Description
Mission Hill Family Estate
Oculus
The Ultimate Expression of the Okanagan Valley
An OCULUS was first used by the Romans in buildings like the Pantheon – a window in a dome or wall to the outside. At Mission Hill, our oculus provides the only natural light into our underground barrel cellar, blasted out of volcanic rock that is otherwise hidden from the world. Our complex Oculus Bordeaux-style wine is the result of meticulous selection in the vineyard estate with grapes that have been specifically nurtured for this rare wine.
The 2020 Vintage:
Average Okanagan spring temperatures began the 2020 growing season with unusual periods of cold and wet weather. Colder periods progressed into the early spring contributing to a marginal fruit set; however, as the season progressed into the summer months, we regained our highly celebrated Okanagan conditions. The consistently warm weather following the spring was essential for encouraging healthy vine growth, even flowering and a healthy fruit set, producing good growth permitting all varieties to ripen with excellent balance and incredible flavour intensity. The ripening period was near perfect as a result of the warm, dry summer conditions extending through autumn.
APPELLATION:
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- Okanagan Valley. BC VQA
VARIETAL:
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- Merlot (49%)
- Cabernet Sauvignon (24%)
- Cabernet (22%)
- Petit Verdot (5%)
MATURATION:
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- Nineteen months in French oak
TECH
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- ABV: 14.0
- TA: 6.5 G/L
- PH: 3.52
Tasting Notes:
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- Fresh and elegant, the Merlot grape variety is prominent in this blend, imparting rich flavors of both red and blue fruits.
- The Cabernet Franc provides a subtle herbaceous undertone that enriches the wine’s complexity.
- The Cabernet Sauvignon brings balance to the wine, supporting its length on the palate.
- Finally, the Petit Verdot contributes to the wine’s structural composition.
John Schreiner – 100 Points
“A tour de force!”
Anthony Gismondi – 96 Points
“It is the best young Oculus I have tested and will only improve in the bottle through 2035 and beyond.
When you factor in one of the finest growing seasons in the Okanagan, you have
the perfect recipe for an exceptional wine.”
James Suckling – 92 Points
“Full-bodied and juicy with lots of fruit and a flavorful finish. Hint of dryness.”
Robb report
“Mission Hill’s 2020 Oculus vintage, released in 2024, was honored as the first 100-point Canadian red wine.”
forbes
“This is Canada’s gold standard – the first 100-point red wine the country has turned out. Looking at the winery it’s easy to understand
how vines and wine thrive from the land.”
national geographic
“Mission Hill Family Estate’s soaring bell tower and arched colonnades make a striking backdrop for summer concerts and wine tastings.
Try the 2020 Oculus, a Bordeaux-style blend well regarded by Canadian wine experts.”
the world’s 50 best
“Encapsulating the terroir of Canada’s Okanagan Valley in liquid form, merlot dominant Bordeaux blend Mission Hill Family Estate Oculus 2020 is the result of
a meticulous selection in the vineyard of grapes that have been singled out for the wine. The result is a swaggering black-fruited powerhouse.”
wine enthusiast
“Start a visit to one of the valley’s best-known wineries, Mission Hill Family Estate. In stately, ultra-modern buildings of Indiana limestone, perched high on a hilltop,
guests can sip wines sourced from vineyards across the valley at Canada’s only six-time WineAlign National Wine Awards Winery of the Year winner.”
2020 | Tech Sheet | POS | Label | Bottle Shot