Tasting Note This is a very generous, ripe and rich Bordeaux blend from a Naramata winery that sources fruit from all five Bordeaux varieties in southern Okanagan. It pours deep ruby-purple. The aromas are very lifted and ripe with blackberry-cherry fruit swaddled in oak vanilla, cedary barrel notes and brown baking spice. It is full bodied, rich, warm (14.8% ABV), fairly dense and full of flavour. Yet the tannins remain firm and provide ballast. The length is excellent. Approachable now but should carry on for a decade. Tasted June 2025.
Backgrounder Laughing Stock was founded by daring (some thought foolish) Vancouver-based investment industry couple David and Cynthia Enns in 2003. (Thus, the stock-ticker label motif). It became one of the great boutique success stories of B.C. under their tenure. When they sold to Arterra Wines (Canada’s largest wine company) in 2017, I was concerned about quality maintenance. But the Best Performing Small Winery Award at the 2025 NWACs, says all is well thanks to a young team led by Kelowna-raised winemaker Sandy Leier (shown below) and fruit sourcing from Arterra-owned sites in the south Okanagan – the Kobau, Bearcub and Culmina sites in Oliver and from the Perfect Hedge Vineyard in Osoyoos. It is 51% merlot, 29% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet Franc, 6% malbec and 4% petit verdot. This was aged 21 months in French oak barrels with 40% new and 60% second fill.
Accolades: Gold Medal National Wine Awards 2025. Best Small Winery in Canada 2025.
