Cedar Creek
Part 6 of a series on the Okanagan Valley, a remarkable wine region in British Columbia, Canada

Website: www.cedarcreek.bc.ca

It was one of those glorious, warm Okanagan afternoons when we arrived at Cedar Creek for a visit and tasting. Situated facing the lake near Kelowna, this is one of the pioneering Okanagan vineyards, and was established by Senator Ross Fitzpatrick in the late 1980s. Like many vineyards here, it began with hybrids, but later on switched to vinifera varieties.

Currently it has a sizeable 103 acres of vines, 50 acres near the winery at Kelowna (a cool site) and 53 down in Osoyoos (a much warmer site).

Cedar Creek was purchased in February 2014 by Anthony von Mandl, of Mission Hill. When I visited massive works were underway to construct a gravity flow cellar, in time for the vintage. The idea is that this would become largely a Pinot Noir cellar for von Mandl’s two wineries: he clearly reckons that this is a particularly promising variety for the cooler end of the Okanagan.

THE WINES

Cedar Creek Riesling Platinum Block 3 2013 Okanagan, Canada
From 1991 plantings. 8.8% alcohol. Very keen and fresh with crisp, lively lemony fruit. Keen, bright and mineral. 90/100

Cedar Creek Chardonnay 2012 Okanagan, Canada
6% Pinot Gris. Textured pear fruit with well integrated oak. Nicely balanced showing hints of toast, spice and vanilla, with a subtle creaminess. 89/100

Cedar Creek Rosé 2013 Okanagan, Canada
Pinot Noir. Textured with sweet cherries and strawberries, with some creaminess and lovely weight. 88/100

Cedar Creek Platinum Block Pinot Noir Block 2 2011 Okanagan, Canada
Fresh and vivid with nice acidity and lovely cherry fruit. Fresh, expressive and bright with nice precision. Juicy but with more than a bit of seriousness. 93/100

Cedar Creek Gewurztraminer 2013 Okanagan, Canada
Fresh, grapey and textured with delicate pear and lychee notes. Pure and fresh with a hint of sweetness. 90/100

Cedar Creek Ehrenfelser 2013 Okanagan, Canada
Lively, focused and fresh, with pure, mineral lemony fruit and subtle herbiness. Very pure and crisp; lemony and fine. 90/100

OKANAGAN VALLEY
Introduction
Mission Hill
Haywire
Tantalus
TH Wines
Cedar Creek
Blue Mountain
Bartier Bros
Painted Rock
 

See also:

Visiting Ontario's wine regions, Canada (series)

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

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