Availability: Released in September 2011. Futures available from the winery here
Cost: $25.50 (futures price)
Alcohol: 14.2%
Production: 135 cases
Date Tasted: July 27th, 2011
Tasting Notes: The Stag's Hollow Renaissance Merlot is the single-vineyard, flagship release of the Okanagan Falls winery offering a sublime, layered nose of spiced plum, dark cherry, fig, licorice, dark chocolate and mocha aromas. Blended with 5% Cabernet Sauvignon which is inter-planted within one block of the Merlot, the wine presents a juicy, almost sweet entry on the palate with concentrated flavours of red and dark fruits. In the wake of the perceived sweetness follows fine, well-structured tannins and savoury elements from 15 months aging in French and American oak forming a lovely duet of fruity and savoury notes that plays through to the long, dry and tart finish.
As with other top 2009 reds, this wine will be both approachable in its youth upon release (with careful decanting) and at home in your cellar. Drink early-2012-2016.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca
On a side note: Only a handful of Canadian wineries employ the Bordeaux tradition of selling "Futures" for their upcoming releases. It's a fun experience for the wine lover who submits his or her order, often at a discount, and then waits in anticipation of the wine's release. For Canadian wines, one rarely waits more than 6 months as compared to the 2 years one will usually wait for an order from Bordeaux. More wineries, equipped with the staff and infrastructure needed to track pre-orders, should look into the practice as a way of rewarding loyalty to their products and brand.
