2021 Becker Block 1B & 1D Carmenere

TASTING NOTES

From Block 1B at the base of Becker Vineyard, this Carmenere benefits from the long, sun-soaked afternoons of the Black Sage Bench to produce a wine of exceptional complexity. The fruit is luscious and ripe, offering beautifully defined brambles and wild blueberries that are balanced by the intrinsic spiciness of this Bordeaux variety. The wine evolves generously in the glass, yielding savoury notes of green peppercorn, tobacco leaf, and graphite that enhance the fruit, further supported by the use of fully seasoned, neutral French oak barriques. It’s a compelling expression of Carmenere that has the depth and freshness to continue to age over the next 4-6 years.

WINEMAKER NOTES

The 2021 growing season was characterized by dry conditions and extreme heat. Early budburst was followed by drier-than-average spring and summer. Favorable conditions at flowering resulted in good berry set. A one-in-a-thousand year heat wave across the Pacific Northwest from late June to early July significantly impacted early berry development, resulting in small, concentrated berries. Reduced solar radiation on the valley floor in July and early August resulted in delayed veraison. Conditions were optimal for the development of berry color, flavour, and tannin.

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: 2021
Acid: 5.58 g/L
pH: 3.71
Residual Sugar: 0.25 g/L
Alcohol: 15%
Harvest Date: October 14
Bottling Date: August 25, 2023
Maturation: 21 months in 100% new French oak.
Aging Potential: 8-10 years
Varieties: 100% Carménère