JoieFarm Wine Muscat 2009 & Rose 2009

Muscat ($23-26) / Rosé 2009 ($21-24)

Naramata, BC
www.joiefarm.com

Any occasion can be turned into a joyous occasion in my book – just open a bottle of JoieFarm wine. Owned and operated by a sommelier and chef (great sign # 1) Michael Dinn and Heidi Noble’s Naramata winery has been garnering attention and acclaim since it opened the fall of 2002.  Originating as Joie, the French word for ‘Joy’, the property has been a constantly evolving concept that began as a guesthouse and critically acclaimed en plein air cooking school, located in their orchard. Over time, the orchard was converted to grape vines and a new winery building was built on the property. Heidi released an award winning book, Menus from an Orchard Table, chronicling the cooking school and terroir-based recipes of Naramata.  With the addition of their own estate grown fruit in 2009, they changed their name to JoieFarm to better reflect their connection to the land.  Heidi and Michael’s interest is focused exclusively in the grape varieties of Alsace and Burgundy (great sign #2) – an excellent fit the cool-climate, desert landscape of the Okanagan.

This week it was announced that JoieFarm was named “2010 British Columbia Winery of the Year” by Wine Press Northwest in the spring edition of their magazine.  This award is selected by the editors of Wine Press Northwest based on blind tastings, visits, accolades and other considerations. Last fall, in Wine Press Northwest’s Platinum Judging, their JoieFarm 2008 Riesling finished No. 1 out of 450 gold medal-winning wines, making it “the best of the best in the Great Northwest.” Remarkably, the 2008 Noble Blend finished No. 2!

Along with the season’s first flowers, Joie’s spring releases arrived a couple of weeks ago.  For those who aren’t very familiar with the Muscat grape, it is known as being the ‘grapiest’ varietal.  By this I mean the wine tastes exactly like the fruit from which it’s made – GRAPES.  JoieFarm Muscat bursts forth with spiced floral aromas, fruity sweet candied grape flavours, a shish of anise and perfumed white peach. Crisp and dry, the bright acid checks the grapey sweetness to strike a beautiful, delicate balance, and a lemony mouth watering exit. This is already sold out at the winery, so buddy up to your local private liquor store or lucky restaurateur for a taste.

Now a BC icon, JoieFarm Rosé has time and time again taught people to ‘rethink pink’.  The 2009 vintage will continue the conversion quest.  Light bodied and elegant, this year’s Rosé is a blend of Pinot Noir, Gamay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris.  Amazing aromas of wild strawberry, mineral and spice leads to a textured palate of cherry, raspberry, and crisp pear.  Structured and refreshing – always a winning combo!  Heidi and Michael have said they craft their wines to be food-friendly, and the lower alcohol, bright acid, slight kiss of sweetness and lengthy, juicy, citrus finish invite pairing this bottle with a wide range of foods.

Rating:  (click here to see what our wine ratings mean)

Muscat

Rosé