We have realeased our Cabernet Franc and Syrah form 2009. Find full tasting notes and ordering information Under Order Wines.
Vancouver magazine gave the 2009 a great write-up too:
Nichol Vineyard Syrah 2009
"When Alex Nichol planted the first Syrah in Canada 20 years ago, everyone said he was crazy and predicted he’d rip the vines out in no time. Instead Nichol Syrah has become one of the best reds in the Okanagan, and a stellar example of B.C.’s potential being realized. The 2008 vintage from current owner Ross Hackwith took honours in our 2011 Wine Awards, and the just-released 2009 version is a worthy successor. More northern Rhone than New World in style, it has spicy black cherry fruit and layers of herbs, spice, and smoke with black olives and dark chocolate. Only 400 cases are available, so don’t delay—buy now."
A very nice article on Nichol Vineyard by Wine Blogger and laywer Shea Coulson...........
Nichol Vineyard or Why the Okanagan Matters
By Shea Couson of Just Grapes Wine
"On rare occasions it can take only a few days to reshape years of preconceptions. Often such experiences happen unassumingly, perhaps of necessity arising when you’re looking for something else. When I first visited the Okanagan Valley about 7 years ago I knew little but was extremely open minded about new wine. What I encountered then, admittedly at random, were enjoyable wines to a novice palate but nothing that excited me to proceed to that next level of wine appreciation.
Seven years and thousands of wines later and I headed back to the Okanagan for a second time to attend the Forum for Women Entrepeneurs Vine Forum conference on the wine industry and to take in some of the wineries on the Naramata Bench. During my four days in the Valley I tasted through wines of surprising suaveness and sophistication and well ripened high quality fruit, but despite some impressive quality and increasing deliciousness it was a small winery that has been sitting quietly near the northernmost reaches of the Naramata Bench since the early 90’s that made me ask some of the most interesting questions I’ve asked myself about the Okanagan.
The Who, the What and the Why
In wine education most begin approaching a region by asking what it is. What is grown there, what is the climate, what soils predominate, what are the best wineries.
Marketers approach wine mostly from the perspective of a constructed ‘who’. Who makes the wine and what is their story? For most marketers, the what and the why of a winery are derived from the who. This helps to tell a coherent story, create empathy, and forms a base from which to build a consumer’s experience of a particular wine. In many ways this makes sense in a celebrity obsessed culture. We aspire to associate with impressive individuals living a particular lifestyle.
During my time in the Okanagan, which I’ve often criticized for pandering to uneducated palates and a perceived lowest common denominator customer uninterested in challenges, I started to realize that it wasn’t the what or the who of a region that mattered, but the why. I started to ask why does the Okanagan matter? I didn’t think of this question in a commercial sense – a job I’ll leave to the accountants acting as trustees for bankrupt wineries who see only the numbers and none of the passion – but rather I asked myself why we should care about this place. For some reason this has never been a question I’ve truly asked myself, but I now think it is a question that ultimately becomes the raison d’être of any significant wine region.
Wine as Life Cycle
This has prompted me to think about the Okanagan in a deeper way than I’ve found in most media. Let’s not think about the valley from the perspective of an inferiority complex (whether that manifest as dismissal or as sycophancy and perverted hype), but rather from the perspective of an offering. What does the Okanagan offer to the wine world?
While I appreciated, and even enjoyed, some of the Valley’s best made suave and sophisticated wines working in an international style, I found that simplicity and youth can be an offering far greater than sophistication and charm. While there is a place for both, it is humble exuberance that for me drives the greatest wines and wine regions in the world. Strangely, these are qualities that usually come with simple routine and tradition. It’s life’s basic cycles that retain mystery and beauty as time plods forward. How do you reflect a life cycle in a glass of wine? You must shed the pretence of perfection, and even a certain sense of consistency (I can hear the marketers gasp in horror). You must accept nuance as given rather than manufactured. You must be prepared to let foibles speak. And most importantly the aromas of a wine must be coaxed softly but fully out of a wine to allow it to speak for it is our nose that is the most sensitive to the subtle changes of the earth. Taste is a function of smell: pleasure a function of experience. Diverse experience allows for a greater variety of pleasure, but only if we focus on more than that feeling in our bodies and open our minds to what the sensuous qualities of a wine can tell us about a place. Nichol Vineyard: Purity and Deep Varietal Typicity There was an everyday simplicity to my time at Nichol and a quiet that left time for reflection but didn’t require it. A place where geeking out was unassuming; where all discussion came down to simple moments of silence, punctuated only by smelling and sipping. That such a youthful winery and such a young team (Matt Sherlock in Marketing, Matt Chittick as assistant winemaker and vineyard manager, and Ross Hackworth as head winemaker and proprietor) could teach me that there are those in the Okanagan who understand that the vines’ silence can tell us more than any megaphone you place in front of them, well that’s special and that’s why the Okanagan matters. The 2010 whites aren’t the lush hedonistic wine we’ve come to know from the Okanagan. As such they can be jarring initially. But that’s a misnomer. And as your brain readjusts you may realize, just as I did, that these wines speak of something more varietally pure and deep than most of any other whites in the Valley. Both the 2010 Pinot Gris and the 2010 Gewurztraminer stay simple (forget overt oak flavours, batonnage sillyness, and extreme fruit ripeness), but in doing so they bring out more complexities in the varieties than most will be accustomed to in BC. Both are fermented dry, a particularly surprising move with the Gewurztraminer, which is traditionally at least slightly off dry. This is done without aggressiveness or painful acidity. Rather, these are extremely delicious wines that, gasp, both drink well alone and with food. I can personally attest to being very impressed drinking a considerable amount of Gewurztraminer, a grape I almost never enjoy. The 2010 Cabernet Franc was also aromatically exciting, and finished with chalky tannins uncommon for the grape in B.C. I had a hard time pronouncing a verdict on the 2010 pinots and blends, except that I see great potential. But analysis of the wines only goes so far. The 2010 wines from Nichol are the only wines in the Okanagan that I think true wine lovers, nay obsessives, are compelled to experience. These are varietally pure wines that taste like where they are from. They eschew perfection and embrace honesty. How many wineries in the world let alone the Okanagan can lay a claim to that?" Thanks for visiting us Shea and for taking the time to write such a thoughtful peice.
Mike Nierychlo reviews our 2008 Pinot Noir and Syrah and thinks they are pretty good. Check out his video below. We currently have the 2008 Syrah and 2008 Pinot Noir in stock. We can ship right to your door! Enjoy the video.
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Nichol I proud to be featured in Bals Quick and Healthy Indian. On Shelves now,
What a whirlwind!
Last week Ross and Matt Sherlock visited Courtenay, Victoria, Vancouver. AND last week we bottled the latest releases: 09 reds and 2010 whites!
So while Matt Chittick is doing a harvest at Pegasus Bay in New Zealand, Ross is taking Nic and the babe on a well-deserved vacation in Mexico, Matt is left behind and holding down the fort. He can take orders for the new 2010 Gris, now under screw cap!
It`s quiet in Naramata at this time of year... so even if you just have some good gossip to share, call Matt Sherlock at 250-496-5962 or email sales@nicholvineyard.com .
The vines are pruned and we are on the move! On Wednesday, April 20 we will be joining our agent Jason Hyde to host a dinner in Oak Bay at Bistro 28. http://bistro28.ca/ Bistro 28 is a west coast inspired small plates restaurant.
On April 21 we will be pouring at the Naramata Bench Spring Release in Vancouver http://www.naramatabench.com/events.aspx . We are literally rolling out the barrels - offering a sample of our Pinot Noir from our highest-elevation vineyard, right from the barrel!
We hope we might see you at one of these events. If not, send us an email and we can hook you up with an order of the latest releases before they are gone!
Spring Update.
What`s Happening at the Winery?
Spring is technically here, but try telling that to
our vineyard manager and assistant wine maker Matt Chittick who was bundled up tight
this morning as he finished the cane tie downs. Stay warm Matt! He`s got to make
sure our lovely new shoots know which way to to grow!
All around the vineyard we`ve also started to see quite a few buds breaks swell, a definite
sign of early spring action. It`s a tricky grape growing climate here and and every
warm day early on makes a difference come fall. Let`s hope the frost stays away!
In the winery our new wine boxes and bottles (we have screw caps on the whites this
year) arrived this week so we are gearing up for bottling in the coming weeks. We
are really happy with the Reds from 2009 and the Whites from 2010 and will have
some for sale in the coming months. Watch this space for more detailed notes and
release dates once the wines are bottled.
So, for now we are waiting for some green to happen in the vineyard, the weatherto get a little warmer and the wine shop to open up on May Long Weekend. If you
find yourself up here prior to May Long then please drop us a line. If we`re around
we`d love to see you and pour you whatever we we have open.
Naramata Bench Spring Release 2011
We love the Naramata Bench Spring Release Partyin Vancouver every year but this
year may be the best yet. Our Restaurant partner this time around is Bishops
the Vancouver institution that has made fresh and local the norm for over 20 years.
We will be joined by Bishop`s executive chef, Andrea Carlson (formerly of C, Raincity
Grill and Sooke Harbour House) who will be preparing some amazing bites to pair
with our wines. Andrea`s food is ridiculously good and it may be tough to keep our
hands off of it ourselves. Very excited.
Also, several of the participating wineries are bringing barrel samples of some
of their yet to be bottled wines so that attendees can get a sneak peak at the what`s
in the pipeline. We are thinking either pinot noir or syrah at this point as they`re
both showing wonderfully even at this stage. Or maybe cab franc. It`ll be a game
time decision.
There will be a tonne of amazing Naramata wineries in attendance teamed up with
stellar restaurant (Cin Cin and Vij`s to name a few) so get your tickets, we suspect
it will sell out soon.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit the following website or call
the number below.
1-800-663-1900
Wine Currently For Sale
We currently have the 2008 reds available and the newly released 2009 gewurztraminer.
We can ship right to your door and remember we have no problem putting together
mixed cases so long as they make up a full 12 bottles for safe shipping. Follow
the link at the bottom for more information on purchasing.
Nichol Gewurztraminer 2009 $16.90
Our brightest, freshest and most driven gewurztraminer to date. This is a very aromatic,
fruit driven wine even though it is technically dry. Citrus pith, gooseberrry, white
flowers and lime are all over the nose and palate with fresh acidity and a fairly
long, pithy finish. One of the most reserved gewurztraminers from BC. Good food
pairing versatility here.
Nichol Pinot Noir 2008 $26.90
One of our lushest pinot`s to date this is showing lots of generous and easy to
access fruit even this early on. Look for some oak on the nose in the way of clove
and vanilla followed by rhubarb, cranberry and alpine strawberry aromatics. Medium
bodied with cool red fruits, ripe medium tannins and solid, refreshing acidity.
In a very good place right now and one to enjoy over the next 3-5 years. Once they`re
in season we`re eying up some plump local grouse with a Huckleberry jus for this
red.
Nichol Cabernet Franc 2008 $26.90
We`re famous for our Syrah but we may be proudest of our cab franc; maybe because
it`s always the underdog or maybe because we just love cab franc so much. The 2008
version is softer and richer than some previous years yet it retains the classic
cab franc aromatics of tobacco leaf, bouquet garni and cassis. The palate is fairly
ripe and round with moderately chalky tannins, tamed acidity comparatively (wait
till you see the `09`s) and a slighlty creamy, coco tinged finish. Very crowd pleasing
while also unabashedly cab franc. Purists need not worry.
Nichol Syrah 2008 $29.90
Our brightest and freshest Syrah of recent memory. The classic meat, olive and leather
are still there aromatically but they are heavily complimented this year by bright
blueberry and raspberry aromatics. A little more fruit driven than savoury this
time around. The white pepper component leans toward black pepper this year and
the midpalate is big and generous with driving acidity (note `09`s looking very
good - in a very different way) and soft, ripe tannins. There is a nervosité to
the `08 that is frankly compelling. Drinking well right now and we think it will
peak in about 5 years.
Nichol Cabernet Franc/Syrah 2007 $28.90
60% cab franc and 40% syrah this wine is delicious right now and is the wine of
choice for staff at the moment. This is rich and full without being tannic or rough.
Soil, fresh leather and blueberries are all over the nose and palate with soft tannins
and sneaky, fresh acidity. We like it with a slight chill (10 mins in the fridge)
accentuating the juicy, blue fruit notes even more. Delicious and nearly chuggable.
To purchase any of the above wines please visit our ORDER page above,
or drop us a line at 1 250 496 4275
Cheers, thanks and hopefully we will see you soon!
-Ross, Nicole, Nate and the two Matt`s.
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Many of you have been buying our wines for years, if not decades. For that we thank you. We could`t exist without you. That said, some of you probably have many of our wines in your cellar and may be curious about optimal drinking windows. To that point we are working on a back vintage tasting note compilation for your reference which we will update as we try wines out of our own library collection. In the meantime, if you have any questions about how your wines are drinking or when you should consume them feel free to send us an e-mail or give us a call. We`d love to chat or offer some advice.
1-250-496-5962
Lastly, if you`ve had an older Nichol wine recently we`d love to hear about it; we value your opinion and we can only taste so much wine ourselves (and boy do we try).
Shoot us an e-mail if you have an experience to share or a tasting note on an older Nichol wine. We`ll pick our favorite tasting note or experience about a Nichol Wine and if it`s yours we will ship you a free bottle of the 2008 Nichol Syrah for your efforts. So go crack some older wines!
Submit experience/tasting notes to:
We will announce the winner next month. Happy tasting!
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Sorry to those of you who have been asking for more of our 9 Mile Red - it is sold out! The St. Laurent is also sold out.
It`s that time of year when only a few things are left in the cellar... check our ordering page to see what remains, and stock up!
We know that the post-holiday slowdown is officially over and in the past when the calendar gets full again and events pop up throughout the season!
Here are a few places you can find us in spring 2011. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for more details!
March 12 / 13 Eat. Drink. Tweet! - Penticton
March 23 - Dinner with Ross Hackworth at Tapenade Bistro in Steveston
April 2 - Castlegar Sunrise 2000 Rotary Club Wine Festival - Castlegar
April 19 - Naramata Bench Spring Release - Victoria - location TBA
April 21 - Naramata Bench Spring Release - Vancouver - Bayshore
May 7 - Bacchanalia - Spring Okanagan Wine Festival - Penticton
We hope you will see us and have a taste!
We are so proud to share that we are the litle winer that made a big impression on more than 500 people last Friday at the Vancouver Club, when we were featured as the "unsung hero" at Vancouver magazine`s Big Night!
At the annual foodie event, Vancouver magazine pairs Best-in-Category wines from their wine awards with winning restaurants from their Restaurant Awards for a delectable evening of food and wine hosted at the prestigious Vancouver Club. The event is always a hot ticket in the city, as it features the who`s who of Vancouver`s vibrant culinary scene.
New for 2011, Vancouver magazine`s Sommelier of the Year, Kurtis Kolt, revealed his favourite "unsung hero" from this year`s wine competition, which was our 9 Mile Red!
Kurtis says that our 9 Mile Red is a fantastic example of how far BC has come. He also said that he loves that the 9 Mile Red gives St. Laurent a little spotlight, the fact that it`s made from 100% Estate fruit, and that since he spent the summer of 2010 in Naramata, it has a bit of a personal connection for him.
We are really excited to have so many people at once try our new blend, but sadly, there are only a few cases of the 9 Mile Red 2008 left. To get your hands on the next vintage, call us or send us a note, and we will take your pre-order for the next vintage.
Visit the Tasting Bar at Everything Wine in Surrey to enjoy a complimentary taste of our latest releases! January 15, 2011 2pm - 6pm Location - Morgan Crossing - Unit 112, 15735 Croydon Drive, South Surrey There is no need to RSVP - call the store if you have any questions: 604-542-2480. See you there!
We are relieved to share that we survived our first ever portfolio tasting!
To toast the end of the year and the holiday season, we invited customers new and old for a complimentary taste. Members of Vancouver`s wine & foodie press scene came too, and for many it was their first taste of our wines!
We even had a surprise visit from our winery`s namesake, Alex Nichol. It was great to see he is doing so well, and he is happy to see Nichol emerge into the public eye.
Just over 100 people crowded into a room at the gorgeous Fairmont Pacific Rim after our event outgrew Oru. We are so happy so many of you came out to taste, and enjoy the pairings of the Nichol wines to chef David Wong`s delicious food!
While we were at our event, Good Life Vancouver held a draw for an Okanagan prize package, which includes a tasting at Nichol. So Ross, accompanied by Melody Fury of Vancouver Food Tour (shown in photo) drew the winner`s name. Congrats to the winner, Melanie!
After everyone tried a taste of the current lineup, we experienced many orders of the wines. We are pleased to offer free shipping to everyone until the end of December. A few skus are close to selling out, so act now for free shipping and to get your favourite wine before it is gone!
In a recent North Shore News article, found here http://bit.ly/bsxzuC Tim Pawsey, the Hired Belly, offers his 2 cents on our new look.
Ross Hackworth is seen here with the new packaging, overlooking our gorgeous Narmata landscape.
In a nutshell, the Hired Belly likes our new look, but pokes at us a bit for our proud claim regarding our history making wine from only Naramata Village fruit since 1993, which is VERY short in the wine world.
The Hired Belly also reviews our Syrah and 9 Mile Red; we have a few cases of both of these wines in stock, and you can order yours here on the site or by giving us a call. But don`t wait too long, both are moving fast!
Wow!
We are just thrilled to share that Globe and Mail wine columnist Beppi Crosariol recently reviewed our 2008 Gewurztraminer, giving an 89 point score, and also the 2008 Syrah, which he gave a 90! Here is what he had to say about: the wines:
Nichol Syrah 2008
SCORE: 90
Price: $29.90 in B.C. through www.nicholvineyard.com
A leading small producer in the Naramata district of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, Nichol Vineyard was recently singled out by top British wine writer Jancis Robinson. She ranked the 2005 vintage of this red at the top of her 100-strong B.C. list following a visit to the region in 2009. The 2008 is silky and polished, nodding at the classic syrahs of France’s northern Rhone valley with its meaty essence of smoked pork, blackberry, peppercorn and juicy acidity. Try it with braised red meats .
Nichol Gewurztraminer 2008
SCORE: 89
Price: $16.90 in B.C. through www.nicholvineyard.com
Medium-bodied and very dry for a gewürztraminer, it leads with peppery spice, subtle lychee and pear and a lingering finish of faded roses. It could almost be a great traminec from Slovenia.
The full article is here http://bit.ly/cAGmup
This is what Wine Guy James Nevison had to say about us in the Province on September 30, 2010
Nichol Vineyard 2008 Cabernet Franc, B.C. (from $26.90, available at select private wine stores and restaurants)
Nichol`s new-look labels clearly highlight this Naramata winery`s long-time commitment to the Bench, patriotically proclaiming: "100% Naramata Village Grown Since 1993." There`s reason to be proud, Nichol continues to be a favourite of wine enthusiasts, their wines a little harder to find but worth the search. Nichol`s estate grown, unfiltered Cabernet Franc is a delight. Lots of cherry and tart cranberry in this nicely concentrated red that finishes with sharp acidity and an engaging, savoury grit. A great food wine, especially with bolder flavoured dishes like braised short ribs.
Bottom line: A-"Bold yet fresh."
You can order your Cab Franc now; just click over to the ordering tab.
Collectors know about our Syrah; some of you are just discovering the luscious flavours that end up in the bottle from Canada`s oldest Syrah vines.
This Syrah, like all of our wines, is 100% from our vineyards in Naramata Village. Think dark cherry, plum, blackberry, black pepper and smoky roast meat. It is structured to age, but if you simply cannot wait, we suggest you pair it with lamb, other game dishes and cheeses.
The Syrah is available now - buy online on this website or call us at 250-496-5962 to secure your order. It won`t last!
October 19, 2010
Reviews of the Nichol Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc and 9 Mile Red by The Wine Diva Daenna Van Mulligen http://bit.ly/dyP9Ou
October 8, 2010
Review of the 2008 Syrah and the 2008 Gewuztraminer by Beppi Crosariol in the Globe and Mail http://bit.ly/cAGmup
October 3, 2010
Review of the 2008 Gewurztraminer by Shelley Boettcher in the Calgary Herald http://bit.ly/aGBEbZ
September 30, 2010
Review of the 2008 Cabernet Franc by Wine Guy James Nevison in the Province http://bit.ly/9Y6poY
June 10, 2010
Review of the 2006 Syrah by Treve Ring in EAT magazine http://bit.ly/4dmoRo
June 7, 2010
Review of the 2009 Pinot Gris by the Wine Diva, Daenna van Mulligen June 7, 2010 http://bit.ly/bbP43F
Review of the 2006 Syrah by the Wine Diva, Daenna van Mulligen http://bit.ly/bbP43F
June 4, 2010
Review of the 2006 Syrah by Beppi Crosariol in the Globe and Mail http://bit.ly/ae1d9e
May 28, 2010
Domestic Wine Pick of the Week by Beppi Crosariol in the Globe and Mail May 28, 2010 http://bit.ly/cYybM4
May 28, 2010
Weekend Wine Pick by Jim Martin on Castanet.net: http://bit.ly/bps5hc
May 25, 2010
A Baker’s Dozen of Pinot Gris to Pick Up by Jurgen Gothe in the Georgia Straight http://bit.ly/cSOj8g
May 14, 2010
BC Wine of the Week by Anthony Gismondi in the Vancouver Sun http://bit.ly/axyYiD
