Tasting Note: Okanagan riesling very often reminds me of Alsatian riesling, both high latitude regions sitting in warm, dry rain shadows with mountains to the west. This has the power and depth of Alsatian ‘grand cru’ examples. It is nicely ripe, rich, just off-dry and voluminous with a complex array of yellow fruit aromas – peach, apricot, mirabelle plum and pineapple – inlaid with linden florals, beeswax/honeycomb and wet stone. It is medium-full bodied, expansive on the palate, yet enlivened by a touch of CO2. The finish narrows nicely leaving a drier and more mineral sensation, with some lemony bitterness. The length is outstanding. It is certainly enjoyable now with some aeration and a modest chill, but it should live on for a decade.

Backgrounder: Martin’s Lane is a leading riesling specialist, bottling three single vineyard editions from the Naramata Bench Vineyard,  Fritzi’s Vineyard in West Kelowna, and this Simes Vineyard in South Kelowna Slopes. Named after Mission Hill’s first winemaker John Simes, it sits at 400 metres overlooking the lake near the winery, a site based on complex granite-based subsoils and silty topsoil. It was planted to clone 49 riesling in 2008.  After the trials and tribulations of crop-reducing cold winters in 2023 and 2024, the 2025 vintage rebounded hot, healthy and abundant. In fact, the September 11 harvest was the earliest on record for Martins Lane Riesling. It was hand harvested and received six hours of skin contact, with stems in place. It was then gravity fed into stainless steel and Austrian oak fermenters where it underwent wild yeast fermentation. It was fermented to 11% alcohol, leaving 16gms/l of residual sugar,  balanced by 8gms acidity.  The wine is a member exclusive.