The Vintage

 The 2019 Vintage was a wild ride for Niagara, the season started with a cool, wet spring that put the vintage generally behind by about two weeks across all appellations. The peak summer months were warm and sunny, with several heat waves that brought high humidity across southeastern and southwestern Ontario, and with some disease pressure in the vineyards. The harvest season was chaotic weather-wise, with warm spells in September, intermitted rainy periods, and sudden cold snaps in October and November, keeping winemakers on their toes.

Tasting Notes

 A bright nose of ripe red berry fruit including cherry, candied raspberries, and currant with richer notes of plum, smoky oak and leather. The palate is medium-bodied with a creamy texture and flavours of cherry compote, black licorice and fresh fig. Drinking well now through 2023.

Technical Notes:

A blend of 55% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 15% Marechal Foch. Grapes were harvested in mid-October and an average of 22° brix from select vineyards in the Niagara Peninsula. Grapes came into the winery and each batch was kept separate and immediately crushed and fermented in a combination of one ton bins and stainless steel tank. Fermentation was at warmer temperatures. The wine was put in a mix of seasoned oak barrels and aged for 10 months with full malolactic fermentation. The final blend was assembled and bottled in October 2020.

Product Description

Vintage: 2019

Varietal: 55% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, 15% Marechal Foch

Alcohol: 12.5%

Residual Sugar: 4 g/L

Acid: 5.4g/L

Cases Produced: 488