The Shadow Rock Sauvignon Blanc, 2023

Perhaps our least typical cool climate white, we pursue longer hang times with Sauvignon Blanc. This pushes the flavours past the common thiol driven southern hemisphere style into the turpenic range more common in Maritime climates (i.e. Bordeaux, the warmer years in the Loire's Tourraine, or even fresher Napa styles). As a result, melon and grapefruit flavours dominate the palate while honeysuckle aromas fill out the bouquet in this dry white wine. This is supported by soft vanilla notes from partial barrel fermentation and aging in oak. From the Short Hills Bench sub-appellation of the Niagara Peninsula.

50% barrel fermented in barriques and 3000L foudres, 50% stainless steel fermented. Aged in European oak barriques for 6 months.

Food Pairings: Big flavours ranging from pan-fried fish with a lemon dill cream sauce to quiche Florentine. 

VQA Short Hills Bench

The Shadow Rock
In mid-July around 7pm when the sun is still high, its light is partially blocked by the rocky outcropping of the Niagara Escarpment. This casts a shadow across a pond and over our Sauvignon Blanc vineyard. In the shadow's darkness insects and frogs start their nighttime song creating a pensive moment filled with natural beauty. The intense warmth of day followed by the slightly shortened afternoon delays the fruit's development ever so slightly, contributing to a ripe aromatic wine that can only come from one place.