2023 Reserve Pinot Noir Clone 943

About the wine:

We are truly excited about this first vintage of a specific Pinot Noir clone, 943, on our estate vineyard. Our last two Reserve Pinots have been a blend of our two clones 943 and 115. They both provide different characteristics but we felt that 943 from 2023 was interesting enough alone to keep a small portion and make our first vintage from a single, selective Pinot Noir clone. With so little case production, only 83, this exciting wine is a Wine Club Member Exclusive. 

While our 2022 Reserve was a bigger, bolder Pinot, the 2023 Reserve 943 is a softer expression of our estate. Bursting with aromas of vanilla, blueberry, crème brûlée, and delicate violets it has a very expressive nose. The palate is juicy with that reconizeable Okanagan Pinot Noir acidity reflects it's more fruity aromas with the addition of sour blaster cherry candies that make your mouth salivate and want more.

This Pinot will pair well with pizza, duck confit, braised short ribs, milder cheeses like goudas, goat cheese, or even milder blue cheeses like Gorgonzola. It is also equally enjoyable on it's own without food. 

Awards:

Silver - 2026 Wine Align National Wine Awards of Canada 

Winemaking:

• The grapes were harvested by hand before being gently destemmed and left as whole berries.
• The entire production received an extended cold soak in small 1 T fermentations vessels before being slowly warmed to optimal temperatures for a natural indigenous yeast population to begin fermentation.
• Hand punch downs were implemented to keep the grape fermentation cap healthy and also offered careful tannin management of the wine.
• All of the fermentations were steady, never exceeding 25 C. Several days after reaching sugar dryness, the free run wine was drained and the grape skins were gently pressed.
• The wine was then transferred to a combination of 500L French oak puncheons, and French oak barrels where it slumbered through the winter before malolactic conversion completed naturally in the early months of 2024.
• In winter 2024, the wine was blended from barrels then racked again before being bottled without filtration.  

Technical stats:

Alcohol:  14.3%
Production: 83 cases
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Vineyard Location: Naramata Bench (Chain Reaction Estate vineyard)
Harvested: Sep 12, 2023
Bottled: Dec 18,2024