Description
THE VINTAGE
The 2018 Vintage provided a series of challenges and opportunities for Niagara grape growers. the growing season got off to a cold and soggy start in the spring. This was followed by a summer that saw extreme heat in June and July with heavy rain and thunderstorms in the later months. Fortunately, the crucial fall ripening season saw warm, dry days and cool nights. This allowed growers to get good ripeness levels and harvest before the rains returned at the end of October.
VINIFICATION
100% Cabernet Franc which was hand-harvested from our Heron Pond Estate Vineyard on the Beamsville Bench sub-appellation on October 16th 2018 at with sugar measuring 21.8° brix. The grapes were brought to the winery and placed in our custom designed Appassimento drying room for 80 days, concentrating the natural flavours, colour and sugars (28.7° brix) of the grapes, while reducing the total volume by 35%. The grapes were then fermented over 2 weeks in a small tank before aging in 67% new and 33% seasoned French oak barrels for a period of over 38 months. An extremely limited production of just 75 cases.
IMPRESSIONS
A deep and brooding bouquet of dried cherry, liquorice leather dark plums, menthol and eucalyptus notes, dried cherries, ripe fig and cassis, mixed with bold oak spices and earthy notes. The rich and substantive palate is densely packed with flavours of black cherry, red currant, anise and spicy clove, cinnamon and herbal notes of the finish. The length of this wine is impressive, with warming alcohol and delicate acidity providing balance.
Alcohol/Volume: 17%
Appellation: VQA Beamsville Bench VQA
Residual Sugar: 9.2g/l
Cases Produced: 75
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