On the lighter side of dark in color with a mild cherry nose along with some mocha and leather notes. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice dark cherry and mocha to go along with the nose. On the medium length finish the wine displays some fine dusty tannins along with some mocha notes that linger. This is a lovely approachable Right Bank Puisseguni Saint-Emilion region of Bordeaux. I would give this an 89 or so. A lovely wine with some nice complexity and dryness. From the LCBO web site. Check stock
750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 463273$39.95
A great opportunity to try maturing Bordeaux, and one crafted from organically grown grapes. Expect this to be a generous wine with a rich, silky character. It will add an air of refinement to a meal featuring lamb or braised beef.
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:February 8, 2020Bottle Size:750 mL bottleAlcohol/Vol:13%Made In:Bordeaux, FranceBy:G. Dupuy, prop.Sugar Content:3 g/LSweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra DryStyle:Medium-bodied & Fruity
Pale to straw in color with a mild citrus note. On the mid palate the wine matches the nose with some nice mild citrus, lemon, passion fruit and the like. On the lighter side of medium in length the wine displays some softer food friendly acidity where the citrus notes linger slightly. We had New Zealand Villa Maria open at the same time and it was interesting to do a back to back tasting of the two. This wine is definitely a softer, gentler, more elegant sauv blanc so it will depend on what your taste preferences are. After all, you may only be able to take one of these when your shipwrecked on a deserted island, so one much choose wisely. I would give it a -88. This is a wine from the Entre Deux Mers of Bordeaux and is 100% sauv blanc, no semillion and is unoaked. From the LCBO web site: Check stock
750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 12098$14.95
Fresh and crisp with lemon, grapefruit, white flowers, a light herbaceous note, and a mineral lift on the finish. This delicious, pretty wine is a fine value. Pair with mussels or herb-roasted pork tenderloin. (Vintages panel, April 2019)
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:January 25, 2020Bottle Size:750 mL bottleAlcohol/Vol:11.5%Made In:Bordeaux, FranceBy:Maison SichelSugar Content:2 g/LSweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra DryStyle:Aromatic & Flavourful
A good, modern Bordeaux white made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes sourced from partner growers. Les Hauts de Bel Air White is a modern wine: intensely aromatic, fresh and easy to drink. Bottled early – only 5 months after the harvest – and aged in vat rather than barrel, the wine is very aromatic on the nose and refreshing on the palate. Enjoyment and satisfaction guaranteed.
BACKGROUND Maison Sichel has always held the view that, as a wine producer based in Bordeaux, the level of quality of our AOC Bordeaux wines should be irreproachable and consistently high. To this end, forty years ago, we became the first négociant in the region to invest in a vinification cellar. In creating Cave Bel-Air, we broke out of the mould of the traditional Bordeaux merchant or négociant to become, in New World parlance, a winery, responsible for the quality of its wines at every stage, from grape to bottle. Cave Bel-Air vinifies grapes from some 200 hectares of vines, making red, white and rosé AOC Bordeaux wines. It works in partnership with a limited number of growers, who all adhere to a Charter of Quality that covers all aspects of viticulture, such as how the vines are trained, how often they are treated against pests and disease and which products are used, control of yield levels and, finally, when and how the grapes are harvested.
SURFACE 19 Ha in white AVERAGE AGE OF VINES 30 years GRAPE
VARIETIES Sémillon, Sauvignon TERROIR Clay-limestone soils on the slopes of the Right Bank of the Garonne river and Boulbène in the Entre-DeuxMers region.
WINEMAKING/MATURING A great deal of care was shown to the vines and each bunch of grapes to ensure grapes of good quality: control of yields and of vigour (short pruning, the planting of grass, a synthesis of amendments), checks on maturity and reasonable protection. If the quality of the grapes is good enough they are harvested by machine, otherwise a team of experienced grape pickers pass in front of the machine in order to remove grapes of a lesser quality. Thanks to this selective sorting of grapes, we carry out 100% of the skin maceration before fermentation during 8 to 12 hours of cold under carbon dioxide gas. The grapes are then pressed using a pneumatic press. The juice is maintained at a low temperature (12°C) and protected from oxygen by the use of carbon dioxide. After the juice has settled for 24 hours, the wine is drawn off and put in stainless steel tanks with automatic thermo-regulators. The must is mixed with dried active yeast, specially selected for Sauvignon must. The fermentation temperatures are kept between 13 and 15°C in order to best preserve the aromas of Sauvignon. After fermentation the wine is racked once in order to remove the heavy lees and then it is matured for 3 to 4 months on the fine lees, whilst being stirred once a week. Before it is bottled the wine is fined and treated in the cold in order to avoid precipitation in the bottle.
Pale to golden in color with a mild nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice pear, and golden apple notes, along with a hint of pepper/zest spicy notes. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice zesty citrus notes along with some lively acidity. There’s some slightly creamy notes to the texture. In some ways the wine reminds me of an unoaked chard … I would give it an -88 or so. Quite an interesting unique flavor. From the LCBO web site check stock:
750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 10950$15.95LM97
(Translated from the Italian) Absolutely the best among the white wines tasted this year: the Falanghina Beneventana 2017. A show of pear, grape and plum, thick pulp, clear fragrance, and wonderful gustative smoothness. Bravo! Score – 97. (Luca Maroni, lucamaroni.com, 2019)
I’ve been spending a bit of time trying to sort out the complex region of France collectively known as Bordeaux. This is a lot harder than one would think. Those of you in the know will likely skip this post, but hopefully, some will find it helpful, if I get some things not quite perfect, please bear with me. Understanding the regions, the grapes and the labels will help you to spend your money wisely. Bordeaux’s can be VERY expensive but there are bargains to be had, with knowledge! I’ve collected/gleaned a lot of this from Vins Du Bordeaux web site:
Bordeaux is divided into three areas Left Bank, Right Bank and Entre deux mers. This graphic which I shamelessly pilfered shows the areas:
Wine regions of Bordeaux
From a satellite view it looks like this:
Satellite view of Bordeaux
It’s worth stating the obvious, wines from Bordeaux are pretty much always blends of grapes, ie NOT single varietals.
From Vinepair referring to the reds of Bordeaux: “Left Bank wines are mostly Cabernet Sauvignon fleshed out with Merlot; Right Bank wines are more Merlot balanced by a smaller proportion of Cabernet. The Cabernet-driven Left Bank wines tend to be higher in tannin — again, making them good candidates for aging, which helps to mellow out the tannins and integrate the flavors of the wine. Merlot-driven Right Bank wines are generally smoother, with softer fruit flavors and balancing.”
Merlot in Bordeaux is not the fruit forward, softer wine some have come to loath, but rather, are bigger bolder than that. Not as big as the Cabs from Bordeaux.
So now let’s have a look at these three regions. First off Left Bank which is made up of Medoc and Graves which themselves have separate regions:
Left Bank: Medoc: Médoc, Saint-Estéphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Listrac-Médoc, Moulis, Margaux, and Haut-Médoc Graves: Pessac-Léognan, Graves , Graves Supérieures, Cérons, Barsac, and Sauternes
Right bank is made up of Blaye and Libournais:
Right Bank: Blaye: Blaye, Cötes de Blaye, Blaye – Cotes de Bordeaux, Cötes de Bordeaux, and Cötes de Bourg Libournais: Fronsac, Canon Fronsac, Lalande-de-Pomerol, Pomerol, Lussac Saint-Émilion, Montagne Saint-Émilion, Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion, Puisseguin Saint-Émilion, Saint-Émilion, Saint-Émilion grand cru, Francs Cötes de Bordeaux, Cötes de Bordeaux, Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux, and Cötes de Bordeaux
Last but not least is Entres Deux mers, which is the region in between the two rivers. Very reasonably priced good quality wines can be had in this region.
Regions of Entres Deux mers: Graves de Vayres, Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux, Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux Haut-Benauge, Entre-Deux-Mers Haut-Benauge, Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux, Cadillac Cötes de Bordeaux, Cotes de Bordeaux Cadillac, Cotes de Bordeaux- Saint-Macaire, Loupiac, and Sainte-Croix-du-Mont
Ok let’s have a look at some sample labels and see what we can glean from them. Spolier alert, it really varies …
This wine is from Left Bank, Graves, Pessac Leognan region. Sadly no mention of the grapes and we can see it’s handled by TasteVin Selections here in Ontario. So this ought to be more Cab Sauv but who knows.
This wine is from the Right bank, Liberais, Puisseguin Saint-Émilion region. In this case they generously (and unusually) gave us the break down of the grapes. As expected on the right bank this is Merlot dominant. Interestingly there’s more cab franc than sauv! And it is represented in Ontario by United Stars. We even get some tasting notes … sweet!
Vins de bordeaux is a little more tricky and more generic. Searching on the winery I would guess this to be an Entre deux mers wine, but honestly the grapes could come from almost anywhere in Bordeaux. Local rep is VinoLuna and we have the grape varietals, and a tasting note! The back of the bottle actually has more information on it than the LCBO web site?
This one is from the Right bank, Libournais, Lussac Saint-Émilion region. This time they allude to it, but the LCBO site is even clearer, this is 100% Merlot. Again the local rep is United stars.
Reviews of these wines will be coming in future posts, so stay tuned!
As an interesting but useless (to you) fact of trivia I went back and categorized the wines I’ve reviewed in the last two years here on CanadianWineGuy and tallied them up, I’ve reviewed and enjoyed 7 Right banks, 3 Entres deux Mers, and 2 Left banks!
Hope you’ve found this little post informative/useful in some way …
Dark in color with a mild dark berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some lovely dark plums along with some chocolate and mocha notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice pepper, and vibrant acidity. There’s some lovely soft tannins and nice dryness and complexity … Out of the bottle there were some wet, earthy notes that faded quickly. The alcohol at 14% is quite noticeable. This is another lovely, delicious year for this wine, and if you have patience I am certain it will improve in as little as a year and keep for at least 5. Crew are doing an awesome job bringing the quality level for lake Erie area forward. I would give it a solid 88 or so, which is a steal for the price. If your expecting a soft fruit forward merlot, nope not this one. This is a serious edgy merlot. Yumm. From the LCBO web site: Check stock
Merlot
750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 310532$17.95
This Merlot from CREW is always a complex, fruity wine, with dark and red fruit alongside touches of spice and earth. Characteristically smooth and rich, it’s a great option for a red-wine beef stew.Read Less
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:February 8, 2020Bottle Size:750 mL bottleAlcohol/Vol:13.7%Made In:Ontario, CanadaBy:Colchester Ridge Estate Winery Inc.Sugar Content:4 g/LSweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra DryStyle:Full-bodied & SmoothVarietal:MerlotThis is a VQA wine
Dark in color with a nice dark cherry and chocolate nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some lovely rich dark cherry notes, mocha, along with some firm pepper. On the medium length finish the wine displays some firm tannins, nice firm pepper and acidity. This is a lovely varietal big cab franc. I would give this a 88 or so, which for the price is a good deal! This wine is from the Loire region of France. From the LCBO web site Check stock:
Cabernet Franc
750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 478263$17.95WC91
Sourced from 10 to 35-year-old vines; this 100% cabernet franc has a lovely bright, medium-ruby colour. The nose is shy at first, but when given a chance to open, it shows aromas of dark cherry, strawberry, jalapeño and dusty rock. It flows on the palate with the freshness of juicy red berry flavours with spicy pepper kicking in on the mid palate along with assertive fine-grained tannin and recurrent minerality in the long, delicious, sharp and dry finish. It’s medium bodied with character and excellent structure and is a hit with grilled-rare ribeye steak. Aerate/decant an hour or two. Value. Score – 91. (Louise Boutin, winecurrent.com, April 17, 2019).
Ok, I should probably start out with I don’t buy or drink a lot of Barolos, they simply are out of the price range I’m willing to pay. This one is ruby in color with a nice dark cherry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice dark cherry notes, but not bright young cherries, more light wilted cherries … But this wine lives mostly in the finish where it displays elegant dusty tannins that build in the mouth and coat the palate. On the medium to long finish the wine displays some nice acidity and the tannins live on long in the mouth. This really is a super tasty wine. Nothing else is quite like a Barolo. Yumm, it is $68.75, sadly, not in the LCBO, available from Burgundy Direct by the case. I would give it a solid 89+. From Burgundy direct’s web site:
Note: Made of organically farmed fruit from commune of Barolo; Coste di Rose, Preda and Monrobiolo vineyards. Destemmed, softly crushed, indigenous yeasts, 30 day maceration-fermentation with frequent pump-overs. “Barale’s 2015 Barolo Vendemmia is perfumed, open-knit and inviting. Floral overtones and silky, red berry fruit give this mid-weight Barolo much of its sensuality and overall appeal. Spice, crushed berry and wild flowers develop later adding further shades of nuance. This is such a pretty Barolo from an estate that continues to make important strides.” 91 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous. November, 2019.
Ripasso is a style of wine from Italy pioneered by Masi that repasses, or passes over the skins of a another wine that in turn imparts flavor and complexity. This particular wine has recaptured this spirit here in Niagara. Dark in color with a mild dark berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice dried fruits and rich dark berry notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays lovely bold tannins, mocha and the dried fruit notes linger in the mouth, particularly without food. This is a food friendly wine and is spot on to what one would expect from a Ripasso. A good rich, complex wine, for a reasonable price! I would give it a -88. Available at the winery for $20 a bottle.
This medium bodied Ripasso style red wine was made using the Italian tradition of aging wine on the pressed grape skins from Appassimento wines. The fermented Merlot was added to barrels containing the lees and skins leftover from the pressed off partially dried grapes used in our Appassimento wines. This process adds colour, texture, and enhanced flavour in this blend. The result is a wine that displays jammy dark berry fruit aromas and flavours supported by notes of vanilla and spice.
Serve at room temperature (16 to 18 C). Enjoy with grilled red meat, or charcuterie and hard cheeses.
Garnet in color with a nice strawberry/raspberry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays strawberry/raspberry to match the nose along with some nice rustic notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice tannins and peppery notes. This is a spot on, lovely, varietal pinot noir. I would give it an 88 … Very nice. Available at the winery for $24.95 a bottle.
About This Wine:This wine is named after a layer of dolomitic limestone forming the crest of the Niagara Escarpment. Through the forces of erosion, this ancient rock has come to enrich the soils of the Escarpment benchlands below. Grown in selected vineyards along these gentle slopes, this Pinot Noir bears the mark of its origins. The calcareous clays of these sites contribute to the delicate aromatics and silky texture that are this wine’s hallmark. Origin:92% Beamsville Bench, 8% Creek Shores Soil:Beamsville Bench Stony clay till composed of limestone mixed with sandstone and shale Creek Shores Lacustrine clay-loam till composed of red shale and sandstone mixed with limestone Composition:100% Pinot Noir Harvest Data:Harvest Date- Sept. 21 – Oct. 3 Sugar- 20.7 ºBrix Titratable Acidity- 9.9 g/L pH- 3.36 Yield- 3.2 mt/ac (59 hl/ha) Vinification:7-day maceration followed by 7-day fermentation using selected yeast strains; barrel ageing for 10 months in older French oak barriques and puncheons, the majority being 2nd through 4th fill Bottling Data:Bottling Date- October 2018 Alc./Vol. 12.5% Residual Sugar- 3 g/L Titratable Acidity- 5.8g/L pH- 3.65 Production- 580 cs. (9L) Tasting Notes:The nose is highly perfumed with lifted red berry and raspberry fruit alongside nuances of tilled earth and cedar. The palate is medium bodied with a sweet, supple feel up front, followed in the middle by an elegant harmony of dark cherry fruit and nicely rounded textures. Firm, well-integrated tannins build here, carrying saturated blackberry fruit and persistent notes of black top and smoke on the finish. Taste Profile:Dry (D) Serving Suggestions:Coq au vin, roasted pork loin, braised pork belly with choucroute, braised rabbit, seared duck breast, ossobuco, mushroom risotto Ageability:Best consumed 2019 through 2022; will hold through at least 2024 Ontario Retail Price:$24.95 Availability:Winery Only
Strawberry in color with a mild nose. On the mid palate there’s some interesting edgy strawberry and cranberry notes along with some firm acidity. There’s some nice red wine notes. It’s quite a nice, complex rose, different from others. It can hold it’s own reasonable well. I’d give it an -88 which for the price is not a bad deal at all!
Pale red-pink. Sweet aromas and flavors of herbs, bubble gum, red cherry and red apple. Also enters slightly sweet, but finishes rather bitter with hints of dried cranberry and flowers. Drink date: 2019-2020. Score – 88. (Ian D’Agata, vinous.com, May 2019)Read Less
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:September 28, 2019Bottle Size:750 mL bottleAlcohol/Vol:12.5%Made In:Marche, ItalyBy:Az. Vitivinicola Velenosi ErcoleSugar Content:7 g/LSweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra DryStyle:Easygoing & FruityVarietal:Rosé
PRODUCTION AREA: Company owned vineyards located in Castel di Lama
VARIETY: Montepulciano 100%
ALTITUDE: 200-300 m a.s.l.
SOIL: Loam soil , tending towards clay.
TRAINING SYSTEM: Guyot
DENSITY: 5,000 plants per hectare
YIELD PER HECTARE: about 80 quintals
HARVEST: Specifically selected grapes for rosé vinification are picked during the first 10 days of September.
VINIFICATION: Once in the cellar, the grapes are destemmed and conveyed to the press. In order not to lose the main scents, the entire environment is covered with dry ice. At this point a brief cold maceration is carried out for about 6 hours so as to extract the peak of the scents. The fermentation is at a temperature of about 14°/15° C. Upon completion of the fermentation, the wine is kept for some months on thin dregs to enhance its structure.
Dark in color with a vibrant dark cherry nose that comes up and tells you straight off … this is going to be good. On the mid palate the wine spot on matches the nose with dark cherries, some mocha and chocolate. Yummm … On the softer side of medium in length the wine displays some soft elegant tannins and acidity that are beyond the wine’s price. $25 a bottle by the case from Rogers and Company (not in the LCBO). This was one of my favorite wines of a recent Taste Australia event …
From the Winery’s web site: 62% Cabernet, 35% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot
This is a grape I don’t know at all Moscofilero but I was walking through the LCBO and they had this one on clearance, a few bucks off. at 6g/l I thought … sure let’s give it a go! Pale/straw in color with a floral nose with some honey suckle coming through. Not sure what it is about honey suckle but it’s something my nose picks up on right away. On the mid palate the wine is spot on the nose with some nice honey suckle notes along with some golden delicious apples. On the lighter side of medium in length the wine leaves behind some nice milder acidity and some citrus notes, crisp and dry. I could easily close my eyes and imagine this be in Alsace Riesling, similar to my tastes. I would give it an -88 …
The 2018 Moscofilero (as Skouras spells it) comes in with four grams of residual sugar, 6.6 grams of total acidity and 12% alcohol. George Skouras called this a rainy vintage (which he sought to combat in various ways described in the producer note this issue), but this is a pretty good result. In fact, you might want to buy a lot to drink over the next couple of years. They say fine wineries show their stuff in tough years. I guess Skouras is pretty good. The wine is sweeter (that’s a relative term) and rounder than the Salto this issue, which is mostly normal. It is a little less distinguished in some respects-power and persistence-but utterly delicious and far fruitier. Despite the sweet (again, a relative term) young fruit up front, it acquires more distinction as it airs and warms, showing stonewashed hints as well. It was more interesting the next day. The aromatics are always great. This is probably a more crowd-pleasing style than the 2017 Salto this issue, but it is hardly simple. In its youth, this is pretty irresistible. Drink it on the younger side for best results, but this screwcapped Moschofilero can hold a bit, if you must. Drink Date: 2019-2023. Score – 90. (Mark Squires, robertparker.com, April 30, 2019)Read Less
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:September 14, 2019Bottle Size:750 mL bottleAlcohol/Vol:12%Made In:Peloponnese, GreeceBy:Domaine Skouras S.A.Sugar Content:6 g/LSweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra DryStyle:Light & CrispVarietal:Moschofilero
Dark garnet in color with a mild red berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice rustic notes, and somewhere between a raspberry and a strawberry in flavor … On the lighter side of medium in length the wine displays some soft, smooth tannins and nice acidity, nice and dry! This is a well made, inexpensive Pinot noir, for the price it’s another bargain. I wouldn’t think this will keep all that long, I’d consider it more of a drink now kind a wine. I’d give it an -88 or so.
This elegant pinot noir has come into its own with softened tannins and a harmony of complex flavours. Notes of pepper, cedar, black cherry, bramble and tilled earth. Over time it has become notably less austere and, in fact, blossomed on the palate. Generous and richly textured with considerable length. Drink now or hold for another 2-3 years. Score – 90. (Sara d’Amato, winealign.com, Nov. 1, 2019)Read More
I’ve been on a bit of binge on Italian wines and one of the ones catching my attention lately is Nero D’Avola … This one is dark in color with a mild cherry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some lovely vibrant black cherry notes along with some mocha. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice firm tannins and vibrant acidity, nice and dry. The cherries live on nicely in the mouth. I would give it an 88+ which for the price is a fabulous deal. While this definitely would be awesome with red sauce, we paired it with a striplon and it held itself well. Yummy.
This Nero d’Avola comfortably calls back to the Old World with nose of stewed stone fruit, graphite, and worn leather. Remarkably balanced flavors of dark berries, stewed cherries, and soft anise spice carry over a juicy acidity that seduces the palate. Memorably drinkable. Excellent, Highly Recommended. Score – 91. (Ultimate Wine Challenge, 2019) .
Dark in color with a nice black cherry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some black cherries, blackberries and cassis. On the medium length finish the wine has some strong acidity, mild peppery notes and mild tannins. This is not a bad cab, but sadly, not a great one either. I would give it an 87-88. I bought two, will likely take one back.
This is a balanced, plush, bold Cabernet that hits all the marks. There’s a complex array of aromas and flavours to indulge in, including blueberry, blackcurrant, bramble, baking spice, mocha and graphite. Displaying great tension and backbone, this has the oomph for big dishes such as lamb shanks or venison. (Vintages panel, July 2019)Read More
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:January 11, 2020Bottle Size:750 mL bottleAlcohol/Vol:13.5%Made In:California, USABy:V VinesSweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra DryStyle:Full-bodied & Firm
Every now and then a wine come along that makes you go … yummm. Ok, I probably should have led with spolier alert 🙂 Dark in color with a nice mild cherry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice vibrant cherries to match the nose, along with some nice tobacco and leather notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays some lovely, complex, dusty tannins that are best appreciated without food. It’s super dry and coats the mouth beautifully. Acidity is well balanced as is alcohol. We paired it with a red sauce based pasta and it went perfectly. This really is an amazing, well made Chianti Classico for a bargain of a price. This wine will easily keep a good 5 years I would say. I would give this an 88+. Why this hasn’t flown off the shelf is beyond me, it was release in Nov 2019.
From the LCBO web site: Check stock
Sangiovese
750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 23408$21.95JS94
***LATE ARRIVAL. PRODUCT NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.***A very intense nose of soaked fruit with blackberry compote, licorice, tea leaves, tobacco and ash. Full-bodied, very structured and serious, which is not something you can often say about a normal Chianti Classico. Chewy, but the acidity more than balances everything out. Drink in 2020. Score – 94. (James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, Sept. 11, 2018)Read More
Salmon in color with a mild strawberry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice sharp strawberry notes along with some firm acidity and some mild tannins. This is more of a fruity rose on the mid palate but more of vibrant acidity on the finish. An interesting contrast. I’d give it an 88 or so. Not in the LCBO but available for $20.15 at the winery.
The 2018 Grower’s Blend Rosé is a Pinot Noir- based blend with Cabernet Franc, Gamay Noir and Pinot Gris. To impart structure and colour, it was made using a process called “saignée” though which we combine the free-run juice of select single-vineyard red grapes before they are pressed. The result is a beautiful pale pink and aromatic Rose that is bursting with aromas of cherry blossom, ripe strawberry and watermelon alongside an almost confectionary-like sweetness. The palate is ripe with sweet strawberries and pineapple with a well-rounded mouth-feel. This is a very quaffable wine indeed.Growing Conditions
Sourced from select Niagara Peninsula vineyards. Viticultural practices included vertical shoot positioning, shoot thinning, cluster thinning, hand leaf removal and hand harvest.Food Pairing
Rose is always the easiest and most versatile wine to pair with. This wine is the perfect match for fried calamari, crab cakes, jerk chicken or a beet and goat cheese salad.
Pale in color with a mild nose. On the mid palate the wine starts off with some apple and pear coming through that are quickly overwhelmed by strong peppery notes and firm acidity. Not to the point of bitter, but close. The wine has some slight creamyness to it, and it’s nice and dry. For me, the fruit is being way overshadowed, I think this would improve in a year or two or with aerating, but for now it’s not to my tastes. Lots of chards are way more up my alley … I’d give it an 87-88. If I had more I’d return them 🙁
This winery is still owned and run by the Hahn family, who founded it in 1980. Their 2017 Chardonnay spent five months in oak and offers suggestions of buttered scone, apple and just-ripe banana. There’s a nice balance of fruit with oak and vibrancy with roundness, and the finish is tangy and gently toasty. Savour this through 2023 with barbecued scallops or lobster linguine. (Vintages panel, May 2019)
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:July 6, 2019Bottle Size:750 mL bottleAlcohol/Vol:14.5%Made In:California, USABy:Hahn Family WinesSugar Content:7 g/LSweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra DryStyle:Full-bodied & RichVarietal:Chardonnay
Inky dark in color with a mild nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some bold rich dark plums along with some noticeable oaky notes, and some mocha/coffee. On the medium length finish the wine displays some black peppery notes from the syrah, nice and dry along with some firm tannins and acidity. This wine has some nice complexity displaying flavors on a number of levels. I would give this an 88-89. We paired it with a striploin and yum, it went well, holding it’s own without overwhelming the food. For the price this is a good deal.
Authentic wine from southern Italy, showing aromas of cherries, red plums and orange peel. Medium to full body, velvety tannins and a beautiful and shining finish. A blend of nero d’avola and syrah. Delicious now. Score – 91. (James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, Oct. 22, 2018)Read More
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:November 9, 2019Bottle Size:750 mL bottleAlcohol/Vol:14.5%Made In:Sicily, ItalyBy:FirriatoSugar Content:4 g/LSweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra DryStyle:Full-bodied & Smooth
I finally stopped by the Domaine Queylus winery and did some tastings. They, sadly, were all out of the to die for, 2013 Merlot. This particular wine is 100% Pinot noir and is made using a process called Saignee that I’d never heard of. The wine is quite pale salmon in color with a mild minerally nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some interesting, unique flavors with lots of crisp dry minerality and some red wine like notes coming through. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice vibrant acidity. This is quite a tasty, dry, unique rose. I would give it an 88 or so. Yumm. At $23.95 a bottle, only at the winery, it’s quite a bargain! Oh, and the winery is pronounced Kaylus (similar to the Klingon Messianic figure).
A delightful pale salmon colour, this Pinot Noir Rosé has a lovely nose of peaches and pears, with overtones of cranberries and red apples and faint scents of wildflower honey. Over summer 2018, we expect this bone-dry Rosé to round out and show more light-raspberry flavours on the rich mid-palate and zesty citrus finish.
Pale in color with a nice crisp, dry nose with some honey suckle coming through. On the mid palate the wine matches the nose with some nice varietal honey suckle notes with some nice dryness and minerality. On the medium length finish the wine displays some lively acidity and some citrus notes. This is not as complex or long as some Alsatian wines, but quite good none the less. I would give it an -88, super food friendly!
Subtle notes of mandarin and pear play gently alongside lemon on the aromatic nose. The palate is juicy and mild and the warm vintage expresses itself in citrus pith rather than zest. The finish is dry and fresh. Score – 89. (Anne Krebiehl, MW, Wine Enthusiast, July 1, 2019)Read Less
I’ve been a fan of Ridgepoint for a long time now. The people are amazing and it’s lovely to see them bring their Italian roots to Niagara! At my recent visit they shared that they are working on growing Glera, the grape primarily used in Proseccos to Niagara. This particular wine is dark in color with a nice black berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice rich elegant dark fruits, dark cherries, mocha, and some mild peppery notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice smooth dryness, tannins and acidity. This is very nice well made wine. I would give it an 88-89. We paired it with cheese ravioli in tomato sauce and it was yummy. Held it’s own without overwhelming the food. You will have to visit the winery to get this wine for $30 a bottle. If you do go, be sure and include some time in their country kitchen for lunch, or in the summer on their patio. Did I mention I’m a fan 🙂 The Aglianco was sourced from Vieni who have sadly decided to stop growing this grape, so get while the getting is good. Did I mention yum? I thought not 🙂
From the Winery’s web site:
This unique blend was crafted using Cabernet Sauvignon (39%), Cabernet Franc (19%), Merlot (38%) and wine made from dried Aglianico (4%) grapes. Bold and full bodied, this wine has a dark ruby colour and intense aromas and flavours of wild berries, plum, cassis and dried fruits. This wine can be enjoyed now but the wine will age gracefully over the next several years.
Enjoy with family and friends served with Bistecca all Fiorentina, Pasta Bolognese, or an aged Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Vinho Verde as it turns out, it not a grape, but more of a style, and the grapes used can vary … This one is pale in color with a mild grassy nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice grassy notes to match the nose along with some nice lime … On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice lively acidity that dance on the tongue and linger leaving some nice citrus/lime notes, nice and dry. This is a wine that could easily hold it’s own with spicy food, but we paired it with pan fried haddock and it went perfectly. For take two, we paired it with BBQ sauce pork ribs, and it held it’s own perfectly. This particular Vinho Verde is made from a blend of Loureiro and Alvarinho grapes, no idea the blend. It’s made in a drink now style, similar in some ways to a sauv blanc. This particular Vinho Verde does not have any effervescence to it, some do. I would give this a solid -88 which for the price is a bargain! It’s a general list product at the LCBO. Check stock
Vinho Verde
750 mL bottle | LCBO#: 89995$12.55
Pale lemon yellow with green highlights; aromas of green apple, grapefruit, and perfume; dry, fresh and lively, with a slight spritz, steely mineral notes as well as flavours of lime and granny smith apples.Read Less
PRODUCT DETAILS
Bottle Size:750 mL bottleAlcohol/Vol:11.5%Made In:PortugalBy:Sociedade Agricola E. ComercialSugar Content:6 g/LSweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra DryStyle:Light & CrispVarietal:Vinho Verde
Pale in color with a mid nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some mild green apple notes along with some citrus. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice minerality, and crispness. It’s nice and dry, and super food friendly. A very versatile wine. I would give it an -88.
Notes of both green and yellow pears shine on the nose. The palate has a pronounced saltiness and bright lemon highlights, supported by a savory backbone. Score – 90. (Anne Krebiehl, MW, Wine Enthusiast, July 1, 2019)
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! Dark in color with a nice black berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice dark cherry notes along with some mocha. On the lighter side of medium in length on the finish the wine displays some smooth soft acidity and tannins. This is definitely more of a fruit forward, drink now style of cab, juicy and jammy. I would give it an -88 or so.
750 mL bottle | VINTAGES#: 451336$17.95$19.95 Save $2.00 Limited Time Offer Until January 5, 2020
California Cabernet is amazingly popular – and rightly so! This one is loaded with ripe black fruit, cherry, cassis, plum, dark chocolate, and vanilla. It is an amazing value priced Cali Cab and ideal for barbecued ribs, or rare steak.
Our Cabernet Sauvignon is dark red in color with aromas of cherry and currant and notes of leather and tobacco leaf, along with hints of dark chocolate and mocha from oak aging. This wine is fruit forward on the entry with a rich, round mouthfeel and fine, supple tannins leading to a long finish. Double Gold Medal,2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
VINTAGE
2013 was a superb growing season. The wines show beautiful color extraction, intense aromas, and excellent flavor concentration.
GRAPE SOURCING
We source our grapes from select Central Coast and North Coast vineyards where cool nights and warm afternoon breezes ripen the fruit slowly for intense flavor and elegant textures. North Coast vineyards, including Bald Eagle, showcase blackberry, black currant, richness, and chewy tannins, while Central Coast Pine Creek and Pinnacles feature red currant, plum, dried herb, and firm structure.
WINEMAKING
Aged 16 months in French and American oak. Alc: 13.5% | TA: 6.2g/L | pH: 3.6 | RS: 3.2g/L. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 3% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Petite Sirah
