The year on the bottle says a lot
Although we may not pay much attention to the year the grapes were grown (vintage) written on the label, it has more impact on the juice within then any other single factor. A cold rainy summer can lead to under-ripened grapes and will translate into red wines with ‘green’ or vegetal aromas – like green bell peppers, or tomatoes. Conversely, a beautiful long warm summer with a little bit of rainfall, and a fall with cool nights, will produce perfectly ripe grapes and give the winemaker every opportunity to make something special.
In Ontario, the summer of ’07 provided these ideal conditions for red grapes. Everything went right, so much so that they’re calling it the best vintage ever in this regions relatively short history. We have two fabulous examples from ’07 to show you exactly what we’re talking about.
First, Southbrook Vineyards 2007 Triomphe Syrah is “a dandy” as David Lawrason describes. Syrah (or, Shiraz) has a spicy, peppery character in Ontario. We anticipate even greater things from this grape as the vines, now just adolescents, take deeper root and transfer even more depth of flavour to the grapes of future harvests.
Second, or the 5th wine, we’ll be pouring the Lailey Vineyards 2007 Meritage. Derek Barnett has really nailed the reds for 2007. This is an example of a Bordeaux blend, the three grape varieties contained within (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc) acting in beautiful harmony. We’ll decant this wine to show you it’s potential for ageing.