A forest-like scent of pine needles bursts from the glass, joined by aromas of candied orange segments and a wisp of apricot. Bright acidity offers a sense of balance to the icewine’s caramel, maple, and quince jelly flavors. The texture is rich, but not thick, with each sip feeling like silk sheets draped across the palate.

Whoever first decided to make icewine with Cabernet Franc grapes should be given a medal. Inniskillin’s latest version is a holiday aroma extravaganza of spicy plum pudding and a bowl of earthy wild strawberries. The wine’s peach pie, sweet rhubarb tartlet, and rose water flavors feel right at home slipping and sliding all over its lubricious texture. Somehow, someday, I will find the perfect dark chocolate to pair with this crimson-colored treat.

The nose is both tart and ripe, showing Morello cherry, pomegranate, and rhubarb, framed by heady rose aromatics. The palate has pleasing texture, opening with white pepper, moving through floral tones at the midpalate, and finishes on a lingering light cherry note. A charming choice for charcuterie night

The 2018 Cristal opens a new chapter for Roederer. The Cristal estate is composed of 45 parcels. In better vintages, most of the 45 parcels are used for the blend. The 2018 vintage brought with it elevated ripeness and generally low acids. Longtime Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon was forced to cast his gaze wider, to look for parcels that offered a touch of freshness. Lécaillon expanded his palette to 57 parcels. The result is a Cristal unlike any other I have tasted. Orchard fruit, dried flowers, spice, chalk and herbs. 

Lovely hint of mineral reduction on the nose which shows bright pear and cherry fruit with a hint of spice on the nose. The palate is expansive with layered pear and citrus fruit, a hint of mandarin, and some fine spicy detail. It’s rich but nicely balanced with lots of texture and generosity, and not too much acidity, giving nice breadth on the palate. Lovely stuff.