A Taste of Mission Hill with New Winemaker Taylor Whelan

One of the highlights of this spring season was an invitation that contained some interesting information and an opportunity not to be missed. The official announcement of the appointment of Taylor Whelan as the Head Winemaker at Mission Hill Family Estate. This was an afternoon I looked forward to with much anticipation

Celebrate with us as we introduce our new Winemaker, Taylor Whelan,
at an intimate media lunch. Enjoy an exquisite meal and experience
wines that express the distinctiveness of the Okanagan Valley.

This was an opportunity for me to be re-introduced to Winemaker Taylor Whelan whom I had met previously at the 2019 Pinot Noir Celebration held at the Kelowna campus of the University of British Columbia. At that time Whelan was the newly appointed Winemaker for CedarCreek. The event was titled Something Old, Something New (you can read my review of the session here) Below is an excerpt from the tasting:

CedarCreek 2012 Block 4 Pinot Noir. Two thirds from the main vineyard approximately 25 years old, mostly clone 115. Silky well drained soil with stones. Well maintained vigour, cool year with not too much rain. Thinning, wild ferment in stainless steel, 22 to 25 days on skins, 18 months in French oak.

Scents of sour milk, cat pee, candy, stone fruit, chalk with very light plum aromas. Perfumey and I found it very acidic, really light on flavour with lingering tannins and lemony flavour.

Awarded Decanter World Wine Award for their 2012 Platinum Block 2 Pinot Noir as Best Canadian Red Wine over 15£.

For me that was the start of a following of a promising Winemaker and Whelan has never disappointed. His winemaking skills were obviously garnering more than one persons attention as evidenced by his promotion to Head Winemaker at Mission Hill where he leads a team of fiver winemakers. A formidable task indeed but one I am confident Whelan will excel in.

I think it best to pass on Whelan’s own thoughts and perpectives on his new role at Mission Hill Family Estate…

In terms of general direction of Mission Hill, we will continue and expand the focus on sustainability in the business. We will evolve the winemaking to bring more fruit density to the wines through continual improvement in the vineyards as well as refining the extraction techniques on reds. I am also planning to spend some time on our barrel program to ensure it’s optimizing the quality of the wines.

From a varietal perspective, we are definitely focused on Bordeaux reds, with a support role for Sauvignon Blanc, Rose, and Chardonnay. I’d like to see a Legacy Sauvignon Blanc enter the portfolio and this will be a goal. But most focus will be on the reds and in particular growing Cabernet Franc within the red blends to make more elegant and refined versions.

This was such an exciting day for all the media who were fortunate to be invited to the lunch with Taylor Whelan, all of us women by the way. Whelan was forthcoming about his amibitions and goals for the future and based on his success at CedarCreek Estate Winery we have reason to be excited.

Not only did the afternoon provide an opportunity to learn more about Mission Hill and Whelan’s direction as the Head Winemaker but we were also treated to a delicious lunch with wine pairings. Here is the menu:

WELCOME WINE

2021 Perpetua

WAGYU BEF CARPACCIO

Carpaccio, Truffle Egg Yolks, Shallots, Radish, Black Truffle

SMOKED BEETS AND BURRATA

Cherry Smoked Beets, Burrata de Puglia, Toasted Hazelnuts

Mission Hill Quatrain 2019

FLAT IRON

Angus Flat Iron, French Fried Potatoes

WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Locally Sourced Wild Mushroom Blend, Parmigiana Reggiano

Mission Hill Oculus 2019

Some thoughts on the wines served, along with winery notes and my notes (in italics):

2021 Perpetua

Perpetua means long-lasting… continuous, which represents to our family the concept of generations – our roots and our future. Harvested from four individual blocks at our Border Vista Vineyard in Osoyoos. Historic French Burgundian Dijon clones were used for this Chardonnay, lending a unique flavour and an aromatic profile.

Bright fruit and incredibly fresh acidity highlight the 2021 vintage of Perpetua. Notes of stone fruit, citrus, and flint are highlighted by a fine lemon acidity and seductive textures. Harmonious integration of fruit, oak, and texture.

$65.00 available online

A delightful touch of vanilla on the nose, followed by just the slightest touch of oak and fresh melon. The palate follows the nose with the subtle oak notes with pleasant essences of stone fruits, a nice level of acidity and a spicy finish.

2019 Quatrain

QUATRAIN is four lines of verse that we interpret as four varietals giving balance and structure to this wine. We painstakingly managed each vine from distinct blocks to ensure perfect ripeness and opulent flavours from our
Estate vineyards in Osoyoos and Oliver. This unique cuvée was fermented in small, specially designed French oak fermenters. It was aged in French oak barrels for eighteen months.

$80.00 available online

Scents of dark, ripe cherries, cedar and blueberries on the nose. On the palate, at first, the cherries followed by herbaceous notes. The aromas are compelling. The wine is rich and full bodied with very light tannins.

2020 Oculus

THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF THE OKANAGAN VALLEY.

An OCULUS was first used by the Romans in buildings like the Pantheon – a window in a dome or wall to the outside. At Mission Hill, our oculus provides the only natural light into our underground barrel cellar, blasted out of volcanic rock that is otherwise hidden from the world. Our complex Oculus Bordeaux-style wine is the result of meticulous selection in the vineyard estate with grapes that have been specifically nurtured for this rare wine.

$185.00 available online

To start some light scent of citrus, blueberries, currants and plum. Outstandingly rich scents. Medium tannins with ripeness edging on delightfully excessive, very rich with excellent acidity.

Mission Hill Family Estate

Mission Hill Family Estate was founded with a vision for the future of wine. Our pioneering releases of Compendium and Quatrain set new standards for luxury red wines globally. With unwavering dedication to quality, we’ve highlighted the Okanagan Valley’s remarkable potential, leaving a lasting imprint on the world of wine and establishing our legacy as trailblazers of Canadian excellence.

THE EVOLUTION OF CANADIAN RED WINE
A Legacy of Pioneering Excellence

1800s –
Late-1900s

Canadian Wine Beginnings

In the 1800s, vineyards were first planted in Ontario and British Columbia, with early Canadian wine efforts centered on fruit and fortified wines due to climate challenges and limited grape varieties. The mid-1900s saw the introduction of vinifera grapes, paving the way for quality red wine production. In 1981, Anthony von Mandl founded Mission Hill Family Estate, focusing on premium grape varieties and terroir to produce red wines of exceptional calibre that could stand alongside the world’s best.

1998

Compendium—A Benchmark in Robust Reds

In 1998, we introduced Compendium, a Cabernet-forward Bordeaux-style blend designed to showcase the best of the Okanagan Valley’s terroir. With its focus on complexity and depth, Compendium received international acclaim for its elegance and structure.

“Compendium is Cabernet Sauvignon dominant, and that really defines the wine. It’s lighter in colour than both Oculus and Quatrain because of the Cabernet, with much more savory character typical of the variety.” – Taylor Whelan, Senior Winemaker

2004

Quatrain—A Legacy of Complexity

Crafted in 2004, Quatrain quickly became a cornerstone of our Legacy. This distinctive blend of four varietals showcases our expertise in producing a wine with rich complexity and balance. Its numerous awards and widespread acclaim underscore its innovative approach and significant impact on the evolution of Okanagan Valley winemaking.

“Quatrain is all about its Syrah component. This soft, delicious wine is typically the most accessible of the three Legacy reds, with Syrah being the dominant variety since around 2016. It brings rich colour, soft supple tannins, and great blue fruit notes.”- Taylor Whelan, Senior Winemaker

2019
QUATRAIN

92 pts, 2023 Wine Align National Awards

“The Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in Quatrain contribute structure, making it highly ageable. However, if you prefer to enjoy your wines on the younger side, Quatrain is the best option.” – Taylor Whelan, Senior Winemaker

ACQUIRE QUATRAIN

2019
COMPENDIUM

90 pts, 2023 Wine Align National Awards

“The Cabernet Sauvignon brings its tannins to the blend—of the three Legacy reds, Compendium has the most structure and an excellent ability to age. I advise decanting it if drinking young and pairing it with big, dense dishes.” – Taylor Whelan, Senior Winemaker

ACQUIRE COMPENDIUM

About CedarCreek Estate Winery
Based in the heart of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, CedarCreek Estate Winery is building on more than three decades of winemaking and defining a new chapter with bright, expressive North Okanagan valley Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and aromatic white wines. The family-owned winery produces certified organic wines from its 100 per cent estate-grown fruit. The year-round tasting room and Home Block restaurant, housed in contemporary farmhouse buildings crafted from fieldstone and 100-year-old reclaimed barn wood, offer visitors an exceptional experience in a serene natural setting. For more information, visit cedarcreek.bc.ca.

Wine notes and bottle shots courtesy of the winery. Thoughs and perspectives (in italics) courtesy of Taylor Whelan. My notes (in italics) I received a complimentary lunch with wine pairings to facilitate this feature. Each guest was gifted a bottle of 2019 Compendium with strict instructions from Whelan to cellar the wine for at least the next five years. As they say: patience is a virtue. With thanks to Serena PR, the team at Mark Anthony and Taylor Whelan for this wonderful experience.