I have a top-quality BC Chardonnay for you today made by Meyer Family Vineyards; their Old Main Road Vineyard Micro Cuvee Chardonnay 2022. The winery noted, “The 2022 vintage was a classic Okanagan growing season with a typical Spring budburst in early May and beautiful weather into June…The weather was perfect for ripening with warm days and cool nights providing a lengthy hang time for our Pinot Noir blocks to develop flavours and physiological ripeness…” The growing season and full ripening, plus quality winemaking, produced this classy wine. Let me tell you about this wine.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Meyer Family Vineyards Old Main Road Vineyard Micro Cuvee Chardonnay 2022 (BC $60.97)
From the winery, “…the fruit was fed directly into the press with an ensuing long gentle pressing employed. Only the finest, purest juice from the early stages of the pressing was used for this wine with the more astringent so called “hard press” kept separate. 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 we individually taste and select barrels that we feel stand out; 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. In keeping with our philosophy to maintain, as much as possible, a hands-off approach in the cellar to allow the true expression of terroir, this wine is unfined and coarsely filtered.”
Appearance: It is a clear bright deep mix of lemon and gold colours. Intense colours in the glass.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity inviting aromas of stone fruits, pears and peaches in particular, plus touches of toast, butterscotch and sweet spices. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry with a medium body and smooth mouthfeel, lightly round. You get some acidic prickle on your tongue and some buttery thickness. Medium-plus intensity of flavours of more stone fruits and less citrus, plus butterscotch and toast. A touch of pepperiness. No change to the flavours after decanting.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with ripe stone fruit flavours, along with butterscotch, toast, honey and light pepperiness. No changes to the finish after decanting.
As I didn’t notice any major changes to the aromas and flavours of this wine with decanting, you can open it and enjoy it over a few days. But I should also note that this wine should also live a long life, so buy a few bottles and enjoy them over the next 4-7 years.
Rating: 
This wine is intensely coloured lemon and gold. Inviting aromas of stone fruits, pears and peaches in particular, plus touches of toast, butterscotch and sweet spices. Dry with a medium body and smooth mouthfeel, lightly round. Medium-plus intensity of flavours of more stone fruits and less citrus, plus butterscotch and toast. Medium-plus length.
Where Can I Buy This Wine?
This wine is available to purchase at the Meyer Family Vineyards website. The North Shore Everything Wine store has this wine listed, but am not certain of the vintage.
