Inniskillin Niagra Estate Cabernet Franc Icewine 2023
Inniskillin Cabernet Franc Icewine is a truly remarkable Canadian sweet wine crafted on the world-famous Niagara Peninsula. Here, the winemaking team works alongside the extreme winter weather to create something incredibly special. Instead of picking the Cabernet Franc grapes in the autumn, they are left on the vines deep into the freezing Canadian winter. When the temperatures finally drop below minus eight degrees, the grapes are carefully harvested by hand in the middle of the night while they are completely frozen solid. When these frozen grapes are brought into the winery and gently pressed, only a tiny drop of pure, ultra-concentrated sweet juice is extracted, leaving the frozen water crystals behind in the press. The result in the glass is absolutely stunning. It pours a brilliant ruby red, offering a vibrant, highly fragrant perfume of crushed strawberry, rhubarb, and fresh cherry. Every sip is incredibly rich, sweet, and luxurious, yet it never feels heavy or cloying thanks to a brilliant streak of natural acidity that leaves the palate feeling crisp, clean, and refreshed. This is an unforgettable bottle to pour at the end of a special evening. While it is delicious enough to enjoy entirely on its own as a dessert in a glass, it is also a spectacular partner for rich, indulgent food. Serve it nicely chilled straight from the fridge alongside a dark chocolate pudding, a fresh red fruit tart, or a wedge of salty, mature blue cheese for a brilliant contrast of flavours.
