Tasting Note This is the debut pinot noir from Dobbin Estate. It’s a well-crafted, complete and complex example that still, however, shows the tenderness, almost fragility of so many Niagara pinots. So, stylistically, let’s not expect Burgundy here, or Oregon, or even New Zealand. This wine is very comfy in its own skin. It is pale ruby-garnet, showing some maturity thanks to the long barrel ageing. The nose is quite generous, evoking ripe red cherry/strawberry, very finely integrated barrel spice, toast, dried leaves and forest floor. It is light to medium bodied (12.8% ABV), with fresh acidity and fine chalky, starchy tannin. The length is excellent. Best now through 2030. 

Backgrounder Reaching for the brass ring right out of the gate, the Dobbin family purchased a neglected but prime bench site and hired Canada’s power consultants Peter Gamble and Ann Sperling to replant, reconstitute and aim top shelf in terms of quality and price. The secret here is incredible attention to detail, building from vineyard to labelling. This pinot is sourced from the south facing (rare in Niagara) estate Faye Vineyard. The vintage delivered a dry warm harvest. The organic grapes were hand-harvested and field sorted then sorted again in the winery. Destemmed, they were wild fermented in five small lots, followed by 22 months of aging in French oak, including 15% new barriques.