Pinot Noir 2023, Meldville Wines

Description from the Producer

VQA Niagara Peninsula

TASTING NOTES: This Pinot Noir has a medium ruby colour. Aromas of cherry, dried cranberry and with delicate floral notes. The palate is showing ripe dark cherry and fresh raspberry flavours with a note of spice. There are soft tannins on the finish with red citrus notes giving it freshness on the finish.

WINEMAKER’S NOTES: The vintage of 2023 was an exceptional year in Ontario for grape growing. Winter was relatively warm with little snow and temperatures were above normal for most of February and March and had us all thinking about an early spring. Bud break was right on time!! However warm conditions were in order from the beginning of May and throughout the summer, there were some hot spells but also some very wet spells as well leading to some concerns with disease pressures. September was warm and dry and harvest began early with grapes being picked in ideal conditions with good maturity and intense flavours.

The Pinot Noir grapes for this wine are grown on a small vineyard in Niagara on the Lake where we were able to manage the crop load and leaf thin to allow a good airflow around the grapes keeping breakdown to a minimum. Grapes were harvested by hand and in great condition. Crushed and destemmed before fermenting in small bins. Punch downs by hand were completed 2-3 times daily during ferment. Fermentation started without additions of commercial yeast but because of a sluggish finish a commercial yeast was added to be sure fermentation was completed. The wine was pressed off the skins after 17 days, settled and racked to 3rd and 4th fill barrels for further aging. Malolactic ferment was completed in barrel. Bottled with minimum filtration.