While River Stone’s Good Neighbours wines have captured much of the spotlight over the past two vintages, the winery’s 2022 Small Lot Merlot serves as a reminder of the quality that has long defined its estate-grown red wines.
Produced from fruit grown at River Stone’s River Rock Vineyard in Oliver, this limited-production release showcases both the character of the South Okanagan and the rewards of thoughtful winemaking experimentation.
The 2022 growing season began with budbreak on April 27 and unfolded under cooler conditions than the previous year. Delayed flowering, moderate summer temperatures and an extended ripening period allowed the fruit to develop exceptional flavour concentration while maintaining vibrant natural acidity. Across the South Okanagan, the vintage produced wines noted for their balance, structure and age-worthiness. Hand-harvested on October 18 and 19, the grapes benefited from meticulous vineyard management, resulting in ripe fruit and beautifully balanced phenolics.
Given the abundance of the 2022 vintage, River Stone took the opportunity to experiment with a small portion of its Merlot production. The grapes were destemmed and fermented using the saignée method, where a portion of juice is removed from the fermenting must to intensify colour, flavour and structure. Following a clean 17-day fermentation, the wine spent 24 months aging in French oak barrels, divided equally among new, second-fill, and neutral oak.
The result is a wine with impressive depth and concentration while retaining the balance and elegance that have become hallmarks of River Stone’s red wine program.
Rich, expressive aromas of dark plum, blackberry compote and black cherry leap from the glass, intertwined with layers of cocoa, roasted coffee, vanilla and sweet baking spice from the wine’s extended French oak maturation. The palate is remarkably concentrated and deeply flavoured, delivering wave after wave of blackberry, black currant, blueberry and dark plum wrapped around a core of elegant structure and refined tannins. Despite its impressive intensity, the wine remains beautifully balanced, with a silky, polished mouthfeel that carries through to a long, lingering finish marked by notes of mocha, spice and subtle oak complexity. A powerful yet poised Merlot that showcases both richness and finesse. 93 Points
Food Pairing
This Merlot is a natural partner for grilled rack of lamb, roast beef, braised short ribs and aged cheeses. The wine’s rich, dark-fruit profile and notes of cocoa and coffee also make it an excellent companion to mushroom dishes and dark chocolate desserts.
Final Thoughts
With only 100 cases produced, the 2022 Small Lot Merlot is one of River Stone’s most limited releases and one of its most compelling. The saignée technique has added impressive depth, concentration and complexity while preserving the balance and elegance that define the winery’s best wines. Combined with the exceptional quality of the 2022 vintage, this results in a wine that showcases both the potential of South Okanagan Merlot and the skill of the River Stone team.
🍷 Purchase directly from the winery:
River Stone Estate Winery Online Store
Wine: River Stone Small Lot Merlot 2022
Appellation: Okanagan Valley BC VQA
Vineyard: River Rock Vineyard, Oliver
Alcohol: 14.1%
Production: 100 Cases
Price: $36.90
Score: 93 Points