At Road 13 Vineyards in the Okanagan Valley it has always been “all about the dirt.” The motto has served them well over the past 13 years, but instead of coasting on past success, the team is reinventing their future.
The new focus for owners Pam and Mick Luckhurst along with winemaker Jean-Martin (J-M) Bouchard, below, is producing Rhone-style wines while showcasing some of the varietals that brought them their success from the get-go.
The new releases from Road 13 are a reflection of the style and varietals they plan to keep as vineyards are replanted over the coming years.
“This is a process,” says Pam Luckhurst. “It took us a while to learn who we are and what we want Road 13 wines to stand for. The past few years we have spent a lot of time getting involved in the community, and gauging feedback from our own team, our sales agents, our neighbours and our customers. We have learned,” she continues. “Road 13 Vineyards is set on defining the style of Okanagan Valley wines.
The future of Road 13 is defined by the new VRM 2013, a Rhone blend of Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne, the 2014 Marsanne and 2013 Syrah Mourvedre.
The winery says it is time to focus on wines they feel strongly are the best of what the Golden Mile Bench and south Okanagan can produce. “We believe that those wines are the Rhones.”
The revamped portfolio is also represented by what the winery calls “The Iconics.” They include the 5th Element, 74K and Old Vines Chenin Blanc.
Road 13 started saying good-bye to some of their vines, such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, to make room for new Rhone plantings. However, they felt they could not part with certain vines and they will always be a part of the portfolio.
Here’s what I liked from Road 13’s new portfolio and some key iconic wines.
The Future
Road 13 VRM 2013 ($29, 92 points) — The blend is 72% Viognier, 25% Roussanne and a splash of Marsanne with fermentation and aging in older (neutral) oak barrels. Love the nose of poached pear, apricot, soft vanilla, spice and minerality. It is defined by its texture on the palate with round and fleshy fruit and a broad range of pear, exotic tropical fruits and subtle spice notes. Delicious stuff.
Road 13 Marsanne 2014 ($24, 90 points) — A perky, fresh nose of melon, apple, pear and integrated spice notes. It’s softer on the palate with a ripe core of fruit that includes Asian pear, melon and guava notes with a touch of honey that’s all textured and lovely through a long finish.
Road 13 Syrah Mourvedre 2013 ($35, 89 points) — Gorgeously aromatic with black currants, blue plums, thick and concentrated cherry, sweet spices and vanilla. It caresses the palate with anise, blackberry, black licorice, black olives, savoury spices and smooth, ripe tannins.
The Iconic
Road 13 5th Element 2011 ($49, 92 points) — The elements are: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec with 16 months of aging French oak barrels. The nose shows blackberry, loam, currants, cedar and an array of oak-derived spice notes. It’s big and rich on the palate with cassis, blackberry, dark chocolate, leather, spice with fine tannic structure and length through the finish. Cellar five+ years.
Road 13 Seventy Four K 2012 ($25, 89 points) — A wild and crazy blend of Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Viognier and Gamay and finished at 14.6% alcohol and aged for 14 months in a combination of American and French oak barriques. The nose shows a unique mosaic of boysenberry, blueberry, mulberry, mocha, vanilla and a range of Asian spices. It’s a rich and unique broth of blueberry, anise, plums, mulberries and spice on the palate that’s layered and exotic with fine-honed tannins and structure.
Road 13 Old Vines Chenin Blanc 2014 ($27, 91 points) — This Chenin was wild fermented and aged briefly for five months in oak. It has integrated aromas of apple, pear, melon, soft citrus, honey and spice. It is highly concentrated on the palate with pear, wild honey, apple crumble, flinty minerality and fine oak spices.
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