Little did I know at that time what an apostrophe’s placement could mean. Stags Leap AVA is considered one of the top appellations in the Americas and with that, competition for the name has occurred. There are two vineyards named after the region: one with Stag’s Leap and the other is Stags’ Leap. For those following alone, that ‘ means a great deal, otherwise I guess there is no confusion at all. Carl Doumani and Warren Winiarski, two of the original owners in the early 70s, both called their vineyards Stags Leap, litigation ensued and with a settlement in the courts the glorious apostrophe settled the issue and we got Stags’ and Stag’s. Silly history but still great to know.

If you are unaware of the region, the Napa Valley has some great little pockets but Stags Leap may stand out for several reasons. First would be that the region had vines planted in the late 1800′s, which makes it one of the oldest wine regions in the ‘New World’. Second would be the international acclaim it has received, starting with the first Californian first place medal in Europe (1976 for a Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon). Since that time some of the best houses in the Californian wine game have come from the appellation. Of note are both the aforementioned wineries but if you were to ask me personally which is the most outstanding I’d say Hartwell Estate Vineyards which will be reviewed in the months coming. Enough blather, what was this wine like?

The colour is a light yellow, almost the colour of an apple cider. Green apple with hints of floral hit your nose as you swirl the glass. First few drops yield apple and vanilla on the tongue, while melon all make appearances with a few more sips. The wine is easy on the mouth with low acidity and a nice long finish. This is a complex Chardonnay with fruit that balances out with good dryness and feel. Very enjoyable, I am glad it stuck around till now even though it still has potential for cellaring, think 3-5 years. For those wanting to know, price was roughly $28 a bottle.

CWG Subjective Rating is 87 out of 100.

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.

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.

When it was suggested to me to have the Petit Verdot as the wine to drink and review I was excited. Probably the most forgotten of the Bordeaux varietals (some may argue Carmenèrem is) it is rarely found in a regional or Meritage blend, let alone as a single varietal offering. So unique is this wine, should you go looking, you will be hard pressed to tour the wine regions of the world and find more than a handful of Petit Verdot only bottles. So what does this mean? It means it is a challenging grape that matures late and is often no more than an afterthought.

What did it taste like you ask? Well it was bold, young and nowhere near ready to show its true colours. A deep, almost blood red colour with heavy red tree fruit nose (think plum and black cherry) will hit you fast and early. Black pepper and licorice will follow the fruit but not overwhelm. Once you begin to drink the wine you will find that the tannins are heavy, the wine is large and you are sure that you should have decanted it for more than the 15 minutes that you happened to have done. The acidity is balanced enough despite the griping tannins and you will experience some chocolate and cassis on the finish as well. Over all this is a bold offering, one which, while good, would not have been my first choice from the vineyard. The Stratus Red is probably the most well round wine, like the child that excels at the 3 R’s while being a 3 sport star; meanwhile the Petit Verdot is the smaller stature gifted artist child with a mean streak, it that requires more attention but is none the less rewarding. Just my 2 cents, Stratus does produce better wines than this, but this is quite interesting, even for $38.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 86 out of 100.

The vineyard has a good reputation for it’s Portuguese styled port made from their Touriga Nacional plantings. Unfortunately upon our arrival it was announced that they had no port and it was already a sad start, as we do love port. The main building could be dropped into any portion of the wine regions in Portugal and not look out of place. Inside you get more of a feel of a guest shop than a cellar door. The tastings were all Reserves and when asked for their choice, it was this 2006 Meritage that was suggested. A quick note on the 2006 Vintage year for Niagara, while there are some hidden gems, for the most part the reds from this year are inconsistent and nowhere near some of the region’s great years. So without any more fuss nor muss we shall review it.

When decanted the wine had a distinctive rust colour and the nose was very smokey. A few swirls of the glass and the smokiness remains without distinguishing itself, slight hints of plum and red fruit also follow it. The first sips are soft and very light, not something expected from a Meritage. Meritage being a blend of the three principle grapes from Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (it can also contain the other Bordeaux grapes of Petit Verdot, Malbec or Carmenèrem, but rarely do). This wine is beyond “drink now”, it is soft and the fruit is dulled, as are the tannins. Unfortunately the wine offers very little to the average drinker and if you own some, make sure you drink over the upcoming months. Sadly this was our first “miss” of the Niagara Wine Week, we will return at some later date to grab a bottle or two of port and try and give De Sousa a second chance.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 78 out of 100.

If you know nothing about Henry of Pelham or the Speck family, I highly suggest you follow this link to get some background on both. Heritage is important at the winery and you can sense it from the staff. We seemed to get lucky on Tuesday and we had two people look after us, primarily Viktoria with an assist from Trudy. With tremendous knowledge they led us through the ins and outs of almost all the wines produced at the vineyard. As we progressed from the sparkling through the whites and on to the wide selection of reds it was easy to see why past visits were as much fun as this one. Viktoria followed up her brilliant first act by taking us on a tour of their classic methode production areas, both of which shed light on the up to 30 month process used to make the wine we are about to discuss. Speaking of which, let’s move on to this non-vintage (NV) sparkling rosé.

This wine has been crafted using Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. It was crafted using méthode traditionnelle or classic methode (in fact there are many ways to describe it) which composes of two fermentations: first is done in the normal manner then the wine is bottled and a secondary fermentation is done inside the bottle, thus creating and trapping the carbon dioxide in the bottle. Once this fermentation is complete, this wine in particular is aged on the lees (expended yeast) for 30 months. So what does all this mean? For most, not much, you either like Champagne styled wine or you do not. If you are on the fence then this is an excellent wine to jump in with. Cuvée Catherine is a very good offering, it has crispness, it is clean and it has the right amount of effervescence. The nose is neither overwhelmingly fruit nor sweet yet it has a good solid flavour. Overall this is an impressive selection by Viktoria, with Henry of Pelham most would have thought a premium Baco Noir or Speck Family Reserve wine would have been suggested, but she decidedly pointed to this pink beauty. I highly recommend grabbing a few for the next dinner party or special occasion, you will look smart and oenophile like when you bring this well-priced at $30.

The CWG subjective rating is 89 out of 100.

Planted originally in 1997, the Moira Vineyard is the original plot of the winery. Some six hectares dedicated to only Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the burgundy principles, it often finds itself producing the best wines that Malivoire has to offer. This particular wine would probably be considered their flagship offering, which does lead me to state this. The object of the Niagara Wine Week was not to necessarily taste and review only the wineries best, but to also get a chance to taste the one offs or special wines you simply would not know of or hear of. This does not mean that Eric Nixon, the Presentation and Promotions Manager, failed at this task, it further proves how much the winery loves this wine. 2007 was a hot year, and unlike 2006 which was hot but finished wet and cold, ’07 has turned out to be an ideal vintage year from Stoney Creek to Niagara on the Lake. The 07′ vintage reds should prove to be one of the all-time best out of Niagara and most vineyard’s flagship reds are worthy of the money they are asking. This Moira Vineyard Pinot Noir shows many of the characteristics of this fantastic year. It is both bold and complex. So instead of babbling on about either the Beamsville Bench or the vineyard, click on the links and immerse yourself some more, or continue below and read the review of this Pinot.

We did not decant this wine, sometimes with Pinot’s I choose to let them play as they are, other times I feel that some aeration is deserved and the time is taken. This may seem sacrilegious to some, but everyone’s tastes, senses and ideas are different and I am not sold one way or another. To decant for 5 minutes should not be life or death for a wine. And alas, I do not think it made a tremendous amount here either. The wine had a nice inky colour into the glass and red fruit came rushing at my nostril with primarily black cherry and a hint or two of spice in the way of cinnamon to follow. Upon the first sip you will notice this is not a mellow laid back Pinot that can often times pass for the Niagara region’s version of Burgundy’s best. This wine is instantly in your face and had good strong tannins that, with solid fruit, indicate a nice maturing/cellaring in its future. A first guess would say 3 to 5 years will further add to the structure of the wine and may give even out its balance. Overall you will find a bold wine with strong red fruits and hints of spice and smoke. The tannins may lead some to find this wine overwhelming but more so if you consider it against the average Pinot from the region. This wine is strong and requires the right palate to truly appreciate it and at $59.95 a deep pocket book.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 88 out of 100.

Green apple jumps out of this apple juice coloured wine (coincidence?). That nose gives way to a good mixture of fruit (think green pear, nay ‘Vicar of Winkfield’) and undertones of vanilla. While the balance is there, it does linger well enough to not be a pain and to remind you are having more then just some summer toss away white. This wine is actually very full bodied and chewy making is a great addition to any meal you would serve a higher end Burgundy white with. Overall the start to finish was beyond expectations. Well done ‘Owl. While not in the LCBO you can buy this directly from the winery for $25.

The CWGSR is 89 out of 100.

Please note vineyard tasting notes can be found here.

A super Tuscan blend with an oaky nose and hints of ‘black’ fruit to start is what you get. Take that oak and make it leathery with a sniff of vanilla. The wine is ready to drink. The balance is there, the tannins pronounced but not too overwhelming. The fruit can be a bit subdued, not a bad indication of a wine I left too long. This is a bit surprising as this is only a 2003, young enough that it should still be fruit forward. Shame as almost everything else was spot on. Overall, a nice wine, worth the money and worth having a whirl if you can still get you hand on it. A pleasant surprise from such a large producer (which most know is never a plus for me).

The CWGSR is 88 out of 100. An almost perfect blend of the $$.

‘Ripe strawberries’ fill your nose on the decant. The first few swirls skirt that fruit and replaces it with a flowery bouquet, odd, but the nose does not lie. The initial sips actually do not do this wine much justice, the initial reaction was ‘ho hum’, a bit lively at the beginning, half decent fruit and a dull finish. BUT, that was the start, this wine grows quickly on you, it becomes more balanced and more respectful in terms of the palate. Plum and come forward with a good hint of earthiness mixed in. A good pairing for this is the standard bold red meal, lamb, steak au poivre or a hard roast. This wine is not going to win awards, it will not wow your Merlot friends, but it is a good value and a decent table wine. Lot 1′s are still around and selling for under $20 so expect the same for Lot 2, you can do much worse for your twenty dollars then this wine.

The CWGSR is 84 out of 100.

As the cork was removed this wine oozed subtlety. A light hint of strawberry and a tad bit of toasty oak hit the nose. A light coloured pinot once poured into the glass, vanilla starts to take over your nose with an almost candied smell that will get you later as you move into the bottle. A few good slurps later and you are finding a wine that is forward on the palate but lingers at the end. Tannins are small and you could almost say this wine is a tad too smooth. If you enjoy 1er Cru Burgundy’s you may find this too tame for your liking. Also if you were to pair this with a spicy or forceful dish you would expect it to disappear. Overall it is a pleasant drinking wine but for the price ($42US) you would expect a bit more. As we worked through the wine it simply never jumped out in any sense. Pleasant is the best way to describe it, if not for the price I would recommend it for a regular drinking wine.

The CWGSR is 85 out of 100. (might have been higher if the price was lower, but bang for buck meter dropped the rating)

Young and lively, those are the first impressions! After a couple of years on it’s side the sediment was visible and required decanting producing a solid nose of deep cherry and caramel with a ruby red colour. The first few swirls and slurps led to vanilla taking over from the caramel and cherry remaining evident with hints of plum. As the wine opened up the cherry yielded entirely to plum, tabacco and cedar, quite a change from the initial spectrum. The wine is decently balanced, may weighed a tad heavier on the front end, and with a shorter finish then was expected. Overall the wine is a professional offering that does not detract from a meal or hinder drinking it on it’s own. On the other hand it is by no stretch of the imagination anything more then a run of the mill Grand Vin. You get what you pay for in this bottle, decent French winemaking but not outstanding or memorable.

The CWGSR is 84 out of 100

This barrel fermented Chardonnay was aged sur lie before being bottled. With it’s honey colour capturing the eye, you instandly get a nice caramel toasty smell. A few good sniffs and you are getting more of that and a bit of vanilla with underlying peach. The first few sips will give your mouth a nice crisp sensation with a polished ‘velvety’ feel. This is rather surprising as many Chardonnays achieve this through malolactic fermentation (that buttery taste/feel) which this wine has not gone through. The balance of acidity, fruit and smooth oak work well and the winemaker Natalie Reynolds has done a great job in bringing a Burgundy style to her wine. The fruit is understated throughout but still evident, with hints of peaches and pears running on your tongue. Overall this is a very good offering, in fact when we went to the winery to do tastings I was pleasantly surprised by it, figuring, as I often do, that I knew what I was going to purchase well in advance (and a Chardonnay was not in the ‘plan’). This wine has the structure and taste that allows me to recommend grabbing 6 bottles and putting them away. Two to three years minimum will really make this go from very good to great in my humble opinion. As it is now, for $30 (from the vineyard) you will richly reward if you drink it now or put it down. A great Canadian wine.

Please note, while I was pleased overall with the entire experience at Thirty Bench (and yes this is nitpicking) I was rather shocked that a $10 tasting charge was added to a wine purchase totaling well over $250. This is the first time in my wine tasting life, anywhere, that a tasting charge was actually added to a purchase bill. I fully understand that a charge needs to be applied to the free wine slurp hounds that jump from winery to winery looking for free stuff with no purchases, but when you buy significant wines I have always found the fee to be waved. I know, petty, still Thirty Bench when you read this, you can do better then that.

The CWGSR is 90 out of 100.

Mrs CWG states

Tasty!

With a deep crimson colour this wine had a good cherry nose right off the start. Hints of licorice and a hint of vanilla were the compliments to red cherries on our first few sips. The tannins were normal for a chianti, medium to strong. The finish was rather short for a wine that exhibited such a full body on the first few sips. The fruit remained as we made our way through the bottle with hints of spices and more licorice poking their heads up amongst it. Overall, this wine as decent, but nothing special. The price makes this a good enough value to bring to a dinner party and not be embarrassed, but by no means would I recommend grabbing 3 or 4 for your cellar.

The CWG-SR is 86 out of 100.

Mrs CWG & Bacchus say

Ho Hum.

We decanted this out of habit and while the aeration in the end helped the wine a tad, it will not be necessary if you are using the correct stemware as the bowl of a pinot glass will give it more then enough. Intense cherry with hints of wood will hit your nose immediately. Swirl it a few more times and then settle in for a few sips. That cherry will stay consistent but casis and vanilla will creep in. This is a nice firm, chewy pinot noir. Good balance, even finish and firm tannins yield a wine that even a Burgundy hound would love. I was pleasantly surprised as a great many of the Californian pinot noirs I have had recently have disappointed. As we progressed through the bottle the flavours and quality remained, there was no fading or disappearing, a good sign for a great wine. This wine will go well with most entrees with pork tenderloin, marinara pasta or veal coming to mind. While I paid $40US for this, the 2006 vintage is on sale for $33 at the LCBO, which is odd, as even the vineyard has the the 2006 listed for $45. While this review is for the 2005, if the 2006 is even half the wine, the LCBO price will be worth the purchase. If you can get your hands on the 2005, I highly recommend buying at least 6 as this wine will age, most probably for the better. I have to say, for once I agree with the lofty reviews, this wine is one of the better wines to have been released from the region recently!

The CWG SR is 92 out of 100.

Mrs CWG & Bacchus say

I hope we have another of these!

Unlike most reviews this will not get a rating or detailed tasting notes, but more of an opinion. I love port and all sorts, deeper chewier ones, single vintage specialties, true tawnies and simply just interesting thrown together ones. Generally with a port you will get something that compliments nuts and stronger pungent cheeses and is sure to please the palate after a nice dinner and a few glasses of wine. This tawny is enjoyable, nutty with hints of raisins. With an even body and good flavour it is sure to please but will not overwhelm. We grabbed one of these as we enjoyed it at the tasting bar, and for the price it was hard to top (roughly $19aus if I remember correctly). Will this blow away a Madeira? No, but it will none the less satisfy any lover of fortified wine.

I am off traveling again tomorrow, I will probably be absent for the next few days, till I return, sip well!