This wine gives Cru Beaujolais a run for the money! Winemaker JL Groulx treats his Gamay like a top Pinot Noir, meaning he uses classic fermentation (no carbonic) and aging in partial new oak. To further enhance quality he also picked the grapes at a super ripe 14.9% alcohol, but by no means is there any sense of heaviness. The wall-to-wall cherry jam, pepper, coffee and cocoa mesh with medium tannins and acidity. Drink over the next 5 years.
Now this is what a great Pinot is supposed to be: refined, pretty, perfumed and that right balance between acidity and tannin. The cherry, cranberry, red flowers and spice leap out of the glass and onto the taste buds, where an added dimension of pomegranate makes an appearance. The finish is long, helping to make this Pinot Noir the best yet from Norm!
This is a totally overt Chardonnay which has been lavishly oaked. Medium to full body, there is wall to wall toast, spice, caramel, tropical fruit, fig, cream and apples. The acid is low, so drink up, or, as the song goes, “It is here for a good time, not a long time.” Kudos to Jeff Innes, as this is his finest Chardonnay to date.
Since its launch in 2007 vintage with barely 400 cases made, Nova 7 has rapidly become a Nova Scotia cult wine. Over 7,000 cases will be produced this year and it will be available in 4 other Provinces. Shows seductively aromatic fruitiness with prominent but delicate Muscat scents, together with berry, floral and mineral notes. Very gentle spritz in the mouth, with berry fruits and pink grapefruit attractively balanced by lively acidity and firm mineral grip. Fruity, floral and lightly honeyed notes linger on the finish. Perhaps the best yet.
Fermentation took 15 days on native and cultured yeasts, with oak aging in French hogsheads with two-thirds new for about 16 months. I love the explosive red fruits on the nose, more warm- than cool-climate, with raspberry, cherry and cranberry joined by a whiff of cassis and spice. The red fruits are caressing on the palate and propped up by County minerality, moderate acidity and spice. It’s a smooth wine through the mid-palate with ripe tannins and length on the finish.
Deep rose colour and fragrant scents of floral, plum and spice. The juicy, medium-bodied palate has a rich texture and light tannins, so it’s no shrinking violet of a Rosé, made from 100% Cabernet Franc. Its spicy profile continues to a warm finish. Made me want to bite into a pulled pork sandwich.
The Okanagan’s bright acidity keeps this well-noted rich, intense, floral ’n’ spice varietal fresh, tangy and not cloying. Characteristic lychee and exotic spices pervade the senses from aromatic start to off-dry finish. Remarkably versatile, whether with a smoked salmon appetizer or a spicy Asian-style entrée.