Sauvignon Blanc 2023
CREEK ROAD VINEYARD
A new vineyard for Divergence, but one of the older Sauvignon Blanc plantings in Niagara. This Four Mile Creek vineyard on the edge of Virgil has unique soils, and the East-West rows of this block create interesting shading allowing for complex fruit character.
The 2023 vintage provided great ripeness, but also not excessive heat, which allowed for a later harvest date allowing time for the flavours to develop.
Sauvignon Blanc 2023
CREEK ROAD VINEYARD
A new vineyard for Divergence, but one of the older Sauvignon Blanc plantings in Niagara. This Four Mile Creek vineyard on the edge of Virgil has unique soils, and the East-West rows of this block create interesting shading allowing for complex fruit character.
The 2023 vintage provided great ripeness, but also not excessive heat, which allowed for a later harvest date allowing time for the flavours to develop.
Fermented and aged for 10 months in new and older French oak, this wine is incredibly ripe and has the perfect balance of acidity and soft texture. Pair it with a variety of grilled and fresh dishes or have it on its own on a hot day!
SENSORY PROFILE
This wine has powerful aromas of mango, gooseberry, white peaches, and pear preserves, along with white flowers and a subtle creamy vanilla. The palate matches these aromas, with a creamy texture and full but not sharp acidity, and a long mouthwatering finish.
FOOD PAIRINGS
This wine is the perfect match to baja style tacos, grilled chicken, and green salads topped with fruits such as watermelon and honeydew melon.
CELLARING POTENTIAL
This wine has been aged one year in bottle before release and is drinking in its prime, with potential to cellar until at least 2029.
VINTAGE
The 2023 growing season started with an early budbreak and a frost risk in May. June and July followed with a lot of wet and warm weather that resulted in higher than average disease pressure. July and August presented a new challenge to us in Niagara, with wildfire smoke filling the skies reducing our sunlight hours and keeping daytime temperatures down.
The light crop load in 2022 and sunny spring of 2023 gave a high cluster count on the vines, but cluster weights were average to smaller due to the poor weather at flowering.
September and October brought perfect harvest conditions during the critical months and winemakers were able to make harvest decisions according to the vineyard and desired wine styles. The fruit and resulting wines from the 2023 vintage show very ripe characters, excellent balance, and ability to express site and terroir.
WINE DATA
Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol: 12.7%
Residual Sugar: 2.7 g/L
Titratable Acidity: 7.0 g/L
pH: 3.42
Bottling Date: 2024-08-28
Production: 120 cases
VINEYARD AND HARVEST DATA
Appellation: Four Mile Creek
Site: Creek Road Vineyard
Soil: Chinguacousy and Jeddo loam
Clone: unknown
Rootstock: SO4
Vine Age: 2004 planting
Harvest Date: 2023-10-01
Yield: 5.5 T/ac
VINIFICATION
The grapes for this wine were harvested early in the morning by machine and destemmed onboard during the pick in order to preserve the freshness and allow for extraction of flavours on the way to the press. The juice was allowed to soak on the skins for a eight hours before pressing and cold setting in tank.
A few days later clarified juice was racked to a selection of French oak barriques for fermentation using both selected and wilds yeast. Partial malolactic fermentation was allowed in some of the barrels while others were inhibited to preserve freshness.
Following fermentation and 9 months aging the final blend was selected from these barrels: 20% new, 20% 2nd fill, and the remainder older neutral wood.
The wine was blended, gently fined, and clarified using only bentonite (no allergens/non-vegan fining agents were used), followed by filtration prior to bottling.
REVIEWS
Medal score at the 2025 National Wine Awards of Canada. Tasted blind June 2025. 92 points, Gold
“This is quite a ripe-flavoured expression of Niagara sauvignon blanc, delivering a good amount of tropical fruit (thiols) like passion fruit, guava and orange creamsicle, also lightly floral-herbal, like an air freshener. The palate is light-mid-weight at 12.7% alcohol declared, with appealingly creamy texture; acids are comfortably ripe and overall it works really quite well I have to say. Length, too, is very solid. Drink or hold short term. Tasted January 2026.” 90 points – John Szabo, MS
“Jeff Moote’s Creek Road sauvignon blanc makes a persuasive first impression. Dare I say “pretty”, it leans elegant rather than shouty, offering gentle dried herbs, cool-climate orchard fruit with a hint of passion fruit and kiwi. Dry and refined, with a touch of leesy softness lending texture and balance. Sophisticated and lingering enough to convert both varietal devotees as well as the more skeptical. Tasted January 2026. Value rating 5 stars.” 90 points – Sara d’Amato
“Divergence is an impressive, newish Niagara label by Jeff Moote, who makes the wine within the Colab project at Marynissen. This is a nicely detailed sauvignon with a lifted nose of guava, grapefruit and fresh dill. It is medium bodied, generous and almost rich with some warmth, high acid and intense flavours. Slightly bitter on the finish. The length is excellent. Tasted January 2026. Value rating 5 stars.” 90 points – David Lawrason
“Six months or so has really worked to effect an emergence of the smoky barrel notes on a sauvignon of fruit that does well to not just stand up, but work in cahoots with the wood. Further complexity and interest have joined the party. Last tasted January 2026.” 90 points – Michael Godel
“Divergence sourced fruit for this sauvignon blanc from one of the older plantings of this variety in Niagara, at Creek Road Vineyard. I find it enticing and full of flavour – a classic expression of the variety, with harmonious rather than shrill notes of flowers, fruit, and herbs. This includes lime blossoms and notes of lime juice and zest, lemons, and torn lemon leaves, and crunchy guavas and green apples. The palate is medium bodied – reflecting a pleasing balance of acidity and a faint hint of sweetness. Balanced, correct, and refreshing, with well defined flavours, this wine should pair well with South Asian and Thai food, especially herbaceous dishes like palak paneer. Tasted January 2026. Value rating 5 stars.” 90 points – Megha Jandhyala, S.J.D