Vineyards
Grimsby Hillside Vineyard (100%)
Winemaking Notes
As part of our continuing quest to bring the best terroirs of Niagara to all of you, this is our first vintage of Pinot Noir from Grimsby Hillside Vineyard. Located only 800 metres from Leaning Post, its terroir is nonetheless very different from our own. This vineyard is perfectly suited to Pinot Noir and combined with mature (15 year-old) vines creates wines of elegance, power and age worthiness.
A very cool spring was followed by a steady and cool growing season with just enough moisture to keep vines happy. The cool and steady weather continued into the autumn, allowing us to hang fruit well into the season without losing acidity or freshness. Hand-picked and hand-sorted on October 1st 2019, the grapes were partly de-stemmed (75% destemmed, 25% whole-cluster), partially crushed and left to soak on skins prior to fermentation. After 3 days, fermentation occurred spontaneously in small open-top fermenters. During fermentation, the skins were punched-down by hand 2 times per day. Once fermentation was finished, the wine remained on skins for 5 days before being gently pressed. It was then transferred to French oak barrels (25% new, 25% 1-year-old, 50% older) and aged for 15 months.
Tasting Notes
An amazing growing season has given us a stunning debut for this vineyard! The density, intense body and structure of this wine are stunning. While some of the warmth and richness of the vintage is present, the acidity, and earthy components are still brought forward by the cool site. The nose mixes pomegranate, black cheery, candy-cane beets, earth and cola in equal measure, with vanilla and baking spice layering over a background of fallen leaves and smoked meat. On the palate the wine unfolds even more showing intense black cherry, leather saddle, beet root, roast drippings backed by tobacco, basil and underbrush. Leaning towards full-bodied with loads of core structure & tannin, it is full and vibrant with excellent acidity and tannin that will easily help it last for a decade. This wine shows us that terroir hunting pays off and that our specific area of Lincoln Lakeshore tastes unlike other areas of Niagara.
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