Sip Northwest, Spring 2019
British Columbia S I P N O R T H W E S T C O M A s you look toward a shimmering Okanagan Lake while walking towards Martins Lane Winery the fi rst thing likely to jump out once glancing back at the winery is a bust at its entrance An homage to Vincent van Gogh fl ipped horizontally and large enough to fi t a small tractor inside youd think this Douglas Coupland piece of art would be the pièce de résistance of this new Pinot Noir and Rieslingfocused winery But the appointment only spinoff of Anthony von Mandls Mission Hill Family Estate found across the lake has much more to off er Once stepping foot onto the jaw dropping premises by Seattle based starchitect Tom Kundig all bets are off Nestled along the hillside the multi leveled winery is built for gravity fl ow winemaking and is an epic wonder accented with steel concrete and glass weaving production and hospitality areas together seamlessly It is sturdy polished pristine and THE WINES 2014 Riesling Naramata Ranch Vineyard Okanagan Valley Fresh lime and nougat aromas lead to Granny Smith apple and caramelized orange rind on the palate Six months spent on the lees brings extra dimension and a solid dose of charm 2015 Pinot Noir DeHart Vineyard Okanagan Valley A complex wine built to age Italian plums mulberries and black wine gums are lifted by juicy acidity and fi nished with a good crack of clove 2015 Pinot Noir FritZis Vineyard Okanagan Valley Aged in French oak for 17 months A delicate minty lift to the wine elevates black plum currants and blackberries with a hint of sundried tomato on the fi nish Martins Lane Winery Kelowna Okanagan Valley martinslanewinery com elegant perfectly refl ecting winemaker Shane Munns single vineyard wines The wines themselves are premium pitch perfect odes to this land Mineral driven with pristine fr uit and teeming with bright juicy acidity each series of Rieslings and Pinot Noirs contains unique wines expressing their north and central Okanagan vineyards with lively spirit and grace While wandering the winerys many levels and corridors may feel like exploring an otherworldly space station the vision behind it and the wines being produced are very much focused on the right here right now PHOTOS BY NIC LEHOUX 67
You must have JavaScript enabled to view digital editions.
