Vineyard Notes
The entire 2020 harvest was early. It started early and ended early, with harvest dates for each variety that were all notably earlier than normal. Harvest started on August 27th with early red hybrid varieties. Autumn was brilliant – warm, sunny, and very little rainfall, providing great conditions for
harvest. Yields were down on all varieties (about 10-20%), but quality was excellent. The warm, sunny days and cooler evenings allowed the grapes to develop phenolic ripeness without any breakdown. Not unexpectedly, the warm, dry growing season for the vines produced grapes with high sugars and low acids. Unfortunately, the overall yield was negatively impacted, with most varieties down between 10-20% of expected tonnage. Early November brought almost summer-like weather for more than a week, allowing us to finish up harvest with great picking conditions.
Production Notes
Grapes for this Pinot Noir came from our Montague Vineyard in the sub- appellation of Four Mile Creek in the Niagara Peninsula. After gently de-stemming and crushing the grapes, the juice was inoculated and
allowed to ferment at an average temperature of 25C for 11 days before being transferred to French barrels to undergo a complete malo-lactic fermentation. After 15 months in oak, the wine is stored in stainless steel
Winemaker Notes
A single vineyard bottling from the Four Mile Creek appellation, this wine offers perfume of raspberry and cranberry. On the palate; dark cherries with racy acidity and subtle tannins. This elegant and refined Pinot Noir is a pleasure to drink new or within the next 5 years.