Collusion Series 2024 and Bordeaux Style Whites
2024 will be remembered as one of the most challenging—and most creatively liberating—vintages in recent Okanagan history. With extreme cold events crippling yields, a one-time exception allowed BC wineries to source grapes from outside the province. For Black Market Wine Co., this opened the door to work with exceptional Washington State vineyards and grape varieties rarely seen in BC bottlings.
The Collusion Series showcases expressive small-lot wines made in BC from premium fruit across Washington’s top AVAs, highlighting purity, tension, and superb winemaking focus.
Collusion Series – Cinsault Rosé 2024
Vintage Notes
The Cinsault for this rosé comes from Coyote Canyon Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, a certified sustainable site. Machine harvesting allowed the grapes to arrive with cracked skins—ideal for initiating immediate skin contact. After destemming and chilling, the grapes spent roughly 6 hours on skins before pressing.
Tech Specs
- Vintage: 2024
- Region: Southeast Washington State
- Appellation: Horse Heaven Hills
- Vineyard: Coyote Canyon Vineyard
- 12.4% alc / pH 3.3 / TA 7.5 g/L / RS 1.0 g/L
- Production: 225 cases
Tasting Notes
Inspired by the elegance and delicate hue of a Provençal rosé, this is a wine that draws you in visually before delivering impressive depth and finesse in the glass. Bright, crisp, and dry, it opens with lifted aromas of mandarin orange, pomegranate, rhubarb, and orange blossom, followed by subtle notes of fresh berries and peach. On the palate, vibrant flavours of melon, rhubarb, and juicy pink grapefruit unfold, with a gentle hint of sweetness on entry before lively acidity takes over, carrying the wine through a long, refreshing citrus-laced finish. There’s a lovely texture throughout that adds balance and polish without sacrificing freshness. 92 Points
Food Pairing
Fresh and versatile, this rosé pairs beautifully with market salads, triple-cream brie with fresh baguettes, grilled Merguez sausage, chicken souvlaki, and a range of Mediterranean dishes.
2024 Collusion Series Sémillon
Sémillon has a long history at Black Market Wine Co. – it was the grape that kickstarted the entire Unsanctioned Series back in 2016. That year, one standout barrel was too good to blend away, setting a new creative direction for the winery. After the vineyard contract ended in 2019, Semillon disappeared from the lineup, making its return in 2024 a major moment for winemaker Rob Hammersley.
Vineyard Notes
The Sémillon is sourced from Arete Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA, a site that has been farmed organically for more than 40 years (with official certification coming soon). Located near Othello and nestled between the Wahluke Slope and Royal Slope AVAs, this warm region produces concentrated fruit, but the Sémillon block sits on a gentle north-facing slope that helps preserve freshness and acidity.
The grapes were machine-harvested on October 1, 2024, pressed in Washington State, cold-settled, then transported to Black Market’s Kaleden winery for fermentation.
Winemaking
The Sémillon was fermented and aged in a combination of 3rd-fill and neutral French oak barrels, with each barrel inoculated with a different yeast strain to build aromatic and textural complexity. The wine spent nine months in barrel, with batonnage (lees stirring) twice a month to enhance creaminess and mid-palate weight.
Neutral oak was chosen deliberately: it allows gentle micro-oxygenation to soften the mouthfeel and improve texture, without overlaying the wine’s pure fruit and minerality with obvious oak flavours. The result is a Sémillon that feels as good as it smells and tastes.
Tech Specs: 12.6% alc / pH 3.4 / TA 6.1 g/L / RS 0.2 g/L
- Vintage: 2024
- Region: Southeast Washington State
- Appellation: Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
- Vineyards: Arete Vineyard
- 12.6% alc / pH 3.4 / TA 6.1 g/L / RS 0.2 g/L
- Production: 125 cases
Tasting Notes
A dry, medium-bodied white with a beautifully luscious texture that draws you in immediately. Inviting aromas of ripe apple, pear, citrus, and honey set the stage for vibrant flavours of Meyer lemon curd, Anjou pear, and tropical fruit, all wrapped in a touch of honeycomb and a fine mineral backbone. The finish is long, confident, and highly satisfying. 91 Points
Collusion Series – Sémillon • Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Winemaking Notes
Crafted from 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc, sourced from Arete Vineyard (Columbia Valley) and Airfield Ranch Vineyard (Yakima Valley). Fermented in 3rd-fill and neutral French oak and aged for 9 months.
Tech Specs
- Vintage: 2024
- Region: Southeast Washington State
- Appellation: Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
- Vineyards: Arete Vineyard, Airfield Ranch Vineyard
- 12.9% alc / pH 3.5 / TA 6.0 g/L / RS 0.4 g/L
- Production: 95 cases
Tasting Notes
The vibrant dry white blend has aromas of grapefruit, citrus and butterscotch. The palate shows ripe grapefruit, Meyer lemon, and lemongrass, layered over a creamy, luxurious body, supported by balanced acidity. A very elegant white wine. Great to drink on its own or paired with seafood. 92 Points
Collusion Series – Chenin Blanc 2024
Winemaking Notes
Sourced from 50-year-old certified-organic vines at Arete Vineyard in the Columbia Valley. Pressed in Washington, with juice transported to Kaleden for spontaneous fermentation. Aged 9 months on lees in both French oak and stainless steel.
Tech Specs
- Vintage: 2024
- Region: Southeast Washington State
- Appellation: Columbia Valley
- Vineyard: Arete Vineyard
- 12.5% alc / pH 3.4 / TA 7.4 g/L / RS 2.1 g/L
- Production: 200 cases
Tasting Notes
Breathtaking and beautifully balanced, this crisp, dry, and expressive Chenin Blanc opens with vibrant aromas of peach and lime zest, lifted floral and subtle spice notes, and underlying citrus tones. The palate is energetic yet textured, delivering flavours of juicy apricot, apple, pear, chamomile, and honeycomb, supported by refreshing acidity and a soft mineral edge. The finish is long and precise, with excellent age potential. 91 Points
Food Pairing
Its brightness and finesse make it an ideal pairing for fresh sashimi with pickled ginger or a coconut-pineapple poké.
Conclusion
To read about Black Market’s “crafted in BC” Red wines, see Black Market Wine Co. Releases a Standout GSM.
Here is the link to purchase these unique wines – Black Market Wine Co.