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Benjamin Bridge, Borealis Vidal Icewine 2016 (20cl)

£25.50

Type:
Sweet
Grape:
Vidal
Country:
Canada
Region:
Nova Scotia
Vegan:
Yes
Area:
Gaspereau Valley
Organic:
No
ABV:
9%
Winemaker:
Jean-Benoit Deslauriers
Bottle Size:
20cl

Description

In the glass, Benjamin Bridge's icewine has a rich golden colour with a straw hue and the tiniest bit of cloudiness. On the nose, it displays a highly expressive bouquet of tangerine, apple pie, grilled apricots, citrus oil, slate and honey. On the palate, concentrated flavours of apricot, preserved lemon and apple skin unfold into a complex and focused finish full of life and energy. Sweetness is balanced by a nervy cooking apple sharpness. We love the fresh acidity here. A great drink to accompany dessert at the Christmas table. Or at any other occasion really.

Production Notes
Producer
Delivery Information

Vineyards: Like some of the greatest wine regions in the world, the Gaspereau Valley has a truly exemplary maritime climate. Its coastal terroir is shaped by its proximity to the Bay of Fundy, a vast expanse of seawater home to the highest tides in the world. The Fundy tides average a vertical shift of 14 to 16 metres, twice a day. This tidal energy ushers in cool breezes and moisture to the vineyards in the summer and creates a never-frozen body of water that provides moderation and humidity in the winter.

From May to October, an average of 400 mm of rain falls with another 800 mm of precipitation from November to April, mostly as snow. The warmest weather in the Gaspereau arrives in June, July, and August with average daytime highs reaching between 24°C and 27°C. As autumn arrives, average daily temperatures drop to between 16°C and 22°C and the nighttime lows about 10°C colder than that.

At 45°N latitude and 64°W longitude, the Gaspereau Valley spans approximately 12 kilometres. The Gaspereau River runs from east to west within the Valley, spilling into the Bay of Fundy. The upper Gaspereau Valley is narrow and somewhat sheltered, and is tilted westward, significantly capturing more sun. Ambient daily temperatures during the growing season are heightened by this positioning, creating a collecting point for optimal heat absorption benefiting the Benjamin Bridge vineyards. These moderated temperatures allow for the development of delicate aromatics and the retention of natural acidity in the grapes.

Benjamin Bridge practices regenerative farming.

Winemaking: Icewine is made from grapes frozen naturally. When pressed, the water crystals are left out. The must is highly concentrated in flavour, sugar and acidity. Benjamin Bridge has a hands-off approach to winemaking.

Over two short decades, Benjamin Bridge has distinguished itself as Canada's premier sparkling wine house. But they also make a great icewine. In 1999, it all started as a labour of love with Nova Scotian entrepreneurs Gerry McConnell and the late Dara Gordon.

Gerry and Dara met as lawyers, who held similar values in their respective areas of practice, including the rights of workers, gender equality, and improving the Nova Scotia economy.

As life partners, they shared a commitment to rural living and a vision for the sustainable and responsible growth of their community by producing the highest-quality wines from grapes farmed organically along the Bay of Fundy.

Inspired by the early grape growers and winemakers in the region, Gerry and Dara invested in years of research to discover whether region-defining wines could be produced in the Gaspereau Valley.

With expertise from Canada and the world’s top oenologists, led by its chief innovator and head winemaker, Jean-Benoit Deslauriers, Benjamin Bridge has been unwavering in the singular pursuit of reflecting its precise set of growing conditions as transparently as possible.

Gerry and Dara’s twin daughters Ashley & Devon McConnell-Gordon now lead the small family-like team. As stewards of lands located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq First Nations, the team has carefully and meticulously grown Benjamin Bridge from a micro-boutique project into a dedicated sparkling wine house.

For over 20 years, we’ve pursued excellence along these beautiful, south-facing slopes, and believe Gerry and Dara's ethos of sustainability, community, and quality is embodied in each and every bottle.

We deliver throughout the United Kingdom and the European Union and all delivery charges for these destinations are enabled in the checkout. We also provide the option to collect from any of our shops.

All UK mainland orders should be delivered within 2-3 working days.

For more information on UK delivery please click here and for EU deliveries please click here.