Icellars Estate Winery Wiyana Wanda Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc 2015 Wine Review

Icellars Estate Winery Wiyana Wanda Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc 2015

Niagara On The Lake, Canada

Community Score:93/100

Community Reviews: 2

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Price: $60.00

Drink: 2017-2019

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 13%

Sweetness: Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine

Winery: Icellars Estate Winery

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Reviews and Ratings

Daniel O'Keefe rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

Grapes were hand-harvested and double-sorted from the Icel Vineyard between November 11 and 17; Merlot at 23.5 Brix, Cabernet Franc 22.8 Brix, and Cabernet Sauvignon at 24.5 Brix. This was followed by a five day cold soak with punch downs thrice daily, then a 12 day fermentation with punch downs once daily. Drained and gently pressed before settling for two days. Aging was 24 months in new premium French oak with several rackings. The six finest barrels of the vintage were chosen for the blend. Built like a classic Left Bank Bordeaux, it contains 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. 150 cases were bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Intensely dark ruby red colour. Opens with formidable toasty barrel notes; savoury smoke, sweet vanilla, and dark chocolate. Breathing permits the fruits, fresh and ripe dark fruits, to be expressed. Increasing complexity as it decants and opens to reveal tobacco smoke, cigar box, dill, and tea tree oil. This wine is clearly built for the long haul with brawny, fine-grained tannins coupled with medium body and integrated acidity. A decade, perhaps longer, of prime drinking if stored under the right conditions. Layers of dark fruits cascade over toasty barrel notes on the long powerful finish. A powerhouse wine that would be well suited to play off Beef Wellington, blue cheeses, or dark chocolate.

Matt Steeves - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

Icellars Wiyana Wanda is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, all from their Icel estate vineyards in Niagara on the Lake. Deeply coloured, the nose shows rich dark fruit, dark plum, cassis, black cherry, sweet spices, cedar, and graphite. The palate offers fleshy ripe dark fruit, dried prunes, baking spice, with soft integrated tannins from the 24 months spent in new French oak. This beautiful expression of premium Ontario wine showcases the strength of the warm 2015 vintage, with terrific structure and elegance. Wiyana Wanda 2015 is further proof of the progress the Icel family is making in their pursuit of winemaking excellence. Tasted June and September 2018. 93 points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca

If you liked the Icellars Estate Winery Wiyana Wanda Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc 2015, you might also like these wines:

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Please note that our reviews are based on a variety of sources: samples sent to our team, those we purchase in store, tasting events, those tasted in restaurants and while traveling domestically and internationally.

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Icellars Estate Winery Wiyana Wanda Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc 2015 Wine Review