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Wine, like art, is an expression. An expression of the winemaker’s style, the vineyard’s terroir, the grape variety, and your taste.

TASTING NOTES

Bright garnet in the glass with aromas of jammy raspberries, blueberry compote, red plums and dark chocolate. The palate is dry but fruity, with supple tannins, refreshing acidity and complex flavours of plums, blackberries, vanilla, cedar and spice. The finish is savoury and flavourful with light tannins and lingering spice. Enjoy with roasted or braised red meats, rich meaty pasta sauces or hard cheeses. Also, a perfect compliment to spiced lamb meatballs with walnut and garlic pesto!

WINEMAKING NOTES

Our Expression Cabernet Merlot is a blend of our two estate vineyards in Creek Shores, created to showcase both a perfect Expression of Niagara Cabernet Merlot and also of our winemaker’s style! The grapes were harvested by variety between late October (starting with the Merlot and then the Cabernet Franc) and late November (for the Cabernet Sauvignon) and were then crushed and transferred to stainless steel for primary fermentation over approximately 30 days. The wines were then pressed and transferred to a selection of 228, 400, 500 and 600 liter oak barrels of various ages for six months. Following this the final blend was assembled and the wine lightly fined and filtered prior to bottling in August 2020.

VINTAGE NOTES       

After a fairly cold winter, mild weather began in March but it was some time until real warm weather began, giving the growing season a slow and wet start. The summer was quite warm and allowed for full phenolic maturity in all varieties. Harvest started in the second week of September for sparkling and was quickly followed by early ripening whites such as Pinot Gris, followed by Chardonnay and Riesling at the end of September and early October. The temperatures were mild but a bit wet so Pinot Noir and Gamay were also harvested early October followed by Cabernet Franc in late October. There was a snow storm in mid November so yields were reduced on Cabernet Sauvignon which was harvested in late November.  The quality of the grapes was very good to excellent with high acidity and concentrated flavours throughout the portfolio. Wines should have the capacity to age for the medium to long term.