Winery Review of Winemakers CUT
@ District Wine Village
DWV Series 9 of 10
When I made my reservation to have a tasting here, I was puzzled by an elusive memory. Looking at the logo, I knew I'd seen it before, and my intuition was screaming that I'd tasted/tried their wines previously. However, I'm still unable to recall this memory. It's weird to have a vague familiarity with a winery without clearly remembering it. Either way, I knew I had to include this in my first excursion at District Wine Village.
As I researched their history, I hoped to answer how my path had interacted with this winery. Even if that didn't pan out, it doesn't discount how they got to where they are today.
Winemakers CUT is a winery with an intriguing history rooted in passion and craftsmanship. Founded by two talented winemakers, this winery's journey began in the picturesque region of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley.
The winery's story revolves around the dynamic duo Michal and Martina Mosny. Both winemakers had extensive experience in the industry and shared a deep love for the art of winemaking. Driven to create something truly unique, they decided to embark on their own winemaking adventure.
In 2014, they officially launched Winemakers CUT, setting up their winery in the heart of the Okanagan Valley. Their vision was clear - to craft wines that would reflect the essence of the terroir, their distinct winemaking style, and to make wines differently.
Embracing traditional winemaking techniques and adding a modern twist, Michal and Martina began producing small batches of handcrafted wines that garnered attention from critics and wine enthusiasts alike. Focusing on a more fruit-forward profile to their wines, they quickly gained recognition for their exceptional quality, complexity, and balanced flavours.
They focused on sustainable practices, respecting the land they cultivated and the environment they operated in. This ethos resonated with wine nerds who appreciated their commitment to environmental stewardship.
Over the years, the winery expanded its portfolio to include an impressive range of varietals, including reds, whites, and rosés. Each wine was a testament to their expertise, imagination, and dedication to their winemaking craft.
As Winemakers CUT continued to grow, their wines gained critical acclaim, receiving awards and accolades from prestigious wine competitions worldwide. Their commitment to producing outstanding wines and their respect for the land on which they grew their grapes became hallmarks of the brand.
Winemakers CUT is a winery with a fascinating history, built upon the passion and expertise of two skilled winemakers. Their dedication to crafting exceptional wines while maintaining sustainable practices has led to their success and solidified their place in the thriving wine industry of the Okanagan Valley.
With that sort of history, I'd consider labelling them as rebel winemakers. During my tasting experience, my wine host, Michael, demonstrated excellent knowledge and was very informative. How informative? He shared the following tidbits of valuable information about Winemakers CUT.
They conduct shorter aging. Use fewer sulphides. Encourage spontaneous fermentation, the key ingredient to their origin story. They play classical music in their tasting room to match what they play in their vineyards for their vines and cellar for their wines. The names for their sparkling wines originate from female characters in Puccini operas. With their sparkling, they will sometimes do a frizzante style.
Michael delivers all of these little nuggets of information throughout the tasting. I finally put two and two together and realized that Michael was Michal…..one of the winemakers!!! His humble nature blew me away. He didn't state or advertise that he is part of the winemaking team until I directly questioned him. What tipped me off was the statement that "the Okanagan is built for Cabernet Franc as a single varietal" - that's the kind of statement I'd expect from a winemaker or grower.
A tasting experience delivered by the winemaker! I love my luck.
Before I get to the wines tasted, I will remind you that I experienced this during the off-season. That is why I could taste more than the typical 3-5 during the busy tourist season. But enough pre-amble… Let's get to the wines.
Fidelia: A character from the Puccini opera Edgar. Michal told me that with this, they aimed for a more fruit-forward type of sparkling, which did not disappoint. This sparkling is the first time I've encountered one that is Sauvignon Blanc dominant (85%) with late harvest Riesling (10%), and Muscat (5%). Knowing this sparkling is a blend of these varietals explained the flavour profile. A bountiful harvest of orchard fruits - apple, peach, nectarine. Light, dry, and gentle fizz make this a refreshing drink. Beautiful for springtime enjoyment or summertime mimosas. Some of this had to come home for enjoyment on a day off.
Madama Butterfly: This is the main character from the Puccini opera Madame Butterfly. Traditional method sparkling rose that is aged and fermented in bottle for eight months. A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Michal said on a day off, he would start his day sipping Fidelia and then move to Madama Butterfly. An elegant sparkling that is best suited for special occasions. I was impressed with its fruity aroma - apple and cherries- which is beautifully contrasted by its dry, fresh elegance on the palate.
2021 Grüner Veltliner: First off, the pronunciation is - grew-ner velt-LEE-ner. This European varietal is most widely planted in Austria, Czechia, and Slovakia. Michal described this varietal as a lighter Chardonnay. Even if it receives no oak treatment, it will still display some characteristics. This version did have 50% in neutral oak and the remaining in steel tanks. I really liked this one. I found it very fresh and juicy. The fruit was green - green apple, green pear, lime. There was also a collection of tropical fruits on the outskirts. All were balanced out by a racy acidity that initially gave me an impression of pink peppercorn or white pepper. And yes, some of this made its way home with me.
2020 Bohemian Riesling: The grapes are from a vineyard in Oliver near the District Wine Village. And just to be unique, they used three winemaking techniques - 1/3 was allowed to ferment on the skins with native yeasts allowing spontaneous fermentation, 1/3 in neutral barrel also with spontaneous fermentation, and 1/3 in steel tanks with organic yeast for a long and slow fermentation, then blended before bottling. I found this to remind me of an old-world style. Incredible fruit with a noticeable bite from the acidity. It is delicious and perfect for food. What surprised me was the aging potential - up to 15 years!! So, of course, some came home with me.
2021 Rose: If you are looking for a patio pounder - STOP RIGHT HERE! You've found your summer patio companion. Made entirely from Cabernet Franc grapes, this rose gets its lovely blush not from skin contact but solely from pressing the juice out. This is a delicious lip-smacking glass of pleasure. It took my breath away with its lovely berries and fresh floral notes when I tried this. Michal informed me that each vintage might be slightly different due to their use of organic yeast - sometimes it may turn out bone dry and other times with a noticeable sweetness. This one has now placed itself in my summer wine routine.
BOHO Zen: Let's make a red for summer patio enjoyment. This is what I imagine was the inspiration for this. Not only is it a great red blend for summer, but it's a red wine that comes in a clear bottle - ya, go check and see that red wine doesn't usually come in a clear bottle. This blend of Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Merlot goes through a wild ferment. This is a red that needs to be served slightly chilled. It's very fruit-forward reminiscent of a Beaujolais style. What surprised me is that there is not much spice typical of Syrah, no dirt or earthiness common with Pinot Noir, just a lovely bounty of fruit. Super approachable - I would even recommend this as the bridge for a novice wine drinker to transition from white to red. While tasting it, I picked up an underlying cream soda essence to its bounty of juicy berry flavours. When Winemakers CUT moved to District Wine Village, this was the wine they wanted their guest to enjoy on their patio in the summer.
2020 Bohemian Pinot Noir: The grapes for this are from a vineyard in Oliver that was fermented at room temperature, and the other half was sourced from southeast Osoyoos and cold fermented to preserve an old-world flavour profile, then both were aged in a barrel. I picked up a classic mushroom and wet barn eccentricity when I tasted this. When the wine was allowed to breathe and aerate, more fruit characteristics of black cherry were accentuated by spices, highlighting the sweetness of the cherry flavour. I love, love, love the complexity of this wine. So, of course, some of this just had to come home with me. If you've got one, know it can be cellared for up to eight years.
2020 Bohemian Cabernet Franc: Michal was saying that when walking these vineyards in Oliver, he knew these grapes were destined to be a single varietal. Ten months of French oak then bottled unfined and unfiltered Michal wanted to highlight the herbaceous and fruitiness of this wine. Elegantly soft tannins help to accentuate the raspberry and lavender flavours. Green pepper only grounded the fruit to get a little lift from licorice/fennel. This is a wine that can be cellared for 5-7 years.
2020 Bohemian Rouge: This is their Bordeaux-style blend. Merlot dominant (40%) with Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Cabernet Franc (20%), and Petit Verdot (10%). With the barrel aging, Michal went to his Slovakian roots and used Slovakian barrels, an intimately familiar influence. But this wasn't the only type of barrel he used for this wine. American and French oak barrels also participated. I was impressed with how fruit-forward it is with blueberries and blackberries with vanilla and a pepperiness that I couldn't decide was pink or white pepper. This is a wine that can be cellared for 2-7 years.
2020 Q&A: This is an extraordinary wine project. A collaboration that involved Michal and partnered with Canadian actor Jason Priestley (from the Original Beverly Hills 90210) and Canadian broadcaster Terry David Mulligan (I remember him from the early years of Much Music). Their signatures even adorn the back label of the bottle. This lovely wine is their second Bordeaux style within their library. However, this is no ignored second child. It is elegant and complex. Consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Merlot (38%), Cabernet Franc (13%) and Petit Verdot (4%). Even the barrel program is complex, utilizing neutral oak, second-filled French oak, new Slovakian oak, and new French oak. This wine is mesmerizing. It even evolved in the glass! Cherry, blackberry, currant, clove, vanilla, and cedar. Michal said that this could be cellared for 10-15 years. I can't wait to see how it evolves.
Overall, this is a winery that aims to be different. From tasting these wines, that desire to be different is working. I see wines for every occasion in their library, and every one has a unique story. I will watch for their sparkling as I only tasted two out of their library of four (the other two are called Musette and Angelica). Of all the wineries I tasted at my purchases from Winemakers, CUT was of the widest variety that came home with me. I will surely stop in for a glass during my next visit to District Wine Village. Which one will just depend on my mood as I know they have something for any mood.
Cheers 🥂
-BC Wine Nerd
Website: Winemakers CUT
Address: District Wine Village
Email: cut@winemakerscut.ca
Instagram: @winemakers_cut
Tasting Fee: $10.00 (Fee is waived with purchase of a bottle), $20.00 Premium Tasting (Fee is waived with purchase of two bottles). For either tasting, they recommend allocating 30 minutes.
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