Meyer Family Vineyards (MFV) in Okanagan Falls has a sister winery, Mayhem Wines, which pairs JAK Meyer from MFV with his sister, Terry Meyer Stone, plus their spouses. The wineries have a different vibe with MFV, being more serious, concentrating on Burgundian style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, while Mayhem is on the more fun side, making aromatic white wines and a few big red wines. I opened a bottle of Rosé 2022 from each of these wineries, with the MFV wine being made from Pinot Noir and the Mayhem wine made from Merlot. How much difference can there be? Read on.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Meyer Family Vineyards Rosé 2022 (BC $20.96)
From the winery, “The Pinot Noir was harvested from three vineyard sites in Okanagan Falls, Kaleden and Naramata. Made in a Saignée method (80%), with 12 hours of skin contact. The wine was aged in older French oak barrels (50%) and stainless steel vats (50%) where it went through partial indigenous fermentation and remained on the lees for four months before being bottled…”
Appearance: Medium-plus intensity, bright rhubarb colour.
Nose: Medium intensity deeper aromas of cherries and rhubarb, with touches of candied cherries, toast, floral, and mint. Same aromas after decanting, but just a little lighter in intensity.
Palate: This wine is dry, fuller-bodied, and round with a thick mouthfeel. Medium-intensity acidic prickle on the palate. Red fruit, red cherries, raspberries and rhubarb flavours. With some air, you also get mint, lemon and Bergamont. Some pepperiness and bitterness on the mid-palate to the finish. Light tannins. About the same flavours, but the mint/lemon/Bergamont components are a bit lighter.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with mouthwatering acidity and lightly drying tannins. Red cherries, some pepperiness and bitterness on the finish. Add Bergamont with air. Same length and flavours, but the mint/lemon/Bergamont components are a bit lighter.
Rating: 
Mayhem Wines Rosé 2022 (BC $20.97)
From the winery, “The fruit was crushed and destemmed directly into the press and then gently pressed taking only the best juice. It was then racked of its heavy lees and fermented slowly over an 11-week period. To preserve the delicate aromatics, the maximum fermentation temperatures only reached 10C. This long, cool, primary fermentation allows the freshness and clean crisp flavours to shine through. The final blend consists of 92% stainless steel tank and 8% neutral barrique. The wine aged on lees for 6 months.”
Appearance: A lighter, but bright rosy salmon colour. Tiny bubbles aggregate at the bottom of the glass.
Nose: Light aromas of red fruit, with hints of vanilla, candied red fruit and McIntosh apple. Same aromas after decanting.
Palate: Slightly off-dry, round, medium-plus body, but a lighter mouthfeel. It has a medium-intensity acidic prickle. Red fruit and red cherry flavours with a touch of red apple. Some steeliness and bitterness toward the finish. Light tannins. The wine has a little bigger mouthfeel after decanting and you can add candied cherry flavour on the palate.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing dry. Red cherries, candied red cherries, some red apples and bitterness. Light tannins. No change to the finish after decanting.
Rating:
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
These roses are available through their respective winery websites:
- Meyer Family Vineyards Rosé 2022
- Mayhem Wines Rosé 2022
The Langley Everything Wine store currently carries the Mayhem Wines Rosé 2022 while the Abbotsford Everything Wine has this rosé in cans. Hopefully, their other stores will get these wines in stock for the summer.