Wending Home Up Above Wismer-Cuesta Pinot Noir 2020

While the team at Wending Home strives for mostly estate fruit, they do not have any Pinot Noir planted and it’s hard to imagine Giesbrecht not having a Pinot in the family, especially from this vineyard that was close to his childhood home. The grapes were sourced from the Wismer-Cuesta Vineyard, located on the south side of Old Highway 8 between Vineland and Jordan on the Twenty Mile Bench, with aging half in puncheon and half in barrique (16% new oak) for 8-9 months and it was partially wild fermented. The nose reveals fresh red cherries, rhubarb, cranberries, violets, lovely oak spice notes and a touch of cassis. It’s dense on the palate with a complex array of brambly red berries, crunchy pomegranate, smooth tannins, spice notes and good length through a vibrant finish. Score – 92. (Rick VanSickle, winesinniagara.com, Feb. 4, 2022)