Henry Family Estates of Pelham, Niagara Peninsula (Ontario, Canada) Sauvignon Blanc 2022

 Accounting for nearly 2/3 of Canada’s wine grapes and 98% of Ontario’s, the Niagara Peninsula is synonymous with icewine.  It also is successful with many hybrid varieties.  But on a recent trip, I discovered there’s a lot of effort directed toward vinifera wines.  From vineyards established in 1999 in the Short Hills sub-region, Henry Family gave the Sauvignon Blanc fruit extra hang time in 2022, and the result is an attractive lively Sauvignon with good varietal definition.  Light in color, it offers citrus and herbal aromatics.  On the palate it is medium bodied with subtle flavors combining lychee and grassy notes.  With a smooth texture, it is relatively low in alcohol and finishes with good crisp acidity.  In past vintages, the winery has also made an oak aged Sauvignon.