2022 Inniskillin Single Vineyard Series Montague Vineyard Pinot Noir

An unseasonably cold start to the spring growing season delayed vine development by a record 3 weeks, instilling anxiety in what would eventually become an abundant and regionally unique crop of reds and whites. Cooler years coupled with large crops generally result in grapes with lower sugar and more red-fruit centric flavours. Redemption came in the fall with exceptionally warm temperatures permeating well into October, allowing our late ripening reds to reach their full flavour potential. Late ripening reds picked in freezing conditions usually result in wines with smoother tannins and a more approachable profile. For white wines, aromatics were very advanced in development with delightful structure stemming from the large swings in the diurnal temperatures that separate the Okanagan Valley from other wine regions.harvest. Yields were down on all varieties (about 10-20%), but quality was excellent. The warm, sunny days and cooler evenings allowed the grapes to develop phenolic ripeness without any breakdown. Not unexpectedly, the warm, dry growing season for the vines produced grapes with high sugars and low acids. Unfortunately, the overall yield was negatively impacted, with most varieties down between 10-20% of expected tonnage. Early November brought almost summer-like weather for more than a week, allowing us to finish up harvest with great picking conditions.