Mayhem and Meyer releases in mid-2022

Photo: Andrew Stone and Terry Meyer Stone

Meyer and Mayhem are related wineries. Mayhem is a collaboration between Terry Meyer Stone of Anarchist Mountain Vineyards and her brother, JAK Meyer of Meyer Family Vineyards, along with their spouses. The collaboration provides Mayhem access to the Meyer winemaking facility at Okanagan Falls and the mandate to work with varietals different from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the focus at Meyer. JAK Meyer did not think that he and his sister should be competing when the better option was to broaden the portfolio on offer from the two Meyers. The strategy is working. Andrew Stone and Terry Meyer Stone are sourcing fruit from growers in the South Okanagan, from Naramata to Oliver, while JAK focussed on his estate vineyards on the Naramata Bench and near Okanagan Falls.

The fans of these related wineries must be pleased with the pricing of the current releases. While there are some super-premium wines in the Meyer range, both wineries offer very good value.

Here are notes on the wines.

Mayhem Pinot Gris 2021 ($17.39 for 322 cases). Mayhem secured the fruit for this wine from an Oliver area vineyard. Whole-bunch pressed, the grapes started a cool seven-week fermentation in stainless steel and finished in oak (7% new French oak, 24% seasoned barriques and 69% seasoned puncheons. The wine spent six months on the lees before being blended and bottled. The wine is bright and juicy, beginning with aromas of pear and citrus. On the palate, there are flavours of pear and apple. The finish lingers. 90.

Mayhem Riesling 2021 ($20.87 for 161 cases). The grapes for this excellent wine are from a Naramata vineyard with 18-year-old clone 21-B vines. The wine’s bracing acidity (9.17 grams per litre) is well balanced with 15.82 grams of residual sugar. Technically, the wine is off-dry but on the palate, it is crisp and refreshing, with aromas and flavours of lemon, grapefruit and stone fruits. 90.

Mayhem Rosé 2021 ($20.87 for 220 cases). This rosé is made with Merlot grapes which, after crushing, were gently pressed for just three hours. The colour extraction is fashionably pale. The wine was fermented very cool for 16 weeks, until it was totally dry. The wine begins with aromas of strawberry and spice, leading to flavours of strawberry mingled with dark fruits and minerality. 90.

Mayhem Small Lot Sauvignon Blanc 2021 ($23.48 for 113 cases). Once again, Mayhem secured fruit from a Naramata Bench vineyard. The wine had a long (10-week), cool fermentation that began in stainless steel and finished in French oak (14% new). The cool ferment preserved the bright acidity that gives the wine zesty flavours mingled with herbal notes. I suggest decanting the wine so that the wine expresses itself fully. 90.

Meyer Pinot Noir Saignée Rosé 2021 ($20.87 for 122 cases). The juice for this wine was drawn from several lots of Pinot Noir after 12 hours of cold soaking. Consequently, the wine presents with an appealing rose petal hue and aromas of strawberry and watermelon. Fermentation started in stainless steel and finished in older French barrels. The texture is mouth-filling, delivering luscious strawberry flavours. 90.

Meyer Micro Cuvée Chardonnay 2020 ($60.87 for 200 cases). This wine represents the wine from the very best barrels selected in each vintage. In 2020, that was one new French oak puncheon from the Tronçais forest; two new puncheons from the Vosges forest; and two one-year-old puncheons from the Alliers forest. The wine was all aged on the lees for 11 months without stirring. The wine begins with rich aromas of butter, vanilla and marmalade. On the palate, there are flavours of spicy oak mingled with flavours of orange and nectarine. This is a very sophisticated wine, the equal to a fine white Burgundy. It is drinking well now but will age well for another three to five years. 94.