Divergence Red 2022, Collab Wine & Beverage

SENSORY PROFILE

Medium ruby in colour, this wine has myriad berry aromas: raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, as well as a floral violet note, cedar, and earthiness. The palate is driven by good acidity, emphasizing black cherry and black plum flavours, red licorice candy, and vanilla.

FOOD PAIRINGS

The Syrah component allows this to pair nicely with dark meats and a variety of spices – think lamb shawarma, gyros, and Indian curries. The herbaceous aspect of Cabernet Franc and acidity from both varieties means it will also pair with tomato based dishes and vinegar based BBQ sauces, making this a versatile wine at home with dishes from lasagna to brisket and ribs.

CELLARING POTENTIAL

Drinking well from release in 2024 and should drink well into the 2030s.

VINTAGE

The 2022 vintage was largely shaped by a very wet end to 2021 followed by a sharp cold January that caused bud death across most vineyards and varieties. Some areas such as very close to Lake Ontario or on slopes with very good water and air drainage fared better, but overall, this winter led to a significantly reduced crop.

A slow start in spring was followed by a warm and mostly dry summer. August brought some storms, but the fall was again dry and relatively warm leading to good ripening conditions for the small crop that was hanging.

Quality is good to excellent due to the lower yields and favourable weather and the wines from 2022 will be sought after due to their relative scarcity.