Mission Hill Family Estate

Oculus

Canada, British Columbia

2020

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 that can stand up to a tomahawk.

Oculus is Mission Hill's flagship Bordeaux‑inspired red, produced only in exceptional years from the estate's top vineyards across the Okanagan Valley.

The 2020 vintage is a blend centered on cabernet sauvignon, supported by merlot and cabernet franc, creating a wine of depth, power and refinement. Low yields, meticulous hand harvesting and precise block selection set the foundation, while extended maceration and ageing in premium French oak build structure and complexity.

Oculus reflects the valley's unique combination of desert‑influenced warmth, cool nighttime temperatures and complex glacial soils, resulting in a wine with both richness and freshness. The 2020 edition is poised, ageworthy and elegant, reinforcing Oculus as one of Canada's most iconic and collectible wines.

Tasting
NOTES

Shining a light on Canada's Okanagan Valley, this robust red blend is big and swaggering, beginning with notes of sweet red and black fruit running the gamut from blackberries and mulberries to cherries and plums tasting of the final pick of the summer, with earthy mushroom and chargrilled bell pepper notes adding complexity. On the palate cinnamon, cloves, vanilla and bitter chocolate flavours abound, culminating in a smooth lingering finish. A beautiful discovery.

Food
PAIRINGS

A wine this big calls for red meat – anything from roast leg of lamb with root veg or crispy duck with artichoke to a chargrilled tomahawk with chimichurri.