|
Kevin's comments: Elegant, this full-bodied Pinot Noir has wonderful blackcherry, currant and toasted oak flavours.
PELEE ISLAND PINOT NOIR RESERVE
Pelee Island is Canada's largest independent winery and also the largest estate vineyard covering 600 acres.
Nestled in the western basin of Lake Erie, Pelee Island is Canada's Southern most inhabited tip of land. Home to over 10,000 indigenous species, Pelee Island is the environmental pride of Canada. Below the 41st parallel, it is as far south as Mendocino, California, Rome and Madrid and is Canada's warmest region with a growing season over 50 days longer than mainland Canada.
No insecticides are used in the vineyards and only a 100% island grown natural fertilizer, sorghum soudan grass, is applied.
The 2003 vintage Vidal Icewine received a Gold Medal at the 2005 Citadelles du Vin at Vinexpo, the highest accolade. Additionally, in home territory Gold awards were achieved at the All Canadian Championship and further afield at the Japan Wine Challenge.
PELEE ISLAND PINOT NOIR RESERVE
Vinification
And Winemaking: The harvest for these grapes was in late September when they had reached 23.2° brix. The grapes were crushed but not pressed, then placed in a temperature-controlled rotary fermenter (18-20 degrees Celsius) for 5 to 7 days to draw out the colour from the skins. They were then pressed and the juice was placed in European-style French Oak barrels to finish fermenting. After about two weeks the wine was racked into an aging-barrel.
During maturation, the wine spent about eight to twelve months in European-style French Oak barrels with about 25 to 30% of the wine experiencing a malolactic fermentation.
Serve: This wine is best when enjoyed with grilled or roasted red meats, roasted pork, ham and Atlantic salmon.
Taste: Rich and juicy Pinot Noir, with lovely ripe red berries on the nose and palate, and a long savoury finish
|
