Foxtrot 2020 Raisin d'Etre Pinot Noir 750ml

Raisin d'Etre Vineyard sits just below the home estate on the Naramata Bench. It is all clone 828, cold soaked, destemmed, fermented, and macerated for 15 days and aged in 50 percent new French oak for 14 months. It has a decisively ripe character featuring blueberries and equally enticing florals. The flavours are intense, and the textures are perfectly smooth with an extended finish. Impressive and rich, but at 13.6 percent alcohol, it remains stylish. Although available to taste, most of the production will be cellared away at the winery to be kept in the Foxtrot library. Foxtrot characterizes 2020 as a challenging year, but in the end, it turned out to be excellent for those who paid attention to viticulture. Harvest began on October 8th in several single vineyard designated blocks, extending until late October. The estate blocks were picked the third week of October, just before the first cold snap.

Score: 92 points -- Anthony Gismondi, Gismondi On Wine

This vineyard, which is just downhill from the estate vineyard, was planted in 2009 with clone 828. The wine was fermented in stainless steel (25 % whole clusters) and, after 15 days maceration, was aged in French oak (50% new) for 14 months. The wine has aromas and flavours of blueberry and cherry mingled with notes of lavender. The finish is long and silky.

Score: 93 points -- John Schreiner, johnschreiner.blogspot.com