wine review: 1 Mill Road Home Block Pinot Noir 2023, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

July 2025

Matt’s review: From a warmer, more unpredictable vintage marked by forest fires and dramatic summer weather, the 2023 Home Block Pinot Noir shows impressive clarity and structure despite the challenges. Picked earlier to retain freshness, this single-vineyard wine from Dijon Clone 115 delivers vibrant cherry, wild herbs, graphite, and a distinct Black Sage nuance, reflecting the unique terroir of the sage-lined amphitheater-shaped vineyard above Okanagan Lake.

25% whole cluster fermentation, a four-day cold soak, and 18 days on skins build depth and fine tannic grip, while 9 months in (28% new) French oak enhances structure without overpowering the generous fruit. Unfined and unfiltered, the purity and concentration shine through, making this a precise and cellar-worthy expression of Naramata Pinot. A step up in intensity from 2022’s elegant frame, this vintage blends power with restraint—an exciting evolution from this emerging Okanagan Cru. Highly recommended. Tasted July 2025. 93+ points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Available winery-direct 1MillRoad.ca