It has been awhile since I’ve written about some of the bottles that have passed through my front door. And it’s really too bad – because there are some killer bottles that you need to know about. Let me start with going through some of the current bottles available from Henry of Pelham.
2018 Fumé Sauvignon Blanc – $19.95 – Winery Only – **** – There are so many things right about this wine. I love that the label says fumé Sauvignon Blanc to make sure it’s crystal clear what’s in the bottle. The price is perfect to get someone to take a chance on something unknown. Sauvignon Blanc isn’t exactly front of mind for Ontario wine lovers – but it’s been creeping up over the past few years. With a bit of time in barrel something magic happens to the wine. This bottle is food friendly with virtually anything, but your heaviest red meat dishes – that being said I still think zippy Sauvignon Blanc is best at home next to seafood. This has intense tropical notes and a rich texture on the mid palate. Crisp acids bring up the satisfying, clean finish.
2015 Estate Cabernet-Merlot – $24.95 – Vintages 395855 (Dec 5, 2019) – **** – What great timing that this is coming to the LCBO shelves just in time for Christmas – I mean, for those of you who aren’t going to head down to Niagara to stock up. A few years in bottle has the tannin relaxed and ready to drink. In spite of it’s hurry to climb out of the bottle this would make a great gift for someone who has a collection of wines and is looking for something the evolve over the next few years. Blackberry, Dark Cherry, and Cassis are embraced by subtle cedar smoke. The tannin is well integrated, but a half hour open before serving should help it relax.
2017 Estate Gamay – $19.95 – Winery Only – **** – I think it’s clearly established the Gamay grows well in Niagara. It’s exciting to see more wineries elevating the variety – so it really shouldn’t be a surprise that this bottle from Henry of Pelham delivers the goods. I’ve been trying hard to not compare great Ontario Gamay to France, but it’s impossible to not think of great Cru Beaujolais when you sip on a bottle of this quality. This has rich dark cherry in spades, and a slight whisper of wild strawberry. Completely ready to drink right now, but this should hold on and become a little softer and more elegant over 3 years.
2017 Speck Family Reserve Pinot Noir – $34.95 – Vintages 657874 (Nov 9, 2019) – ****½ – The concentration of everything in this bottle is off the charts. So here’s the challenge – find a bottle of Pinot Noir from anywhere on the planet that offers this quality at this price point. This moves from cherry, to violet, to mossy forest floor seamlessly. This opens up on the mid palate and has a fantastic plush fruit texture. The tannin is silky and well integrated, but expect this to evolve in a cellar for seven years.
