WTN: 2006 Reif Estate Pinot Noir (Niagara River VQA)

$15 at Vintages. Solid, high-quality natural cork closure.

12.5% alc./vol. Clear, light-/medium-ruby colour. With a day's worth of aeration, the wine came together on the nose to display characteristic "Cherry Life Savers" (cherry candy) and a dash of black pepper; quite a nice ethereal nose, although it did need the decanting to really come into its own. Some light oak spice is also noted, as is a bretty note that lingers in the emptied glass. Crisp acidity with a lithe and light body; nice chalky tannins appear on the mid-palate, with good flavour replays occurring immediately after. Grippy tannins on a relatively light frame. Exemplary dryness - and I really enjoy the grippy tannins. A pretty good Pinot from a weak vintage.

I guess '06 wasn't as bad as the weather back then led me to believe it would be.

Hi Paul,

Sounds like a decent pinot. I have had some other wines from Reif that I really liked. I ordered a half case of their gewurztraminer a couple of years ago. Great nose of lychees and rose petals.

I've had some decent PNs and Gamay from Reif's neighbor, Inniskillin, in the same price range.