Current Vintages
Each year we release a selection of wines based on their readiness. As we produce such small quantities, it is not unusual for us to sell out within days for our most popular wines, and weeks for the rest.
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Red Wines
VINTAGE: 2021
Block: Clone 7 & Clone 100
CASES: 0
RELEASE DATE: N/A
PRICE: N/A
Tasting notes:
Due to very low yields in 2021, we are very sad not to be able to offer this wine in our online portfolio this year.
VINTAGE: 2021
BLOCK: CLone 191 & Clone 169
CASES: 97
RELEASE DATE: June 2024
PRICE: $65.20
Tasting notes:
The 2021 vintage marked the first fruit we were able to harvest from our 14-row, 2019 planting of Clone 191 Cabernet Sauvignon. There is a certain first crop mythology that floats about in wine circles that I've always been skeptical of. It goes that wine made from a first crop can be magical and mature beyond its years, then the field usually goes through some growing pains before finding itself again and establishing consistency.
In early barrel sampling sessions, the Clone 191 wine was noticeably smoother and had more discernable ripe red fruit flavours than the older block Clone 169 wine. So much so, that I was starting to become a believer in the whole first crop myth. I wouldn't fully buy in until much later, when I witnessed the emerging dynamic between the two clones in the final blend. My expectation was that the older block wine would swallow up the new kid and assert its veteran dominance, but a pleasantly harmonious blend arose instead.
Featuring a combination of cherry, wild blackberry, flinty minerality and a subtle floral note; there is also an unforeseen component to the mouthfeel and structure of this Cab that can only be attributed to the new planting. I will be keen to see how this wine ages.
VINTAGE: 2021
BLOCK: Old Block
CASES: 118
RELEASE DATE: june 2024
PRICE: $65.20
Tasting notes:
It was with guarded optimism that we harvested our Pinot Noir on September 21st, surely to get them off before the next imminent downpour. The ripening parameters were to my liking, but the field was soaked and my time was limited to cull out as much rot as possible prior to the handpick.
Once the fruit was picked, sorted and gently destemmed into one-tonne bins, they were sealed for a four-day cold soak. It is normally my hope that the wild fermentations would initiate on the fifth day, but that is rarely the case. Thankfully, in this instance the stars seemed to align and when I cracked the bin lids on day five, I was greeted with a nice firm cap of skins and whole berries and the wonderful smells of a burgeoning fermentation.
Indigenous yeast fermentations can be a wild ride at times, but those driving the 2021 Pinot bins were models of consistency and aromatic beauty. Must temperatures averaged around 20°C, peaked at 32°C, and everything was dry in seven days.
The bins were lightly pressed, then racked into five French oak barrels. This is where the restraint and patience are put into practice. Aside from the odd tasting session and biannual racking, there is not much to do over the next two years providing the wines are sound.
The final barrel tasting and blending sessions are the make-or-break moment when everything is on the line. So many combinations, so many possibilities, it can send your mind in many different directions. Some wines, however, present clarity in those moments, and that was the case for the 2021 Pinot. It ended up being one of those years when the cooperage variables of barrel age, forest, grain tightness and toast level all line up in sync with the wine. The result is a wine that stars the terroir, while the oak and the winemaker play the supporting role.
White Wines
VINTAGE: 2023
BLOCK: Jean’s Block
CASES: 100
RELEASE DATE: June 2024
PRICE: $40.20
Tasting notes:
There is usually a lot of drama and bluster in my yearly recap of vinifying Riesling. For once, I am extremely grateful to report, that was not the case. We're talking drama free, and borderline enjoyable!
In terms of fruit cleanliness, the Riesling we harvested in 2023 stands on its own amongst previous Jean's Block vintages. As much as I'd like to take credit for this result, it is 100% due to the lack of late season precipitation and humidity. Okay, maybe 99%.
Harvest date was October 11, and the pressed juice was cool-fermented with W15 yeast in stainless steel tanks. Fermentation was slow and steady over 26 days, then stopped at a specific gravity of 1.004 and 10.7% abv. Total production was 100 cases.
I think the cleanliness of fruit is reflected in the purity of the aromatics. There are distinct layers of apple, citrus and floral notes. I always associate Riesling with Springtime in Niagara, as it abounds with freshness and hints of tree fruit blossoms.
VINTAGE: 2023
BLOCK: Old & Young Block
CASES: 249
RELEASE DATE: june 2024
PRICE: $45.20
Tasting notes:
We chose to harvest our bountiful crop of Sauvignon Blanc on September 25th, and ended up with about 2300L of juice after the press cycle. After cold-settling the juice, it was racked into eight French oak barrels (80%) and one tank (20%). The barrels were of varying ages (2-15 years) and mostly neutral in their tannic contribution.
The vessels were warmed to 20°C and then inoculated with X5 yeast. Once fermentations were established, the barrels were cooled to 8°C for about two weeks, then allowed to warm again to finish. I find that pushing the lower end temperature limits of the yeast tends to maximize the aromatic intensity. One must be cautious, however, not to overly stress the yeast - it's a fine line!
The finished wine represents an amalgam of all the terroir-derived elements that Sauvignon Blanc enthusiasts would come to expect. It is less overtly opulent than the light-crop 2022 vintage, putting it more in line with a typical vintage like 2019 or 2021. Aromatically, there is an intense intermingling of tropical and citrus characters, with some typical Sauv Blanc gooseberry present as well. The TA for this wine is 7.9 g/L, which balances well with the 8 g/L of residual sugar and contributes to noticeable length on the palate.
This wine evokes a personal feeling of satisfaction and thankfulness, born out of the travails of re-establishing a beloved vineyard. Perhaps that is why I enjoy it so much. I hope this feeling of rejuvenation and joy is perceptible to all those that give it a try.
VINTAGE: 2023
BLOCK: Clone 53
CASES: 107
RELEASE DATE: June 2024
PRICE: $40.20
Tasting notes:
In 2023, we were afforded the rare vintage where we could choose a precise harvest date at our leisure, aided by the fact that it would be some of the first non-sparkling fruit to be taken off in the region - i.e. picking crews were ready and waiting! That beautiful day came on September 25th, with both blocks being harvested, destemmed and pressed. The juice was sweet and tasty, with 20.5 °Brix of sugars and TA that seemed just right at 7.4 g/L.
Fermentations were encouraged to start wild, taking place in a combination of older French oak (67%) and tank (33%). The barrels and tank were cooled to 10°C once the fermentations were established, in an effort to stretch out the process for maximal flavour and aroma development. After 21 days, all vessels were stopped at a specific gravity of 0.998, which equated to about 8.1 g/L of residual sugar. The wine was aged a further 5 months before blending and bottling. Total production was 107 cases.
I adore the subtle nature of Pinot Gris. It will not wow crowds with aromatic intensity like Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling, but instead rewards those who are willing to look deeper behind the unassuming facade. It is both humble and complex, perhaps something many can relate to. The lovely aromas are an invitation take a sip and experience the true delights that Pinot Gris can offer.