Pearl Morissette Estate Winery Métis Rouge

This wine pours light ruby in the glass with touches of orange toward the rim, though bricking is minimal. Totally clear, without any signs of sediment or cloudiness. The nose is just gorgeous from first pop showing earl gray tea, blood orange peel, crushed gravel, chopped mixed leafy herbs, peonies, cardamom, tart strawberry, and cherry. The palate enters on the tart and sweet red fruit with low tannin and waves of wonderful blood orange and strawberry accented medium plus acid. …

Dusty nose, with a dark fruit element and some green pepper. Forward tannins, with plum skin acidity and a medium finish. There are clearly characteristics of classic Niagara Cab Franc, but the Pinot and Gamay fruit is there too. Fun and best with a roasted chicken or pork chops. At 7 years old there is nothing but danger ahead if held.

51% Pinot Noir, 37% Cabernet Franc, 12% Gamay. Natural Yeasts. Garnet color. Notes of cherry candy, red licorice, flowers, pepper on the nose; earthiness, wet vegetation, and leather as it opens further. Ripe cherry comes through on the palate. Light -Medium body. Medium+ acidity, low tannin. Fairly bright and crisp. Much more complex on the nose, palate is a bit flat and one-note.

From magnum... nose of black fruit, tobacco leaf and green peppercorn... palate of plum, some black fruit, savoury more than fruity... great balance and lithe. More pinot like in its lightness, but clearly cab franc in the tobacco leaf and green pepper aspects. It was drained quickly over a Thanksgiving turkey.

Served blind Medium ruby Green pepper, olive and red fruited aromas and flavors Searing acidity, but not out of balance Mouth watering food wine. Quite nice Niagara Cab Franc YFS

Very much in the Pinot vibe and palate. Fresh - very quaffable red. Good summer sipper.

Whether by design or by circumstance, this seems to be aimed more at the Loire cab franc fan than the Bordeaux fan. Kind of a ringer for a Bourgueil or Chinon from a gravelly site. Lots of crunchy red fruit, some telltale herbal notes, chalky tannins, juicy acidity. Even has a mild note of Brett/reduction for authenticity. Apparently there’s some Pinot in the blend, but it doesn’t stand out. Awesome.

Very light in color, clearly more pinot driven. The nose wafts fresh cut orange, gravel, bell pepper, herbal bitters, sour cherry, fresh blackberry, raspberry, asphalt, and a touch of clove. The palate is medium plus in acid and medium minus in tannin, finishing just a touch short and astringent, yet replaying some of the citrus of the nose. Quite a pretty wine.

Slightly funky, very clean and short.