Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Athene 2020
Blend: 52% Syrah; 48% Cabernet Sauvignon
A deep, brooding wine with intense aromas of cassis, blueberry, and blackberry, along with black pepper, vanilla, dark chocolate, graphite, and some dried herbs and burlap. The palate is full-bodied and intense with crisp acidity and ripe firm tannins to age, dark chocolate, mint, sage, some black plum, ripe raspberry, and a touch of leather. Pair with grilled steak and chimichurri or roasted vegetables with rose harissa.
$36.00
In stock
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Balance is a time-honored goal in the making of premium wines and working toward balance is a way of life at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery. Founder Jim Wyse is committed to balance, well beyond that of the fine, world-class wines being produced. A kind of Hippocratic oath (“to do no harm”) underlies the creative viticultural and enological practices at Burrowing Owl.
The winery and vineyards lie within the northernmost tip of the antelope brush ecosystem, which is part of a semi-arid shrub-steppe1 . The location (on a southwest-tilting, sandy plateau) near the north end of Osoyoos Lake, is one of the most highly rated grape-growing locations in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys, and for that matter Canada.
In 1993, when Jim Wyse began to replant the vineyards which had been carefully selected for their ability to produce world class, premium quality grapes, the winery was not part of his long term vision. Having recognized the potential of this location, Jim was gratified to see wines made with his grapes gaining immediate recognition.
Finally, the decision to build Burrowing Owl Estate Winery was confirmed and a winery license was obtained in 1997. Construction began in early 1998 and completed just in time for that year’s harvest. The site has since been enhanced with a beautiful fine-dining Restaurant and luxurious Guest House.
Today, with its dramatic vantage point in the middle of the vineyard, Burrowing Owl Estate Winery is a winemaking facility that combines state-of-the-art technologies with proven, classic winemaking traditions. A gravity-flow system handles ripe grapes delicately, preserving their rich fruit character. Extensive underground cellaring capacity ensures that long term barrel aging is never limited by space.
You can find Burrowing Owl wines at many fine restaurants and wine shops and of course, at the winery itself. And when you visit, be sure to bring your binoculars.
MORE ABOUT THE WINE
The 2017 growing season got off to a cool, slow start but the vines quickly caught up for lost time in the summer months. The warm temperatures through August and September combined while the cool nights of late summer and early fall produced bold fruit flavors and retained acidity. Nice warm days in October helped to push the fruit to full ripeness prior to harvest.
The Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were harvested by hand from Burrowing Owl Vineyard on Black Sage Bench in late October. They were de-stemmed and gently crushed before being fed by gravity flow into the same tank where they were allowed to cold soak for slow, soft extraction of flavor and colour. The co-fermentation process helps to marry the flavours and creates a unique harmony to the blend. After completion, the wine was pressed off and moved into barrels to allow for malolactic fermentation to occur. Afterwards, it was aged for 18 months in a selection of barrels that helped integrate the components and smooth the tannins while adding complex savoury notes. The 2017 Athene was bottled unfiltered and allowed to further age before its release.
