Canadian Wine Guy

I had this one at the iYellow Pinot event. I had not heard of the Meunier so I was interested to try it. Garnet in color with a nose very similar to pinot noir with some rustic notes coming through but little to no earthy smells. On the mid pallet the wine is smooth, well balanced with the oak and tannins well under control. If you were to compare this to a pinot noir it is a well made one. None of the distinctive “barn yard” smells or flavors or earthyness coming through. This would be a VERY food friendly wine. I would give it a solid 89. $17.95 which for my tastes is a good deal!

From the winery’s web site:
Product Description
Much like its very close cousin Pinot Noir, this dark cherry coloured Pinot Meunier expresses a lacy, youthful, complex berry character underpinned by a solid tannin structure and a bright seam of acidity. Our winemaker Brian Schmidt is embracing this variety as it is far more reliable and consistent that its often “psycho” mirror image, Pinot Noir. Brian is very happy with this inaugural offering but as is his nature he is far more interested in pushing the envelope, “exploring the potential of this unique varietal within the dynamic frame of Niagara.”

Appellation: Niagara Escarpment
Varietal: 100% Pinot Meunier
Alcohol Percent: 13.0%
LCBO Sugar Code: 0
Residual Sugar g/L: 9.4 g/L
Brix at Harvest: 22.1 oBx
Total Acid g/L: 6.60 g/L
Cases Produced: 525
Drinking Through: Now – 2015
Oak Treatment: 4 months
Service Temp.: 15 – 17 oC
Bottle Size(s): 750ml
Decanting: 15 minutes using the “slip” method
down the inside of the decanter side wall.

winery

I had this one at the iYellow Pinot event. The wine is pale in color mild on the nose. On the mid pallet are some slight mineral tastes along with a bit of citrus. It is slightly tart on the finish, on the lighter side of medium. This wine starts out quite bland but it does build in the mouth. I would give it an 88. Again a very food friendly wine, but not a lot of depth to it for my tastes.

From the LCBO web site:
MISSION HILL PINOT BLANC FIVE VINEYARDS VQA LCBO 145094 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 14.95
Wine, White Wine 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This is a VQA wine

Made in: British Columbia, Canada By: Mission Hill Vineyards Inc.

Tasting Note
clear, straw colour with green flecks; pineapple and pear with a hint of hazelnut; dry, medium body; creamy round fruit flavour with balanced acidity, medium finish with a touch of spice

Check LCBO stock

I had this one at the iYellow Pinot event. Ruby in color mild on the nose. On the mid pallet the wine displays some dill along with some sour cherries. On the finish the wine is quite tart and builds in the mouth. For me this wine is too young. Some time in a decanter or aging might help it some and it might become more integrated. I would give it an 88 or so.

From the LCBO web site:
ROSEWOOD ESTATES PINOT NOIR 2008 VINTAGES 112177 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 20.00
Wine, Red Wine 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : XD This is a VQA wine

Made in: Ontario, Canada By: Rosewood Estates Winery

Tasting Note
A first look at the 08 Pinot with cherry, earth, spice and cedar aromas. The palate reveals nice cherry, raspberry and vanilla to go with charred oak and spice. Enjoy! Score – 3 1/2 Stars (out of 5). (Rick VanSickle, www.winesinniagara.com, Undated)

I stopped by Gretzkys for the first time. Celebrity wines put me off. All Gretzky wines are made by Creekside. The wines are dedicated to supporting the Wayne Gretzky foundation with all profits going there. A charity that brings hockey to underprivileged kids. The Sauv blanc is pale in color with a nose of citrus, mostly lemon. On the mid pallet the wine matches the bouquet with citrus flavors and some grassyness coming through. The wine is medium length in finish dominated by tart grapefruit flavors. Not a bad Sauv blanc. The person working the tasting booth said the grapefruit flavors were even more dominant when it was first bottled. I would give it an 88. $15.95

Notes from the winery’s web site:
Given extended aging time (averaging 15 months) in French oak barrels, the region’s hallmark seam of lively acidity has been maintained while adding the rounded mouthfeel and structural depth associated with fermentation and aging in neutral oak. Crisp, focused, and complex, the 2008 Estate Series offering showcases the breadth of potential for Sauvignon Blanc on the Niagara Peninsula. Enjoyable now, this wine should evolve further in bottle with 2-3 years of cellaring.

I had this one at the iYellow Pinot event. This wine is VERY pale in color mild on the nose with nothing distinctive coming through for me. On the mid pallet this is a VERY subtle wine with a hint of some citrus coming through. On the finish this wine is on the lighter side of medium. If your looking for a light easy drinking sipper for the patio for folks that don’t like wine this would be a good choice. This is somewhat varietal for a pinot grigio so I think they have actually done a reasonable job of it, it’s just not to my tastes. I like a deeper wine for my $$s. I would give it an 87-88.

I had this one at the iYellow Pinot event. You could insert my usual diatribe about celebrity named wines or we can just move onto the review 🙂 Quite dark in color (much darker than a typical pinot) with a nose of lots of black berries and some oak. On the mid pallet this wine is dominated by what I often refer to as the Niagara terroir. For me it’s like dirt in a glass. Pinots are often earthy but this one is earthy not in a good way. On the finish the wine is dominated by strong tannins typical of some Niagara reds. For my tastes this is a poorly made wine. It would not be particularly food friendly but would hold up to big hearty meals like a steak. I would give it an 87 and for my money I would buy much better wines.

From the LCBO web site:
MIKE WEIR PINOT NOIR 2008 VINTAGES 75 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 19.95
Wine, Red Wine 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : D This is a VQA wine

Made in: Ontario, Canada By: Mike Weir Wine

Tasting Note
Elegant Pinot Noir featuring aromas of strawberry, sour cherry, earth tones and a touch of wild raspberry. Dry, with focused acidity and harmonious fruit flavours. Medium bodied with a good finish. Would match a vast array of foods, from grilled salmon or grilled pork to stuffed roasted chicken. (VINTAGES panel, May 2010)