Vintages Release: November 23, 2019
• The grapes in the following 2018 Flat Rock Cellars ‘Nadja’s Vineyard’ Riesling were hand harvested from 17-year-old vines rooted in limestone on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment then whole-cluster pressed.
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Flat Rock Cellars ‘Nadja’s Vineyard’ Riesling 2018
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $24.95 (578625) 10.5% alcohol
This opens with lime-soaked aromas of Granny Smith apple and mineral notes. A lively racy stream of lime and chalky minerality streaks over the palate joined by fresh and refreshing flavours of lemon pie filling and white nectarine. It’s just off dry, nicely balanced with good mouthfeel and a lingering, tart, lip-smacking finish and aftertaste. Seasoned riesling lovers will happily sip this on its own, almost everyone will enjoy it with spicy Asian cuisine—try tandoori chicken, moo shu pork or pad Thai. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: December 7, 2019
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Flat Rock Cellars ‘The Rusty Shed’ Chardonnay 2018
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $26.95 (1552) 13.5% alcohol
A light golden hue, it offers a cornucopia of aromas with baking spice, vanilla and bits of biscuit and caramel to the fore. It dazzles the palate with a gusher of smooth texture, medium-full body and plenty of palate flavours—red apple, crème caramel, piquant spice, oaky notes and tart grapefruit tang on the back palate and lengthy aftertaste. This has good bones and should improve even by the time it’s released; it needs only time to meld—and it’s very good value. (Vic Harradine)
• The following Flat Rock Cellars ‘Riddled’ Sparkling Wine 2017 is a blend of 61% pinot noir/ 39% chardonnay and was chosen from specially selected, hand-harvested blocks of estate vines. It was produced in the Traditional Method and whole-clustered pressed, neutral-oak barrel fermented then underwent an 18-month bottle fermentation and resting on its lees.
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Flat Rock Cellars ‘Riddled’ Sparkling Wine 2017
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $34.95 (383315) 12.0% alcohol
The lively fine-bead mousse crowns the medium-yellow hued nectar in the glass. Aromas of rising bread dough and lemon zest give way to a racy mouthful of Key lime and lemon curd underpinned by and infused with lip-smacking tang. It finishes with palate replays that are mouth-watering clean, crisp and refreshing. Pour as a welcoming wine or an aperitif to get gastric juices flowing or alongside Sole Meuniere. (Vic Harradine)