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T H E  P O P L A R  G R O V E  L I B R A R Y  C O L L E C T I O N

 

The Holler Family proudly introduces the Poplar Grove Library Collection with the release of our reserve 2014 Bordeaux-style reds: the Merlot, the Cabernet Franc, and our flagship, The Legacy.

Poplar Grove is leading the way in BC as the first winery to launch a formal library program, where we hold back a significant amount of our age-worthy wines each year and release them for sale a decade later.

We have a limited number of bottles from the Library Collection’s 2014 reserve available now. These vintages are being released alongside their current versions — Merlot 2020, Cabernet Franc 2020, and The Legacy 2018. You’ll spot them easily thanks to their distinctive metal medallions on the bottles instead of traditional paper labels.

Every fall, we’ll release Library Collection wines that were set aside 10 years ago, putting them up for purchase right alongside the current vintages.

Pre-release to Wine Club Members – October 1st. Full release to public – November 1st.

T O N Y ‘ S  V I S I O N

 

The Library Collection’s story goes back to the early 2000s, shortly after we first planted vines on the scenic Naramata Bench in the Okanagan. Back then, Tony Holler, our future proprietor, was a passionate wine collector, curating his own cellar to appreciate how wines evolve and gain complexity with age.

This passion led Tony to France’s Rhône Valley, where he had a memorable tasting at Château Beaucastel, sampling Châteauneuf du Pape vintages spanning over 30 years. It was a defining moment — Tony left convinced that any serious winery should have a library program to educate and offer aged wines that have been properly cellared, though he had no idea he’d one day own a winery himself!

When Tony bought Poplar Grove in 2007, he brought his vision of an aging program with him. It took about seven years before we were producing enough wine to make that dream a reality. In 2014, we set aside 120 cases of our three signature reds, laying the foundation for the Library Collection.

By 2016, it was clear our growing winery needed a larger, dedicated space for these precious bottles. Fast forward to 2021, we completed a state-of-the-art, temperature and humidity-controlled warehouse, complete with a special area designed to provide the perfect aging conditions. The Library Collection wines were moved to their new home and stored in custom cages, ensuring they stay in pristine condition.

The 2014 Library Collection vintages will only be available this year while supplies last. Sixty percent of the original 120 cases will be available to purchase, with the rest saved for special events and seated tastings in our Tasting Room.

The Poplar Grove Library Collection is a testament to Tony’s vision, the Holler family’s dedication, and the craftsmanship of our entire team, especially our Executive Winemaker Stefan Arnason, who’s been leading the winemaking team since 2010. It’s also our way of saying thank you to our loyal supporters for trusting us for nearly two decades.


M E R L O T 
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Original Tasting Note

Deep ruby in colour, our 2014 vintage boasts an enticing bouquet of eucalyptus, Okanagan sage, and cherry. The twenty one months in 100% French oak lends a soft coffee and cocoa flavour profile to this wine. Velvety tannins and a round mid-palate allow this medium bodied wine to have both structure and softness.

2024 Tasting Note

Brick red in colour, the nose opens with enticing notes of dried cranberry, dark plum, and a hint of rich toffee. On the palate, bright acidity shines through, accompanied by layers of raspberry, Bing cherry, and an earthy undertone of peat moss. The finish is long and complex, hinting at the wine’s potential to evolve beautifully over the next five years, offering even more depth with age. A wine with remarkable character and aging potential.

Varietals

88% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec

Production Notes

The bunches for our 2014 Poplar Grove Merlot were handpicked and sorted before the berries were crushed and cold soaked for four days. During fermentation the wine was pumped over twice daily to ensure proper tannin and colour extraction. Post fermentation the caps were kept moist for a further fourteen days before being pressed into barrel. Malolactic fermentation occurred in barrel over the winter & finished in the spring of the following year. For 21 months, the Merlot was in a combination of one to three – year old French oak barrels until just before bottling when the final blend was determined. Our Merlot was further developed in bottle.

T H E  L E G A C Y 
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Original Tasting Note

The core character of The Legacy is revealed only with time; it improves with age. Balance, more than richness defines this wine and assures harmonious bottle aging. Experience shows that our best red wine gains both subtlety and complexity as tannins soften and flavours develop over time.

2024 Tasting Note

Deep ruby in colour, the nose is a captivating blend of French vanilla, cassis, and ripe blackberry. On the palate, layers of licorice, dark chocolate, and five-spice unfold, accompanied by stewed blueberry and a subtle hint of leather. The finish is impressively long, with a refined tannin structure that adds both elegance and depth. A wine of exceptional sophistication and complexity.

Varietals

44% Cabernet Franc, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot

Production Notes

The Legacy is a singular wine defined by the sum of its parts. Winemaker Stefan Arnason has a rare gift for articulating the special character of our Osoyoos Lake Bench estate vineyard, producing delicious, age-worthy wines year after year. Elegant and refined, the 2014 version marries power and finesse, with serious density and grip. Bordeaux-inspired perhaps, but with the suppleness and freshness that is Next World Okanagan. All component varietals were estate grown and hand-picked for their specific characteristics, then rigorously sorted prior to fermentation and extended maceration. The various lots were aged in 100% traditional French barriques for 21 months before the final blend was assembled, and and then matured in-bottle for 2 years prior to release.

C A B E R N E T  F R A N C 
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Original Tasting Note

This well-structured wine presents red plum in colour. It captivates with strong aromas of raspberry, cassis, and a warming scent of sandalwood. Each sip develops with a multitude of flavours; red currant and thyme, followed by cedar and classic tobacco. The Cabernet Franc boasts firm ripe tannins that feel velvety on the palate and finishes with raspberry and a lingering spice of cinnamon.

2024 Tasting Note

Mahogany red in colour, the nose reveals delicate aromas of tea leaf, ripe cherry, and a touch of fresh tomato vine. The palate is rich yet balanced, with soft acidity complementing notes of sweet tobacco, dark cherry, stewed prune, and black currant, all wrapped in a subtle hint of caramel. The finish is long and lingering, leaving a warm, velvety impression. A wine with depth and lasting elegance.

Varietals

85% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot

Production Notes

For each of the component vineyards, the bunches were handpicked and sorted in the vineyard. The berries were crushed separately and cold soaked for four days before fermentation. Malolactic fermentation occurred in barrel over the winter and finished in the spring of the following year. For twenty one months, the wines from each varietal and vineyard were kept separate in 30% new oak and a combination of two to three year old French oak barrels until just before bottling when the final blend was determined. Our Cabernet Franc was further developed in bottle for eighteen months in our cellar prior to release.

H A R V E S T  2 0 1 4

 

The 2019 winter brought extremes: warm 12° January days to lows of – 22° and lots of snow in February. When the buds started pushing, we noted that the colder months had resulted in a bit of bud and vine death in our Naramata Bench Vineyards. Bud burst was two weeks later than average due to the long winter. The beginning of Okanagan spring was one of the driest on record. However, by the end of June, the valley saw a cooling trend that lasted through most of July and brought much precipitation. At the end of July, the real Okanagan summer started with hot sunny days and little precipitation. The grapes soaked in the summer heat and quickly made up for lost time. Variation in our reds happened right on schedule. September was wetter than usual. October was dry with 15° days and 2 to 6° nights. On October 9th, a -4° frost dropped the leaves in most of our vineyards. After the frost, the weather was perfect to hang the fruit until the end of October, with all the remaining vineyards achieving the right amount of favour, sugar, and acid. No Floods. No Smoke. Overall, it was a low tonnage year with excellent ripe fruit across all varietals in our vineyards.

library-cheers

The Library Collection Experience

Join us for an exclusive tasting of Poplar Grove’s Library Collection, featuring the newly released reserve 2014 Bordeaux-style reds: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and The Legacy. This special seated tasting offers a unique opportunity to explore the evolution of these age-worthy wines alongside their current counterparts from the 2020 and 2018 vintages.

Hosted in the private Legacy Room, this intimate 60-minute experience is available on Fridays and Saturdays until mid-December, with a maximum of 8 guests per session. Each tasting includes six wines: three from the 2014 Library Collection and three current releases of the same varietals, all expertly guided by a senior educator.

Two time slots are available each day at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Reserve your place to immerse yourself in the craftsmanship of Executive Winemaker Stefan Arnason and the vision of the Holler Family, the driving force behind Poplar Grove’s celebrated Library Collection.

Beginning November 8th, 2024 – December 21st, 2024

Fridays & Saturdays, 1pm & 3pm

$40 (non-refundable) tasting fee per guest

$30 per guest (non-refundable) – Wine Club Member & up to five guests

60 Minutes

 

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