What a great Icewine should be…
Name: Riesling Icewine
Vintage: 2014
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Region/Country: VQA Niagara Peninsula, Niagara, Ontario, Canada
Grape Varietal(s): Riesling
Consumed: At home on a cool early summer evening
Recommended By: Purchased it from the winery after an engaging, informative tasting led by Paul Speck
Cost: $34.95 CAD
Bottle Presentation: Distinctive Henry of Pelham label.
Appearance: Pale gold.
Nose: Pronounced nose, with marmalade, honey, apricot, mineral, and petrol notes, as well as the distinct icewine sweetness.
Taste: Sweet, full-bodied, with medium-high acidity. Flavours included lemons, honey, petrol, minerals, and sweet brioche.
Finish: A long, sweet mineral finish.
Overall Impression: Exactly what you’d expect in terms of an Icewine and another spectacular offering from one of our favourite wineries! The Riesling’s acidity balances out the Icewine’s typical sweetness and add complexity to the mix, making it shine.
Given everything that goes into producing an Icewine (picking grapes at -8 degrees Celsius, usually after weeks of waiting for the temperature to drop, extracting one drop per grape, and the like), the results speak for themselves. Although Icewines come at a premium cost, this one represents excellent value. But don’t take our word for it, give it a try to see for yourself.
Rating (from 70 to 100): 96
Value: 5/5