Diamond Estates – The Winery in Niagara has released two new wines in tribute to WWI, “1914 Honour” and “1914 Valour”. These wines were created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Great War (1914-1918), as well as the 150th anniversary of Confederation. “These wines recognize and celebrate the achievements of the generations who served and continue to serve in Canada’s military”, stated Murray Souter, President & CEO of Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd.
As per their press release, “The wines are positioned to support the efforts of the Federal Government, various Provincial Governments, Canadian Museum Association and Royal Canadian Legion in honouring these heritage events that continue to generate awareness about Canadian history.”. 50 cents from each bottle will be donated to the True Patriot Love Foundation.
I had the chance to sample both of these wines recently, and here’s what I thought of them:
1914 Honour: A blend of 40% Riesling, 40% Gewurztraminer, and 20% Chardonnay, this blend captures the elements of each of the three wines in smooth, approachable wine. Lifted floral notes and light tropical fruit give way to peaches, melon, and a hint of green apple and lemon peel. The soft and round juice expresses more tropical notes with some mango and tangerine adding to the stone fruit on the palate. The slightly sweet mid-palate gives way to a drying finish with green apple and then pink grapefruit. Designed to appeal to the masses, this wine will fit the bill. 12% ABV, $13.95 (LCBO #399048)
1914 Valour: An interesting blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Syrah, and 20% Gamay, this medium bodied wine is another soft and approachable wine that will be very popular. The nose is dark cherries, plums, light stewed fruit and some hints of smoked meat (from the Syrah). There’s just a hint of sweet spice and smoke in the background. The palate, while soft, is not sweet nor cloying (13 g/L RS). The dark berries dominate the palate, with the black cherry and plum notes moving towards red cherries as it finishes with a hint of sweet baking spice. Light tannins make this a “drink now” wine that will pair well with casual fare. 12.5% ABV, $14.95 (LCBO #399030)
With the tie-in to WWI celebrations, I can only assume that these wines will find their way into mess halls, legions, and even police/fire associations, and likely into your mouths!
As noted, these wines were provided free of charge for review. You can see my sample policy here for more details.