I was walking out of the grocery store and they have a wine store. They were sampling this wine so after I tried it I bought one for a more in depth tasting. Slightly golden in color with a lovely nose of oak and vanilla. On the mid pallet this is a lovely smooth California style chard. Lots of vanilla, some butterscotch and just a hint of acidity. The finish is medium in length. This wine builds slightly in the mouth when drank without food. When enjoyed with a meal (we paired it with pan fried scallops) it takes more of a back seat to allow the meal to come through. This is a smooth elegant, gentle wine. I would give it an 89 or so. Only available at the winery or in their branded store. $18.95 so not a bad deal. It’s tough finding cheap, but good chards.

From the winery for their 2009 vintage:
Trius Chardonnay ‘Barrel Fermented’ has a beautiful bouquet of toasty oak, grilled pineapple, lemon and clove. Medium to full-bodied, this wine has a slightly rich mouth feel, and a wonderful splash of acidity that refreshes the palate. Flavors of lemon, hints of tart tropical fruit, toasty oak and spice gently caress the palate. The long lingering finish of spicy oak is perfectly balanced by refreshing lemon acidity.

Serve with roasted chicken; creamy pasta tossed with grilled chicken or shrimp; smoked gouda with water crackers. $18.95

The winery’s web site.

Inky dark in color with spot on varietal nose for a cab frank. Lots of dark berries and some oak. On the mid pallet is where this one comes alive. It is deep and rich with dark berries and cherries coming through in spades. The finish is dominated by firm tannins and a dry pucker power that leaves your mouth going yum (or yuk if you don’t like big wines). I would say this wine should age well and will likely be even better in another year or so as the tannins ease a bit. I would give this a solid 89-90. I tasted this one at Corks. $38 at the LCBO. I’m thrilled Stratus did not find it necessary to blend this wine in anyway. It can be appreciated 100% on it’s own, in all it’s grandeur!

Stratus winery’s web site

Check LCBO stock

Pale to golden in color with a lovely varietal nose of candied fruits with some sugar. On the mid pallet this wine is not as “thick” in texture as some chards can be. The wine shows some lovely vanilla and some butterscotch coming through beautifully in the mouth. The wine is medium in length on the finish with the vanilla lingering nicely. Oak and alcohol are well under control. It’s slightly buttery, slightly creamy. This is one big glass of yum. Pair it with scallops, or cod. I would give this wine a 90-91. For me this is the best chard coming out of Niagara (with price removed). You will have to go to the winery to get this one. A different chard from Hidden Bench has been in the LCBO but it was no where near as good. I was thoroughly disappointed in that one, not because it was bad, but because it was not as good as this one. $38 a bottle. Did I mention yum, and pricey? Enjoy.

The winery.

Winery’s web site

From the LCBO web site:
STONEY RIDGE KASPER VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009 VINTAGES 513705 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 16.95
Wine, White Wine 11.6% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Ontario, Canada By: Stoney Ridge Cellars Ltd.
Release Date: Oct 29, 2011

Tasting Note
Gold Medal winner at the All Canadian Wine Championships 2010. Shows aromas of apple, pear, sweetgrass, mineral and hay. Dry, crisp and very lively. Good tart-apple replays play across the palate. Mouth-watering, long-finishing wine. A great match for grilled rainbow trout with lemon, roasted mini potatoes and butter. (VINTAGES panel, Sept. 2011)

Check LCBO stock

I recently have encountered a number of traditionally red wines that are white. This includes a white Pinot and this white cab.

I recently visited Ridgepoint winery. I had the pleasure of having lunch there. I love their country style Italian kitchen. Reasonably priced yummy foods. Stop by if your in the area!

Ridgepoint are doing some great work on their wines as well. I had the pleasure of chatting with the two owners the Scarsellones as well as the winemaker Arthur Harder during my visit.

On the white side their Riesling has surpassed Cave Springs as my favorite in Niagara. I bought some of this years and look forward to trying a bottle for a future review. On the red side Mauro explained they are working on softening their reds and removing some of the edgey tannic reds of past. Ridgepoint is also making some Nebbiolo a traditional Italian grape used in Barolo and Barbarescos.

Being a unique wine I had no idea what to expect from this one. The wine is pale in color. On the nose it is very reminiscent of a dry Riesling. On the mid pallet the taste matches the nose. It is somewhere between a Riesling and a Gewürztraminer. As the wine warmed up the length of the wine improved. All in all this was an interesting tasting! I would give it an 88 or so.

Copyright John Galea for CanadianWineGuy.com

I have never been to Alvento winery but encountered them at the Gourmet Food and Wine show. When I saw they had a Nebbiolo I had to try it. I had no idea there was anyone other than Ridgepoint making a Nebbiolo in Niagara. Dark in color with a lovely nose of dark berries. On the mid pallet this wine is brimming with Red berries, and deep rich flavors that fill the mouth. On the finish this wine has the super dry pucker power a Nebbiolo ought to deliver. Lots of firm tannins that build VERY nicely in the mouth. I was HUGELY impressed with this wine. They have recreated the Italian experience very nicely. I had a Barolo and a Barbaresco at the show just before trying this one and it was clear to me how authentic it is! I would even say they have done it better than Ridgepoint. I would give this wine a SOLID 90. Perfect with a steak or any big hearty meal. The 2006 is in the LCBO but the 2007 isn’t. Based on the price difference $21.35 for the 2006 and $34.90 for the 2007 I would say they are having some year to year variability. Not a surprise as they figure out how to grow this grape in our climate. The 2007 for now is only available at the winery or off the website.

I’m thoroughly impressed how people like this are doing incredible pioneering work in Niagra wineries. Taking risks planting unique varietals like this. Hats off to you! I had the pleasure of meeting the wine maker at the show.

2006 at the LCBO.

Creekside Winery

This wine is pale ruby in color with a rustic nose. On the mid pallet the wine spot on varietal pinot albeit a milder one. Some lovely red fruits strawberry and raspberry come through. The wine is on the lighter side of medium on the finish with light tannins and nice finish. This is an easy sipping wine or quite food friendly. I would give this an 88-89. Unfortunately not available in the LCBO, $16.95 at the winery. A good deal for a pinot!

From the winery’s web site:
Our 100% estate-grown grapes were aged for 15 months in French Oak barrels. Medium-bodied wine with aromas of black cherries, raspberries, cigar box and herbs. This Pinot Noir has a smooth juicy palate. Matches well with mushroom risotto or roast duck.

The Winery

Pale in color with minerality on the nose. On the mid pallet are some nice citrus flavors and some lemon. These build nicely on the finish. This is a sauv blanc right in the middle. Gentle and well made. For the price this wine is a good deal. Give it a try. I would give it an 88-89!

From the LCBO web site:
JACKSON-TRIGGS SAUV BLANC BLACK SERIES VQA LCBO 58438 | 750 mL bottle
Price: $ 13.95
Wine, White Wine 12.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : 1

Made in: Ontario, Canada By: Jackson-Triggs Winery

Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; grapefruit, herbs and gooseberry on the nose; light, dry, refreshing acidity, and a long lemony finish.

Check LCBO stock

I tried this one at the Sip and Savour event held last night at the Round House in Toronto, the Steam Whistle building. I was dieing to see the building. It is quite unique. The event on the other hand was not well done at all. On a dull and dreary rainy night there were few signs to lead me to the entrance. I did find Leons however Once in side the building is poorly laid out for an event of this size. Couple in the fact it was WAY over sold and I was unimpressed with this event for the first time. Very disappointing. In addition, in the past, the food has been excellent and lots of it. This time the food was good but very small portions and not much of it. All in all this event took a MAJOR turn for the worse. I can only hope it improves next year. It’s a great chance to sample a lot of Ontario wineries in one venue. They even had a few from Prince Edward County!

A great introduction to tomorrow’s Sip a Savour event. A fabulous tasting of Ontario wines. If you haven’t been before, GO! This year it is being held in the historic Roundhouse! Year after year this has been a great event!

From the winery’s web site:
2009 Wildass Riesling

The aromatic profile exudes green apple and fresh pear character with subtle citrus notes in the backdrop. These aromatic notes reappear on the palate with heightened flavours of ripe, ruby grapefruit. The mouthfeel is soft and balanced with a refreshing spike of acidity on the finish.

Check LCBO stock

Fast tasting summary:

Colour: Nice dark and deep red.
Nose: Plum, dirt (yup, dirt like you ate as a child), licorice.
First sip: Firm but not overwhelming tannins, red fruit (think tree, plums & cherries), good finish.
Further into the wine: The red berries come out, blackberry and red currants, oak is gentle and not overwhelming, tannins remain firm but still present, earthiness and spices all but disappeared.

Thoughts: Impressed with this wine, as my expectations were non-existent (I literally grabbed it blind). $38 is the price to pay for an old-vines single vineyard, and while on the higher side the quality is here and the wine has potential to get stronger with cellaring. I have a second bottle in the cellar and I am quite pleased to know it will be there in a year or two. Cellaring potential is 2 to 5 years, though you will be pleased with the wine today.

CWG Subjective Rating is 87 out of 100.

Colour: Deep purple with hints of rust on the edges
Nose: Black Cherry & Tobacco
First sip: Forward on the tongue, blackcurrant, more tobacco
Further into the wine: Still forward on the tongue, short finish. Fruit becomes muted while spices and smokiness is distinctive.

Thoughts: Torn between this wine is too young or it is blunted; the fruit is muted because of the heaviness of the spice and oak; tannins while firm are entirely forward in the mouth and leave a short finish; enjoyable but overpriced; think about another 2-3 years of cellaring as I will be doing with the second bottle in the cellar.

CWG Subjective Rating: 85 out of 100

As for drinking this Greenlane Estate Winery’s offer, it was opened mostly due to chance. I put it in our regular fridge a few days back as a ‘just in case’ we wanted to sit on the deck after work, forgetting that the sun is going into hiding behind skyscrapers around 18:00 nightly these days and the desire for white white dropping as fast as the sunshine. Fast forward a few days and we are having a spectacular autumn summer in Toronto, so excuses had to be made to drink wine on the terrace and the only white cold and ready to pretend it was still summer was this blend. For those that missed it, we actually reviewed a Greenlane wine recently, so my apologies for going back to the well so soon. So, despite its cold wet white taste, what did it taste like, let’s get into it!

A very pale, almost non-existent, colour is the first thing you will notice. An almost ‘pretend it is water in your glass at work’ clear. The nose will give you subtle hints of pear with floral undertones, but nothing will jump out at you. The first few sips will put forward a crisp clean wine, served too cold you will miss the fruit and the acidity will be muted. Allow it to warm up from the cold and you will open a wine with more structure and character. Citrus fruits and honey are the main flavours to come to mind and a longer than expected finish does in fact show a wine with more to it than the first few sips. Good acidity, good mouth feel, balanced from start to finish and a great price of $16.95 make this a wine worth stopping by the winery for.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 86 out of 100.

Dark in color with lots of dark fruits on the nose. On the mid pallet are some nice dark fruit rich flavors. The cab sauv and franc are dominant in the mix. The merlot is imperceptible to my tastes. On the finish the wine is medium in length with tannins in check nicely with some oak present. This is a nice wine and a good bargain for $16.95. It’s actually in the LCBO! Check LCBO stock. I would give it an 88-89. Pair it with steak, lamb or other hearty meals!

This was my first visit to Kacaba winery and the second of three I tasted during my visit. The first was the Pinot Noir.

Cab Francs from Niagara can be big tannic monsters. I have often heard that you should not even consider drinking one before a min of 5 years. Taming of these brutes is the challenge posed to the winemaker.

This wine is dark in color. On the nose are lots of dark berries but not a strong or overwhelming bouquet. On the mid pallet dark berries come through. Some ripe cherries, a hint of mocha/cofee, and some oak. On the finish this wine is a smooth well made Cab Franc. I was shocked how approachable this wine is right now. Tannins are well in check. Little to no bitterness. Oak and alcohol are under control. Yet the varietal flavors expected in a Cab Franc are there, just well balanced and smooth. The staff member was telling me the 2009 is one of those big tannic monsters. Not ready to be touched yet.

This wine (the 2008) should hold up well to a good steak or lamb. I am not sure this is one that will keep a long time. I would give it a solid 89. It’s not in the LCBO. At the winery you can grab it for $18.95 which is a good deal.

Kacaba Winery

On pouring this wine it is the typical light garnet color for a pinot noir. On the nose this is a clean pinot noir with none of the traditional earthy notes coming through. Instead there are some lovely ripe cherries that dominate the bouquet. On the mid pallet this wine is a very well made smooth Pinot. Again ripe cherries, some rustic flavors but all in all a smooth well made pinot. If your looking for a boisterous pinot, this one won’t be to your liking. On the finish the wine has lovely chaulky dry tannins that build as you continue to drink the wine. This can only be experienced if your enjoying the wine without food. Give a bit of time in between sips and you will experience this additional layer of complexity of the wine. This is however, a VERY food friendly wine. We paired it with a prime rib and it went VERY well. I would give this wine a solid 90. Given Pinot’s are often more expensive the price point on this wine $22.95 is a good deal. I can’t imagine this will last a long time, I wouldn’t buy too many. But given you can’t get this at the LCBO, a trip to the winery is in order. A crying shame isn’t it! Well done Kacaba!

Kacaba Winery

Great event, with owner, winemaker and front of house helping us run through the 8 wines on this release.

Highlights:
The wine (yes this is ‘copping out’) and great food pairings, very nice to have the intimate touch most other wine clubs ignore.

-In all seriousness look at the 2008 Felseck Chardonnay to be sold out fast as it is outrageously good. A Chardonnay lovers chardonnay it was brilliant.

-The 2010 Viognier is the winemaker’s star right now, it has great potential with low availability.

- The 2009 Estate Pinot Noir has good potential and will sell out quickly. If you are a Pinot fan, 2009 will be a great year and Hidden Bench Pinot’s are tremendous, may want to stop by and grab 1 or 10.

- The 2008 Locust Lane Pinot Noir is a big wine and may turn out to be the best of the eight.

Great day all around!

Derek Saunders and his wife Pat Latin started Calamus in 1999 with their purchase of 14 acres, since that time they have followed their own path. With an interesting name (Calamus means arrow or some may also say ‘reed pen’) and an onsite observatory this is not a winery run by a large company. Having met both in person and taken time out to hear their story and their passion, I can honestly say that the vineyard is on good footing as well as direction. But what about their wine? Let’s move on to the tasting.

Pinot Gris, as per the owners, is Calamus’ signature wine and the 2010 we had was suggested with pride. Its pale straw like colour was accompanied by gentle citrus notes. A few swirls and the citrus fruits are in your nostrils and waiting to jump out at you. But funny enough they do not overwhelm on the first few sips. A good even acidity follows the lime and grapefruit and the wine shows an even balance. The more we got into the wine the more we noticed peach and softness the first few sips did not deliver. Light mineral notes seep into your mouth and we started to notice a tad bit of floral notes. For a Pinot Gris we were pleasantly surprised and can say that for the price point ($17.20) it is clear why Pat and Derek are fond of this wine. If you are looking for a gentle start to your dinner party or a wine to sip and enjoy the last of summer you will not go wrong with this wine.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 87 out of 100.

Fielding followed Angels Gate on the 6th day and it was also not the first visit to this vineyard. Fielding is nestled into Beamsville Bench, neighbour to both Angels Gate and Hidden Bench. Over the years we have had many Fielding experiences and all of them have led us back to the Bordeaux varietals and blends that Fielding seems to do best. As recently as two months ago we polished off a 2004 Meritage that was ready to drink and still had a great deal in the bottle to offer the average drinker, which is shocking for the weak 2004 reds from Niagara. As we have discussed price recently, it is important to note that Fielding is now in the top 5 for the highest prices for Niagara wines. Their high end reds consistently are near the top in price. While this may not matter to many of our readers, for some $60 for a bottle of red is a great deal of money. To put into consideration, Trius Grand Red and Château des Charmes Equuelus are considered cheap compared, and while the tasting is to follow, I am not personally sure the Fielding price properly reflects their quality versus their rivals. Anyways, so much for a short post, let’s move onto the tasting.

Knowing the wine from the tasting, we decanted this for a solid 45 minutes to allow it to open and soften as the bold 2007 year rears its head with this offering. A deep red, almost purple accompanies this wine and the nose is solid with red and purple fruits with hints of coffee. The first few sips shows you how heavy and solid this wine is. Having won a gold medal at the 2009 Canadian Wine Awards you have to wonder how or why, not quality wise, but simply this is a big wine and two years ago it would have been harsher. Good strong tannins with a long finish follow up my comments above and really drive home the thought that this wine has a solid 5 to 7 years to settle. It is a big wine. Despite the heaviness, the fruit and subtle hints are here and you will see caramel, coffee and spice complimenting the plum and dark cherry. This is a very good wine and if you have the wallet to purchase a few I highly recommend this as a great Niagara red.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 89 out of 100 with points deducted for the elevated price compared to its peers.

So if you are keeping score so far, we have food and a view. What about the wine? Opened in 2002, Angels Gate is more than just a beautiful property; it is a producer of over 14,000 cases of wine a year and encompasses six vineyards as well as utilizing two premium grape growers. Grapes grown are: Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Shiraz, Gamay, Viognier and lastly, Pinot Gris. It is the Pinot Gris that we will be talking about today, and amazingly enough this is one of three Pinot Gris wines that was recommended to me over the course of the Niagara Wine Week. Thought to be a mutant of the Pinot Noir grape, it gets its name from the conical shape of its grape bunches (pinot) and the grayish-blue (gris) colouring of its fruit. Our Italian friends call it Pinot Grigio and you are hard pressed to not find a Gris/Grigio on a retaurant patio during the summer months. If truth be told I am not a Pinot Gris fan, often it is pale, light and not much more, and the nice thing about this week has been the three Pinot Gris’ that have been almost forced onto me for trying and tasting. They opened my eyes slightly to the wine and I will ensure that I include having some from time to time just to keep an open mind. Let’s move on to the tasting.

A very pale wine, this clear glass brought forward pear and tropical fruit. As you pour a glass and get into the tasting you will realize that this wine has good acidity that balances well with understated fruit. Pineapple and grapefruit fight for your attention. As the wine warms and opens you will note more citrus (lime) on your palate yet it retains its crispness. This is a good example of a white wine that is crafted to consume now, the fruit is strong enough to give the mouth something to enjoy but not so that it takes away from the acidity and cleanliness of the wine. At $19.95 it should fit into most people’s budgets and should suit those who are fans of Gris/Griggio.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 85 out of 100.

With the scary parts over with (price and scarcity) we can concentrate on a few other interesting tidbits about Hidden Bench. The winery has three principle vineyards and Pinot Noir is one of, if not the most, the important grapes grown. The Felseck vineyard is where this wine comes from and has turned into Hidden Bench’s Pinot Noir superstar (at least in my opinion). 2008 was a difficult year for the region and it created an environment where producers had to work very hard to get good quality fruit with very low yields. Hidden Bench was no different, in fact from their product notes you can see how little fruit they got from the vines: “A meager 10-12 bunches per vine were left to hang in order to encourage ripening“. All that work helped them produce this stunner of a wine, let’s get into the tasting.

I choose to go without decanting, instead allow some time in Pinot glasses before jumping into the tasting. The colour was a nice dark red and the initial nose of plum and cherries was evident. The first few sips hinted at a firm amount of tannins and a long finish. As we got into the wine more, the fruit stayed consistent while a distinct earthiness reared its head. The tannins, while firm, do not overwhelm and the complexity is extremely evident. The finish improved over the course of the glass (and eventually two…) and my mouth was insistent on more. This is an extremely polished wine; it had the right balance of acidity, fruit, tannins and nose to make it a star in the 2008 Niagara Pinot Noir grouping. With the price ($48) and the rarity (few bottles left at the vineyard itself) you will reward yourself by making a trip, buying a few and letting some age for 3-5 years in the cellar. Overall an excellent wine.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 90 out of 100.

As for the wines themselves, the winery has 34 planted acres that are on the St-David’s bench with usual suspects planted. Being on the bench and the proclaimed hottest micro climate of the region leads to both issues in hot years and advantages in cold years (in relation to other local producers). The wine we are reviewing today is from the difficult 2008 growing year, one in which most vineyards found truly challenging. Of all the wines that were currently for sale, the one put forward to us by the staff was this Merlot. I am a little shocked as their botrytis influenced Riesling was very tasty and left good impressions on us, but I am pleased as it showed a great amount of confidence in the red wine from a rough year. With that we will jump to the tasting.

We decided to decant this just before drinking, as it was a 2008 I did not think it needed much time out of bottle but I felt it deserved a chance to open slightly before we consumed. The colour was a nice bright red and the initial nose brought forth red berries and tobacco. The first few sips introduced a lighter than expected red with smooth tannins and more ripe berries. The tobacco nose remained and the wine for it’s part proved consistent from start to finish. The wine neither dazzled, sadly, nor disappointed. It’s fruit expressed itself and the oaking made it presence known. Acidity seemed perfect and the balance overall was good. It is odd that I look at this wine as being “ho hum” as there was nothing negative to say and it is a good drink now (you could cellar for 1 to 3, but no more) Merlot which is a tad on the expensive side at $34. Ravine Vineyards will definitely get another visit and I look forward to trying their upcoming releases in the years to come.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 86 out of 100.

Paul Bosc is a graduate from the University of Burgundy and has been one of the leader’s of the Canadian wine industry since the late ’70s. So why is it we never truly associate Château des Charmes with burgundy style wines despite his solid regional training/education? It could be that, for all the wines that the Bosc’s put forward, Equuleus and Gamay Droit remain the foremost in most people’s minds. Odd for sure, especially for someone so accomplished in the nuances that are the pesky Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. The wine we are discussing comes from the vineyard named for the very man himself, the Paul Bosc Vineyard. If you are travelling to the Château along St-David’s Road you are actually moving along the dividing line that separates the St-David’s Bench from the Paul Bosc Vineyard not just on paper but soil, sediment and climate wise. Many years back you could easily see this evidence when the winery produced two single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons and today it is demonstrated best when comparing their two current Chardonnay’s from each vineyard. If you every get a chance, I highly recommend this micro lesson in terroir by driving over and tasting both Chards side by side. Sadly there is no St-David’s Bench Pinot Noir to compare this wine to, if there had been I may have had a mental breakdown from excitement (yes I am easy to please). Before we go into the tasting, I’d like to thank both Glen for his excellent presentations and knowledge; and Michelle for setting up the tastings, you both made the experience exceptional and continue to make me want to come back. On to the tasting!

I decided not to decant the bottle at home as I remembered the bold, yet elegant, wine from the initial tasting being poured from a newly opened bottle. What came out was no different, a strong nose of pepper and black cherry presided over the deep ruby red colour. The first sips bring forward a mixture of plums, earthiness and red fruit. As you start to delve into the bottle more you will find hints of tobacco, more spice (again pepper came to mind) and bold red tree fruits. The tannins, while firm, are not overwhelming. The wine is well balanced from tip to finish and while the wine is drinking extremely well now I would expect this to continue to evolve over the next few years and produce a stunner come 2014-2016. Overall this is very much a Pinot Noir you can put against much higher priced Burgundy (or even Niagara) wines and it will hold it’s own. At $35 this is not inexpensive, but for the quality but it is priced low for other Niagara region top flight Pinot’s. It is difficult not to reward or upgrade the subjective rating based on the value and as such you will see a rating below that (as usual) demonstrates my view on quality, price and desirability.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 90 out of 100.

The visit to the vineyard was a pleasant one with a lunch preceding tastings. I decided to forego tasting anything but the Terroir series and when it was all said and done the Riesling-Gewürztraminer was suggested as the review wine of choice. As the only blended white wine of the week (for review) it was a bold choice, not only for the fact that Strewn has several single varietals that could have been chosen, but also as the market for blended whites out of Niagara is not huge, especially not a higher priced offering. Yet here we are, so it must have made the cut for the Strewn staff. On to the tasting!

The pale coloured white wine instantly rears its Riesling head when you get a sniff, with a slight bit of petrol notes and crisp floral (think lilacs initially). The first few sips will bring forward a gentle acidity with distinctive but not overwhelming minerality. The fruit is gentle and compliments the structure well. The finish is long and you will start to get pineapple and peach notes the more you allow the wine to warm and open. Overall this is a good summer white wine with the potential to open a multi-course meal without leaving too much on the palate to take away from the food. A good offering from a young and often forgotten vineyard, at $17.95 you will find this wine is easy on the pocket book and will not embarrass you, not too bad for a sub $20 wine.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 84 out of 100.