2020 Stonebridge Sauvignon Blanc Reserve

By Rick Vansickle, WineinNiagara (Rating 95)

The fruit was partially botrytised, picked at quarter of a tonne per acre and mostly single berry harvested and sorted. Only 165 cases of this wine are available, and if you are intrigued, you should order quickly. The first thing you notice on the nose of this wine is the fact that it does not resemble any Sauvignon Blanc you have ever had. It’s not grassy or herbaceous and falls more in tune with a mash-up of Sauternes (the Semillon part), Alsatian Pinot Gris, and Sancerre. It’s probably more deserving to say it has its very own profile, a unique and enthralling Niagara white wine born of discovery and creative winemaking. The first thing you notice is a lovely golden colour in the glass and then an incredibly aromatic nose of apricot tart, honeysuckle, lemon curd, baked peaches, nectarine, honeycomb, and baking spices. It is full-bodied and generous on the palate with a silky, unctuous, and creamy texture that oozes apricot, peach pie, dried stone fruits, wild honey and ginger that is rich and layered with complex flavours and moderate+ acidity holding it all together. It is an elegant, decadent, and luxurious white wine with toasty barrel oak spices and weight that hides the 14.8 abv. This will cellar nicely for 5+ years (I would personally push that beyond 5 years) and reward those with patience. But I can see how it might be too irresistible to wait on it. A blockbuster wine.