The Hermit Ram Ancestral Method Müller-Thurgau 2019, Canterbury, New Zealand 🇳🇿

🍇 Müller-Thurgau 

🧐 Alcohol 10%

🔹 Fresh nose with aromas of tangerine, apricot, passion fruit, lemon zest and light yeasty notes. The is dry with light bubbles, fuzzy peach skin texture and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium length, slightly tangy with loads of citrus fruits, lemon pit and light tropical fruits. 

🔸What an interesting new wine experience for me. Fifteen years ago when I graduated from my Sommelier program at Algonquin College we had no experience with natural wines, back then they would have been deemed faulty. How things have changed!  The younger generation of wine lovers are looking for something different, interesting, may I even say a funkier wine experience. As for this skin fermented Pet-Nat, low alcohol keeps it crisp and refreshing and this Sparkling reminds me of a summer beer with the last drop from the bottle much more like an unfiltered apple cider. An awesome experience, I am definitely looking forward to their Pinot Noir.  Cheers my wine friends 🥂

Touring Ontario Wine Country

Day two of three, with a visit to these three wineries in Niagara-on-The-Lake

🔹First stop at Ravine Vineyard It’s been a while since I last tasted Ravine wines. I remember them as beautifully made and on the lighter side. I am glad to see that nothing has changed. Beautiful and stunning wines. My favorites,

🍇 Cabernet Franc 2017
🍇 Reserve Red Unfined and Unfiltered 2016

Definitely my kind of wines, elegant, aromatic, well made with lower alcohol. I heard that starting with this vintage year they have a new winemaker. Hoping that she keeps the winery style pretty much the same 👌🙂

🔹Second stop Icellars Estate Winery, I had never heard of this family run winery, it was strongly recommended by industry people. It’s always incredibly insightful when the wines are being poured by Adnan Icel the winemaker. My favourite;

🍇 Cabernet Franc 2016
🍇 Merlot 2017

Highly recommended for a reason, beautifully structured wines, medium to medium-full bodied and incredibly delicious 😋 Small production with 200 cases for the Merlot and 300 for the Cab Franc.

🔹Third stop Big Head Wines  So much buzz about this fairly new winery. For me it’s reminds me of @hatchwines  in B.C. There is a young energy to this winery, a young clientele and they are pushing the envelope. Many wines here including a raw series. My favourites;

🍇 Pinot Noir 2017
🍇 Bigger Red 2016
🍇 Raw Series Chenin Blanc 2017

I feel that I was barely introduced to the wide range of products from this winery. Really interesting and delicious wines here. Strongly recommended.

More wineries to come. Cheers my wine friends 🍷