CedarCreek winery, located on Lakeshore Drive in Kelowna, produces organically grown grapes from estate only vines from three sites in Kelowna, and Osoyoos.
The estate's Home Block Vineyard (located at the winery) is widely known for producing exceptional Plot Noir, which we seen in the Block Series (specifically Block 2 and 4) in recent years. Now, winemaker Taylor Whelan's Platinum tier Clonal Series takes it to a new level; he separates the Pinot Noir grapes by clone, fermenting and bottling them as such. They are, as expected, small lot and are sold as a trio, so you can experience all three clones and see what stands out about each. The 2018 vintage trio is comprised of 115, 667 and 777 and sells via the winery for $135.
Clone 115: tealeaf and smoked spices, forest floor and wild sour cherry aromas are bolstered by violets. Silky but still quite tightly wound, it gets fleshier mid-palate with woven earth/fruit/spice flavours. There is a distinct savoury bitterness on the finish. 90-points
Clone 667: Quite mute - delicate notes of wild red fruits, cedar, earth and cocoa shyly push their way through. Wonderful levity in this clone, it has more texture, the tannins more angular and grip the side of the tongue. Dark espresso flavours trail on the finish. Time is this bottle's friend. 91-points
Clone 777: sweet black raspberry and cherry burst from the glass woven with a potpourri of cedar chips and violets, star anise and cardamom, leather and dried herbs. Supple in weight, silky in texture it shows the most expressive palate; sweet red fruit and pipe tobacco flavours notably. Power and elegance, the most outgoing of this trio. 93-points
A fascinating comparison resulting in great conversation.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 24th, 2020