About This Product :
Appellation: VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake
Variety: 100% Cabernet Franc
Harvest Date: Jan 4, 2018
Brix at Harvest: 39.1◦Brix
Alcohol: 11.0% ABV
Residual Sugar: 218g/L
Cellar capacity: Now Till 2030+
Tasting Notes:
Great colour intensity in the glass, it opens up with a plethora of confected red fruit characteristics like strawberry and raspberry jam along with maraschino cherry and a backdrop of baking spice. The palate shares similar descriptors with the nose but with an emphasis on rhubarb, caramelized sugar, milk chocolate and a savoury quality. Despite being a lusciously sweet wine, there is ample acidity to keep it fresh and to reduce the perception of sweetness which ultimately leads to a very flavourful desert wine with a smooth mouthfeel.
Vineyard Notes:
Harvest of the Icewine grapes occurs when temperatures have reached -8*C or colder. When pressed,these hand picked, naturally frozen grapes yield a juice with an intense concentration of sugars, acids, flavours and aromas. The yield, however, is far lower than for most wines, requiring ten times more grapes per bottle. The resulting wine is high in natural sugar, low in alcohol, has an amazing acidity level, and is intensely sweet and flavourful. Pillitteri Icewine is a unique tasting experience with flavours that can range from honeyed peach and apricot to more tropical fruit like mangos. Pillitteri Estates, takes great pride in producing Icewine within the strict VQA standards — a recognition of the highest level of quality attainable.
Winery: The story of Pillitteri Estates Winery begins generations ago in the heart of old world Sicily. Grape growing was the way of life for the Pillitteri family in Racalmuto. Growing up on the family farm, Gary was soon responsible for helping his father and grandfather with the harvest and the tending of the vines.In 1948, Gary, at the age of 12, and his father, set off to establish a new life for the family in Canada. On December 15, 1965 Gary and Lena Pillitteri settled in Niagara on the Lake to raise their family. They purchased a small fruit farm on Niagara Stone Road. The land was planted to tender fruit (peaches, cherries, pears, plums, prunes, apples, and grapes) and vegetables and in 1973 they opened Gary’s Fruit Market (which actually still operates today in the east wing of the winery).
Over the years, the family owned “Gary’s Fruit Market” grew into a bustling destination of interest for visitors to Niagara-on-the-Lake and locals, as did the interest in wine from Niagara. Soon after the first Niagara wineries opened, Gary took the initiative to begin planting wine grapes and started the first of the family’s Niagara vineyards.
Food Pairing Notes:
Cabernet Franc Icewine pairs well with dark chocolate, red berry driven desserts and strong cheeses
