Julius 2021 Martin’s Lane Winery
Tasted July 8th 2022
Note: Aromatic and elegant on the nose, serious and restrained on the palate with a very long and earthy, vegetal finish.
It depicts an image of Mongolian nomads living on vast pastoral land herding sheep on horsebacks. Everything is done by hand but has its own organized system that’s rustic yet minimalist. It’s a life freeing to dream but daring to make true.
Had the pleasure of being introduced to Julius during my last visit to Martin’s Lane in the beginning of June 2022. It was not yet announced so I had to refrained from talking about it. It came from the winemaker, Shane Munn’s wildly genius and creative mind combined with meticulous attention and care.
I have to be honest, this wine took me some time to understand. It starting off funky and rustic yet aromatically floral, but it is quite restrained on the palate. Its finish still lingers while I type these words. It does give notes of that restrained characteristics from the Sime’s Pinot Noir, but it was added a level of sophistication with the help from the Fritzi’s Riesling. With waves of grassy, strawberry, steely and petrol notes coming and going in the finish, I kept wanting to place this wine somewhere in the consumer market, but couldn’t quite fit it. Would I have it with food? Would I have it on its own after a hard day’s work?
Under what circumstances would one open a bottle of Julius except to go on a appreciation trance? One would have to be in a state of mental preparedness to allow Julius to enter. It’s a drinkable art.
First Impression: Translucent ruby with pinkish purple hue. Aromatic, elegant, floral yet rustic.
Flavours: Rose petals, cranberry, hints of strawberry jam, mandarin orange peel and zest, bees wax, honey suckle, steeped tea, with earthy soil undertone.
Structure: Dry and medium tannins, medium+ acidity, medium body, spicy and peppery on the palate with very long and earthy, vegetal finish.
Producer: Martin’s Lane Winery, Kelowna, BC, Canada
Varietal:
85% Pinot Noir
15% Riesling
Co-fermented
Vineyard Sources:
Pinot Noir from Sime’s Vineyard
Granite-based soils and a north-facing slope
Riesling from Fritzi’s Vineyard
Clay-rich soils at the foot of a doormant volcano and east-facing slop
Harvest: Hand harvested, lightly food-tread extraction
Fermentation:
100% whole-bunch.
Alternate layering co-ferment
10-15 days cold maceration
Wild ferment for 14 days
Aging: 80% old oak barrels, 20% ceramic for up to 6 months.
Technicals: 12.8% ABV | TA 7.0 g/l | pH 3.5
Production: Single tank limited production
Read more on “The Way We Taste” to learn more about how we evaluate wines.
