Canada’s Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys (11) Lake Breeze
Website: https://www.lakebreeze.ca/
Lake Breeze is on the Naramata Bench, and since 2021 has been owned by the McIntyre family.
The vineyard was established in 1995, and the original owners were a Swiss couple who had lived in South Africa for 25 years. Then a couple from Vancouver Island bought it, and they sold to the McIntyres who have taken it from 1500 to 10-15 000 cases. They have 9 acres but lease around 90 acres on the Naramata Bench. This gives them control of the fruit.
Garron Elmes is the winemaker and general manager, and he’s been here more than ere 30 years since the beginning in 1995. He trained at Elsenberg tin South Africa. We met with him, and also the second winemaker, Victor Costa.
The South African connection is strong! They bought some Pinotage cuttings in from UC Davis, and planted two rows in 1996, then planted another quarter acre in 1998.
Normally the winery processes 150-200 tons. In 20204, because of the freeze, they did 13 tons.
Lake Breeze Pinot Blanc 2024 Naramata Bench, Okanagan
Vines almost 40 years old now. This is bright and focused with nice lemon and pear fruit, with some mineral detail, and good concentration. Juicy but with some melony richness. Very stylish in a bright style. 89/100
Lake Breeze Albariño 2024 Washington State
Ancient Lakes AVA, came as juice. Lovely density with concentrated, bright lemon, lime and apricot, with a slight salinity. Bright with good energy and some nice spicy detail. 91/100
Lake Breeze Sauvignon Blanc 2024 Washington State
Juicy, vivid and bright with nice focused citrus fruit and a bit of pithiness, showing nice presence with lovely purity to the fruit. Expressive. 88/100
Lake Breeze Pinot Gris 2024 Washington State
Fresh and bright with nice acidity, showing crisp, pure lemony fruit with some grapey richness and a touch of pear drop. Fruity and bright. 87/100
Lake Breeze Roussanne Viognier 2022 Naramata Bench
Nice straw and herb detail as well as some nutty character, with appealing pear, apple and citrus fruit. Juicy and linear with good acidity. Has some personality. 90/100
Lake Breeze Semillon Chardonnay 2017 Naramata Bench
70% Semillon, 30% Chardonnay. Toast and lime on the nose: it seems quite Hunter Valley in style, with some honey and nuts. On the palate it is linear, bright and energetic with some really nice toast and spice. So distinctive: pure, but ageing really well. 92/100
Lake Breeze Semillon 2017 Naramata Bench
So Hunter in style. Lime, honey and toast with bright fruit and some amazing detail. Very expressive and pure with some lanolin and beeswax with great acidity. Such precision here. 92/100
Lake Breeze Riesling 2023 Naramata Bench
Nice density here with lime and some stony, mineral detail. Bright with nice energy to the palate. Some pithy detail, starting to develop some TDN, but not too much. Some honeyed detail. 91/100
Lake Breeze Ehrenfelser 2022 Naramata Bench
Lively, expressive and bright with some lime and grapefruit, as well as a touch of pear. Grapey and expressive with a wide range of aromas and flavours. Very appealing. 90/100
Lake Breeze The Spice Jar 2021 Naramata Bench
Gewurztraminer, Schonburger, Ehrenfelser and Viognier. Textured with some lychee and grape as well as nice spiciness. Has some depth with lovely fruit. Nicely dense with fine spicy detail and a touch of sweetness (11 g/l). 91/100
Lake Breeze Macintyre Astra 2022 Naramata Bench
Chardonnay. This is bright with focused citrus fruit and a hint of toast and vanilla and nuts, as well as lively green apple and pear. 70% in barrel, 30% in stainless steel. Distinctive with lots of personality. 90/100
Lake Breeze Syrah 2022 Naramata Bench
Fresh and supple with cherry and raspberry with a hint of olive and spice. There’s nice flesh and spice with a bit of pepper. Very stylish. 92/100
Lake Breeze Merlot 2022 Naramata Bench
The most planted variety here. Multiple vineyard sites on the bench. Supple and sleek with ripe cherries and plums, showing sweet strawberry fruit and a hint of olive. Has some grip on the finish. 90/100
Lake Breeze Meritage 2020 Naramata Bench
Merlot-heavy blend with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Malbec. Juicy, fruity and crunchy with nice grippy structure under the sweet cherry and plum fruit, as well as some blackcurrant. Nice tannins with a bit of grip. This is stylish. 91/100
Lake Breeze Lake Breeze Berg 2021 Naramata Bench
Pinotage. This is rich with some spicy detail, showing lush, sweet berry fruits, with some grippy tannins. Notes of meat and olive, with some nice acidity. Lively, tarry and spicy. 87/100
Lake Breeze Lake Breeze Tempest 2021 Naramata Bench
15% alcohol. A Bordeaux-style blend. Dense, smoky and spicy with bold blackcurrant and cherry fruit some some notes of cured meat and tar. Rich and bold with good concentration. Dense, structured and substantial, with a spicy finish. Has ageing potential. 91/100
Lake Breeze Macintyre Ardua 2017 Naramata Bench
15% alcohol. Merlot grown here, and Cabernet Franc (10%) interplanted with the Merlot. Bold, rich and ripe with bold, dense cherry and berry fruit, with nice tannic structure under the sweet, bold fruit. Nicely grainy with some grippy structure, showing warmth and density. Grippy and grainy and satisfying. 93/100
Lake Breeze Chinook NV Naramata Bench
17% alcohol. Ehrenfelzer. Allowed to ferment a little, then fortified, then sits in old barrels without topping up. Topped up with fresh Muscat juice. Sweet, spicy, textural. Has some nuts and spice and almond, with nice acidity and some grapey detail. Nice grip here with a lovely balance. 93/100
