Looking for a Taste to Happen
TJ Shirk • April 12, 2021
A wine review in time for BBQ season.
“I got a job, I explore. I follow every little whiff. And I want my life to smell like this.” This may sound like a profound quote from a winemaker but in fact this is a song lyric written by Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip,
“Looking for a Place to Happen” from their 1992 Album Fully Completely. Like a songwriter, a winemaker can capture a moment in time and transform it into something beautiful.
You may be curious as to what “The Hip” has to do with wine making. In 2015 the band teamed up with the winemakers at Stoney Ridge Estate Winery in Vineland, Ontario to create a wine, commemorating the re-release of their legendary album Fully Completely.
It has since become an annual release for the winery.
The bottle I am reviewing for you today is The Tragically Hip Fully Completely 2018 Reserve Red. A Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from the Niagara Peninsula VQA.
The bottle is labelled with a replication of the original album artwork by Dutch artist Lieve Prins. The artwork is a bacchanalian scene of decadence, decay and rebirth, captured in 30 segmented colour photocopied images pasted together. The nipples appear to be airbrushed out when compared next to the CD and cassette version of the album. That little detail does not detract from the wine or the packaging. Given the current retail climate, I understand the decision.
The wine is bottled at 12.5% ABV and sealed with a Stelvin screw cap closure. The wine shows medium ruby in colour with moderate tearing in the glass. The nose is very appealing and has aromas of dark fruit, (berries, cherry and plum), vanilla, baking spice, tobacco and leather (more akin to a leather wallet that will soon be empty from buying more of this wine). Taste is medium-full in body and fruit forward. Dry with medium tannin. Sour cherry and a berry medley fill the palate. There is a subtle brininess on the back of the teeth. Medium-long finish. This wine is on par with other Bordeaux blends of this region. I would like to revisit this wine after further aging and see how it develops. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give this wine an 8.7.
The Fully Completely 2018 Reserve Red
will pair exceptionally well with your favourite grilled beef dish. Great to have on hand for barbecue season. I enjoyed this bottle with home-made, all-beef hamburgers topped with caramelized onions (de-glazed with the wine), and Gruyere cheese. This wine will shine alongside a perfectly grilled steak.
This wine is a must have for all fans of The Tragically Hip. Even non wine drinking fans of the band should give it a try and appreciate the efforts put forth by the band and the team at Stoney Ridge. The empty bottle will serve great as part of any Rock ‘N’ Roll memorabilia collection.
Stoney Ridge has also accompanied this wine with both a white and a rosé. Ahead by a Century Chardonnay and Flamenco Rosé. Go try them all.
This article was not a paid endorsement for this wine. Oenzym is not affiliated with the winery or the band. The wine was purchased for the purpose of this review.