Very dark. Rich and deep nose of ripe red and black fruits; lots of sophisticated oak showing pastry notes at this stage. Full-bodied, it has great elegance, very generous while being balanced in every way. The never-ending finish adds notes of liquorice. Already enjoyable but the potential is there for 20 years.
The first British fizz to land on our shores. This is a tiny, hands-on, traditional method (Méthode Britannique) sparkling house, making small amounts of very high-quality fizz. Salt, wet chalk, lemon pith and subtle earthiness rings on the intense nose and palate. Quite the bite with crunchy, citrus-spun acids, but charms with honest exuberance. Lively and bright, with a puff of smoke lingering. Well done — looking forward to much more Brit fizz. 65/35 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir from 2009 and 2010 is blended and finished with a 10 g/l dosage.
The complex aromas strike the nose with ripe fruit, dark spice and earthy savouriness. Prune, red cherry, liquorice, mocha, cigar and leather flavours fill the rich, firmly structured palate. Well-balanced tannins linger. Decant to aerate, which softens its texture. A match for pastas with hearty meat sauce.
Sourced from organically certified Heckman Family Vineyards in Summerland. A striking example on minimal intervention from winemaker Matt Dumayne, 100% Pinot Noir pressed into large concrete tanks, native yeast and full malolactic fermentation. Upfront floral, tropical and quince before a generously textured and structured palate, wrapped in juicy acidity with a hint of minerality through a fresh and vibrant close. Vegan friendly.
Clear medium gold. Powerful nose of pear, orange and butterscotch. Full-bodied, tasting of apricots with honey and crushed hazelnuts. Serve this on the cool side — otherwise the flavours can be overpowering. One of my favourite wines. Will improve to 2020, then age gracefully in a cold cellar for another 5 years.
The name is very apropos as the wine just hits the senses with 15.1% alcohol, a mélange of dark and red fruits and gobs of new oak. Jammy, a touch of sweetness and very good length make for a hedonistic bottle of juice.
The grapes for the wine were sourced from the Fox Croft Vineyard, one of the top 3 for Cabernet Franc in the Niagara Peninsula. The dark cherry colour heralds a bouquet of cassis, smoke, violets, graphite, herbs and vanilla. Medium- to full-body, there is pronounced acidity and tannins, ensuring a long life ahead. Hold it until 2013 and then enjoy it until 2020.