River Stone Estate Winery has released five wines from the 2023 vintage and a Cabernet Franc from the “Heatdome” 2021 vintage.
River Stone Estate Winery is renowned for producing high-quality, handcrafted wines that showcase the region’s unique terroir. Their wines, particularly red blends and single-varietal wines have garnered attention for their elegance, complexity, and expression of the Okanagan Valley’s distinct characteristics. The winery’s commitment to environmentally conscious and friendly practices also contributes to its reputation as a leader in the Canadian wine industry.
Before going to the tasting notes, here are winemaker Ted Kane’s notes on the 2023 Harvest.
Harvest 2023
“Winter 2022-23 saw several cold weather events where temperatures dipped below critical bud health values. There were many predictions of possible primary and secondary bud death. Bud break started on April 28th but was uneven, and many primary buds were dead. Spring was cool, but the weather was warming up by late April.
May was nice and warm, as was the remainder of the summer. The volume of fruit was down significantly in our vineyards, resulting in a slightly early harvest date. Harvest decisions were based on the winemaker’s personal preference, with particular attention to sugar/acid balance and flavour. The grapes were harvested September 13th and 14th. The vineyards are all farmed with environmentally conscious and exceptional care and attention to canopy and water management, ensuring the best possible quality of fruit. The vineyards are all on south-facing slopes where soils are composed of rock, sand, and gravel laid down during the last glacial recession.”
Ted Kane, Winemaker
River Stone Splash 2023 ($22.90)
The Splash blend is 37% Pinot Gris, 37% Gewürztraminer and 26% Viognier. Due to the lower 2023 yields, this blend has less Viognier than the previous vintage.
The grapes were hand-picked at peak ripeness, then destemmed and pressed after a short 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 13.1% / pH 3.25 / TA 5.78/ RS 6.09
The blend has a lovely tropical fruit aroma. Flavours of passionfruit, guava, honeydew melon and grapefruit. It has a lovely textured mouthfeel with acidity and sugar in perfect balance. Make sure not to overchill so the tropical notes shine through. 90 Points
River Stone Pinot Gris ($23.90)
The Pinot Gris was hand-picked September 11th, at peak ripeness, destemmed and pressed after a short period of skin contact time. The juice is then allowed to settle and racked in another stainless steel tank, which is inoculated with yeast, starting the temperature-controlled fermentation. A single commercial yeast strain was chosen for flavour and mouthfeel characteristics. Following fermentation, the wine spent several months on the finer lees before finning, blending, filtering and bottling.
Alcohol 13.5% / pH 3.28 / TA 5.8/ RS 7
The Pinot Gris has a gorgeous apricot hue. It has classic stone fruit aromas with floral notes. It is an off-dry medium-bodied wine with a delicious mouthfeel and honeydew melon, pear, and apricot flavours. This wine is balanced in acidity with a hint of minerality. 92 Points
River Stone Sauvignon Blanc 2023 ($23.90)
The grapes from the Boulder City Vineyard were hand-picked at peak ripeness for the desired style of wine and then destemmed. They were left to cold soak for several hours and 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 12.5% / pH 3.11 / TA 6.23/ RS 7
Another terrific Sauvignon Blanc from River Stone. Aromas of citrus and tropical fruits with floral notes. The flavours are Meyer lemon, Key lime, pineapple, honeydew melon, and passionfruit, with green apple on the finish. A beautifully textured mouthfeel and a long lingering finish. 91 Points
River Stone Sparkling White Merlot 2023 ($27.90)
Currently available to Set in Stone Club Members only.
The grapes for the Sparkling White Merlot were grown on the estate River Rock Vineyard. The vines were in their 20th leaf when the fruit was harvested on September 13th and 14th.
The grapes were hand-picked, destemmed, and then transferred to the press, where the juice was separated from the skins, minimizing colour transfer. Following clarification, the juice was inoculated with a specific yeast and underwent a temperature-controlled fermentation. The wine is left to rest for several months on the finer lees, helping to develop mouthfeel and texture, after which the wine is fined and filtered. Then, carbonation is added just before bottling.
13.5% Alcohol / pH 3.31 / RS 7
The sparkling wine is a beautiful salmon colour. It has aromas of wild strawberries and rose petals. The medium-bodied sparkler has flavours of strawberry, raspberry, ripe peach, pink grapefruit, and a hint of mint. The carbonation bubbles stimulate a lively, pleasing mouthfeel with a crisp, lasting finish. 89 Points.
River Stone Cabernet Franc Rosé ($24.90)
Currently available to Set in Stone Club Members only.
“The Cabernet Franc was hand-picked and destemmed. The Cab Franc Rosé was made in a traditional style, where we cold-soaked the grapes for 24 to 48 hours and then fully pressed them, separating the pulp from the juice. In doing so, we extract some rich colour and skin tannin, enhancing the wine mouth feel. Then, the clarified juice undergoes a cool, temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The wine is further aged for three months on the finer lees where complexity and mouth feel are developed. The 2023 vintage was blended with 10% Pinot Gris, fined, filtered and bottled. The result is a beautiful, vibrantly coloured rosé.”
Ted Kane
Alcohol 13.5% / pH 3.31 / RS 7
The Rosé has the lively aroma of ripe strawberries and rose petals that greet you on opening. A juicy fruit-forward palate of raspberry, strawberry and rhubarb pie makes for a food-friendly wine or a patio sipper. 91 Points
River Stone Cabernet Franc 2021($38.90)
If you are not familiar with the challenges of the 2021 “Heatdome” harvest, see – Winemaker’s thoughts on BC Harvest 2021.
The Cabernet Franc was hand-picked on October 19th and destemmed. Approximately 80% of the fruit was left whole, uncrushed. The grapes were cold soaked between 3-5 days and then fermented in a 2850-litre stainless steel tank. The cap was plunged 2-3 times/day to maximize skin-to-juice contact. Following fermentation, the wine was pressed and transferred to another tank to settle, then to barrels where malolactic fermentation was completed. The wine was aged in French oak barrels for approximately 14 months (33% new). Following aging, final filtering and bottling were completed.
Alcohol 13.8% / pH 3.78/ TA 6.6/ RS 2
Vibrant aromas of violet, raspberry, red currant, fresh herbs, and dark chocolate. The palate is round and soft, delivering flavours of black cherry, ripe raspberry, green pepper, toasted oak, and a hint of black crack pepper and earthiness. The tannins are soft, ripe, and well-integrated in this cellar-worthy wine. 92 Points.
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 Flavour Packed Wines and River Stone for Bountiful Bordeaux Blends
Also, if you are visiting the Okanagan, please consider staying at the River Stone Cottage.