I recently had the chance to taste through some upcoming releases from Southbrook with winemaker Ann Sperling. You can consider this blog post to be your shopping list for the summer. The great news is that Southbrook frequently makes appearances at local farmers markets in Toronto (to keep tabs you can follow the winery on Twitter @southbrookwine). Without further ado let me get right through the list.
2013 Triomphe Chardonnay – $22.95 – ****+ – This is one of the best Chardonnay’s from Ontario at it’s price. It’s affordable and excellent. Loads of Vanilla, Apple and Peach in the mouth. The finish on this wine has a nice refreshing acidity but leaves enough of the vanilla flavour that rises right to the roof of your mouth. This will age gracefully for a couple years … but if you’re like me it is unlikely you can keep these bottles in the house for very long.
2013 Triomphe Cabernet Franc – $21.95 – **** – This vintage of this particular wine may be a testament to why I believe Cabernet Franc just may be the future of the identity of the Ontario wine industry. There is the slight pressence herb and bell pepper on the nose underneath layers of raspberry. One the wine enters your mouth it is all ripe fruit with raspberry, cranberry and strawberry that take hold with perfectly balanced acidity that leaves you with hints of mocha and a clean finish. This is drinking great right now but will improve over the next 3-5 years. The savory edge on the nose begs to be paired with beef dishes of all sort.
2013 Triomphe Cabernet Sauvignon – $22.95 – ***1/2+ – The nose on this wine is pure ripe raspberry. The mouthfeel on this wine is so vibrant and alive with loads of raspberry and a nice spicy finish. This might be a little easier to drink on it’s own if you compare it with the cabernet franc. While this is still very fruit driven the tannin is still a little firm and should soften with a couple years of aging… however just like the Chardonnay this wine outperforms its price so it will be hard to keep in the house.
The Whimsy! line from Southbrook will be getting a facelift and going forward and you may notice it on the shelves as the “Estate Grown Small Lot” series.
2012 Whimsy! Cabernet Sauvignon – $34.95 – ****+ – In one word this wine is elegant. The nose has a slight floral character that amplifies currant and dark plum. There is a lot going on in the glass from the hot 2012 vintage. Cherry, Raspberry, Black Currant, and nice smoke and spice round out the package.
2012 Whimsy! Cabernet Franc – $34.95 – ****1/2 – Simply put this is the best Whimsy Cab Franc I have ever had the chance to try from Southbrook. The nose has Violet mixed in with ripe raspberry. The flavours on this wine are soft and complex with raspberry, currant, cranberry and mocha on the finish. There is noticeably more acid on the finish of this wine than the Cab Sauv which will make this the more food friendly of the two.
2012 Whimsy! “Minerality” Chardonnay – $34.95 – ****1/2 – The nose on this wine is nutmeg and apple… you do really notice the pressence of the oak ageing. In your mouth this wine is balanced with lots of fruit and vanilla with nutmeg rounding out the finish. The palate cleansing acidity leaves your mouth with nice smoke and butterscotch that rises to the roof of your mouth and a nice signature minerality that is left on the palate.
2012 Poetica Red – $54.95 – ****1/2 – Candied Strawberry on the nose with slight pepper mingled in there. The mouth is all fruit with layers of blackberry, raspberry, cherry, black currant. The finish on this wine is spice with still nice firm tannin. This wine has the potential to age 10-15 years easily longer in ideal cellar conditions.
2012 Poetica Chardonnay – $49.95 – ****+ – Mineral on the nose with lemon, lime and apple. Lots of Apple and Citrus with very distinct spice notes of Cinnamon, Clove and Nutmeg. The acidity feels a little high on this wine but everything should settle down with a bit of time in bottle. I am looking forward to revisiting this wine again in a year or two.
