Vincor Does It Again-----and with style!
Style can be described in many ways! Style can be the way one dresses---or wishes to dress! Style can be the way a person or group acts with themselves and others! Style can be the grace in which one moves or the way he/she speaks! Style can be the measure of comfort, accommodation or taste! When it comes to Vincor it usually means all of the above and more!
On July 7th, I was one of several invitees (many, such as Tony Aspler, from the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada) that met by Vincor's Elsa McDonald at the Royal York in Toronto and transported by Limo
(seating capacity 13) to Niagara's Jackson Triggs Winery and Inniskillin Winery to celebrate two special occasions: one was to welcome what is by far and without question the greatest harvest year on record----2007. The other was to officially open the new Inniskillin renovation of the Brae Barn and the unveiling of the new Piazza (Italian for Meeting Place or Square) plus a very special surprise.
First things first!
Jackson Triggs
The limo dropped us off at the scenic entrance of Jackson-Triggs Winery where we were welcomed by Vincor's National Hospitality Director, Del Rollo and Hospitality Administrator of Jackson Triggs, Jennifer Cowan. We were then treated to a phenomenal tasting of wines which I found truly amazing and in many ways atypical of Ontario. I say atypical because I was used to the very good but lean reds and fresh whites. What I smelled and tasted was a power and concentration that I have not seen----ever! Keep in mind that 2007 was an almost if not absolutely a perfect harvest year! Director of Vineyard Operations, Australian Frank Hellwig described it as follows!
"The budding was normal with rain in May and then sparse rain about 1/2 as much as normal from June to August. We had very warm days and cool nights leading to very high ripeness levels of the grapes----all having very high BRIX levels (high 20's). This was a fun vintage ---we were accused of having too much fun. The vintage was truly rewarding producing quality better than anything I've seen in Australia or Canada! "
The white wines tasted all reflected the high levels that Frank Hellwig mentioned! The Delaine Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc had herbal grass, vanilla, Italian mint and asparagus on the nose with a round, soft elegance on the palate with tangerine, vanilla spice and a crisp, clean finish.
The Delaine Vineyard Gewurztraminer was a wealth of Lychee, Honey spice, tropical fruit and mandarin orange in both the nose and palate.
The Inniskillin Winemaker's Series Barrel Aged Pinot Gris had wonderful vanilla spice with apple, pear and pineapple flavours with some mild citrus on a clean refreshing finish.
The Unfiltered Inniskillin Winemaker's Series Three Vineyard Chardonnay was an elegant mixture of butter, vanilla, butterscotch and tropical spice.
The red wines that followed showed the remarkable effects of the 2007 vintage.
The Inniskillin Winemaker's Series Montague Pinot Noir was one of the best Pinot's that I've ever tasted with a ripe concentration that complemented the character of the wine with cherry, strawberry on the nose and red fruit on the nose and a velvety, round mouthfeel.
The Inniskillin Winemaker's Series Merlot was what all Merlot should taste like!Smoke on the nose with Plum, Black Cherry/Blackberry flavours with Anise intermingled. A touch of pepper and very ripe tannins did the trick. The finish was as long as my arm!
The Delaine Vineyard Syrah had loads of black and red fruit such as plums, blackberries, cherries and white pepper with an intermingling wood spice.
The Jackson Triggs Cabernet Franc made a believer of those who maligned the grape variety! Great Concentration of plum, cassis, chocolate and coffee with a huge mouth roundness that warrants a great wine!
When I met winemakers Marco Piccoli of Jackson Triggs last year I knew that he was going to produce great wines and my prediction came through. I knew of Inniskillin's Bruce Nicholson from his reputation as a first class winemaker. He did not leave me wanting. Congratulations to both winemakers. There is an old saying: "You can't make great wines from bad grapes but you can make bad wines out of good grapes!" These two winemakers make great wines out of anything!
Following the tasting we had a marvellous meal in the wine cellar with some of the 2005, 2006, and 2007 vintage Jackson Triggs wines. The meal was stupendous and showed further that wine and food were made for each other.
We were then off to Inniskillin for more wine and a dedication.
On July 7th, I was one of several invitees (many, such as Tony Aspler, from the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada) that met by Vincor's Elsa McDonald at the Royal York in Toronto and transported by Limo
(seating capacity 13) to Niagara's Jackson Triggs Winery and Inniskillin Winery to celebrate two special occasions: one was to welcome what is by far and without question the greatest harvest year on record----2007. The other was to officially open the new Inniskillin renovation of the Brae Barn and the unveiling of the new Piazza (Italian for Meeting Place or Square) plus a very special surprise.
First things first!
Jackson Triggs
The limo dropped us off at the scenic entrance of Jackson-Triggs Winery where we were welcomed by Vincor's National Hospitality Director, Del Rollo and Hospitality Administrator of Jackson Triggs, Jennifer Cowan. We were then treated to a phenomenal tasting of wines which I found truly amazing and in many ways atypical of Ontario. I say atypical because I was used to the very good but lean reds and fresh whites. What I smelled and tasted was a power and concentration that I have not seen----ever! Keep in mind that 2007 was an almost if not absolutely a perfect harvest year! Director of Vineyard Operations, Australian Frank Hellwig described it as follows!
"The budding was normal with rain in May and then sparse rain about 1/2 as much as normal from June to August. We had very warm days and cool nights leading to very high ripeness levels of the grapes----all having very high BRIX levels (high 20's). This was a fun vintage ---we were accused of having too much fun. The vintage was truly rewarding producing quality better than anything I've seen in Australia or Canada! "
The white wines tasted all reflected the high levels that Frank Hellwig mentioned! The Delaine Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc had herbal grass, vanilla, Italian mint and asparagus on the nose with a round, soft elegance on the palate with tangerine, vanilla spice and a crisp, clean finish.
The Delaine Vineyard Gewurztraminer was a wealth of Lychee, Honey spice, tropical fruit and mandarin orange in both the nose and palate.
The Inniskillin Winemaker's Series Barrel Aged Pinot Gris had wonderful vanilla spice with apple, pear and pineapple flavours with some mild citrus on a clean refreshing finish.
The Unfiltered Inniskillin Winemaker's Series Three Vineyard Chardonnay was an elegant mixture of butter, vanilla, butterscotch and tropical spice.
The red wines that followed showed the remarkable effects of the 2007 vintage.
The Inniskillin Winemaker's Series Montague Pinot Noir was one of the best Pinot's that I've ever tasted with a ripe concentration that complemented the character of the wine with cherry, strawberry on the nose and red fruit on the nose and a velvety, round mouthfeel.
The Inniskillin Winemaker's Series Merlot was what all Merlot should taste like!Smoke on the nose with Plum, Black Cherry/Blackberry flavours with Anise intermingled. A touch of pepper and very ripe tannins did the trick. The finish was as long as my arm!
The Delaine Vineyard Syrah had loads of black and red fruit such as plums, blackberries, cherries and white pepper with an intermingling wood spice.
The Jackson Triggs Cabernet Franc made a believer of those who maligned the grape variety! Great Concentration of plum, cassis, chocolate and coffee with a huge mouth roundness that warrants a great wine!
When I met winemakers Marco Piccoli of Jackson Triggs last year I knew that he was going to produce great wines and my prediction came through. I knew of Inniskillin's Bruce Nicholson from his reputation as a first class winemaker. He did not leave me wanting. Congratulations to both winemakers. There is an old saying: "You can't make great wines from bad grapes but you can make bad wines out of good grapes!" These two winemakers make great wines out of anything!
Following the tasting we had a marvellous meal in the wine cellar with some of the 2005, 2006, and 2007 vintage Jackson Triggs wines. The meal was stupendous and showed further that wine and food were made for each other.
We were then off to Inniskillin for more wine and a dedication.
posted by Chuck Byers - Wine Consultant | 5:48 AM
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