Henry of Pelham, the new vintage of Baco Noir.

After buying a bottle of the `05 vintage, some splits have appeared on the shelves so am stocking up! Paul B has spent much time here on this varietal so here goes!

WTN: `05 Henry of Pelham VQA Baco Noir, Ontario Canada.

13.5% alc, good natural cork, opened one hour. Cost was $9 Cdn for the half.

C. Medium intense centre, purple tinges on the rim.

N. Spice, blueberry, cherry, no sign of the hickory smoke Paul mentions. Some meatyness as it opens up. Distinct nose here.

P. Unlike the `04 reported on here on this forum, the acidity level seems less aggressive. Moderate tannins, long finish that needs time. Hint of sweetness, blueberry and brambleberry. Juicy too, very full mid-palate and I noted brief flashes of chocolate and tobacco. The chics beak trying to break through the eggshell!

** After 24 hrs, still pretty well full blast flavors here. Keep this in the cellar forumites. Good with lamb shanks but avoid cheese crackers as it all becomes fishy!!!

Thanks for the notes, Bob! As I recall from my own note, the '05 was a good but not great example. I have long felt that Henry of Pelham, while they do an extremely admirable thing in bearing the Baco Noir torch, don't make quite as interesting a Baco as Hernder Estate does. Hernder typically lavishes all manner of smoky oak atop their Baco, and I think that overlay really works well with the rustic cherry fruit that they are able to coax out of the grape. To my taste, anyway, Hernder's is probably tops.

OK, thinking of the Musar Open Mike just announced, guess I will come back to earth with another split of H of P BN. Stay tuned.

No real change since my previous tasting note.

Color......Medium intense centre, crimson edges verging to a light purple rim. Initially on the nose, I had to suffer some funky barnyard aromas which blew off in time (1st bottle did not have this). Spice, cherry and plum and earth after 24 hrs. Not bad at all, has a distinct feel about it I find hard to describe. Paul B will know what I mean?
On the palate, initial thought was "better than it smells!'. Still has that juicy acidic touch about it, sour cherry, brambleberry. The tannins have softened a little, served blind this would fool many. After an hour, some chocolate and spice. Like it.