It’s been remarkable to see how the wineries have found ways to connect with their consumers during this pandemic – I feel very fortunate for the winemakers and winery owners that have taken the time to speak with us. The latest edition of the online tastings has us sitting down with Flat Rock Cellars. I find myself frequently praising the wines from here because the core portfolio is solid – and always over delivers on price to value. That being said there is always something exciting going on at the winery.
A few months ago I caught a sneak peek at a pair of labels from Flat Rock called Nature and Nurture. When I asked what was going on with these new labels I was informed that it was top secret… and that was it. Fast forward to this week – I find out these bottles were both made with different philosophies. These two wines are from the 2017 vintage – Nature is made using indigenous yeast, and nurture was made from inoculated yeast. Apart from that the amount of time in barrel and winemaking is the same. How did this decision affect the way the wines taste.
2017 Nature Pinot Noir – ****+
2017 Nurture Pinot Noir – ****
($100 for the pair)
The wild fermented of the pair (nature) has a bit more complexity than the nurture. That doesn’t mean these both aren’t delicious wines. As a tasting exercise it is worthwhile to check these out side by side. There are nice notes of spice, cherry, raspberry in the nature – with strong violet that goes from nose to finish. Nurture on the other hand is fruit driven with cherry, strawberry, and blackberry – the spice note is nowhere to be seen. During the podcast I even blended these together – I thought the complexity of nature would marry well with nurture – but it just didn’t go down like that. I have been told to stay tuned for the next skunk works project from Flat Rock and it might have something to do with Riesling.
2018 Rusty Shed Chardonnay – $27.15 – **** – This is radically different than the 2017 vintage – and it does still need some time to settle down before its really ready to open up. This is rich and creamy with vanilla, butterscotch, and spice – the barrel flavours are definitely taking centre stage right now – but in a few months I can see this harmonizing with peach, pineapple, and tangerine notes that open up on the mid palate. The finish is long and spicy but still with nice acidity. Hold onto this for 3-5 years.
2017 Nadja’s Vineyard Riesling – $25.15 – **** – One of the flagship quality rieslings in the province. Tons of chalky mineral, vibrant citrus, and just a hint of sweetness to get some orchard fruit to pop. As expected, crisp acidity brings up the finish. Something to enjoy now on a patio, or hold onto a few bottles to enjoy over the next few years.
