Our 2024 vintage was among the most challenging and innovative in our 20-year history. After a deep freeze heavily impacted our home estate crop, we turned to friends across the industry.
For Pinot Noir, winemaker David Paterson returned to Oregon’s Willamette Valley, securing fruit from the historic Looney Vineyard in Ribbon Ridge—a full-circle moment for Dave, who worked with this site in 2007. The wine reflects signature Oregon terroir through our East Kelowna cellar’s perspective.
Deep mahogany red in the glass, the wine opens with aromas of toasted cedar, violet and purple flowers, alongside notes reminiscent of leather and forest floor. Dark Bing cherry and freshly turned earth lead the way, with hints of sun-warmed blackberry and baking spice.
The palate is bright and fresh yet carries a delicate density. Layers of ripe cherry and Damson plum unfold with brambleberry pie, cranberry, cinnamon and white pepper. Fine, velvety tannins show a soft chalky texture, giving the wine beautiful balance and a long, elegant finish.
WINEMAKER'S NOTES
Fruit was hand-picked on October 6th at Oregon’s Looney Vineyard in Ribbon Ridge, with our winemaker David Paterson on-site to oversee the harvest. The grapes were transported whole the next day to Kelowna in one ton picking bins. Upon arrival at our crush pad, fruit was portioned into mostly small open-top bins, w roughly 25% whole-cluster fermentation incorporated, adding depth and complexity. The wine spent 12 months in French oak (25% new), imparting a gentle kiss of oak.
TECHNICAL INFO
100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 13.3%
Residual Sweetness: .29 g/L
pH: 3.7
Total Acidity: 5.4 g/L
-
While the 2024 growing season started off with concerns about too much precipitation too fast for some and not enough for others, a cool spring, and slow start to the growing season, winemakers across Oregon are now celebrating what turned out to be an outstanding harvest season and a vintage that promises excellence. After a cool spring, the first notable heat came to Oregon in mid-to late June when the berries were in the early stage of development, followed by a weeklong heat wave in July.
The July heat wave likely led to some variance in fruit set, including some shatter and varying averages in quality and quantity of fruit set. August brought slightly warmer than average temperatures followed by September, which was a roller coaster for temperatures with record breaking heat early and late in the month, sandwiching a very cool period in between, which helped retain a wonderful nervous acidity.
October continued a run of very nice conditions to end the 2024 vintage. Generally mild to warm temperatures and not much precipitation until late in October made for a vintage with little to no pressure to pick until the fruit was showing its best flavours and acidity.
