Icellars Estate Winery Arinna 2016

Jennifer Havers rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Beautiful! Blended from 50% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Malbec. Aromas are rich and include black cherry, ripe raspberry, fragrant violets, tobacco and cedar smoke. Full bodied on the palate with some smooth but present tannins. Lovely balance of fruit, spice, smoke, acidity, alcohol - everything works well together. Enjoy with marinated flank steak and grilled vegetables.

Jon Steeves rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Ruby red. Long finish with persistence of anise, ripe wild strawberry and a hint of cedar. Dry. Full bodied. Chalky fine tannins. Love the persistence of fennel seed and it’s affinity to so many fine dishes. Paired well with a loaded kale salad with warm beef tenderloin slices and goats cheese. Tasted 2016 vintage in July 2018. 91 points

Daniel O'Keefe rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Grapes were hand-harvested and double-sorted from the Icel Vineyard between October 19th and November 17th; Merlot at 24.5 Brix, Cabernet Franc at 24.0 Brix, Malbec at 21.1 Brix, and Cabernet Sauvignon at 26.2 Brix. Destemmed and lightly crushed before a six-day cold soak with punch downs thrice daily, then 12- to 16-day fermentations with punch downs once daily. Drained and gently pressed before settling for two days. Aged in a combination of French and American oak for 12 months with several rackings. Blended at 10 months then returned to barrel for the last two months. 50% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Malbec.

While the Right Bank-styled Arinna might be the second-tier blend in the Icellars portfolio, it has the capability to rival the top-tier blend of many wineries. An iron fist in a velvet glove, Arinna masks 14.5% ABV behind plush ripe black cherry, blackberry, and plum accented by sweet vanilla and caramel. Soft tannins and bright acidty round out a firm but friendly structure. This young wine will impress and evolve for years to come. Give it another year then enjoy from 2019 onward with pork or beef roasts, or simply on its own as a wine worthy of contemplation and admiration.

Matt Steeves rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Boom, this expressive red blend from Icellars Estate Winery in Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, consists of 50% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, and a splash of Malbec to produce a beautiful balanced and well structured wine. Fragrant sweet spices, plum, black cherry, mocha, black tea, and pipe tobacco on the nose. Dry with zippy acidity and mouth coating dusty tannins, the finish is long with spicy plum, dark cherry, and a hint of sous bois. An ideal wine to enjoy with grilled prime steak. Enjoy 2018 - 2026, and decant 1-2 hours. 425 cases produced. Tasted April 2018. 92 points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca

$42 winery direct.