The Wisteria Tree Cabernet Franc Icewine
Vintage: 2016
Price: $98.95
Price: In-Store, Online
Residual Sugar: 203.2 g/l
Tasting Notes: Luscious. Opulent. Unique. This Icewine is a classic. Nuances of lifted strawberry and cedar with a confectionary tone allude to the succulent palate that follows. Subtle wild raspberry notes migrate from nose to the palate accompanied by an array of sun warmed berries. The influence of oak is further revealed with vanilla and cedar notes. The lengthy finish is berry filled and transitioning.
Suggested Food Pairing: Pan Seared Duck Breast with Dried Cherry Sauce.
Notes/Comments: 2016 was a hot dry year perfect for red wine production. The light crop, lack of precipitation and late harvest allowed for full-flavoured Cabernet franc grapes to enter the winter season. Since the grapes were excessively ripe, the berries were tightly adhered to the pedicle permitting hand harvesting only. On a cold January winter night at -11C, the grapes were hand harvested. A small amount of juice resulted due to dehydration on the vine. After immediate pressing, the juice was fermented with selected yeast which completed the ferment on its own. It was then aged 8 months on lees in a recoopered French oak barrel. Hand bottled. Limited production of 62 cases.
Food Pairing: Seared duck breast with cherry reduction, strawberries dipped in dark chocolate, prosciutto, culatello, coppa di parma.
Pairing Description: Perfectly rare, well-seasoned duck breast (the fat rendered and crisped by slow frying) with a rosemary & garlic dried cherry sauce.
Notes/Comments: This dish is ideal for the Wisteria Tree Cabernet Franc Icewine. The wine's deep, opulent berry flavours complement the game meat's texture as well as the savoury garlic and herbed sauce, and contrast with the wine's bright acidity.
Howard's Icewine Vidal
Vintage: 2016 and 2017
Price: $24.95 and $39.95
Price: In-Store, Online, LCBO/Grocery
Residual Sugar: 209 g/l
Tasting Notes: Vibrant fruit notes reverberate throughout this wine with gorgeous minerality threaded throughout the palate and finish. Look for candied lemon peel, orange marmalade and peach jam with wet stone and balancing acidity. A lengthy seductive finish persists.
Suggested Food Pairing: Union Square Bar Nuts, paired with Howard's Icewine Vidal.
Notes/Comments: 100% estate fruit from our vineyard within the Vinemount Ridge appellation, clay soil with limestone rock base. Warm vintage equalled ripe, opulent fruit with developed flavours. Pressed at –10C, cool fermented in stainless steel over 4 months with selected yeast. Sterile filtered with no additions or fining required. 2017 Vintage (available in 200ml/$24.95) awarded the following medals: GOLD MEDAL, ONTARIO WINE AWARDS GOLD MEDAL, INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION 2019 LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ONTARIO WINEMAKING BRONZE MEDAL, DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS 2019
Food Pairing: Ideal with: blue cheese particularly Roquefort, foie gras and rich patés, Crème Brûlée, Sabayon, custards.
Pairing Description: Cashews, pecans, peanuts and walnuts glazed in brown sugar, salt, cayenne and rosemary and served warm from the pan, perfectly paired with Howard's Icewine Vidal.
Notes/Comments: Add a little heat to your sweet with this perfect pairing of spiced nuts and Vidal Icewine. Bar nuts are a great addition to a post-prandial snack of Icewine and cheese.