Joie! Spring is Here

JoieFarm Releases Their 2009 Vintage Wines For Spring

When chef and sommelier Heidi Noble met sommelier Michael Dinn I don't know if it was love at first sight, that's a tale for the couple's future grandchildren, but I will venture a guess that the courtship's catalyst was wine and perhaps, specifically, a mutual love of Alsatian wine.

The wines of Alsace are certainly chief among the inspirations for the business (Dinn) and winemaking (Noble) tandem behind the Naramata Bench producer. However, the end product is pure Okanagan. Noble, along with assistant winemaker Robert Thielick, have crafted a solid line-up of wines that range from the everyday delight of their Rosé to the cellar-ready and "Lieutenant Governor's Award of Excellence" winning Reserve Chardonnay.

The 2009 vintage is characterized by strong fruit concentration and equally strong acidity. The blending of fruit from different Okanagan properties is key to their ability to deliver their wines with the level of complexity (and production) they desire and the public demands. The JoieFarm flight sells-out every year for good reason: they produce a high-quality, high-demand product. Buy early and enjoy throughout the summer.

Below are our notes on the new Spring 2009 releases from JoieFarm which are available directly from the winery through their website (click here) or at select private wine shops like Marquis Wine Cellars.

2009 A Noble Blend - $24
The JoieFarm flagship wine. An homage to Alsace "Gentil" wines composed of Alsatian varietals Gewurztraminer (60%), Pinot Gris (20%), Pinot Auxerrois (12%) and Riesling (8%). The end result is a beautiful wine that sings a seductive, feminine song in the glass. 90pts
Full Review

2009 Un-Oaked Chardonnay - $23
Aromas of green apple skins, sweetened shredded coconut and canned pineapple. The palate offers orchard fruits, pineapple, lees and the minerality of polished riverbed stones. A quality and tasty, full-textured wine with good acidity, fruit concentration and just a touch of residual sugar. Definitely a Chardonnay for the A-B-C (Anything But Chardonnay) crowd. 89pts
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2009 Rosé - $21
Solid fruit concentration on the palate with slightly effervescent citrus acidity makes for a bright, refreshing drinking experience. A touch of tannic astringency rounds out the texture and fills-out the body. 88pts
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2009 Riesling - $23
Aromas of lemon, gooseberry, smooth slate and kumquat with dried-ginger spice. Crisp acidity balances the concentrated sweet fruit flavours on the palate and helps create a bright, refreshing wine with a long, satisfying finish. 89pts
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2009 Muscat - $23
Good fruit concentration of pear, tangerine and fresh, wet grape aromas with a touch of soap and floral notes. The palate offers ripe, juicy peaches and tangy, citrus fruit acidity which cuts the touch of residual sugar. 88pts
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2007 Reserve Chardonnay - $30-40
Released in the Fall of 2009 and now sold-out at the winery. Only available at private wine shops. Youthful aromas of butter, pear, apple with floral and mineral notes. On the palate you will taste flavours of lemon, pear, wet cement, green apple, melon and oak notes with high-minus acidity and a seemingly never ending finish. 92pts
Full Review