Tasting: my 2006 Icewines
Now that all three 2006 Icewines are racked off their gross-lees and aging peacefully in glass, I've done a little taste-test to see how they're coming along.
Here's what I found:
2006 Vidal Icewine, Watson's Farm (details)
My first impressions are favourable: the nose is very fruity (peaches, pear, pineapple and lychee), and with very little of the caramel / crème brûlée that I got last year. The smell of booze is also less obvious.
In the mouth it still has a *little* post-fermentation bitterness, but it's very slight and much better than it had last year at this time. I expect it to completely fall-out by the time it goes into bottle. The viscosity is nice, but it could use a little more acid to add crispness to the finish.
2006 Vidal Icewine, Neufeld Vineyard (details)
Much more subtle on the nose than the Watson's Vidal. Where the Watson's is brash with fruit, this is much more subdued. The fruit is definitely there (mostly lychee, and some raisin), but it also has tonnes of spice and a slight minerality. Interesting.
In the mouth is definitely where this wine comes alive -- a burst of initial sweetness on the front is followed by very spicy mid-palate. The wine could use more acid to balance out the sweetness (I think it's only at 9.5g/l and could use another 1 or 2, to my taste).
2006 Riesling-traminer Icewine, Watson's Farm (details)
Wow. There is a night and day difference between the Riesling and both Vidals. Where the Vidals are all honey and lychee, the Riesling is much more floral with loads of green apple, citrus and lush apricot.
On the palate, the viscosity is about half that of both Vidals, and there's significant more acid on the finish, leaving the wine fairly well balanced. As with the nose, apple, citrus and apricot dominate, while some honey also creeps in.
I'm not sure this needs any tinkering with, this one is delicious as-is.