| Malbec |
| Serving Temperature | 18.0 |
| Alcohol | 12.0% |
| Drinking Start Year | 2010 |
| Drinking End Year | 2013 |
A strikingly vibrant purple/red colour in the glass, the 2012 Malbec possesses a concentrated bouquet of black cherries, black pepper, cocoa, and pomegranate, with a hint of violet. An unmistakable gravelly mineral element gives the wine an uplifting freshness. Rich and generous dark berry fruits on the palate, follows with super-ripe and fine, silky tannins.
March was cool and wet. This was immediately contrasted with a warmer than normal April and a cooler than average May. Summer finally arrived in June, however, it also included some severe weather producing high winds and hail. Minimal damage resulted and overall, the vines fared well. Summer months in the Niagara Peninsula saw typical temperatures but much high than normal precipitation. By mid-August, ripening looked to be 7-14 days delayed on average for the region. September brought improved conditions with warm temperatures and sunny dry weather. Harvest began in late October and stretched into mid December. The fall was generally dry, offering good harvest conditions. The combinations of good fall weather and careful thinning of fruit to manage ripening resulted in most grapes reaching ripeness in the October/November window. After a summer marked by intermittent worry about delayed maturity, sugar levels in most grapes turned out to be in the normal range.
