2020 Exclamation Syrah

2020 was a vintage for the ages (in more ways than one). The spring started off unseasonably warm and just got hotter as summer came. There was little rainfall and extended periods of perfect growing weather. In the fall the season was extended by warm weather right until the end of October. Look for some of the best wines Niagara has ever produced from this vintage.

The warm 2020 vintage was the perfect opportunity to produce this heat loving variety that often struggles in Niagara. Although very popular in places like Australia and South Africa (known as Shiraz) our Syrah shares more in common with the grape’s ancestral home in France’s Rhone Valley, which has a moderate climate more akin to Niagara. As a result, this is a classically styled example that puts an emphasis on the subtleties of the fruit as opposed to all out intensity. The nose is very aromatic, with fresh notes of black pepper, black plum, blueberry, raspberry jam, and licorice, along with oak derived characteristics like cedar, vanilla, and clove. Niagara’s moderate climate ensures that the palate has ample acidity, often lacking in warm climate examples, while also bringing out a lot of the fresh fruit and more savoury characteristics of the wine. Tannins are youthful at this stage and add significant weight, but are beautifully balanced out by a rich creamy texture, courtesy of lengthy barrel aging, that extends over a long finish.

Food Pairing:
Roast lamb  
BBQ ribs  
Hearty stews  
Portobello mushroom 
Charcuterie 
Aged cheeses  

Technical Information:

Appellation: VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake

Blend: 100% Syrah

Oak Aging: 24 months French Oak

Alcohol: 14.0% ABV

Residual Sugar: 1.3g/L

Cellaring capacity: Now till 2030+