Stratus Vineyards – Visit of the Niagara Wineries

A few hours after our visit Tawse, we are heading once again towards Niagara-on-the-lake, at Stratus Vineyards this time.

Stratus Vineyards: Limited quantities for Premium wines!

At Stratus, the experience is completely different, we see that the place has been designed with wine in mind, it is not a residence, but really a vineyard, the first vineyard LEED in Canada. Understand that David Feldberg, CEO of Stratus is also CEO of Teknion, a company that designs furniture (and more) for the workplace. The architecture has been well thinked and everything is perfect. The lines are straight, the interior is beautiful. Also, a bit like Tawse the principle of gravity is also present, but different. They created a new kind of cellar. Guided by the principles of freedom, a long life and a low power consumption, they built an adaptive system at the state of the art that produces the best wine possible with the environmental impact low as possible.

We are welcomed in a wonderful way by Suzanne Janke, director of sales and hospitality, but our tour will be with a French employee (my mother accompanying me really enjoyed as almost all our visits were in english), Dave, Suzanne has to leave for Toronto. We begin our visit, a 2014 Riesling Moyer Road RR1 on hand (there are still a few bottles at the SAQ).

A visit in the heart of Stratus Vineyards

Enjoying this wonderful white wine, we enter the cave, at Stratus, we are in a less austere environment than the French vineyards, we are much more in the modern, more convenient installation, in order to be well put together as efficient as possible. It must also be said that only the offices, shop and vineyards are located there, nobody lives on site unlike many other vineyards.

The experience is totally different from other wineries visited, this is a temperature controlled chamber that adjusts the temperature required to barrels for maximum performance.

As you can see, at Stratus, everything is quite transparent, it’s with the LEED, biodynamic and organic in mind that when you’re in the store can be seen in the processing room and vice versa. It’s pretty impressive. And very design thinking.

The tasting of the Stratus Vineyards wines.

Stratus Vineyards – Riesling Moyer Road RR1 2014

A magnificent Riesling you’ll want to drink each with your appetizers every time. The latter has an average yellow-green color. An off-dry very fresh with its floral and fruity notes dominate the nose. IN the mouth, this is the same scent on the nose but more accurate with green apple, lime and flowers. This is a very smooth wine with a very present structure in the final.

2012 Charles Baker, Picone Vineyard 

The goal of Charles Baker Wines is to made discover fantastic Niagara riesling sites. Since 2005, the effort has been on Vinemount Ridge and wine from the farm of Mark Picone. The Niagara Escarpment is a unique place where the wine can grow. The nature of the climate lands ensures fine wines, which can age and be as delicious as the 2012 Riesling offers. With several levels –  a nose with a complex balance between tropical fruit and citrus adding to that, an incredible minerality. In the mouth, the sugar is absorbed quickly by again making its acidity once rule the perfect balance.

2013 – Stratus Vineyards – Wildass Sauvignon Blanc

With warmer temperatures than normal in 2013, it’s a more mature wine that is the Sauvignon Blanc 2013. With a focus on passion fruit, pineapple, and papaya notes, grapefruit, green apple on the nose. Note that 2013 was not high in oak contrary to 2011, but still gives a wine rich in texture, with, mouth, a palette of tropical fruit, with nice No acidity balanced core for excellent structure.

2013 – Stratus White

A blend of  37% Chardonnay, 34% Sauvignon Blanc, 26% Semillon, Viognier 3% with a fine and a perfect bouquet developing several layers and a palace that will only intensify with the guard. I notice a pale gold color to glass, for Stratus White 2013, and a woody nose and buttery but also fruits like pear. In the mouth the wine is proving to be textured and creamy with a particularly strong acidity, it can also collect tropical fruits. Rich and generous, it will only get better in the coming years.It retails $ 38.00 in private imports, posted on the Stratus website or domain.

2013 Stratus Chardonnay

In a rich golden yellow color in the glass, this beautiful Chardonnay 2013 offers a fruity bouquet on the nose with yellow apples ripened to the point, pear and nectarine, with a touch of spice, vanilla and a touch of wood. On the palate, this Chardonnay is rich and round, with a refined touch and very well defined. We find a perfect blend of acidity between the wine and the fruit, which leads us to a very mineral and simply perfect final with his little buttery feel at the end. You will find this 100% Chardonnay, one does not speak of an assembly such as the Stratus White here. Privately imported, online at Stratus site or domain

Now up to the Stratus Vineyards Reds

2011 Wildass Red

This blended wine (50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Syrah, 2% Sangiovese) is the sight of a cherry red color. On the nose, bright flavors of the red cherry and other red fruits, notes of leather, vanilla and smoky wood. It is very astringent, almost dry, medium-bodied and fruity, with racy acidity and fine-grained tannins suggesting it might keep in the cellar for a few years – but it will be very good now, decanted.

2012 Stratus Red

Everyone knows (you know the canadian wines a little) that 2012 was exceptional, in fact, it was actually a gift to this blended wine that favorable conditions for the growing season ensured that all the grapes reached their optimum ripeness. The lended 2012 bStratus Red (29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Cabernet Franc, 26% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% and 3% Malbec Tannant) is a very complex wine with, at the center, an imprint of cassis very present, with very old plums and a hint of cocoa powder. You can also feel the oak defined (probably due to the 35% new barrels) that complements a rich fruit profile. The mouth is very thin, soft, with chocolaty tannins that are only bodes well if we think keeping the wine long enough. Priced at $ 44.00, privately imported, online at Stratus site or domain.

Up to the Stratus Vineyards Icewine!

2015 Stratus Riesling Icewine 

Riesling Icewine 2015 is reserved and subtle with conventional aromatic of the Niagara rieslings, very mineral, which is pretty amazing for ice wine. You can perceive notes of pear, honey and a little citrus. With a fairly high alcohol content of 14,5% for an ice wine, the residual sugar brings a depth and weight to the mouth, all stopped by the natural acidity and a firm but complex minerality, which leads to a final long, expressive and satisfying. Available at SAQ !

2013  Stratus Red Icewine

Harvested between November 14 and December 13, 2013, the Stratus Red Icewine brings a blend of 42% Cabernet Franc, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. The nose is composed of red cherry and strawberry, with a hint of pepper raspberry. In the mouth it is tasty quality reminiscent of the fruits I previously mentioned, with an explosion of firm acidity, adding to the complexity and bringing balance to the wine. It all ends pleasantly in the mouth A very interesting product at a comparable price to the field. At the SAQ at a price of $ 41.00, online at Stratus site or the domain.

Here’s a few pictures from our visit 

Acknoledgements

A big thanks to à Élaine Côté of Rézin and Suzanne Danke of Stratus Vineyards for the visit.

Stratus Vineyards

2059 Niagara Stone Road
Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON
L0S 1J0
Canada

Visit their website