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Leading into the 2022 Harvest, the Cellar Team identified a potential to utilize Canadian Oak for the current Barrel Program. Schatz Winemaker Derek Barnett was actually the 1st Winemaker in Ontario to use Canadian Oak in 2001 - and has been using it ever since - which all but confirmed this project’s commencement. As the stars aligned, the Team was able to secure the year’s last Barrel available from the Canadian Oak Co. in St. George, On. (*the others in the lot were destined for Jamaca to be filled with Rum and to France to be filled with Red Wine.) A brand-new Canadian Oak Barrel (comprised of White Oak grown in Southwestern Ontario) was delivered on July 7th/2022. The Barrel Maker Dr. Jim Hedges - personally delivered the barrel and the title “Jim” for the Barrel and To-be Wine was born.
The 2022 Frontenac Blanc Harvest was substantial, and the fruit was a pleasure to work with. To date, this Yield of 3.280 Tonnes has been the highest recorded of this Varietal off the Estate - and almost doubling the previous record.
Pressed out and then fermented over a quick 96 Hours, the F.Blanc was eager to head to Elevage. During the time of cold stabilization, Derek and the Cellar Team ran trials and selected the Frontenac Blanc to head to the Canadian Oak Barrel. The barrel was filled April 28th/2023 and “Jim’s” Elevage Journey began. With scheduled batonnage over the course of 9 months, Jim began to develop into somewhat of a Celebrity around the Winery.
After racking out of barrel, and allowed to rest in Stainless Steel “Jim” was bottled on April 29th / 2024.
By coincidence, it was quite literally a full year from the time the Canadian Oak Barrel was filled to bottling.
This adds to the mystic and of course ... “Jim” wouldn’t have it any other way!
