2019 Becker Cuvee
- Vintage
- 2019
- Region
- Okanagan Valley
- Country
- Canada
- Alcohol Content
- 14.7%
- Grape Variety
- 55% Cabernet Franc, 28% Merlot, 9% Carmenere, 7% Syrah, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon
WINE TASTING NOTES
The nose of this wine exhibits ripe baked fruit notes of dark cherry and black currant combined with subtle savoury notes of black sage and forest floor. This Cabernet Franc dominant Bordeaux blend has a complex and balanced palate offering layers of ripe red bramble fruit with herbaceous and peppery undertones. The mouthfeel is smooth and supple with fine-grained tannins and a long satisfying finish.
WINEMAKER NOTES
A cooler April in 2019 was quickly followed by warm conditions in May and June resulting in perfectly timed bud break in the vineyards. Summer brought more warmth to the valley but temperatures were average and this allowed the vines to fully develop. Harvest started with warm and dry conditions and the early ripening varieties were harvested on schedule. However, by the end of September, a slight change in weather conditions brought cooler temperatures and small amounts of rainfall to the valley. October was warm and had minimal rainfall allowing for more flavour development and acidity retention in the grapes. Harvest 2019 was challenging and required extremely precise vineyard management, however the result of all that hard work is well balanced wines with vibrant fruit characters and freshness.
VINEYARD NOTES
Becker Vineyard was initially developed in 1977, as part of the pioneering Becker Project, which demonstrated that vitis vinifera could thrive in British Columbia. However, the property’s potential for late ripening red varieties was first identified in 1993, and was replanted to Cabernet family varieties that year. Tucked up against the Okanagan Highland mountains, Becker Vineyard produces finessed, elegant wines from the upper terrace of the Black Sage Bench.
Wine Specs
Vintage: 2019
Acid: 6.0 g/L
pH: 3.8
Residual Sugar: 0.19 g/L
Alcohol: 14.5%
Harvest Date: October 12-16th
Bottling Date: August 2021
Maturation: 20 months in French oak, 50% new
Aging Potential: 10+ years
Varieties: Cabernet Franc 55% , Merlot 28%, Carmenere 9%, Syrah 8%
