BARREL SELECT SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2022

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication:  VQA Lincoln Lakeshore
Varietal:  Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard:  Lizak Vineyard
Alcohol:  13%
Residual Sugar:  2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced:  125

Appearance:  Bright, pale straw in colour.
Nose: Grassy, gooseberry nose with a thread of minerality.
Palate:  Medium-bodied, crisply dry, green plum and green peach flavours. Long palate-freshening finish with an intriguing touch of bitterness. 
Quality:  90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now and through 2024.

Food Pairing: Roasted fennel with parmesan cheese, seared scallops with pea purée, pan-fried sea bass with lemon garlic herb sauce, Greek chicken with olives and feta, and zucchini and goat cheese dip.

BARREL SELECT SYRAH, 2018

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: VQA Lincoln Lakeshore
Varietal: Syrah
Vineyard: Wes Wiens Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 108

Appearance: Deep purple-tinged ruby in colour.
Nose: Blackberry bouquet with oak spice.
Palate: Full-bodied dry, savoury blackberry flavour with racy acidity and well-integrated oak. Lovely mouthfeel.
Quality: 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Can be opened now, but will reward cellaring for 1-2 years.

Food Pairing: Coffee and maple syrup-brined pork, smoked seitan steaks, Moroccan lamb meatballs, honey-garlic spare ribs, and lentil stew with coconut and madras curry.

VIOGNIER, 2022

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: VQA Lincoln Lakeshore
Varietal: Viognier
Vineyard: Martin’s Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 0 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 52

Appearance: Light gold in colour.
Nose: Floral, peach bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, peach and lemon flavours carried on lively acidity that gives the wine great length.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now and through 2024.

Food Pairing: Pad Thai with tofu, baked coconut saffron chicken, butternut squash ravioli, hot crab dip with crostini, and apricot-glazed pork tenderloin.

PINOT NOIR, 2021

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Domaine Vagners
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 0 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 120

Appearance: Medium ruby colour.
Nose: Lifted nose of raspberry with a note of tea leaves.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, elegant, raspberry and cherry flavours. Well-balanced.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now or hold until 2025.

Awards:

• Gold – 2024 Ontario Wine Awards

Food Pairing: Brown sugar-glazed ham, lamb kidneys in mustard cream sauce, grilled quail, char siu pork, and morel mushrooms and tofu en papillote.

BARREL SELECT CHARDONNAY, 2022

Geographical Indication: VQA Lincoln Lakeshore
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: A select Lincoln Lakeshore vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 104

Appearance: Bright. Light gold colour.
Nose: Light floral aromas are followed by buttered popcorn, green apple, lemon, and oak spice.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Sumptuous notes of green apple, pear, butterscotch, and a touch of baking spice. Beautiful creamy texture with a long, smooth finish. Well-integrated oak.
Quality: 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now or hold 1-2 years.

Food Pairing: Trout stuffed with pine nuts and golden raisins, chicken satay with peanut sauce, sweet and sour pork, roasted turkey with cashew and herb stuffing, and slow-cooked root vegetables in a tangy barbecue sauce.

IMPROMPTU, 2021

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Syrah (80%), Petit Verdot (10%), Malbec (10%)
Vineyard: Select Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 50

Appearance: Deep purple in colour.
Nose: Cedary, blackcurrant nose with oak spice.
Palate: Medium- to full-bodied, dry, black fruit flavours with a suggestion of pepper and herbal notes. Fresh acidity.
Quality: 90 – 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now or hold for 1-2 years.

Food Pairing: Roasted lamb with garlic asparagus, truffle mushroom linguine, filet mignon with black peppercorn sauce, Serbian prebranac bean stew, and Comté cheese tartiflette.

BARREL SELECT PINOT NOIR, 2019

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Domaine Vagners
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 0 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 104

Appearance: Tawny ruby in colour.
Nose: Raspberry and tea leaf nose with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, elegant, beautifully balanced, firmly structured with ripe tannins. Raspberry and cherry flavours. Lovely mouthfeel.
Quality: 92 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now and through 2025.

Food Pairing: Butterflied lamb with herbs, lobster thermidor, roasted duck with olives, gorgonzola chicken with sage, and truffle pasta with balsamic-roasted broccoli rabe.

CABERNET FRANC, 2022

Geographical Indication: VQA Lincoln Lakeshore
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Cuesta Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 96

Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark ruby red colour.
Nose: Bold aromas of black raspberry, blackberry jam, green pepper, savoury green herbs, and a hint of chili pepper.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Rich flavours of blackcurrant, black tea, green vegetal note, and black pepper. Well-balanced with firm tannins.
Quality: 91 – 92 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Decant and drink now or hold 2-3 years to further integrate tannins.

Food Pairing: Polpette (Italian meatballs) in tomato sauce, chicken liver pâté, farro and herb-stuffed grilled eggplant, grilled pork with avocado and jalapeño salsa, and slow-roasted lamb shoulder with mint.

BARREL SELECT SYRAH, 2020

Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Syrah
Vineyard: Wes Wiens Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 91

Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark ruby-garnet core.
Nose: Intense nose of violets, blackcurrant, a green vegetal note, and white pepper.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Cassis, dark plum, savoury green herbs, and bold black pepper on the finish. Firm tannins.
Quality: 91 – 92 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Decant well and drink now or hold 2-3 years to further integrate tannins.

Food Pairing: Pan-fried duck breast with red berry fruit, grilled vegetable fajitas, blue cheese hamburgers, brined and grilled aubergines, and lamb gyros.

BARREL SELECT PINOT NOIR, 2020

Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Domaine Vagners
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 0 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 48

Appearance: Semi-opaque. Garnet-ruby red colour.
Nose: Dark floral note, black raspberry, blackberry, licorice, savoury green herbs, and a touch of minerality on the nose.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Well-structured with bold, fruit-forward notes of dark cherry, blackberry, plum, and baking spice. Grippy tannins.
Quality: 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now or hold 2-3 years.

Food Pairing: One-pan duck with savoy cabbage, honey-grilled salmon, shiitake mushroom mapo tofu bowl, baked brie with rosemary, and barbecued baby back pork ribs.