Monte Creek Living Land Series Chardonnay 2020 (British Columbia) - Wine Review

I enjoyed the 2017 Monte Creek Ranch Cabernet/Merlot a couple of years ago, and tonight's wine review is a lovely Chardonnay made by the same producer in British Columbia. This new wine is coming to the LCBO this weekend as part of the September 10 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Monte Creek Winery, which is owned by a local B.C. family and supported by a trusted team of on-site professionals to manage the operations. Established in 2009, Monte Creek Winery is located in the Thompson Valley, near Kamloops. Today, Monte Creek is turning its unique growing conditions in the Thompson Valley through quality, innovation and sustainability into award-winning premium wines. They also re-branded (and for the better, in my opinion) since the last time I tasted their wines to better align with their vision.

This particular wine is from their Living Land Series - a celebration of the idea that great wines only come from balanced vines, and earth that is truly alive and thriving. Their philosophy is that in order to grow incredible fruit, you must promote and maintain an environment that is healthy and working with nature, not against it. Far from just dirt, the grapevines used to grow the grapes in the Living Land Series wines are grown not from just dirt, but soils that are biodiverse and alive, and enhancing their vitality is the guiding principle of their viticulture. Flourishing soils make for healthy grapes, and healthy grapes help produce vibrant wines.

Crafted with 100% Chardonnay, the grapes for this wine were grown in the Thompson Valley on Olhausen glaciolacustrine sandy loam and Similkameen glaciofluvial silty loam soils. It underwent wild fermentation and was aged sur lie, with 75% aged in French oak, while the remainder was aged in concrete eggs. By using both of these ageing methods, Monte Creek aims to integrate the oak slightly while also preserving the acidity.

The 2020 growing season in the Thompson Valley is characterized by a relatively cool and slightly compressed season, with 50% budbreak occurring about a week later than normal. Harvest came to an abrupt end due to temperatures falling to -11 Celsius on October 25th. However, with a cool a start to the season combined with the warm late-summer period, the grapes reached phenolic maturity at the same level as sugar maturity. Overall, the wines from 2020 tended to have moderate alcohol levels and well-extracted, refined structure. Let's see how this 2020 Chardonnay from B.C. is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MONTE CREEK LIVING LAND SERIES CHARDONNAY 2020 - BC VQA British Columbia, Canada (#25658) (XD) - $22.95
Screw cap. Fresh, medium-high intensity nose is richly structured with orchard fruit, apple, and pear aromas nuanced with subtle oak, butter, lemon citrus, and touches of tropical fruit. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it offers lovely apple, pear, buttery, and citrus replays on the flavour profile and supported by fresh acidity. Well-balanced throughout and impressively structured. More orchard fruits with lemon citrus, and butter with hints of vanilla, tapering to a long, fine, leesy mineral finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other delicious wines by Monte Creek are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Perigon Beverage Group.