2014 Cabernet/Syrah – $24.95 – **** – This wine is driven by the Cabernet as the wine is made of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Cabernet Franc. When I first opened the bottle I couldn’t figure out where the Syrah was hiding. For the first 30 minutes the bottle was open it was Raspberry, Cherry, Blackberry galore. The tannin is already relaxed and this wine is easy drinking. After that thirty minute mark spice started to poke its way through all the Cabernet fruit. The white pepper on the finish of this wine is delicious and satisfying. This is going to be an essential wine for hearty stews or roasted meats as we head into winter.
2013 Merlot – $29.95 – ****+ – I don’t think anyone in Niagara will say 2013 was anything but a challenging vintage. But don’t tell the wine in this bottle, it rises above the challenging weather. Beautiful ripe Cherry, Strawberry and Blackberry on the nose and on the palate are what you will find in this bottle. Everything is perfectly ripe and in perfect balance. There are whispers of smoke and cocoa on the finish of this wine. I would enjoy this in the winter with a nice cut of beef perfectly roasted. This should do well in a cellar for 3-7 years, but I wouldn’t hold onto the bottle too long. The ripe fruit in this bottle is definitely meant to be enjoyed young.
