Many wineries would rest on their tremendous successes, but for the Luckhurst family at Road 13 Vineyards, they keep raising the bar- a bonus for us lucky wine drinkers. This is a hands-on family operation. “It’s all about the dirt," says Joe Luckhurst, newly appointed Sales and Marketing Manager. "We put farming above everything, the best wines come from the best grapes." Many would agree, including the Governor General who recently awarded them the Medal of Excellence for their 2011 Jackpot Viognier Roussanne Marsanne. Mick Luckhurst runs the vineyard and Pam Luckhurst was doing a guided tour and tasting when I was there. "She's actually the boss!" says Joe, who gave me a tour of their sleek new Lounge that houses the wine club and private tasting bar for their higher end wines, a commercial kitchen for events and an exquisite library cellar. The Sparkling Cave is where the stellar Sparkling Chenin Blanc is made in traditional Champagne style and then stored in rack after rack on the wall. I felt like I'd been transported to France – well worth booking a private tasting to see.
"We are all involved on the front lines here," says Joe. It's authentic. You'll find my dad in the field every day, my mom pouring wine and running the operations and I'm here in the Tasting room." One of the recent trends at Road 13, driven by Winemaker J.M. Bouchard, is their move to small case lot collections. This fall sees the release of many new wines, including a Syrah/Malbec and a Syrah/Mouvedre, bringing their total to 26 wines offered. You can taste many of these wines at the Summer Dinner Series, September 13 and October 13, catered by Joy Road Catering. My personal fave event is "Bubbles for Breakfast' starring their Sparkling Chenin served in the Lounge twice a month through October.
2011 Jackpot Viognier Roussanne Marsanne $29.00
Lt. Governor Award Winner. A Southern Rhone style blend from three vineyards with beautiful rich color, aromas of peach, apricot and honey, richly layered with flavours of apricot, orange rind and Cointreau with luscious mouth feel.
2009 Fifth Element $49.99
A blend of 68% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 22% Syrah. This bold beauty has an intriguing nose with aromas of intense black fruit, tobacco and black sage. Beautifully integrated, the intensity of the Syrah shows on the finish with classic notes of green and red braised peppercorns. A wine that can be cellared to 2017.
– Terry Meyer-Stone