Pop goes the cork on a bottle of Evolve Brut Premier.
While no excuse is needed to enjoy a flute of fine bubbles, we鈥檝e begun our celebration in anticipation of the spring 2025 opening of the Evolve Sparkling House. www.timewines.ca/evolve-sparkling-house/ Nestled alongside the Kettle Valley Trail on Lower Bench Road Penticton, it鈥檚 a salute to their fine sparkling wines.
With Evolve's adjacent two-acre Vivant Vineyard (2023) planted in Chardonnay 95/96, Pinot Noir 667 and Pinot Meunier 997 and a soon-to-be-planted 10-acre site in Summerland, the future for their traditional method sparkling wines is looking bright.
While we count down the days to the opening of the Evolve Sparkling House, I鈥檇 suggest that if you haven鈥檛 already, you treat yourself to winemaker Lynzee Schatz's sparkling wines.
Predominately Oliver and Naramata Chardonnay with 33 percent Naramata Pinot Noir, her light touch is evident in the 2020 Evolve Brut Premier. Following 36 months of aging before disgorgement, this straw-coloured traditional method bubbly exhibits brioche on the nose and boasts of lemon pie on the palate. Pairing nicely with your morning eggs benedict, or a roast chicken dinner.
A gold-medal winner at the 2022 All Canadian Wine Championships, Chronos Brut is an 80/20 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Hand-sorted then whole bunch pressed, it is finished in the cuv茅e close method. A lighter sparkling wine it still exhibits toast on the nose, subtle Okanagan fruit flavours on the palate and a dry, citrus finish. Enjoy it with your favourite Thai food.
Let us not forget Lynzee鈥檚 selection of small batch Chronos wines. Having led the winemaking team since 2019, Lynzee has built on a tradition of quality wines, including her recently released 2022 Chronos Carpo.
Named for the Greek goddess of fruitfulness, 鈥淐arpo was something I created where the goal was to allow the fruit and vintage to inspire me. It was completely led by the wines and how they came together as one,鈥� she tells me.
A Meritage blend of 35/25/20/15/10 Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Malbec.
鈥淭he resulting wine is something you can drink now with huge pops of fruit and youthfulness balancing the tannins or something you can easily age for seven to 10 years.鈥� said Lynzee.
Greek or otherwise, the gods are pleased. Expressing the terroir, Carpo is smooth, boasts of rich red fruit with a dry finish.
Smooth is also how I describe the 2020 Chronos Syrah. Aged in French and American oak, medium-bodied, it exhibits the anticipated dark cherries and berries on the nose, which continue on to the palate, with a touch of spice on the finish.
It鈥檚 very nice to sip on its own, or with flavourful cheese or Osso Buco.
A resident of Qualicum Beach, Chris Herbert is a wine enthusiast who enjoys sharing everything that B.C. wines have to offer. He looks forward to hearing from you with your questions and comments via email at spillthatvino@gmail.com.
