2023
SAUVIGNON BLANC
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore
Harvest Date: October 12th
pH: 3.38
TA: 6.57
Brix: 22.4
Alc: 13%
Production: 1740 bottles
Price: $20.00
WINEMAKER’S NOTES:
The vintage of 2023 was an exceptional year in Ontario for grape growing. Winter was relatively warm with little snow and temperatures were above normal for most of February and March and had us all thinking about an early spring. Bud break was right on time!! However warm conditions were in order from the beginning of May and throughout the summer, there were some hot spells but also some very wet spells as well leading to some concerns with disease pressures. September was warm and dry and harvest began early with grapes being picked in ideal conditions with good maturity and intense flavours.
Grapes for this wine were harvested from an older block of Sauvignon Blanc at the Lizak Vineyard in Beamsville. Close to the shores of Lake Ontario giving cooler growing conditions and slower ripening allowing for wonderful development of flavour and balance. Grapes were mechanically harvested and optically sorted on the harvester. Grapes were crushed and pressed in amazing condition After cold setting the juice, it was transferred into neutral French oak barrels for fermentation using a selected yeast. After 15months of aging in barrel the wine was transferred to stainless steel tanks, filtered and bottled.
TASTING NOTES:
Pale straw with green hues, citrus and cooked gooseberry aromatics with a touch of stone fruit. Flavours of citrus peel gooseberry and passion fruit, Balanced finish that lingers on and on!
2019
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Harvest Date:
September 30 – October 10
Average brix at harvest: 20.8
pH: 3.2
TA: 6.3
Production: 6792 bottles
WINEMAKER’S NOTES:
Growing conditions in the spring were quite slow with cooler weather and lots of moisture delaying budbreak and slowing early spring growth. June was warmer, in fact we had some quite hot spells throughout the month giving great flowering conditions. by the end of the month the vines had caught up following the slow start. The rest of the summer was mainly sunny and warm with just enough moisture for steady development of the vines. September was cooler, but mainly sunny giving a great beginning to the harvest season. October was warmer with more moisture and humidity but in general conditions remained favorable for the earlier ripening varieties.
The Sauvignon grapes for this wine are grown very close to the shores of Lake Ontario where light breezes off the lake tended to keep the intense heat and humidity at bay just a little bit. Grapes were picked in prime condition which gave us the opportunity to skin soak for just over 48 hours before pressing. Adding some intense citrus peel aromas and flavours to the juice and just a touch of bitterness. After pressing off, the settled juice was racked off the heavy sediment to stainless steel tanks for fermentation.
Fermented using a selected yeast and keeping the juice at a cool temperature, trying to maintain the intense flavours that the great growing season had produced. After the ferment was completed the wine was left on its fine sediment for 2 months before racking clean.
TASTING NOTES:
The wine shows a lot of ripe tones of melon, yellow apple and lemon, also a slight hint of green herbs and grass on the nose. The palate has a rich texture with flavours green and yellow fruit flavours, a lovely fresh acidity that keeps the finish lively and long.
