2022 Syrah Cuvée Violette

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• 92 points

  For many years Cuvée Violette lives up to its floral moniker, with an abundance of perfumed violets and irises. Though the 1% viognier of previous vintages has now been dropped, this continues with its alluring charms. In 2022, the Syrah came off the south Okanagan’s Crowley Vineyard, Deadman Lake Vineyard, and Le Grand Pin. After a ferment in concrete and stainless, this rested 15 months in older French oak barrels and foudre (77%) and 23% in concrete. Fragrant violets, wild blueberries, and blackberries flow throughout this medium-bodied red, with long, fine tannins housing the lifted fruit, and a dusting of red and black pepper seasoning the finish. There’s a lovely poise and delicacy here, atypical of South Okanagan reds, but not of winemaker Severine Pinte.

• 92 points

  Cuvée Violette continues to evolve and impress, becoming more serious for the price, albeit with all the fun you could want drinking syrah. 2022 is a complete syrah from its floral violet and blueberry to its meaty, licorice, black olive, savoury, peppery, sagebrush notes, met with silky smooth, dense tannins. I appreciate the freshness and tangy acidity that brightens the mid-palate and keeps the finish lively. This is more than ready to drink, but if you have a cellar, it is also worth laying a few bottles away. Classic Severine Pinte.

• 91 points

  This is a leaner yet so precise expression of Okanagan syrah in an excellent vintage, that began very cool then picked up heat toward harvest. There is an energy and tension, with lower alcohol (moderate 13%) good acidity and fine yet mildly edgy tannin. The nose is cooler clime classic syrah with typical red cherry (not black), sage, pepper and smoked meat. With aeration some florals emerge. There is a sense of contained rawness and authenticity I really like here – very BC. The length is very good. I wanted more but it fits the price tier. I would buy as much as you can afford and age this over the next five years.