The GOODS from Le Vieux Pin

Vancouver, BC | March 20th is the Vernal Equinox (the midpoint between the summer and winter solstices). This means two things: first, that spring is here, and second, that Le Vieux Pin releases one of its tiny production, top flight Equinoxe series wines. This spring they only have one of these wines to release, but it’s a big one: the 2008 Equinoxe Merlot. This wine is derived from the famous Apogee Merlot of previous years but is much more than that. The Apogee Merlot was a single vineyard wine made with immense care and attention. The Equinoxe Merlot is a double selection of the grapes from that very special vineyard site. At the first stage only the best blocks of vines are picked and vinified for the Equinoxe program. Then only the best barrels are selected for bottling as Equinoxe Merlot. The result of this is that only 175 cases of Equinoxe Merlot are now produced (less than half of what has been produced in previous vintages). On top of this the wine has already been snapped up by buyers in Switzerland and Germany including the Zurich based Boucherville wine importer and retailer. Winemaker’s notes and professional reviews are after the jump…

This wine is highly allocated and orders are only accepted by email. Please keep in mind there will be a strict 6 bottle maximum on orders of this wine and have a little patience while Le Vieux Pin sorts through all the orders. The wine will not be available at retail stores.

Winemaker’s notes:

Morning sun and afternoon shade keeps the acidity high and the overall wine harmonious – never flat or overbearing. The nose dances with a myriad of nuances. The flavours on the palate transform into plum and blackberry with a very long finish of espresso and mocha. The Equinoxe Merlot is a truly impressive wine. The calibre of fruit and style of winemaking leads to a wine that will age gracefully for 10+ years.

Recommended Food Pairing: a grilled rib eye over blue cheese polenta or lamb tagine with raisin and mint couscous are two favorites that will add complexity to the flavours.

92 Points – John Schreiner | “These grapes are also from the Feuille D’Or vineyard. The wine was aged 21 months in French oak, 60% of it new. This wine has a chewy, concentrated texture, with aromas of lingonberries and flavours of black currants and blackberries.”

92 Points – John Szabo |”Le Vieux Pin’s top end, limited production merlot (175 cases total), is a classic example of the variety, with structure, firmness, complexity and depth. For the moment it’s still tightly wound, even after opening for 24 hours, so tuck this in the cellar for another 2-3 years to see it through to its optimal drinking window. The nose offers very ripe (but not overripe or rasined) dark berry and plum character, distinctive savoury dried herbs and integrated oak/dark chocolate notes. The finish lingers nicely; I appreciate the way this remains on the structured/elegant side of the equation, avoiding the soft, creamy, sweet style of many west coast merlots – it’s a wine for classicists and wine lovers. Tasted May 2011.”

Keep an eye out in the next couple months for Le Vieux Pin’s spring releases by joining their newsletter.

DETAILS

34070-73th Street Oliver, BC
Phone: 250-498-8388 | Fax: 250-498-8399
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.levieuxpin.ca

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The People Who Make It Happen

Winemaker: Severine Pinte

About Le Vieux Pin

The best wines come from the best vineyard sites; this is “terroir.” Fortunately for us (and you!), the Okanagan Valley happens to be one of the best wine regions anywhere with its unique climate and variety of latitudes and soils. There is a perceptible difference in temperature and greenery around the valley, from the lushness of the north to the sage ridden desert in the South. According to WineBC, the area between Oliver and Osoyoos is the northernmost tip of the northernmost desert in the world; the Sonora Desert. The summers are very hot; it is hotter in July and August than Napa Valley, but the evenings are markedly cooler. Osoyoos has 1450 growing degree days and a mere eight inches of average annual rainfall (WineBC.com). Low rainfall, high heat units and a dry environment allow us to farm in a sustainable manner with all the respect the land deserves.

Our vineyard management strategy is based on Old World techniques with a dusting of New World modernism added on top. Our focus is to make wine that is representative of its terroir. Non-interventionist and low-input viticulture is the method we use to get there. Deficit irrigation, on-site composting, high-density plantings and extremely low yields allow the vines to show us who they really are, deep down to their roots.

We have very distinct soil composition between our vineyards: some sites are very high in white silica sand while others are quite gravelly and rocky. Some sites show traces of schist and shale deposited by volcanic activities in the area. Along with our sister winery Lastella we own and cultivate 50 acres of vineyards scattered throughout the South Okanagan. We also source some grapes from a select group of growers who have certified organic vineyards or grow with sustainability in mind.

Passion, friendship, dedication and commitment are the recipe for our success.

Please visit the winery when you visit the Okanagan and join our email newsletter for the latest news from wine country. Visit us online at www.levieuxpin.ca on Facebook at www.facebook.com/levieuxpin and twitter at twitter.com/levieuxpin.

Á votre santé!

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