Fitzpatrick Family Fitz 2018 Brut 750ml

2017 Fitz Brut is a 73/25/2 mix of chardonnay/pinot noir/pinot meunier, all off the Greata Ranch home estate just south of Peachland. The new blend, sans pinot blanc, was fermented in stainless steel; before a two year rest on its lees. The nose opens with toasted almond and fresh, inviting red apple with peach permeating a creamy texture that runs through the finish. Impressive and getting better each year out. Drink or hold it certainly has a five to seven year window at the moment. Solid value.

Score: 90 points -- Anthony Gismondi, Gismondi On Wine, June 2021

Fitz Brut has been a quality sparkler from day one, and it’s no different in 2018. The mix is three-quarters chardonnay with roughly one-quarter pinot noir and a splash of pinot meunier, all off the home Greata Ranch Vineyard. Winemaker Sarah Bain ages the Brut 24 months most years before it gets a mild dosage of 5.5-6.5 grams of sugar per litre, leaving this bubble dry to the taste. The fruit is crunchy and precise, mixing orchard pear and green apple with a dusting of wet stone and cherry pie. Consistently well made, offering complexity and style at a fair price. I like the winery match: salmon gravlax, a few capers, and maybe some pickled red onion.

Score: 91 points -- Anthony Gismondi, Gismondi On Wine, September 2022