Arrowleaf Cellars Gewurztraminer 2006

The Arrowleaf vineyard’s Gewürztraminer vines were planted in 1986 with a clone that originated in Alsace. That was the same year in which the current owners of this winery, Joe and Margrit Zuppiger and their family, left Switzerland for Canada, first to be dairy farmers in Alberta. In 1997, they purchased this north Okanagan vineyard, opening a winery in 2003 after son Manuel completed his winemaking studies in Switzerland. Both the clone and the age of the vines contribute to the full-flavoured richness that sets this wine apart from many Okanagan Gewürztraminers, which are often produced read more...with clonal material originating in Germany. This wine is as dramatic in the glass as only a Gewürztraminer can be, starting with intense aromas of spice and rose petals. The equally intense flavours continue the spicy theme, along with notes of grapefruit and zest of grapefruit. The finish is dry and the texture, with 13.7% alcohol, is big. Just bottled, this wine is attractive now but will only get better over the next year. 89 points.    (hide)