Top Wine Picks from Kacaba Vineyards

As the mercury drops, my thoughts always turn to full-bodied red wines that bring big flavours and loads of character — I love ya, Beaujolais Nouveau, but now that November’s over your time is up! Niagara’s Kacaba Vineyards make some terrific whites (as well as a very smart bubbly), but when I need something to warm my soul it’s their red wines I turn to.

If you’re not familiar with Kacaba at all, you’re in luck — they’re currently featured as part of My Wine Canada’s Free Shipping Series. This week only get free shipping on any six or more bottles of wine from Kacaba — the discount will be applied at checkout. Mix and match between these ripping reds, or delve into a couple of their wonderful whites as well… it’s all up to you. Act now and Kacaba’s wines will arrive in time to enjoy with family and friends over the holidays.

All of Kacaba's wines are tremendous values given the labour involved in their creation and the final product in the bottle, but on this particular chilly December day here are a few of my choice reds to consider over the holiday season.

2014 Cabernet Syrah

A blend of 45 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 per cent Cabernet Franc and 25 per cent Syrah, this blend is a result of winemaker John Tummon and his team tasting around two dozen separate barrels to find just the right combination of grapes. The fruit was hand harvested and fermented separately, then aged separately for 12 months in French and American oak barrels. The resulting wine brings complex aromatics of smoke, black pepper, anise, blackberry, leather and bell pepper. On the full-bodied palate the Cabernet Franc and Syrah take charge, with ripe cherry, blackberry, bell pepper and smoky, meaty notes and medium tannin. ($27.15, 13% alc/vol)

2014 Cabernet Sauvignon

All the fruit in this Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Kacaba’s estate plantings in the Niagara Escarpment region. There’s an Old-World, Bordeaux-type note to this Cab aromatically, with smoky, earthy aromas working well with blackberry and blueberry notes as well as a hint of warm spice. It’s a full-bodied, meaty red, with blackberry, plum, smoky, meaty and white pepper notes taking charge and some black tea notes that show up with light but firm tannin. ($27.15, 13% alc/vol)

2013 Silver Bridge Vineyard Syrah

This single-vineyard Syrah come from some of Canada’s oldest plantings of the grape, and as a result brings great complexity and style. Raspberry, dried cherry, black pepper, olive and herbal aromas here harken back to the northern Rhône Valley. On the full-bodied but remarkably delicate palate the red berry and cherry flavours are joined by violet, licorice, currant and white pepper notes, with a meaty note to the lingering tannins that hint at this wine’s aging potential of another 3-5 years. Having said that, it’s hard to resist drinking this now. ($32.15, 12.8% alc/vol)

Click on the bottles below to learn more . Add them to your cart and you'll get free shipping just in time for the holidays!