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2018 was an excellent year for grape-growing in Niagara. 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: Picked by-hand from 2 blocks of Syrah (Terraced Vineyard and Proprietor’s Block) on the Kacaba Estate. The hot, dry summer of 2018 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. Manual punch downs were conducted 2 to 3 times daily. After sitting on the skins and fermenting for 20 days, the wine was pressed from the grape skins and divided into a selection of new and old French and American oak barrels for 19 months of aging. The wine was reassembled and filtered for bottling in August of 2020.

TASTING NOTES: This Syrah is spicy and fruit driven. It lingers on your palate with a rich appeal. The nose has hints of rich black peppercorn, cocoa nibs, cigar smoke and fresh berry fruits. The complexity of the oak aging is present on the nose and helps to develop the palate’s luxurious profile. Ripe cherry, raspberry and blueberry linger on the palate as this wine finishes with style. Drink now or cellar until 2028.

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.