‘Accustomed to the Dark’ is another red wine, home run hit by winemaker Rajen Toor.  The guy is not only crushing it with his wines, he’s seriously poetic when it comes to naming his creations.

This time, the wine has been named for the title of an Emily Dickinson poem written in 1862 about fear of the future, or of the unknown.  How oddly prescient is that – considering the times we’re living in, and what our global society is experiencing.

This wine was fermented in stainless steel and aged for a year in mostly neutral vessels with 10% new Russian oak.

A seriously deep but translucent ruby, the wine is a little hazy as it hasn’t been fined or filtered.  The aromas are rich with damson plum, cassis, and ripe blackberry.  The juicy palate is dry with more Okanagan plum, field berry, baking spice and a layer of toasted biscuit knitting it all together.

Whether she wrote it about the loss of a lover, or her eyesight, the stress of experiencing the American Civil War that was raging around her, or something else, Dickinson’s poem is ultimately about resilience and perseverance in the face of difficulty.

‘Accustomed to the Dark’ is an ode to the resilience of the human spirit.  Its lesson is definitely something we can all take some strength from at this time, as we grow a little more comfortable with the unknown, and with change.

*This wine was provided gratis…