BC's Similkameen Valley has been a revelation for Syrah drinkers. Due to the steep surrounding mountains and the reflectivity of the rock, heat remains in the valley long after the sun sets. While the valley is hotter than most of the Okanagan during the day, at night, temperatures in the Similkameen cool off dramatically. This combination creates Syrah that sits beautifully between Rhône elegance and New World intensity. While the 2023 and 2024 winter freezes have taken a toll on some Syrah clones, others have survived. Winemaker, General Manager and Co-owner Michael Clark says Clos du Soleil will continue to make wine from the surviving Syrah clones as well as replant. That’s good news given the exceptional quality of their current 2022 Syrah.
The 2022 growing season started with typical spring conditions. However, July and August were cooler than usual, slowing down vine growth and allowing for extended hang time. All of these conditions led to Syrah with good fruit intensity, acidity, and structure.
Michael is known for his incredible attention to detail while he focuses on terroir expression through minimal intervention winemaking. Hand-harvested from vineyards in Similkameen's Cawston and Keremeos, this gently destemmed Syrah was co-fermented with 2% viognier over 3 weeks in concrete. After being pressed in a basket press, the wine was aged for 16 months in French barrels (75% neutral, no new wood). Producing elegant wines with a philosophy borrowed from the great wines of Bordeaux, Clos du Soleil took a silver medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards for their 2022 Winemaker's Series Syrah.
Tasting Note
Perfumed nose with aromas of freshly crushed raspberries, plums and violets, complemented with subtle notes of baking spice and sagebrush. On the structured palate, windswept acidity billows over layers of wild raspberries, cracked peppercorn and dark forest fruit.
Food Pairing
This Syrah will be perfect for the brisk nights in December when you’re lingering around a cheese plate. Aged Gouda and its caramelized nuttiness will effortlessly accompany the Clos du Soleil 2022 Syrah’s dark fruit and savoury edge.