Mayhem now has its own tasting room

Photo: Mayhem's Terry Meyer Stone

After several years as a virtual winery, Mayhem Wines this summer opened its own tasting room next to the McLean Creek Road wineshop of Meyer Family Vineyards. This unusual location is possible because Mayhem is a collaboration between siblings Terry Meyer Stone and her brother, JAK Meyer, and their spouses, Andrew Stone and Janice Stevens. While the two tasting rooms are merely steps from each other, the portfolios are distinctively different because JAK and his sister decided there was no point competing against each other.

Mayhem, thus, offers wines in cans as well as in conventional bottles. Cans work with the informal personality that Mayhem cultivates with its consumers. They would not suit the buttoned down image that Meyer has established with its premium Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

Mayhem also has its own winemaker, Ajay Chavan. The biography on Mayhem’s website reveals that Ajay was born in Australia and grew up in New Zealand. “After receiving a cricket scholarship out of secondary school, he completed the Oenology program at Lincoln University in Christchurch, NZ,” the biography continues. “Ajay did his first winemaking vintage in 2012, followed by harvest in Austria, New Zealand, Australia, and the USA. Ajay set his sights on BC to discover more about this young wine region and be closer to family in the Pacific Northwest.”

He worked four years at CheckMate Artisanal Winery before joining Mayhem. “He loves Merlot, Riesling and fortified wines and is delighted to work with these varieties, along with others,” the biography says. Mayhem provides all the scope he needs.

Here are notes on the wines.

Mayhem Pinot Gris 2022 ($18.36 for 305 cases). The fruit for this wine was whole-bunch pressed and fermented in stainless steel for 10 weeks at cool temperatures. Before finishing fermentation, 16% of the wine was transferred to seasoned barrels to build texture. The wine was aged five months on its fine lees before blending and bottling. The wine begins with aromas of pear, citrus and apple. That leads to flavours of pear, peach and honeydew melon mingled with spice on a crisp and refreshing finish. 91.

Mayhem Riesling 2022 ($20.97 for 211 cases). The fruit for this wine was picked in late October from 19-year-old vines on the Naramata Bench. The long hang time yielded a wine packed with flavour. Fermentation in stainless steel was stopped when the wine still had 17.55 grams of residual sugar. That was cleverly balanced with 11 grams of acidity. The wine begins with honeyed aromas of lemon and lime. That is echoed on the palate, mingled with grapefruit and a surprising saltiness. The wine is delicious, with a long, long finish. 91.

Mayhem Sauvignon Blanc 2022 ($20.97 for 358 cases). The fruit, from a Naramata Bench vineyard, was whole-bunch pressed and the juice was fermented very cool for eight weeks in stainless steel (with seven percent in seasoned oak to add texture). The wine begins with muted aromas of lime mingled with herbs. The winery says it reminds them of New Zealand; it reminds me of Sancerre, with rich, ripe flavours of grapefruit. 88.

Mayhem Anarchy Sauvignon Blanc 2022 ($25.32 for 140 cases). The fruit for this is from the Hillview Vineyard on Naramata Bench. It was whole cluster-pressed, and undertook a cool 12-week fermentation before being transferred to seasoned oak barrels (85%) and stainless steel barrels (15%) to complete fermentation. Aromas of lime and lemongrass leap from the glass and are echoed in the flavours. Bright acidity gives the wine a zesty finish. 91.

Mayhem Rosé 2022 ($20.97 for 175 cases). This wine is made with Merlot from an Oliver area vineyard. The grapes were crushed directly into the press and the wine was fermented slowly for 11 weeks and then aged on the lees for six months in stainless steel (92%) and neutral oak (8%). The wine presents with an appealing salmon pink hue. It begins with aromas of strawberries leading to flavours of strawberry and rhubarb. The texture is juicy but the finish is crisp and dry. 91.

Mayhem Sparkling White 2022 ($88.32 for 12 250 ml cans; 134 flats produced. The blend here is based on Chardonnay. The bubbles contribute to the refreshing flavour and texture of this wine which has aromas and flavours of citrus and apple. Perfect picnic wine. 88.

Mayhem Sparkling Rosé 2022 ($88.32 for 12 250 ml cans; 182 flats produced). The wine has an appealing rose petal hue. The bubbles are more perceptible on the palate than to the eye. The wine, made predominantly with Merlot, has aromas and flavours of raspberry and cherry. Another perfect picnic wine. 88.

Mayhem Cabernet Merlot 2021 ($24.44 for 425 cases). The wine, which was aged 11 months in neutral oak barrels, is a blend of 87% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc. It begins with toasty aromas that are mingled with dark cherry. On the palate, there are flavours of dark cherry, blackberry and cassis. 88.