Meyer Family Vineyards dates back to 2006 when JAK Meyer and Janice Stevens-Meyer started with a vineyard in Naramata. In 2010, they opened their Okanagan Falls tasting room. The keys to their success are great vineyard sites, a dedicated and passionate team, and a focus on two grape varieties – chardonnay and pinot noir.
Anarchist Mountain Dekleva Chardonnay 2022
$32.26
Made from the Dekleva Clone. Aged for 11 months in French Oak barrels (33% new) for 322 cases. Lemon yellow with medium-minus intensity. Lemon cream, wild honey, apple, mandarin, nectarine, fig, vanilla and light toast on the nose. Very good balance. The flavours echo the nose followed by a medium-long finish. This is an elegant wine.
91 points
Stevens Block Chardonnay 2022
$27.04
Aged for 10 months in seasoned French oak barrels. 100% malolactic fermentation. Pale lemon yellow with medium-light intensity. The nose is inviting with interlaced aromas of white grapefruit, lime, peach, straw, toast, minerality and undertones of tropical fruit. Good balance. Nicely integrated oak and fruit on the palate with lemon, crisp apple, and melon standing out. A medium-long finish. This is a crisp, refreshing, versatile food wine.
91 points
Old Main Road Chardonnay 2022
$32.26
Aged 11 months in French Oak barrels (25% new). Full malolactic fermentation. Lemon yellow with medium-minus intensity. The nose displays aromas of toast, apple, lemon, honeydew melon, mandarin, delicate spice, and vanilla. Well balanced with a creamy texture. Mouth-watering fruit on the palate and just the right interplay of oak and fruit followed by a medium-long finish. Delightful.
92+ points
McLean Creek Road Chardonnay 2022
$32.26
“The Chardonnay is planted in two separate blocks, one on the far east side of the south-facing slope and the other on the west end of the slope. The variation of east and west leads to differences in flavour development and in turn more complexity in the finished wine. Although not certified organic, organic/sustainable farming principles are practiced.”
Aged for 11 months in 25% new French Oak barrels. 100% malolactic fermentation. Lemon yellow with medium-minus intensity. The nose is layered and well-integrated showing aromas of toast, lemon, melon, honeysuckle, baked bread, and vanilla. Well balanced. The palate is luscious with flavours mirroring the nose followed by a medium-long finish with pleasing flavours lingering. A consistent favourite.
94 points
These wines have subtle nuances allowing their personalities to shine through. It is like 2 (4) sides of the same coin. When you focus on doing one thing right, you’re bound to excel.
As I have said before:
“My suggestion, to fully appreciate the nuances between these single vineyard wines, is to invite some Chardonnay-loving friends over and taste them side-by-side. Now wouldn’t that be a wonderful evening!”
And now for the Pinots.
“B” Field Blend Pinot Noir 2022
$31.39
Three clones were used to make this wine – 667, 777, and 115 old-block. It spent 11 months in neutral French oak. Full ML fermentation. 450 cases produced. Garnet red with medium-plus intensity. Lovely intertwined aromas of red cherries and strawberries, black tea, cooked beets, earthy, and a whiff of black pepper, lavender and coconut. Very good balance. The palate is fruit-forward with flavours of – earth, cherries, forest floor, and raspberries. A medium-plus finish with flavours lingering. This wine seems lighter than the 13.5% ABV would suggest. A tasty fun wine that is enjoyable on its own or as a luncheon wine. We enjoyed it with homemade pizza.
93 points
McLean Creek Pinot Noir 2022
$37.48
Aged in French oak barrels (25% new) for 11 months. Garnet red with medium-deep intensity. The nose is complex and integrated with all you’d expect from a top-drawer pinot noir – red fruit, forest floor, raspberries, black tea, cinnamon, plum and more. Well balanced with silky smooth tannins and a velvety texture. The flavours reflect the nose followed by a medium-long finish. This is a very versatile food wine. A perennial favourite.
94 points.
You just gotta love it when a grower knows what grows best on their land and then specializes in those varieties. For Meyer, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are perfectly suited to their land and that consistently shines through in their wines year after year.
While they offer several single-vineyard expressions of each grape, I have long been a fan of their McLean Creek wines, both their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In my mind, they present the ideal examples of what BC can do with these two classic Burgundian grapes. A great balance of oak and fruit that should appeal both to those who love Burgundies and better-quality California wines. However, these are not Burgundian and not Californian, they lie in that sweet spot that straddles the two, it is BC at its best.
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
