2014 Huff Estates Pinot Noir “Reserve”, Prince Edward County VQA, Ontario, Canada (Alcohol 12.5%) From Winery $35
While I’ve been rather taken with some of Huff Estates’ sparkling wines, I’ll admit that I cannot recall ever being quite this impressed by any of their still wines. A chance taste of this wine at Ascari Enoteca the other day (where it’s on by the glass) really blew my mind, and so I felt compelled to write about it for this week’s issue.
Although checking in at a modest 12.5% alcohol, this is actually an extremely powerful wine, particularly on the aromatic side of things. The nose is a delightful explosion of violets, wood spice, cherries, smoke, and just a touch of volatility. The palate, while still distinctly PEC (quite a marked cranberry-like acidity) has a velvety texture, with a lovely fine-grained, supple tannic structure, leading to a seriously extended red berry finish. I have to admit that I’m craving another taste of this wine as I write. It’s certainly up there in my top five Canadian Pinot Noirs, that’s for sure.
There were only 480 bottles of this juice made, so get your skates on and go grab some. Well worth the $35 in my mind.
(Four and a half apples out of a possible five)
Edinburgh-born/Toronto-based Sommelier, consultant, writer, judge, and educator Jamie Drummond is the Director of Programs/Editor of Good Food Revolution… And that was damn good. Thanks for the introduction, Annette!
