Arterra Wines Canada Inniskillin Reserve Series Cabernet Franc Icewine 2022

The third week of December 2022 brought ideally frigid temperatures of -10?C, signalling the beginning of Inniskillin’s world renowned Icewine harvest, completed by February 5th in four thorough and diligent pickings. Cabernet Franc and Riesling were off the vines in December, which is historically the ideal timing to pick Icewine as it limits the risk of dehydration, high winds, and wildlife interaction with our prized crop. The consistently icy weather afforded the optimal harvesting temperature, allowing us to execute Inniskillin’s award-winning quality standards with the perfect sugar levels and well-balanced acidities. At pressing, only a few drops of concentrated juice could be extracted from each bunch, about 10% of a normal fall harvest yield, a scarcity which makes Icewine so unique and highly sought after.

The grapes for this Cabernet Franc Icewine were harvested from select vineyards throughout the Niagara Peninsula at a frigid temperature of -10 C. Pressed immediately the viscous juice was cold settled for 7 days before racking and inoculating. Fermented cool for approximately 21 days, the resulting wine was filtered and transferred to a stainless steel tank to await bottling.

This nose on this classic Inniskillin Icewine has notes of jammy strawberries, raspberries and ripe ruhbarb. While the palate shows a robust concentration of red fruits, complemented by a well balanced acidity