The Okanagan Crush Pad (OCP) has made a name for itself for small lot innovative wines that are organic and express the terroir of the Okanagan. Located in beautiful Summerland, OCP is home to four unique brands: Narrative, Haywire, Free Form, and Bizou + Yukon wines.
Owners Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie have selected a talented team with Winemaker Matt Dumayne and Viticulturist Duncan Billing focused on low intervention winemaking and organic viticulture.
Today I review four of OCP’s current releases. The 2020 Narrative 2 Pinots is a unique Okanagan blend of northern Pinot Gris and southern Pinot Blanc. This wine is only available at Cactus Club Restaurants ($53 restaurant price; 89 points). Bottles are half price Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The two pinots display a light yellow hue with a hint of orange. There’s a complex floral aroma with tree fruit, sweet corn, pear, nuts and citrus. This bone dry white has a medium-light body with richness from aging in concrete and a smooth texture, with a spicy quince finish. This would be an ideal wine to sip as you read over the menu or with the Rob Feenie’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich.
Switching colours, the Narrative 2018 Syrah Viognier ($26.99; 90 points) is sourced from two Osoyoos vineyards. Some of the Syrah and Viognier were co-fermented in clay amphoras and left on the skins for nine months to enhance the aromatics and provide a silky mouthfeel. Additional Syrah was fermented in concrete and aged in amphora to add spice and texture while showing rich red fruit.
In the glass, there’s a dark garnet with an orange rim. Expect a fresh berry nose with leather and savoury aromas.
On the palate, there’s blackberry and blueberry dried fruit along with licorice and roasted meat flavours. As expected there are smooth tannins along with black pepper in a medium body. Thanks to the Viognier there’s plenty of fruit-acid balance. Pair with roast leg of lamb, seared tuna, and Osso Bucco.
The star of today's selection is the Haywire 2019 Switchback Pinot Gris ($28.99; 92 points). The Switchback Vineyard has been Certified Organic since 2015. The grapes were harvested in two batches, crushed into concrete with native fermentation and malolactic fermentation before resting on the lees for two months and bottled unfiltered. With all of this VIP treatment, there’s no wonder there is a full expression of the terroir and the fruit with layers of character and quality!
Medium-straw in colour, the aroma is full of ripe tree fruit and honey. In the mouth, there’s more of the pear and honey with citrus and stone fruit along with exciting
acidity and creamy chalk to add another dimension. And that begs for another glass of this stellar Pinot Gris!
Cheese and Pinot Gris is an excellent combination. The Haywire Switchback pairs well with pungent washed-rind cheeses like Morbier, Raclette, Taleggio, and Munster. Strong cheeses need a wine with a strong personality!
Another excellent wine from the Okanagan Crush Pad is the Haywire Secrest Mountain Vineyard 2020 Gamay Rosé ($23.99; 90 points). The colour of this rosé is a stunning salmon orange-pink! What follows is an appealing orange peel and orange blossom aroma with strawberries and a touch of a leather saddle.
On the palate, the dry rosé leaps to life. There is more of the fruit that the aroma foreshadows including raspberries accompanied by great acidity thanks to the high elevation of the vineyards on Secrest Mountain. And let’s not forget the signature stamp of textural quality thanks to aging in concrete. Expect a long tasty finish with subtle grapefruit pith bitterness. Superb with my Nigella Lawson marinated ham. Barbecue season is just around the corner and this rosé would be a perfect accompaniment with barbecued salmon or spareribs. Today’s wines are available online at OCP's website and at VQA wine stores including Save-On-Foods and President’s Choice Superstore.
