Sprucewood Shores is finally open for business (as of November 2006). I met Gord Mitchell, owner and all-around handyman, at a Lake Erie North Shore Vintages tasting back in the summer of 2006. He spoke highly of his wines, the winemaker and the innovative wine blends they were experimenting with. I met him again in January 2007, at the London Wine Show in London, Ontario. At that time, he introduced me to his winemaker, daughter Tanya, who looks to me like she isn’t old enough to drink in this province (then again maybe I’m just feeling old). But something tells me this young lady has an old winemaker’s soul inside of her. The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon shows a veteran’s deft hand at winemaking that belies her age. 12 month in French oak has given this wine good body, rich tannins and elegant mouthfeel. Spicy black fruit, dark cherries, ripe plums and black pepper all mingle together on both the nose and taste, while the tannins have integrated well giving this wine some good ageing potential - my notes say a minimum three years, theirs say 7, so let’s split the difference at 5 and I’ll meet you for a glass in 2012.