Tasting Note
There aren’t many zweigelts in Canada, but this is among the best from B.C., with a nod to Arrowleaf as well. This cool climate Austrian variety is actually well suited to Canada, but not widely planted and struggling to build a commercial base. This is from 25-year-old vines in the middle Naramata Bench above Penticton. The colour is deep, the structure is energized, the concentration is surprisingly good. Slightly tart acidity and stemmy tannin provide some of its rusticity and energy. Expect wild blackberry/mulberry fruit, herbs and florals on the nose. It is medium weight (13.4%), firm but not hard, with excellent length. There is a salty dark chocolate trailer on the finish. Love it! Tasted twice, June and August 2025
Backgrounder
Wilbert and Jokka Borren farmed and raised four sons (four shadows) in Alberta before purchasing a foreclosed 17-acre vineyard on Upper Bench Rd. in 2011. There were eight neglected acres of pinot noir, chardonnay, merlot and zweigelt on the lower bench and four acres of riesling on one of Naramata’s highest and steepest sites. The fours sons helped restore the site. They farmed and sold their fruit for the first seven years then began making their own wine in 2017, with the encouragement of winemaker Lindsay O’Rourke from nearby Tightrope, and pro Okanagan wine consultant Pascal Madevon. There was serious consideration about pulling out the two acres of obscure, not very commercial zweigelt vines, but older vines (planted 1999) are rare and they decided, to hang on to them. In 2020 they decided to give Zweigelt a go as low volume 1,000 litre ‘club selection’, ageing it eight months in fairly neutral oak. Good decision. I have really enjoyed three vintages of this wine. And I love their merlot too.
