2019 Bent Ridge Winery Contorto: Another Hybrid Wine From Nova Scotia

This week, I've already reviewed a Rosé and a Sparkling Wine from Nova Scotia, and now I'm moving onto a Red wine, made from a hybrid grape, the 2019 Bent Ridge Winery Contorto. 

The Bent Ridge Winery, accompanied by the Bent Nail Brewery and Fuego at Bent Ridge restaurant, in located in Winsor Forks, in the Avon Valley of Nova Scotia. The vineyards were planted in 2009 and the winery, with an Italian flair, was opened in July 2018 by owners Steven & Glenn Dodge. The land has been in their family since 1862, and currently consists of about 6 acres, planted with approximately 6,7000 Marquette vines. 

Marquette is a complex hybrid grape, made to be hardy in colder weather, that was created in 1989, but not released until 2006. It was named after Jacques "Père" Marquette, a seventeenth-century Jesuit missionary and explorer who founded the first European settlement in Michigan. The grape is currently grown in numerous U.S. states as well as Canada. Marquette commonly has high acidity, noticeable tannins,, red and black fruit flavors, and spicy notes. 

Bend Ridge choose to concentrate on Marquette because: "Much or our wine making philosophy stems from a belief that you can't make great wine without great grapes. When we decided to start a vineyard in 2009 we experimented with a few grape varietals and quickly discovered how perfect Marquette grapes were for the Avon Valley and Nova Scotia terrior. The right grapes are the foundation for our great wine. The Marquette grape's ability to fully ripen in our climate means we can reach and go beyond quality benchmarks for making a truly great Nova Scotia red wine. ​Bent Ridge was the first vineyard to grow Marquette grapes and remains the largest dedicated grower of Marquette grapes in Atlantic Canada."

The 2019 Bent Ridge Winery Contorto ($23) is produced from 100% Marquette, and unfortunately, details of the production process are not available on the winery's website. I also have not been able to find the details elsewhere online. I suspect it has received some oak aging and it has a 13.5% ABV. 

On the nose, there are notes of black fruits and spice, and the wine has a rich, dark red color. On the palate, it has a relatively complex and tasty blend of flavors, including black cherry and black raspberry, with spice notes and a touch of vanilla. It's a bolder wine, yet the tannins are still restrained, and the wine is balanced, with good acidity and a pleasing finish. 

This is a wine probably best paired with food, and the back label suggests pasta as one possible pairing. So, I drank this wine with a dinner of chicken parmigiana and pasta, topped by a spicy arrabbiata sauce. It went well with the food, holding its own against the heat of the sauce. This is definitely a wine that goes well with hearty dishes, and I'd said it would be good with pizza to burgers as well. This wine would also be an excellent introduction for wine lovers to the potential of the Marquette grape.