WTN: 2004 Flat Rock Nadja's Vineyard Riesling (Niagara Peninsula VQA)
Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 8:23 pm<table border="0" align="right" valign="top"><tr><td><img src="http://community.netscape.com/n/docs/docDownload.aspx?webtag=ws-winelovers&guid=6f23a2fc-76ba-4871-a079-2030673a7cf0" border="1" align="right"></td></tr></table>Flat Rock Cellars is an interesting young winery in the Niagara Peninsula (Jordan area) that essentially produces varietal Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Howie and I visited the winery during our recent meeting in late April. I must say that Flat Rock makes what I believe to be some of the finest Pinot Noir - perhaps the best yet - that I've ever tasted from Ontario. I applaud their decision to focus on those viniferas that actually do well in our area, rather than growing varieties that can't properly ripen just for the name cachet and market appeal.
There were two Riesling bottlings on offer at the winery: the Nadja's Vineyard (~$20) and a regular version which is blended from various vineyards around the Peninsula (~$17). I found the regular bottling somewhat off-dry, but the Nadja's Vineyard was completely dry. It's a no-brainer figuring out which one I preferred.
Interestingly, Nadja's Vineyard is right there on the left side of the driveway as you enter Flat Rock Cellars. You can even see the vineyard through the tasting room window.
11.5% alc. Very light, crystal-clear pale straw colour with a greenish tinge. Clear, well-defined aromas of diesel and slate, a tiny hint of wild strawberry and an even fainter hint of tropical fruit. Very tightly wound acidity on the entry; tense and nervy with a zesty sourness on the fore-palate. Completely bone-dry. Very light flavour replays on the palate; tart with a short finish. 2004 was not a good year in Ontario but that said, I wonder if this wine might need a few years of bottle age to integrate and mellow out. I think that the structure is certainly there to make it possible.
This was my first-ever VQA Riesling bottled under screwcap. I actually think I can get used to this closure: it's clean and simple to remove and doesn't look kitschy at all like I had once feared. I must admit that not once did latent thoughts of plonkish jug wine cross my mind while handling the bottle or unscrewing it.
To read more about Flat Rock Cellars, here is a good synopsis by Hrayr Berberoglu by way of the Little Fat Wino.
There were two Riesling bottlings on offer at the winery: the Nadja's Vineyard (~$20) and a regular version which is blended from various vineyards around the Peninsula (~$17). I found the regular bottling somewhat off-dry, but the Nadja's Vineyard was completely dry. It's a no-brainer figuring out which one I preferred.
Interestingly, Nadja's Vineyard is right there on the left side of the driveway as you enter Flat Rock Cellars. You can even see the vineyard through the tasting room window.
11.5% alc. Very light, crystal-clear pale straw colour with a greenish tinge. Clear, well-defined aromas of diesel and slate, a tiny hint of wild strawberry and an even fainter hint of tropical fruit. Very tightly wound acidity on the entry; tense and nervy with a zesty sourness on the fore-palate. Completely bone-dry. Very light flavour replays on the palate; tart with a short finish. 2004 was not a good year in Ontario but that said, I wonder if this wine might need a few years of bottle age to integrate and mellow out. I think that the structure is certainly there to make it possible.
This was my first-ever VQA Riesling bottled under screwcap. I actually think I can get used to this closure: it's clean and simple to remove and doesn't look kitschy at all like I had once feared. I must admit that not once did latent thoughts of plonkish jug wine cross my mind while handling the bottle or unscrewing it.
To read more about Flat Rock Cellars, here is a good synopsis by Hrayr Berberoglu by way of the Little Fat Wino.