Donald Triggs is a Canadian wine visionary and legend. When he opened Jackson-Triggs over a decade ago, he hired a top architecture company thereby raising the bar for winery design. It’s still the “˜coolest’ place to visit in Niagara. A few years later ““ with Le Clos Jordanne, a joint venture winery with the Burgundy family of Boisset, he took Niagara Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to a new level. Out in British Columbia he set up Osoyoos Larose, another exciting joint venture with Chateau Gruaud Larose of Bordeaux. All these wineries raised the bar for Canadian wines, but a few years ago Donald was taken over by one of the big powers. Ever ambitious, he is now engaged in yet another chapter in Canadian winemaking. Along with his wife Elaine and daughter Sara, he’s again raising the bar ““ for red wine in BC, with a winery called Culmina. Donald has hired French winemaker, Pascal Madevon, formerly with him at Osoyoos, to weave his magical touch with Merlot and Cabernet.
Vintages will be releasing Culmina at the end of the month and it’s a must-try for fans of the Bordeaux reds. Super concentrated with dark, dense flavours, spice and richness ““ lots to savour. Hefty and manly for now, but it suggests charm and grace down the road. Merlot dominates and there’s a striking resemblance to the mega expensive wines from the Chateaux of Pomerol. Culmina is sure to become a Canadian cult wine so it would also be the perfect corporate gift, or for a wine-loving friend.
CULMINA 12 “˜Hypothesis’, VQA Okanagan Valley BC 414243 Vintages $39.95
