Before going to the winemaking information and tasting notes on these premium wines, here is the background information on the wines’ Okanagan Valley GIs and the winemaker’s comment on the 2022 Vintage.
Okanagan Falls and Naramata Bench GIs
The Okanagan Falls geographical indication (GI) is known for producing high-quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. The region has gained recognition for its cool climate, diverse terroirs, and unique microclimates well-suited for these grape varieties. Okanagan Falls’s cool climate and the influence of nearby bodies of water contribute to developing vibrant acidity and complex flavours in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.
Winemakers in the Naramata Bench often showcase the region’s unique terroir in their Chardonnay wines. The combination of warm days and cool nights helps retain acidity in the grapes, contributing to well-balanced and expressive Chardonnay wines.
2022 Harvest
“The 2022 vintage was a classic Okanagan growing season with a typical Spring budburst in early May and beautiful weather into June. We had beautiful flowering weather from late June into July, resulting in good yields across the valley. July and August were consistent with previous years although slightly cooler slowing the vine’s growth cycle. Leading up to harvest, the crop level was significantly higher compared to past vintages and needed more time to ripen.
The weather was perfect for ripening with warm days and cool nights providing a long hang time for our Pinot Noir blocks to develop flavours and physiological ripeness. The white varieties were harvested later than average but the fruit developed a great balance of sugars to acid and superb flavours”.
Chris Carson, Winemaker
Meyer Micro Cuvée Chardonnay 2022 ($60.97)
The estate-operated “Old Main Road Vineyard” is located on the famed Naramata Bench terrace. It was initially planted in 1996 with 100% Chardonnay vines and has a gentle, northerly aspect, with the soil comprised of alluvial deposits making up a silt loam overlaying a clay loam. The northerly aspects of the vineyard cause the vines to slowly ripen the fruit producing a greater spectrum of flavour while still retaining a good level of acidity and
minerality.
The fruit was fed directly into the press with an ensuing long gentle pressing employed at the winery. Only the finest, purest juice from the early stages of the pressing was used for this wine. A long, cool fermentation began in stainless steel vessels, where it remained for most of the ferment. The must was then transferred to 100% French oak (50% new). The wine was left “sur lees” for 11 months without battonage. A natural malolactic fermentation occurred in late spring. For the Micro Cuvée, only individual stand-out barrels were selected. One new French oak puncheon from the Allier Forest, two new French oak barrels from the Tronçais Forest and three one-year-old puncheons from Allier Forest were selected. The wine is unfined and coarsely filtered.
Alcohol: 13.5% / pH: 3.49 / TA: 6.4
The Chardonnay has ripe apple and citrus aromas, with a touch of vanilla. The full-bodied wine is satiny and smooth, not overpowered by the oak, with green apple, key lime, white peach and ginger flavours. The texture is mouth-filling with bright acidity that lifts the fruit. A lovely long finish with creamy vanilla and minerality. 93 Points
Meyer Old Block Pinot Noir 2022 ($47.91)
The “Old Block” Pinot Noir is one of the original estate vineyard plantings in 1994 and is part of the largest block of Pinot Noir at McLean Creek Road. It has a steep southerly aspect to capture the full range of the sun, is roughly one acre in size, and the clone is unknown.
The fruit was gently de-stemmed via gravity into small open-top fermenters and allowed to cold soak at the winery. After cold soaking, an indigenous fermentation began, with the temperature peaking at 30 0C. Gentle hand plunging of the must was done throughout. After a post-maceration period, the wine was transferred to 100% French oak barrels (40%new), remaining for 11 months. A natural malolactic fermentation occurred in late spring. The wine is unfined and unfiltered.
Alcohol: 13.5%/ pH: 3.66 / TA: 6.4
Vibrant aromas of ripe cherries and violets. Medium-bodied with black cherry, raspberry, forest floor and vanilla flavours. Silky tannins with a long, peppery finish. Impressive now and will improve with cellaring. 93 Points.
Meyer Micro Cuvée Pinot Noir 2022 ($60.97)
The Micro Cuvée Pinot Noir represents the most harmonious blend of selected barrels from the McLean Creek Road Vineyard. For the 2022 Micro Cuvée, the grapes predominantly came from the block of Pommard Clone 91, with Clone 115 contributing one quarter. The winemaker selected three new French oak 500-litre puncheons from the Tronçais Forest and three one-year-old French oak puncheons from the Tronçais and Allier Foreststo for the Micro Cuvée. The wine is unfined and unfiltered.
Alcohol: 13.5%/ pH: 3.65 / TA: 6.4
Vibrant cherry aromas with a hint of rainforest floor and delicate floral notes of violet and rose petals. Expressive juicy fruit flavours of ripe black cherry, raspberry, black currant and vanilla. Silky, harmonious and elegant, it is a beautifully constructed wine. The Micro Cuvée Pinot is richer, riper and more concentrated than the Old Block and made to age. The wine brought back fond memories of our visits to Sonoma to taste Russian River Pinot Noirs. 94 Points.
Here are the links to buy these premium wines – Meyer Family Vineyards website and for information on the previous vintage Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.