BY CHRIS HERBERT
Special to the PQB News
What do you do with a cellar of fine Meritage wines? If you are Michael Kullmann and the team at Osoyoos Larose Estate Winery, you’d dust them off, sampling a few along the way (OK, maybe that’s just me talking) and share them with the world.
A member of La Groupe Taillan family of winemakers, Osoyoos Larose have built their reputation on producing Le Grand Vin “Bordeaux style” wines. To quote Michael, “The Okanagan is not Bordeaux and vice versa. Okanagan wines should be appreciated for the quality wines that they are.”
London born, Michael studied at Bordeaux’s National School of Agriculture earning a degree in Viticulture and Vineyard Management, followed by internships at Chateaus Olivier and Brillette. By 2019 he found himself toiling as the vineyard manager at Osoyoos Larose. “I knew of the Okanagan Valley, but little of its unique terroir and climate,” he says. In 2022 he became their winemaker, imbuing his philosophy of embracing minimal intervention, allowing each vintage to stand on its own.
“Wine is made in the vineyard.” Michael believes in organically grown, classic small lot, hand-picked fruit forward wines that will express the Osoyoos terroir.
With an eye to the future, a new winery and consumers’ evolving tastes in mind, Michael and his team are re-imagining and replanting blocks of the original 80 acres of Noble grape root stock, with an emphasis on Cabernet Sauvignon. Down the road are 10 acres of newly planted Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscatte grapes destined for their white Meritage wines.
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Getting back to that cellar of fine Le Grand Vin wines. The team at Osoyoos Larose want to share these iconic wines by way of membership in La Maison Osoyoos Larose. (lamaisonosoyooslarose.com) Allow these wines to be the best that they can be. Decant, allow them to breathe. Swirl them, observe the colour, take the time to relish the aromas, revel in the complex flavours, savour each sip. Serve them with bold cheeses, roasted foods or a rustic pizza.
La Maison Osoyoos Larose offers several exclusive-to-you vintages, among them: Le Grand Vin 2020. Medium bodied, it’s just hinting of bold fruit aromas and flavours and a long finish to come. Already enjoyable, put a bottle away.
Just three years young, the 2019 vintage is already coming into its own. The smoothness of the Merlot is showing its dominance along side rich, ripe fruit flavours. Expressing an Okanagan earthiness, some smokiness and the boldness to come.
The 2009 Le Grand Vin exemplifies why you’ll want to put some younger vintages away. This Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon dominant Meritage is smooth yet complex, boasting of cassis, dark coffee flavours and long lingering smokiness in the back of the mouth.
A resident of Qualicum Beach, Chris Herbert is a wine enthusiast who enjoys sharing everything that B.C. wines have to offer. He looks forward to hearing from you with your questions and comments via email at spillthatvino@gmail.com.