Cellar Profile
Dan and Lynn Sullivan founded Rosehall Run in 2000. The 150-acre farm was selected due to its proximity to Lake Ontario (1-2 kms on three sides) and the remarkable clay soil scattered with rock and shale fragments on a calcareous limestone base. This was one of the earliest Prince Edward County wineries established in the west central region known as Hillier Ward. Planting of the vineyard began in 2001 with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Today, there are 25 acres of vinifera including Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Muscat and Tempranillo. With over 30 years of Ontario winemaking experience, Dan is recognized as one of the top winemakers in the region. He is critically acclaimed for his consistent, elegant, approachable Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Sparkling wines as well as his innovations with unique varietals.
Region
Nestled between Lake Ontario in the North, Lake Erie to the South and the Niagara River to the East, the Niagara Peninsula is one of Canada's top wine producing regions. The moderating effects of the bodies of water create a moderate temperature during the growing season, similar to France's Bordeaux and Burgundy regions. With almost 15,000 acres under vine, Niagara produces a number of grape varieties, most famously, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Cabernet Franc.
Vineyard
The grapes for this blend were all sourced from a single vineyard in the Twenty Mile Bench region of Niagara. The Cabernet Franc and Merlot vines are over 25 years old.
Winemaking
The Cabernet Franc and Merlot were aged separately in French oak for 14 months. The final blend (60% Merlot, 40% Cab Franc) was bottled unfined and with very minimal filtration.
Tasting Notes
This succulent red delivers flavours of wild berries, cherries and vanilla with a hint of oak.
Varieties
Merlot, which means 'the little black bird', is a Bordeaux grape variety known for being approachable as well as being able to develop with age. Cabernet Franc — the parent grape of both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon — is a complex red, with characteristic aromas of raspberry, bramble and bell pepper.