TH Wines
Part 5 of a series on the Okanagan Valley, a remarkable wine region in British Columbia, Canada

Website: http://thwines.com/

Tyler Harlton has been in the Okanagan Valley for 8 years, but it's only the third vintage of his own label, TH Wines.

He grew up on a grain farm in Saskatchewan, and then left to play hockey. Four years of college hockey at Michigan State were followed with another four as a professional. This was followed by a law degree in Montreal, where his interest in wine was sparked – a girlfriend at the time was working as a sommelier. Tyler’s wine interest was further nurtured by a spell in France, and then he found himself pursuing a legal career in Penticton. But wine had won his heart.

In 2011 he bought grapes, but had no money for equipment, so all the wine was made by hand. Now he's making 1200 cases, and is limited by the available space in his small facility, which is located in the Summerlands industrial area. He buys from three to five growers each year, and says that there are lots of small growers in the Okanagan looking for buyers.

This is a lovely example of a boutique start-up winery, making great wines on a small scale.

THE WINES

TH Wines Pinot Gris 2011 Okanagan Valley, Canada
Very crisp and precise with apples, herbs, pears and a bit of pithiness, as well as clean lemony fruit. 88/100

TH Wines Viognier Pinot Gris 2012 Okanagan Valley, Canada
Floral and lively with nice textured apple and pear fruit, with a hint of peach. Lovely textured fruit hear with nice purity. 90/100

TH Wines By Hand White 2013 Okanagan Valley, Canada
Chardonnay with some Sauvignon Blanc. Lively, fresh and appley with lemons, grapefruit and some spicy notes. Finishes rich and spicy with a hint of sweetness. 91/100

TH Wines Rosé 2011 Okanagan Valley, Canada
Lively with herbs and cherries and sweet rosehip. Warm and rounded with a hint of butter and some red cherries and strawberries. 88/100

TH Wines Pinot Noir 2012 Okanagan Valley, Canada
Two barrels made, unfined and unfiltered. Sour cherries, spice and herbs as well as lovely sweet berry fruits. Herby and a bit tangy with some undergrowth notes. Sweet and sour with some bitter plums, and real complexity. 91/100

TH Wines Cabernet Franc Merlot 2012 Okanagan Valley, Canada
Two thirds Cabernet Franc. 12 barrels made. So pure, supple and elegant with nice berry fruits an notes of cherry and spice. Nice purity. This is ripe but well balanced. 91/100

OKANAGAN VALLEY
Introduction
Mission Hill
Haywire
Tantalus
TH Wines
Cedar Creek
Blue Mountain
Synchromesh
Painted Rock
50th Parallel
Okanagan Crush Pad
Culmina
  

See also:

Visiting Ontario's wine regions, Canada (series)

Wines tasted 06/14  
Find these wines with wine-searcher.com

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