“This series features both the BC Wine new vintages and a few favourites”
Definitely some favourites here! What a terrific line-up from Road 13 Vineyards, there is something for everybody on this list. There is a reason Road 13 was the #1 winery in 2018 (WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada). A visit here is a great experience and a chance to taste the wines from their terroir. “We believe that great wines start with good dirt.”
Tasting is believing and here are their selections to #wineonline
2018 Marsanne
TASTING NOTES
Fresh tropical fruit salad, guava, and passionfruit on the nose with light notes of pastry and a hint of ripe pineapple. This tropical aromatics are followed by fresh guava, pineapple, and passionfruit on the palate. This medium-bodied white wine is loaded with juicy tropical fruit on the mid-palate, balanced acidity, and light flavours of creamy honey appear on the finish.
PERFECT PAIRINGS // Pork loin roast with roasted vegetables. Roast chicken with a tarragon cream sauce. Corn chowder. Moroccan tagine.
FIELD REPORT
The 2018 growing season got off to a great start but in mid-July smoke from fires in the Pacific Northwest blocked much of the sunlight which slowed down ripening dramatically. This resulted in wines with lower alcohol levels, ripe fruit flavours and balanced acidity.
Viognier
TASTING NOTES
Complex in all the right ways! White peach, honeysuckle blossom, and freshly-picked apricot on the nose and flavours of peach and nectarine on the palate. This Viognier is all kinds of bright and just the right amount of balance. Pairs well with spicy food and spicy conversation.
FIELD REPORT
The 2018 vintage started with a very warm spring & summer which provided earlier season ripening. The Fall was cooler than usual, allowing ripe fruit character to be harnessed from each grape variety while maintaining balanced acidity in the final wine.
Jackpot Chardonnay
TASTING NOTES
This Chardonnay is gold in colour and starts off with aromas of lemon zest and lime oil, nashi pear, and golden delicious apples with a kiss of crème caramel. On the palate, these flavours become even more intense, culminating in a symphony of gold and yellow fruit. The texture of the wine is rich, full, and refined, but the roundness is balanced by a piercing, vibrant acidity that offers a long, refreshing finish.
FIELD REPORT
The fruit for this wine is from the Road 13 Castle Vineyard on the Golden Mile Bench. This site is fantastic for growing Chardonnay and uses the best vineyard practices, which makes the Winemaker’s job in the cellar much easier. Low yield, some old vines, and excellent dirt made this wine, but responsible irrigation practices and canopy management didn’t hurt either. The end result of good farming is grapes bursting with flavour.
Jackpot Syrah
TASTING NOTES
Dense black cherry, plum, black and black pepper will lure you in but it’s those leather and slight smokey oak notes on the nose that will have you coming back for more. This Syrah is very full-bodied, balanced with all kinds of silky smooth tannins (an iron fist in a silk glove). Brimming with plum, black cherry, and cigar tobacco, this beautifully crafted wine lives at the intersection of balance, power, and elegance.
FIELD REPORT
The 2018 growing season got off to a great start but in mid-July smoke from fires in the Pacific Northwest blocked much of the sunlight which slowed down ripening dramatically. This resulted in wines with lower alcohol levels, ripe fruit flavours, and balanced acidity. All’s well that end well.
2011 Sparkling Chenin Blanc
TASTING NOTES
This sparkling wine is full of flavour, balance and complexity. Biscuity notes and ripe red delicious apple and pear on the nose are followed by a lively, persistent bubble and flavours of ripe apple, white peach, and KeyLime pie. Pairs well with popcorn, parties and promotions.
FIELD REPORT
2011 was a challenging growing year because of the late start to the season. The cool nature of the vintage overall ensured ripening was slower than usual. The good news?! This is the perfect combination of conditions when it comes to making sparkling wine.
OUR WINES
We present Road 13’s wines in three distinct tiers: a white blend, a red blend, and a rose called “Honest John”, a core series of red and white wines under the Road 13 name, and a premium tier of small lot varietals and blends under the Jackpot designation. Our motto, “It’s All About the Dirt,” reflects our belief that great wines start in the vineyard.
Our blended red, white, and rose wines are a tribute to Honest John Oliver, the BC Premier from 1918–1927. Honest John epitomized British Columbians’pioneering values: hard work, self-reliance, dependability and neighbourliness. His greatest achievement was the construction of the irrigation canal that transformed the (Golden Mile) South Okanagan and surrounding areas into outstanding farmland.
Our Road 13 core series include many unique single varietal wines and blends. We take pride in selecting premium grapes for each and every bottle. Road 13 wines express the special character of the South Okanagan’s renowned Golden Mile.
Southern BC is home to hundreds of old gold mines with names that acknowledge the region’s past exploration. One, called Jackpot, inspired us. Evoking the joy of winning a hard-earned prize, it made a fitting title for our top wines – the reward for our hard work in the vineyard and cellar.
Tasting notes, bottle shots and image courtesy of the winery.
