Talk about a sudden uprising – De Simone winery “suddenly” popped up on Niagara Stone Road with little to no fanfare. This former fruit market has now been renovated to house this farm-winery with 6-acres planted to 6-year-old vines producing a scant 1050 cases in total. The best wine so far is this barrel fermented, 2-and-a-half weeks 50% dried grapes, 6 months in 50% new barrel (French and Hungarian) Cabernet Franc … Nose is pretty with its herbal, black cherry and tobacco; the palate shows a mid-weight 13% alcohol, and the fruit is vibrant with cassis, blackberry and black cherry along with a hint of smoke and nice tannin structure … if owner / winemaker Vincenzo De Simone keeps this up his Cabernet Franc will be the calling-card of his “dream-come-reality”. 

Price: $30.00 – Rating: ****