2011 Versado Reserva
Deep, rich colour. Hauntingly complex bouquet of loam, dark fruits and forest floor with hints of smoke, black olives and leather. Evolving layers of flavour continue through a persistent finish of fine tannins and judicious oak. ~ Ann Sperling
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Score: 93. "This Malbec is at the peak of its performance. 'The thing with great vineyards,' says Gamble, 'you really don’t have to do anything once you understand the fruit.' The wine is made from low yield, small berry Malbec that’s hand-picked, hand sorted, berry selected and spends 24 months in French oak after wild fermentation in concrete vats. Such a gorgeous and complex wine with super-concentrated blackberries, plums, currants, loam, hints of cherry, and toasted vanilla oak spice and leather. Complex and bold, yes, but finessed on the palate and bursting with dark fruits and made more interesting with earthy/loamy and spicy overtures through a long finish. This is Malbec at its finest and built to mature gracefully for years to come." ~ Rick VanSickle, Wines in Niagara
"Peter Gamble describes the ’11 Reserva as 'integrated right out of the gate' and blessed with 'a little more fruit component.' That it can show such freshness this early in its life span (especially in consideration of the beasts that are 2009 and 2010) is nothing short of a Malbec miracle. This is a wine that saw spontaneous fermentation, which made for very nervous times in the winemaking hands of Roberto de la Mota. Stems were used and their participation lends a Mediterranean feel, in the aromatic impart of sea salinity and kelp. The oak is scaled back a touch so the chalk push, while present, integrates in finer grain within the gritty, iron structure. This is the softest (hyper-relatively speaking) Reserva to date with a newly defined massive attack. The temperature fluctuations of the vineyard are integral in its structure and the question needs to be asked, 'how can you have a day without a night?' In the Versado Reserva 2011 you have both. It is a Malbec of unfinished sympathy. Drink this sooner, starting in 2017 and for longer, to 2030." ~ Michael Godel, godello.ca
Score: 93. "Another gorgeous red wine from Versado - this wine and winemaker perform consistently well every year. Aromas of fleshy black fruit, dried herbs, spices and pepper. Pair with grilled lamb. Malbec food pairings: roasted veal, hearty soups, roasted duck breast, hamburger." ~ Natalie MacLean, nataliemaclean.com
Score: 90. "Bright and fresh with sweet oak aromas of clove and cinnamon plus black cherry and cassis, the palate is rich and plush with toast, brandied cherry, cherry pie filling and cloves. Smooth and silky texture that’s totally inviting." ~ The Wine Sisters, thewinesisters.com
Score: 92. Recommended Value - "Restaurant Ready" ~ Dean Tudor, World Wine Watch
A year in the vineyard
Budbreak was good and even, with all shoots pushing out consistently, however a late spring frost affected some flowers/fertility. This damage wasn't evident until harvest when cluster weights revealed that overall yields were down. During berry development, the season was wetter than normal, reducing stress on the vines; this combined with the start of our full organic program encouraged us to thin heavily., and leaf pluck to open the fruiting zones to airflow. March and April were dry and somewhat cool, lengthening the ripening period while developing excellent flavours, tannins and especially colour.
Availability
Ontario
- LCBO Vintages release: November 14, 2015 #316984 SOLD OUT
- Cru Wine Merchants, Charles Baker, 905.401.1806 SOLD OUT
Quebec
- Delaney Vins & Spiriteux, Isaac Delaney, 514.575.6529 SOLD OUT