Meyer and Mayhem: sibling wineries

Photo: Terry Meyer of Mayhem Wines

The wines for Mayhem Wines, which launched in 2018, and for Meyer Family Vineyards are made in the Meyer winery on McLean Creek Road, just outside Okanagan Falls. The reason: the owners are siblings. Here is an except from my Okanagan Wine Tour Guide, with some background on Mayhem.

This winery emerged from a small virtual winery called Anarchist Mountain Vineyards, which was established near Osoyoos after Terry Meyer and partner Andrew Stone bought a 1.8-hectare (4½-acre) mountainside vineyard. She is the sister of JAK Meyer, owner of Meyer Family Vineyards at Okanagan Falls. Terry and Andrew, both Albertans, set down roots in the Okanagan after coming to help her brother in 2008 as he entered the wine industry. Terry, who had her own daily television show in Edmonton for seven years, has had an extensive career in marketing and public relations. That included running the wine club for Tinhorn Creek. Andrew was born in in 1972 in Fort Vermilion, Alberta. After a career working in the oil fields, he became a corporate systems analyst. He missed working outdoors, and after JAK invited him to the Okanagan, he took up viticulture and embraced the wine-industry lifestyle.

The Anarchist wines, a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir, were made for them at the Meyer winery, which specialized in those very same varietals. “I was not really interested in supporting my sister to make more Chardonnay and Pinot Noir here, which was going to compete against us,” JAK says. “That is why we launched the Mayhem brand, doing anything but Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.” For copyright reasons, the Anarchist name was dropped in favour of Mayhem. The business arrangement opens growth opportunities for both Meyer, which took over the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grown on the Anarchist vineyard, and for Mayhem, which is no longer limited to the 500 cases that Terry and Andrew’s vineyard could produce. Mayhem’s flagship red is Merlot. The other wines in the portfolio, including Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling, are made with grapes sourced from contract growers. “We are opportunistic,” Terry says.

Here are notes on three recent Mayhem releases and on two premium estate-grown wines from Meyer.

Mayhem Gewürztraminer 2020 ($19 for 50 cases). This bone dry wine was fermented in neutral oak and aged six months on the lees, perhaps with the apparent object of achieving an Alsace style. There is more tropical fruit than spice in the aroma. On the palate, the wine is crisp and fresh with flavours of melon and peach. 90.

Mayhem Riesling 2020 ($23 for 175 cases). This wine was aged six months in stainless steel (58%) and neutral oak. The wine begins with a hint of petrol, a classic characteristic of Riesling, and lemon. The modest amount of residual sugar, which gives the texture some flesh, is balanced with good acidity. Flavours of stone fruit mingled with lime persist on the lingering finish. Mineral notes add to the length and backbone. Give this wine some additional bottle age. 91.

Mayhem Anarchy Reserve Merlot 2019 ($40 for 75 cases). This wine was aged 18 months in French oak (50% new). It begins with aromas of black currant, cherry and blueberry, echoed on the palate and mingled with spice and toasty oak. The texture is firm (not hard), suggesting the wine will age well for another seven to 10 years. 91.

Meyer Micro Cuvée Chardonnay 2019 ($56.61 plus tax for 150 cases). The fruit for this wine is from the winery’s McLean Creek Road Vineyard. A long, cool fermentation began in stainless steel. The wine then finished fermenting in French oak (33% new) where it aged 11 months on the lees without stirring. This wine was made from the stand-out barrels. The winemaker selected one new Tronçais oak puncheon and two one-year-old puncheons of Allier oak. The result is a wine of great elegance, beginning with aromas of butter, vanilla and orange peel. The wine has great length on the palate, with buttery flavours of orange and nectarine with a hint of spicy oak on the lingering finish. 93.

Meyer Micro Cuvée Pinot Noir 2019 ($56.61 plus tax for 300 cases). This is a limited production from the best barrels, available only to wine club members. They are getting a complex, age-worthy Pinot Noir that has been aged in French oak. The clones are Pommard Clone 91 (50%) plus 115, 114 and 667 from the winery’s McLean Creek Road Vineyard. The wine begins with appealing aromas of cherry and raspberry, echoed on the palate with savoury and spicy notes on the finish. The wine should be decanted for consumption now but I would recommend cellar this for several years to let the wine reach its potential. 92-94.