"A new premium range from Stratus, the 'White Label' series is the culmination of 20 years of experience getting to know the 55 acres of estate vineyards, say winemakers J.L. Groux and Dean Stoyka, and 2020 was surely the year to launch the series, a sublime, 'once-in-every fifteen-years-vintage', according to Groux, arguably the best for Bordeaux varieties in the history of Ontario when also factoring in mounting vine age and experience.
"This White Label Red takes pole position from the estate's classic 'Black' Label Red, at the pinnacle of price and quality for the series, the best of the best. It's composed of 40% cabernet sauvignon, the same lot used for the White Label varietal cabernet sauvignon, with 27% cabernet franc, 13% merlot, 13% malbec, and 7% petit verdot to be precise. It serves up a terrific nose, a dense, concentrated, complete and complex wine, not by accidented launched in the sublime 2020 vintage. I love the mix of saturated, sapid dark fruit, savoury, fresh and dried herbs, fully integrated barrel influence.
"Attention to detail and precision are in evidence from start to long finish, from understanding the nuances of parcel to reasoned and thoughtful winemaking and ageing. It's surely one of the finest red wines of its type yet produced in the province. 30 years ageing potential? This is all about structure, depth, complexity and longevity, magnificent in any case. 26% new oak across the blend." - 95 points John Szabo, MS,WineAlign
