The 2004 reserves are starting to rear their heads … ’04 was by no means a spectacular year for reds in Ontario, in fact, it was pretty average. This is the kind of year that separates the men from the boys (no sexism is meant towards our lady winemakers). Inniskillin has done just that with their single vineyard series. This Merlot was aged 15 months in a combination of French and American oak, and their influences really show, along with the typical vegetal notes that Ontario Merlot is known to have when young. Red AND black fruit show through, along with our vegetal friend … the palate follows suit with strawberry as the dominant fruit in the mouth and veggie and oak at the end. Give this a few years of bottle age and the greenish should blow off, making this wine taste as if you paid twice the price. Price : $25.95