Muscular, elegant and full of personality. (92 points!)

Tastes like
A uniquely Ontario version of a premium Bordeaux, packed with dark fruit, sweet cigar box spice, and velvety tannins.
Pairs with
Charcoal-grilled ribeye, spit-roasted Ontario lamb, hunter’s stew, aged hard cheeses.
Good for
Pulling out all the stops for a serious, meat-focused dinner party.

Why we're drinking this
Redstone is the new “second” label from the good folks at Tawse, one of Canada’s most-awarded wineries. Proprietor Moray Tawse and his team are serious about quality, espousing biodynamic viticulture and the most natural winemaking practices possible. They don’t just give lip service to “quality”—they practice what they preach. The 2010 vintage is the first for Redstone. Located in Beamsville, Ont., the property was formerly the Thomas & Vaughan Estate Winery. The 38-acre site was named for its intensely red clay soil and large stones. The soil and the relatively warm climate around Beamsville make this an ideal site for late-ripening grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot. Watch for great things to come from this dynamic new winery.

Tasting note
This is a textbook Big Red, a robust wine that exhibits considerable finesse and elegance. Any Dad would be thrilled to taste this full-bodied wine with its impressive concentration and velvety tannins. Says kwäf Taste Bud Lindsay Groves: “With alluring aromas of plump black fruit, cedar, cigar box, smoke and exotic spice, this delicious Meritage is drinking superbly right now.” It’s properly structured, says sommelier Zoltan Szabo, “with mineral undertones, clay and graphite and spicy cardamom-clove nuances. It’s elegant, in a masculine way.” Decant for an hour or so before serving to let the full power of this wine reveal itself. Dad’s in for a serious treat.

Drink this: Now through 2017.
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon (33%), Merlot (33%), Cabernet Franc (33%).
Region: VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 325 cases
Winery: Redstone Winery

Like the fancy glass? kwäf digs Schott Zweisel stems.