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2016 was an extraordinary year in Niagara, among the best we have seen. The climate was warm and dry, which stressed the grapevines and delivered extremely ripe fruit. These conditions led to a stellar harvest of our signature grape, Syrah. This Founder’s Select Syrah is a wine club exclusive offering. The wine showcases true varietal characteristics that can be compared to some of the best Syrah’s being produced in the Northern Rhône Valley in France.

WINEMAKER NOTES: This wine is hand picked from our Terraced Vineyard and Proprietors Block estate vines, with 6.3% Viognier for co-fermentation. The hot, dry summer of 2016 produced small, intense clusters of grapes. The grapes were beautifully ripened and had a subdued level of acidity that showed promise for making a complex and fruitful Syrah. Once crushed and put into open-top fermentation tanks, the grapes were inoculated with select strains of yeast. The fermentation was maintained at low temperatures to promote the development of fruit-driven aromatic characteristics. Pump overs were conducted two to three times daily. After sitting on the skins and fermenting for 18 days, only free run wine was gently racked from the grape skins and divided into a selection of new and old barrels for 15 months of aging in French and American Oak. Free run wine is the best part of the vintage, as it never goes through a press. This means it never gets to extract harsh tannins from seeds during pressing. The wine was reassembled and filtered for bottling in the Spring of 2018.

TASTING NOTES: This Syrah is spicy and savoury. The nose has hints of rich black peppercorn, bay leaf and jammy dark fruits. The complexity of the oak aging is present on the nose and helps to develop the palate’s luxurious profile. Dark fruits linger on the palate and leave a smooth, bold and pleasing finish.

FOOD PAIRING: This Syrah is very versatile. Whether you want to analyze the complexities of the profile and drink on its own, or relax with something delicious, this wine is perfect for any time. When pairing it with food, we suggest rich meats with good fat content. Duck legs, charcuterie or spinach frittata all make excellent matches.