Road 13 Fifth Element 2006

Fifth Element is a tad thin, hot and lacking some concentration on entry. The oak and tight tannins are not quite in balance even with the good fruit (perhaps a year or two of additional bottle-aging will correct this). The mid-palate is also somewhat hollow - a perennial problem with many Canadian red wines in most vintages. However, none of this detracts from the fact that Fifth Element is well-made. The medicinal, coffee, cherry and vinous quality of the flavor profile are appealing - if somewhat funky...

October 2009