Tasting Note – Just released, this is the longer aged brother of the 2022 that shocked with a Platinum Medal at the National Wine Awards 2025. It is a selection of two barrels that includes some new French oak, and an extra year of bottle age (20 month in total) that shaves the edges. It pours deep ruby-purple. The nose shows lovely lift and penetration with violet, raspberry/red plum, fine spicing, tobacco and subtle herbs. It is medium weight, glossy and elegant yet driven by great acidity and warmth. Tannins are fine yet firm. The length is excellent to outstanding. This could have a very long life, but I would open and aerate whenever.
Backgrounder – Taylor Emerson purchased this property in Lincoln Lakeshore just below the Beamsville Bench in 2017, and began planting the usual Niagara varieties – cab franc, chardonnay, riesling – but tossed in Rhone varieties like syrah and viognier that have done very well. BBH’s rise has been dramatic post-Covid, perhaps due to the arrival of Taylor’s winemaking cousin Jonathan McLean who was lured from the Okanagan Valley. The Platinum win for the 2022 Cabernet Franc punctuated his arrival! This Reserve is essentially the same wine, a barrel selection aged longer before release (which is now). It is 100% estate-grown (youngish vine) Cabernet Franc, were hand-harvested late October at 23.1 brix (a warmer year). It was de-stemmed and lightly crushed prior to a wild fermentation with 20-months élevage in one new French oak barrel and one second-use French oak barrel. It was blended and bottled unfiltered and unfined.
