Tasting Note – The world’s great wines fill up the senses. There is much else to discuss about this expensive oddity, but on first approach of my second tasting of this wine, I immediately felt this ‘presence’. From the depth of the colour to the rush of aromas, to the intensity and minutes-long depth of flavour and the enveloping, drenching texture.  It pours very deep ruby-purple, still youthful. It is aromatic, pure and rich with violet, blackberry fruit with a screen of oak resin, dark chocolate and spice. It is full bodied, almost hot at 14.9% yet cohesive and elegant within its largesse. Major concentration and length here. Tannins are still very firm if slightly green. The length is outstanding. Best 2030 to 2040. Last tasted February 2026

Backgrounder – Stratus has been a leading producer of premium Bordeaux-style reds in Niagara since 2005, first under Bordeaux-trained winemaker J.L. Groux, who has recently handed off to protégé Dean Stoyka.  Cabernet Franc is a major component of the reds at Stratus and this is their pinnacle bottling. The arresting design of this bottle sets up all kinds of conversation and confused expectations. The ‘Decant’ bottle is a one-of-a-kind collaboration between Stratus and designer Karim Rashid.  The science is that the ledges/ribs in the design capture sediment as the wine is poured. The back label instructs that it is bottled with lees and should be decanted. The other little observation is how solid the grip of this bottle is in the hand. The wine itself was fermented for 21 days in 225L French oak barrels, then aged on its lees for 614 days in 40% new oak and 60% neutral oak barrels.