintages, see – River Stone for Bountiful Bordeaux Blends