We recently got this wine from our wine club and this is the high end series from Peller Estates. It is always nice to see a monthly wine club that is not afraid to send high end wines as a part of their regular. One of the great things about being in the golden horseshoe area is the wine club for Peller and Hillebrand. Regardless of which club you are in you get the same benefits, 2 wines per month delivered to your door, two recipes complimenting the wines, access to free wine tours and invitations to member only events. Both wineries have lots to offer the amateur or the more advanced (our favorite activity to bring friends to is the Art of the Blend seminar at Hillebrand where you get to make Bordeaux style blends). As with any wine club expect some stinker wines every once and awhile. On to the tasting!
This wine looked very light immediately on decanting with a pale brick/rust colour. The 2003 vintage was not Niagara’s best in terms of red wines so I was not expecting much in terms of a single grape variety like this Cab Franc. This wine spent 12 months in oak and the top 18 barrels were used for this unfiltered wine. Immediately you will get deep black cherry, wood and vanilla on your nose. Your first few sips will reveal very even keeled acidity and more soft tannins. The more you get into the more you will sense red plums and oak on your palate with a bit of earthiness. This wine is very easy to drink and quite a pleasant surprise, though it tended to fade the longer it sat which leads me to believe this is a drink now and has little to offer you if you were to cellar. Overall I was quite pleased and while on the expensive side of Niagara reds, the Cabernet Franc lover will appreciate this wine.
The CWG subjective rating is 88 out of a 100.
Mrs CWG says
I enjoyed it but not sure it is worth $35
