Tasting Note – Creekside is actually making six syrah-based wines, including as of 2025, a delicious lambrusco-like Sparkling Shiraz and an unoaked, juicy red called Undercurrent Y&R (after winemakers Yvonne Irvine & Rob Power).  It’s bargain-priced, under $15 Shiraz, won a Gold Medal at the 2026 National Wine Awards of Canada. But I have chosen to review Unbroken Press as the single best expression, and as a tribute to this being its last vintage at Creekside, as the Queenston Road Vineyard has been sold.  It is a rarer version of the signature Broken Press Syrah, without viognier co-fermentation, and the inclusion of more new French oak.  It is one of the beefiest Niagara Syrahs I have ever encountered, with lifted classic aromas of ripe black cherry, pepper, savoury and almost meaty aromas. It is medium-full bodied, weighing in at 14.5% alcohol, yet texturally quite refined and rich with fairly firm tannin. And there is a slightly inky caste to the finish. The length is excellent to outstanding. I would age it about three years, it could live toward 2040, which should please collectors. Tasted July 2026

Backgrounder – Unbroken Press is a rather cheekily named wine that takes off on its more well-known sibling – Broken Press. Being a different version, they wanted to use a different name, but couldn’t come up with one until someone said Unbroken, which exposed the whimsical nerve often on display at Creekside. At any rate, the fruit was sourced from the warm St. Davids Bench in perhaps the most perfect red wine vintage Niagara has seen. It has only been made in three vintages – 2012, 2016, 2020 – and this is the last as the Queenston Road Vineyard has been sold.  It is 100% Syrah sourced from the west block. It spent 20 months in oak with six barrels chosen for the final blend – two Hungarian, the other four French.