vintage |
Merlot vinification / notes at bottling |
reviews / awards | aging notes |
| 2000 |
grapes were hand-harvested in good condition on Oct. 28, 2000 tasting notes at bottling This is a big wine showing sweet red fruit aromas - dark ripe plum, strawberry. It actually smells like a fresh summer pudding. The rich aromas carry through to the palate and linger in an incredibly long finish. The mouthfeel displays velvety soft tannins. |
…fancy-priced,
but wonderful, local Merlot…yummy flavours and the feeling of luxury
suggested by the price Bill Munnelly, Billy's Best Bottles 2002 …the 2000 Merlot (rating 90) has rich, poised plummy fruit Gordon Stimmell, The Toronto Star. Jun.12, 2002 Looking for a funky red to go with your beef stew? Check this one out. Barnyard and charred oak with coconut milk. Soft on the palate with hints of black olive and vanilla, and a spicy touch on the finish. Lay this one down - or decant and dig in. Vines Buyer's Guide to Canadian Wine Second Edition 2002 GOLD: All-Canadian Wine Championships 2001 |
| 2001 | prior to fermentation
the grapes were crushed and cold soaked for 3 days / three yeast strains
were added to the must which was fermented in small batches and the cap
was punched down 2-3 times daily the wine was pressed as fermentation was finishing and put in barrel while the wine retained fermentation heat / malolactic culture was added in barrel tasting notes at bottling purple colour / aromas of sour cherry, black raspberry, blueberry and licorice the palate is big - full bodied with good balance, lots of sweet berry flavours on the palate with some notes of vanilla and cedar / the tannins are well rounded the wine has excellent length and good, very good structure and good aging potential |
Mid purple. Comes
across big and fleshy with bouquet of sour cherry, black raspberry, blueberry,
herbal nuances, licorice, mint and jam. Full body with effusive berry
flavours. Harmonious, good balance. Medium to long, warm, earthy finish.
Shows surprising grip. Still showing youthful grapiness. Classics Catalogue Winter 2003 Score: 91. As with the Lailey cab franc this is a major surprise. A wine of considerable heft and depth that was not at all out of place when tasted amid a range of Bordeaux and Napa reds at the Classics tasting in January 2003. Huge nose here - a blast of fruit liberally anointed with olive, mocha, leathery and tobacco complexities, but structured with firm tannin. Excellent length. Best 2004 to 2010. David Lawrason, First in Line, Wine Access. Feb.3, 2003 ..has a haunting nose of red currants, cedar, cigar smoke, toast, and roasted coffee. On the palate it boasts sleek mineral, blackberry, toast and espresso notes on top of ripe but forceful tannins. Impressive on the finish, this should enjoy an excellent evolution.Rating: 93 . Judy Atchison and Alex Good, Vine Lines. The Beacon Herald. July 17, 2003 ...the kind of wine that makes believers of the local product. It has freshness, flavour and the specialness that entices us to spend the extra money. I like the combination of richenss and austerity - very classic, very French. Age a year or two if you can. Billy Munnelly, Billy's Best Bottles. Early Summer 2003 Big and fleshy like Homer Simpson's belly, Lailey Vineyard's Merlot is a gentle giant. "Suede" was one taster's luxuriant description of this wine's complex profile and texture. There's a lot going on in the glass: tobacco, red fruit, vanilla, smoke, coffee, chocolate and smoked meat (Mmmm...smoked meat, as Homer would drool). The finish is long and dry, thanks to some gripping tannins that will soften with bottle age. This will develop nicely over mid-term cellaring (five to eight years). VINES Buyer's Guide to Canadian Wine. Third Edition. 2003 GOLD: Ottawa Wine and Food Show 2003 |
| 2002 |
prior to fermentation
the grapes were crushed and cold soaked for 3 days / three yeast strains
were added to the must which was fermented in small batches and the cap
was punched down 2-3 times daily
the wine was pressed
as fermentation was finishing and put in barrel while the wine retained
fermentation heat / malolactic culture was added in barrel
tasting notes
at bottling
deep purple colour
/ aromas of plum, black raspberry, blueberry and chocolate the palate shows rich, sweet dark fruit the finish is long with flavours of sweet spice and chocolate estimated cellaring: 7 to 8 years |
This concentrated and intense Merlot features ripe currant flavours with
some peppery, gamy and cedary notes. It's fine-grained and tighter than
expected, requiring decanting for hours before dinner or years of bottle
age to reveal its true promise. On the palate, the richness is balanced
with fine acidity, which lets the dense fruit and spice flavour persist
on the long finish. Enjoy with a rustic pasta dish with meat or roast garlic
and mushrooms. Chris Waters, VINES. Sept./Oct. 2004 BRONZE: Ottawa Wine and Food Show 2004 |