Adamo Estate Winery ‘Lepp Embers Path Vineyard’ Merlot

Grape: Merlot
Region: Niagara Lakeshore, Ontario
Country: Canada
Vintage: 2017
Volume: 750mL
 
Adamo is definitely the local winery to be watching these days, BC-born Shauna White continues to pump out absolute banger after banger. The winery itself is certified biodynamic and organic, and the Adamo family refuses to cut corners.  This Merlot is part of their Grower’s Series, meaning they buy fruit from other organic farmer’s, this time from the Lepp Embers Path Vineyard where the vines are about 20-years-old. The fruit was destemmed and 50% was left whole cluster until fermentation, before undergoing malolactic fermentation and aging in 100% new French Oak barrels for 16 months. This wine is jammed full of rich dark fruit, black currants, plum, fig, cherry, and a sexy supporting cast of toasted cedar, leather, iron, and tobacco, that carries forward onto the palate. Great structure, nice chewy oak tannins, and a lingering tea/sage note on the finish. Best served with a candle lit dinner, this wine will continue to evolve in the bottle, so drink it whenever the mood is right.