Mayhem Wines, located in Okanagan Falls, is a collaboration between two noted wine families, Terry Meyer Stone (Anarchist Mountain Vineyards) and brother JAK Meyer (Meyer Family Vineyards). Spouses Andrew Stone and Janice Stevens are also part of the team. I have been very impressed with the quality of Mayhem. They just get better and better and these wines are their best yet. Kudos on the low alcohol levels!
2020 Riesling
Mayhem
Okanagan Falls
$20.87
From the winery. “The 2020 Riesling was handpicked from Garagan Vineyard in Naramata and Capagnero Vineyard in Summerland in mid-October over several days. The wine was aged for six months in a combination of stainless steel, neutral French oak 225 L and neutral French oak 500 L puncheons. All parcels were aged on their lees for 6 months prior to blending. And bottling in April 2021.”
Straw coloured with medium-minus intensity. Aromas of limes, minerality, green apples, stone fruit, white flowers, and honey. Well balanced with bracing acidity. Mouth-watering fruit on the palate followed by a medium-long finish. Great value and well suited for aging up to 10+ years. This is a classic dry riesling that cries out for oysters, seafood, spicy Asian dishes, or even a cheesy pizza.
2020 Sauvignon Blanc
Mayhem
Okanagan Falls
$20.87
“This wine was hand-harvested from a single vineyard in Naramata. It was completely crushed and destemmed and loaded straight into the press. Making up the final blend is 10% new 225L barriques, 14% neutral puncheons and 76% stainless steel. All elements resting on lees for 6 months . . .”
Straw coloured with medium-light intensity. The nose opens with all sorts of citrus, grass, floral, apricots, cantaloupe, minerality, steel, honeydew, undertones of green pepper, gooseberry, and lavender. Well balanced. A fruit bomb on the palate followed by a medium-plus finish. This classy wine shouts sauvignon blanc. A steal for the price and a perfect accompaniment to grilled chicken, salmon, halibut, or scallops and prawns.
2019 Cabernet Merlot
Mayhem
Okanagan Falls
$21.74
“After a challenging growing season, this fruit was handpicked off our home vineyard, Anarchist Mountain on the Southside of Osoyoos on October 26th and 27th and Tebutt Vineyard in Naramata on October 31st. This blend is 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc. Merlot was received and held in cold storage overnight before being whole-berry destemmed. Fermentation took place in stainless steel after a 4-day cold soak which lasted a maximum of 14 days before the fruit was pressed off. The Cabernet Franc was fermented with whole berries in stainless steel for 12 days. The wine was aged 40% in new French oak & 60% in seasoned French oak for 11 months. Bottling occurred in late August 2020. This wine is unfined and unfiltered. 40% New French Oak Barriques 60% Neutral French Oak Barriques.”
Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. The nose is rich and layered with aromas of plum, cherry, red and blackberries, mint, spice, beetroot, and a hint of leather. Well balanced with ripe, firm (not grippy) tannins. Big flavours on the palate, that echo the nose followed by a medium-long finish with flavours lingering. Very impressive and certainly cellar-worthy. If opening soon, be sure to allow lots of time to decant. This wine is a bargain.
2019 Gewürztraminer (Fortified)
Mayhem
Okanagan Falls
$31.30
“After a challenging growing season, this Gewürztraminer was handpicked off Cellarsbend Vineyard in Naramata on October 10th at 28 Brix. The grapes were then gently whole bunch pressed before being transferred into a stainless-steel vessel where the juice was kept at a cool 2 degrees Celsius to allow for a 3-day cold soak. The juice was then fermented to 24 Brix, allowing for the release of the initial aromatic precursors. The wine was then fortified with a grape-derived spirit that was 93% alcohol to stop the fermentation and transferred to neutral oak vessels, where it aged for 23 months prior to bottling, 6 months of which it was aged outdoors in the Okanagan summer heat to help balance the overall profile of the wine. 100% Neutral French Oak Barriques”
What a unique wine! This is the only fortified (18%) Gewürztraminer I have ever heard of and it is delicious. Lemon yellow in colour with medium-minus intensity. It has a lovely well-integrated nose that is hard to pull apart at first but does show aromas of lavender, delicate perfume, honeydew, peaches, and sweet pink grapefruit. Well balanced and unctuous on the palate with big flavours of grapefruit, honey, mango, and passion fruit. Fruit lingers on the medium-long finish. Forget dessert, pour me a glass of this.
Bravo Mayhem!
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
Winery notes (in italics) Feature image courtesy of the winery.
