Two wines are shining in the tasting room this summer: Viognier and Pinot Noir. These two beauties are proving to be popular treats for travelers on the Similkameen wine trail.
The Eau Vivre Pinot Noir has a well-earned reputation thanks to two previous Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Wine in British Columbia. Based on that history, owner Dale Wright is pleased with how the 2014 vintage of Pinot Noir has turned out. “It’s better than last year,” Dale says. “We’ve got a little bit more acid on the finish with this one.” The result is a brighter texture but without sacrificing the elegance for which Eau Vivre has become famous. The complexity for this vintage has also been ramped up by using a wild yeast ferment on 50% of the juice.
The Viognier went through its own unique winemaking process. Most of the grapes were destemmed, pressed, and fermented in a stainless steel tank just like most white wines. However, a small portion of the fruit was started like a red wine – de-stemmed and fermented on the skins in a small tank with three punch-downs each day. After the majority of the sugar was fermented out, it was pressed and added to the stainless steel fermenting tank with the rest of the Viognier. The result is a white wine with incredibly smooth mouthfeel and texture.
Look for these wines along with their Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Riesling all summer long!
2014 Pinot Noir – $21.90
Aromas of smoked meat, cinnamon, crushed velvet, cherries, and flowers. The palate is rich and complex with cherries, smoke, eggplant, baking spices, smoked meat, and flowers. A very profound wine.
2014 Viognier – $23.00
Aromas of flowers, perfume, wet rocks, lemon tarts and fresh apricots will amuse the nose. The palate is soft and smooth with white peaches, apricots, and floral notes.
~ Luke Whittall