Small Lots Malbec 2018

FLAVOUR PROFILE
• Bright yet deep ruby red colour with a lovely, aromatic bouquet of ripe plum, red cherry, violet, new leather, sweet oak and nougat.
•  This full-bodied wine has smooth, silky tannins and rich fruit-forward flavours.
•  On the palate, look for juicy black cherry and blue plum fruit flavours, along with hints of sweet spice and vanilla.
•  The lingering finish shows notes of black tea, dark chocolate, blue plum, cherry and spice.
•  A wonderful wine for cool evening sipping. Pairs well with grilled steaks with a chimichurri sauce; Tuscan steak on bed of arugula; rich meat pies; Tourtiere with tangy, but not sweet, chili sauce; beef bourguignon; chorizo and black bean empanadas; peppercorn steaks; Shepherd’s pie; Irish stew; lightly spiced turkey black bean chili; roasted beets; black bean hummus.

GROWING CONDITIONS
The mid and southern Okanagan, and Similkameen Valleys, experienced an early start to the growing season with warm, dry conditions which persisted until August. The month of August and early September experienced smoke covered valleys from local wild fires which slowed the ripening process, allowing for an extended period for ripening and development of flavours. During late September conditions improved providing an excellent harvest period for early ripening varietals. An early October frost caused some issues with late ripening varietals, but overall the 2018 vintage saw a near normal to good growing season.

" The very low yields in our Osprey Ridge Vineyard give a rich and concentrated, fruit-forward, slightly floral character to our Malbec. Previous vintages have been acknowledged as the best Malbec in British Columbia."
 - Sandy Leier, Winemaker