
Cabernet Merlot 2023
Tasting Notes
Dark purple in the glass, it has an intense nose of dried blueberry, black cherry, vanilla, charred oak, and milk chocolate. On the palate, it is rich and full-bodied with smooth, young tannins and flavours of black cherries, blueberry compote, cassis dark chocolate, peppercorns, warm spice, and a touch of smoky oak. The finish is long with drying tannins and lingering acidity.
Enjoy with spice-rubbed grilled or roasted meats, aged cheeses, BBQ ribs with pomegranate glaze, and smoked or BBQ vegetables. Drinking well on release but show further complexities with a few years in the cellar. Enjoy now or age 3-5 years.
$21.95
Price shown does not include HST or deposit.
APPELLATION
VQA Niagara Peninsula
VINEYARD
Select Niagara Peninsula
GRAPE VARIETY
45.5% Merlot
54.5% Cabernet Franc
BRIX AT HARVEST
22.8
ALCOHOL CONTENT
13%
RESIDUAL SUGAR
4.0 grams/Litre
A mild winter, accompanied with warmer than warmer-than-average temperatures led to an early start to the growing season in 2023 (Bud break recorded May 5th). Conditions throughout the Spring and Summer were highly variable, a mix of extreme heat and cool spells with intermittent and isolated heavy rains caused a wide range of fruit maturity among most varieties. This led to a slightly delayed start to the 2023 harvest (3rd week of September. Two weeks later than 2022). Once harvest began, conditions were near perfect, consisting of mostly dry, warm days and cool nights with little precipitation. The first grapes to come into the cellar were Chardonnay for sparkling. Followed by aromatic whites and lighter reds such as Riesling and Gamay from late September through mid-October. Later ripening reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc were harvested mid to late November concluding harvest. Overall quality was good to excellent, with yields ranging greatly from varietal to varietal. Wines should have the capacity to age for the medium to long term.
