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www.buyersandcellars.ca Cellar Profile
Dan Sullivan of Rosehall Run has succeeded at crafting elegant PEC wines for over 20 years, focusing on highlighting the specific terroir of the County and creating some of the best examples of cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the world. Dan received the “Best Red Wine in Ontario” medal at the 2020 Ontario Wine Awards for his signature JCR Pinot Noir 2018. Sitting on the “Hungry Point” isthmus, surrounded by Lake Ontario on 3 sides, the vines dig deeply into the rocky, calcareous limestone soil. The long sunny days and cool evenings of the region, along with the high acid levels and low pH of the estate soils, ensure Rosehall wines are never lacking in freshness and structure. It is this kind of nervy tension that allows for the production of sublime sparkling wines, both traditional method as well as tank-fermented sparklers, including the exceedingly popular “Pixie” brand. The key to Rosehall’s success is its attention to detail in the vineyard. Sullivan believes that he simply bottles what the vineyard gives him. Yields are infinitesimally small compared to other wine regions, made smaller still by careful selection. Grapes are harvested at full phenolic ripeness, made difficult by the sometimes slow ripening and by the inherent climactic dangers of long hang times.
Region
Nestled between Lake Ontario in the North, Lake Erie to the South and the Niagara River to the East, the Niagara Peninsula is one of Canada’s top wine producing regions. The moderating effects of the bodies of water create a moderate temperature during the growing season, similar to France’s Bordeaux and Burgundy regions. With almost 15,000 acres under vine, Niagara produces a number of grape varieties, most famously, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Cabernet Franc.
Vineyard
“The Dude” is 100% sourced from a small 27-year-old Riesling plot located where the Twenty Mile and Beamsville benchlands meet, and is lovingly farmed with meticulous attention by Bob Nedelko. Dolomite limestone underlays this famed ribbon of vineyard land and lends a steely frame for the intensely floral and citrus aromas.
Varieties
One of the wine world’s great white grapes, Riesling is best grown in cooler climates where it thrives from a long, slow growing season that develops its intense aromatics and renowned acidity. It is home in Germany but is also grown successfully throughout the wine world, notably in the Alsace region of France, cooler areas in Australia and South Africa and, of course, here in Ontario. Styles vary according to site and producer, from sweet and fruity to bone-dry and austere and everything in between.
Winemaking
The 2022 Righteous Dude represents the return of Riesling to the Rosehall Run portfolio. The intent here was to create a classic Germanic style, naturally off-dry Riesling by utilizing a slow, controlled, cold fermentation that was halted early to keep the alcohol low and to preserve the refreshing acidity of the 2022 harvest.
Tasting Notes
Prominent stone fruit and apple aromas on the nose with hints of white blossoms. Crisp and clean on the palate, with notes of nectarines, tangerines and ambrosia apples. The bracing, refreshing entry is balanced by a drying, stony finish and a pleasant, natural off-dry sweetness.