The Tragically Hip Fifty Mission Cab Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with a small amount of Merlot from two select vineyards in the Niagara Peninsula. Grapes were crushed and fermented in one tonne fermenter bins with daily manual punch-down of the caps. The wine was then racked into French oak barrels (30% new barrels, 40% 1 year old, 30 % seasoned) for 12 months prior to blending. Hip fans will be gobbling up these wines up quickly, but I hope they will take the time to enjoy the bottles rather than keep them as souvenirs. it really is a nice red wine to drink. It has a fairly robust nose of blackberries, dark cherries, dried tobacco, violets, plums and toasted oak spice notes. It’s rich and smooth on the palate with ripe dark berries, a touch of cherry compote, cassis, Cuban tobacco and earthy notes with lovely integrated spice notes and mouth-watering acidity driving the back end. A really fine Cabernet with classic Niagara elegance and enough stuffing to cellar 5+ years, though attractive right now. Better hurry if you want any of this special wine. Go Leafs Go! Score – 92. (Rick VanSickle, winesinniagara.com, Nov. 28, 2023)