Le Vieux Pin Ava Roussanne / Viognier 2024
Some wines are made for quiet moments.
A warm afternoon on the patio. Good company. No rush.
Le Vieux Pin Ava 2024 is exactly that kind of wine.
This Rhône-inspired blend once again shows why Le Vieux Pin has become one of the benchmark producers of white wine in British Columbia.
The winery has built its reputation on working with Rhône varieties, and Ava has become one of its signature wines over the years.
While the exact blend changes from vintage to vintage, it is typically made from Viognier and Roussanne, often with a small portion of Marsanne, creating a wine that combines richness with freshness.
The first impression is delicate rather than explosive.
White flowers drift out of the glass together with fresh peach, nectarine and crisp green pear.
There is a lovely citrus lift that reminds me of sweet Israeli clementines, followed by hints of lemongrass, fennel, anise and subtle tropical fruit.
The aromas feel layered without becoming heavy.
On the palate, the wine is beautifully balanced.
At 13.2% alcohol, it never feels oversized.
Instead, it is refreshing and vibrant, carried by bright acidity that keeps every sip lively.
The fruit is generous but never sweet.
Ripe peach and nectarine mingle with juicy clementine, while the herbal notes from the nose continue into the finish.
What I enjoyed most was the complexity.
There is a gentle savoury, almost umami-like character that gives the wine another dimension.
It is not simply fruity or floral.
Every few minutes the wine seems to reveal something new, making it one of those bottles that keeps your attention from the first glass to the last.
The finish is long, clean and zesty.
Even after swallowing, the flavours linger with fresh citrus and delicate herbs.
Although Ava has enough texture to pair beautifully with food, I found myself enjoying it on its own.
It is one of those wines that doesn't need a meal to shine.
Sitting outside in the sunshine with a cool glass is reason enough to open the bottle.
If you are serving dinner, it would be wonderful with grilled halibut, roasted chicken with fresh herbs, creamy seafood pasta, seared scallops or even Thai dishes with gentle spice.
The combination of freshness and texture makes it surprisingly versatile.
These pairings are also recommended by the winery, particularly with herb-roasted poultry and mildly spicy Asian dishes.
Le Vieux Pin continues to produce some of the most refined Rhône-style wines in Canada, and Ava 2024 is another excellent example.
It is elegant without being restrained, expressive without being loud, and complex without trying too hard.
This is a wine I would happily drink on a sunny afternoon, but it is equally worthy of a place at the dinner table.
It reminds me why the South Okanagan has become one of the most exciting places in North America for Rhône varieties.
See also: Church & State Marsanne 2018
See also: Hester Creek Viognier 2023
See also: Black Sage Road Wineries
See also: Le Vieux Pin
See also: Okanagan Wines
