2001 was a “suspect” year in Ontario – that’s the year the bugs came to town. Many of the wines were tainted with “ladybug”, the more technical term being “pyrazine” … those in the Lake Erie North Shore area cringe at that broad brush representation of the entire industry because they got tagged with that label too – though many of the producers making and selling wine at the time tell me they weren’t affected at all. “Niagara is the bellwether for the whole province, and that’s just not right,” a LENS producer once told me. This Cab-Merlot, from ’01, is a blend of 50% Merlot and 25% equal parts Sauv and Franc. Herbaceous, dill, green veggie, spice and cedar are the predominant smells of this wine and the palate follows right along on its back. Another few years might soften this one a little, or try now with a good hearty piece of meat.