Canada’s Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys (12) Haywire and Garnet Valley Ranch
Website: https://haywirewinery.com/
I’ve reported on the wines of Okanagan star Haywire a lot in the past. Under the hands of winemaker Matt Dumayne, with the investment and vision of owners Chris Coletta and Steve Lornie, this has become one of the go-tos for delicious Okanagan wine made in a lower-intervention style with an aversion to small oak and a love of concrete élevage.
Last year I revisited the Garnet Valley where they have planted a spectacular vineyard. I remember my first time here in July 2014 when the vines had just gone into the ground. Now, 11 years later, they looked impressive, despite the winter frost event the valley had just struggled with. I also visited in 2018.
These are the wines we tasted.
Haywire Double Bub 2016 Okanagan, Canada (magnum)
This is traditional method fizz. Toast, spice and citrus on the nose. Lively with a slight savoury twist to the stony citrus fruit. Lovely complexity here with fine toast and spice. 93/100
Haywire Freeform Blanc de Blanc 2019 Garnet Valley Ranch, Okanagan, Canada
Lovely balance: pure, fresh and linear. This has nice citrus drive with lemony focus and a nice acid line. Such precision. 93/100
Garnet Valley Ranch Chardonnay 2022 Okanagan, Canada
From 600 m elevation. Fine, fresh and pure with lovely linear citrus fruit and some real delicacy. There’s some richness here but also lovely taut fruit. Precise and even a bit saline. 94/100
Haywire Chardonnay King Family Vineyard 2022 Naramata, Okanagan, Canada
Nice detail here with lemon and white peach. This has really lovely acidity. Fruity with a hint of nut and wax in the background. Lovely stuff. 93/100
Haywire Free Form Riesling 2022 Garnet Valley Ranch, Okanagan
Full colour. This is powerful and lively with a lovely citrus drive and a crystalline quality. This has peach, toast and lime. It’s complex with lively intensity and some development. 94/100
Haywire Gamay Rosé 2022 Okanagan, Canada
Sappy with a hint of wild herbs, and nice citrus and strawberry fruit. Lovely focus. Juicy and lovely with nice cherry notes. Stylish. 91/100
Haywire Gamay 2022 West Kelowna, Okanagan, Canada
75% whole bunch. Sappy with nice grip and a stony mineral edge. Nice strawberry too with good concentration. Juicy and lively with nice complexity. 93/100
Garnet Valley Ranch Pinot Noir 2022 Okanagan, Canada
This is mostly 828 clone, and it’s 50% whole bunch. Lovely vibrant, juicy, midweight cherry and plum fruit with a touch of raspberry. Grainy and grippy with lovely fruit. So expressive with a stony, salty edge. 94/100
