wine review: Sempre Mio Marsanne 2023 – VQA Lincoln Lakeshore – Corey Mio Home Vineyard

November 2024

Ottawa, ON

Matt’s review: Sempre Mio Marsanne 2023 – Corey Mio’s debut wine from their Beamsville-based home vineyard in the Lincoln Lakeshore sub-appellation of the Niagara Peninsula. Corey Mio and wife Lena have established an impressive 12 acre Sustainable Certified (SWO) vineyard where until this year they were uniquely supplying some of Canada’s finest wineries and winemakers with their fruit, such as Thomas Bachelder, but for the 2023 vintage they also released their first of two wines under the label Sempre Mio. Sempre Mio Marsanne 2023 is a low production (105 cases) blend of 87% Marsanne, 13% Viognier (clone 1042), which was co-fermented following harvest on October 5th 2023. Natural primary and malolactic fermentation in a combo of 2nd fill and neutral French oak barrels for 11 months. The nose is very pretty and fresh, with honeydew melon, poached pear, quince, roasted nuts, and lanolin. Dry and deliciously creamy, with impressive refreshing acidity for this varietal, the palate shows layers of ripe orchard fruit, pithy citrus, chamomile, and custard, with a slight nuttiness on the finish. A unique wine from Niagara, and one that is certain to impress any palate given its approachable style yet very complex bouquet and flavour profile. Enjoy over the next 5-10 years with roast chicken, creamy pasta, or pan-fried trout with a butter sauce and honey-mango compote. Highly recommended! Tasted November 2024. 93+ points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Available via Collab Wine & Beverage in Ontario – $33