Tasting Note – From the founding house of syrah in Niagara, this is the most generous of the three 2023 single-vineyard Kacaba syrahs, perhaps entirely due to this vineyard’s rare southern exposure. Most others face north. It has just a tad more weight and richness, even if still conforming to Kacaba’s leaner Niagara style.  It is very pretty aromatically with complex red cherry, pepper, red rose, licorice, basil and a hint of Rhonish meatiness and oak spice. It medium bodied yet very even, warm, fairly soft with some heat from 13.3% alcohol. Tannins are fairly tight and gritty. I would buy to dabble and cellar, thinking it will be showing very nicely circa 2030.  Excellent length. The original planted Silver Bridge 2023 is a bit lighter, exuberantly juicy, almost crisp and fresh, while the Terraced Vineyards (which includes some newer plantings) is a bit reserved at the moment, if very even and well balanced. A mixed case would be enlightening down the road. Tasted July 2026

Backgrounder – Michael Kacaba, a Toronto lawyer of Ukrainian descent originally from Saskatchewan, purchased a prime Bench site near Vineland in 1997. He expeditiously planted the present vineyard and established the winery in time for the first vintage in 1999. From the beginning it was designed for small batch production, with syrah as the flagship. There were favourable conditions but a small crop in 2023 with a dry and reasonably warm harvest period that extended through the fall, which is what syrah needs. All the wines were aged about 12 months in a mix of French and American oak barrels.  

Accolades: Silver National Wine Awards 2026