Haywire Winery 2010 Gamay Noir Rosé - 88pts

Haywire Winery 2010 Gamay Noir Rosé (Summerland) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $18.99
Alcohol: 13.7%
Production: 1078 cases
Date Tasted: July 17th, 2012

Tasting Notes: Wild raspberry, rhubarb, Bosc pear, light brioche and floral aromas make for a lovely nose on this salmon-meets-brick coloured Gamay Noir rosé from Summerland. The mostly dry, nicely textured palate follows with a kick of tart, watery red fruit and refreshing acidity that balances the residual sugar admirably. The finish is long with lingering mild tannins and mouth-watering lemon/lime rind flavours.

Pair with a raspberry cream sauce covered salmon fillet or your favourite hot deck. Drink now-2013.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Haywire Winery 2011 Canyonview Vineyard Chardonnay - 88pts

Haywire Winery 2011 Canyonview Vineyard Chardonnay (Summerland) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $23
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 105 cases
Date Tasted: July 1st, 2012

Tasting Notes: This small lot release from Haywire Winery marks their first foray into a single variety release of the Burgundian white grape. Fermented in the firm's egg-shaped cement tanks, this Chardonnay sees no oak and avoided any secondary or  "malolactic" fermentation (whose main purpose is to soften the acid). Add to the mix a long, cool harvest and you have the makings of an oyster-lover's dream wine. This Chard matches the intensity of the liveliness of Sauvignon Blanc yet retains its varietal character displaying Chablis-like lemon/lime and strong mineral characters plus Okanagan orchard fruit and ripeness. This is a top-notch, un-oaked Chardonnay to match with seafood options like oysters and simply prepared lobster. Drink 2012-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Haywire Winery 2010 Pinot Noir - 88+pts

Haywire Winery 2010 Pinot Noir (Summerland) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $27
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 550 cases
Date Tasted: June 18th, 2012

Tasting Notes: 2010 is proving to be a great vintage for BC Pinot Noir - especially for folks who love well-balanced acid in their wines. Too little acid and wines can become flabby and tired. Too much and you can't enjoy them without food to keep your mouth from puckering closed permanently.

This Pinot from Summerland's Haywire Winery uses fruit sourced from Oliver which was endowed with a healthy dose of natural acidity and plenty of raspberry, cranberry and cherry-cola characters on the gorgeous nose and watery palate. The nose is worth taking the time to appreciate and will remind you of ultra-fresh, tart and fleshy red fruit with a touch of lean pepper notes in the background. That pepper is more prominent on the mouth-watering palate, yet still takes a backseat to the red fruit - only to then take the lead on the long finish where it mingles with the acid contributing to the welcomed earthy component of this fruit-forward Pinot.

I first tasted this wine 10 months ago and found it, at the time, quite closed and awkward. Time in the bottle has done wonders for it and another six months or so would be ideal. Drink late-2012-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Haywire Winery 2011 Switchback Vineyard Pinot Gris - 89pts

Haywire Winery 2011 Switchback Vineyard Pinot Gris (Summerland) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here and VQA stores
Cost: $23
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 1000 cases
Date Tasted: June th, 2012

Tasting Notes: The common wisdom in the trade is that wine is made in the vineyard. The land, the viticulture decisions and weather account for the upper-limit of quality any wine will would likely achieve from its source grapes. Winemaking, then, is a series of decisions that pilots the wine home to port, keeping it safe from harm and trying to cause as little damage as possible. For the most part I've found this to be true. However, occasionally, a winemaking decision can work to elevate a wine beyond its expected potential and such is the case with Haywire's single vineyard Pinot Gris.

The Summerland firm have chosen to invest in concrete egg fermentation tanks which service all of their wines but it's with the Pinot Gris that the effects of the added lees contact is greatest. The egg shape and integrated tubing serve to control the temperature during fermentation and allow for a continuous circulation of the wine in the tank. The result is a more complete and compelling texture and mouth feel - especially during a cool, acidic year like 2011. Add to the mix the classic BC Pinot Gris citrus, white peach and mineral flavours with the acid and lees character of a still Champagne and you have yourself a tasty treat. Will hold for a few years but is tasting beautifully now, so why wait? Drink now-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Haywire Winery 2009 Switchback Pinot Gris - 87pts

Haywire Winery 2009 Switchback Pinot Gris (Summerland) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery
Cost: $22.90
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 168 cases
Date Tasted: August 12th, 2010

Tasting Notes: The Switchback Pinot Gris, named for the vineyard site upon which it is grown, is the first release from a new micro-winery in Summerland: Haywire. Proprietors Steve Lornie and Christine Coletta, she of the influential wine marketing firm Coletta and Associates, are starting small with a limited release of estate grown Pinot Gris - just 168 cases. Plans for a Pinot Noir, Rosé and Sparkling Wine are in place and should come online in subsequent years.

The choice to grow Pinot Gris was presumably an attempt to match their Sumerland, East-facing terroir to the appropriate varietal. Their inaugural release suggests this was the right choice as they have produced a very unique and intriguing wine. Good things are in store for Haywire Winery, despite the chaos suggested by the named.

The Switchback Pinot Gris starts with alluring aromas of juicy, baked peaches and minerality, with herbal notes on the nose. The dry palate offers both fruity and savory flavours of citrus fruits, pears and dried herbs. The finish is moderate in length with lingering lemon tartness. Drink now.
 - Liam Carrier