New Release
2019 Equinoxe Syrah

2019 Equinoxe Syrah

Équinoxe: equal day, equal night. Equal heat of the day, equal cool of the night. Equal new world, equal old world.

The 2019 Équinoxe Syrah, as in the past, is comprised of fruit grown in multiple plots throughout the South Okanagan Valley. A traditionally made Syrah in the sense that the sum is considered greater than its parts (lieux-dits trumping single cru ala Chez Jamet, JL Chave, Clape). The resulting effort is a very complex wine with dark garnet colour that perfectly and effortlessly combines elements of both the old world and the new world styles. This monumental wine is at the same time feminine and masculine. It has grace and power, spice and florals, gamy and savoury notes. Yin and yang come together to showcase a perfectly balanced Syrah. 2019 like the 2018 vintage is lighter in body, that is to say, it is medium+ compared to the full or full+ body of vintages like 2015 or 2016. Due to the arrival of winter in early October, we opted to go for a more expressive and gentler extract as to not pick up any green or bitter qualities in the tannins. There is a distinct white pepper profile and more wild floral note to this vintage. Upon release, 2019 Équinoxe Syrah is going to be readily drinkable compared to many other vintages at release: namely 2012, 2014-2016.

Slideshow Items

  • 93 points

    Equinoxe is the flagship syrah of LVP. This comes from a few sites in the southern Okanagan, and vines nearing 20 years. This year sees 97% syrah, 3% viognier, with 19 months in French barrel (36% new) before bottling unfined. This masterful, structural red is entirely in balance, with rivers of wild blackberry, black cherry, espresso, iron, and cracked peppercorn. Tannins are long and fine, and acidity is easily matching the Southern Okanagan weight. The finish lingers with luring violets and bacon fat. Savoury and confident, this is drinking beautifully now and with time ahead. 199 cases.

    Treve Ring Gismondi on Wine  |  Tasted: Feb 2022
  • 94 Points

    Consistently well made and at the top of the BC syrah mix, Équinoxe is all about balance: equal day, equal night; an equal heat of the day, the equal cold of the night leading to an equal New World, Old World style. As good as 2017 was, this is equally fine, if not even more elegant, despite having so much density and length on the palate. The balance is perfect, making it a joy to drink, and I know that kind of balance spells a long life in the bottle, meaning more and more complexity. The flavours are desert scrub, licorice, pepper, and savoury dried herbs mixed with ripe, dense, dark black fruit. The source is a mix of South Okanagan Valley sub-appellations, again honouring the adage that the whole is greater than its parts.

    Anthony Gismondi Gismondi on Wine  |  Tasted: 23 DECEMBER 2021