News from Scout supporters Le Vieux Pin

Oliver, BC | Its official; the world’s best syrah-based wine hails from our own backyard – Le Vieux Pin, just outside Oliver in the South Okanagan – according to an esteemed panel during yesterday’s Judgement of Montreal Soirée des Connaisseurs 2012 – Syrah vs Syrah. Clinching the top spot on a list which features some of the world’s most celebrated winemakers from California and France’s Rhone Valley, Le Vieux Pin’s Equinoxe Syrah 2009 shone during the second edition of this fierce competition, which pits old world and new world wines against each other in a blind taste test.

The event is inspired by the most famous wine tasting in history: the Judgement of Paris in 1976, immortalized in the movie Bottle Shock, where US wines faced critique against those of the Old World. In striking similarity to the outcome of the 1976 Judgement (where the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won out against French peers), a small producing, boutique BC winery scooped the prestigious top spot in yesterday’s Judgement. Learn more about it after the jump…

Judges claimed that Le Vieux Pin’s Equinoxe Syrah 2009 was truly characteristic of an Old World wine, with a nose remarkably similar to wines of the Rhone Valley with pepper, violet and blackcurrant, while keeping a well balanced, floral nature with minimal sugar content.

Rasoul Salehi, general manager at Le Vieux Pin and sister winery LaStella, said: “To even be included within a top ten list, surrounded by some of the wineries that I have personally been inspired by, is a dream come true. The competition was unparalleled and we are both honoured and humbled to receive this recognition.”

The 10 best wines : Judgment of Montreal 2012 Syrah vs Syrah: 

1 – Equinoxe Okanagan Syrah 2009, Le Vieux Pin, Canada: $89
2 – Syrah Paso Robles 2009, Austin Hope, California: $46
3 – Purple Rose Côte-Rôtie 2010, Pierre Gaillard, France: $118
4 – Cornas 2008, Graillot Maxime, France: $58
5 – Country D’Oc Syrah 2011, Camplazens Castle, France: $16.95
6 – ‘Nardo’ IGT Toscana 2008, Montepeloso: $140
7 – St. Joseph Serines 2009, Yves Cuilleron, France: $66.60
8 – Côte-Rôtie Dark Lands 2009, Yves Cuilleron, France: $105.20
9 – Syrah 2009 IGT Toscana, Villa Pillo, Italy: $30
10 – Crozes-Hermitage Cuvée Gaby 2010, Domaine du Colombier, France: $38.15

Limited quantities of Le Vieux Pin 2009 Equinoxe Syrah are available directly from the winery. To request an allocation or for detailed technical sheets, email:[email protected]. Visit www.levieuxpin.com for details of Le Vieux Pin’s Wine Society and Petite Wine Club.

Details

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

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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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