While I am happy to review wines over $25 I rarely buy wine over $25, and if I do it’s never a bulk purchase (more like a bottle or two) … it’s just a personal thing – but this is the first time I have totally considered buying half-a-case of a wine at this price point, and here’s why: this quite possibly could be the best Pinot Noir to come out of the Niagara region from the 2007 vintage thus far – but something tells me you’ll need more than that to convince you. Let’s start with the vinification (how it is made): aged 12 months in a mix of French and Hungarian oak, which was primarily new; the fruit is all estate (hence the estate moniker on the label) and it was cropped to approximately 2-2½ tons per acre. The question people are bound to ask, ‘is it Burgundian or Californian? I’d say it’s a nice mix of both. Aromas are enticing, big cherry take center stage, other red berries and some red licorice – the wine just lures you in by the nose, seducing you to take a sip. And here’s where it explodes: red berries, sweet cherries, vanilla, nice herbal and mineral notes, all gliding seductively along the tongue with elegant soft tannins … this wine is so delicate, yet it reminds you of its presence with a beautiful long finish … a wine that must be tried to be believed. Price: $34.95 – Rating: *****