2014 Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling – Vintages 241182 – $35.20 – ****+ – I love it when my Riesling has a hint of sugar. But sweetness needs balance and this is perfectly balanced. The sweetness brings some golden delicious apple to lemon drop. The mineral note adds even more...
A couple years ago I had the opportunity to sit down with Pieter Badenhorst or Fleur du Cap. So I was thrilled to have an opportunity to sit down with him again this year. The wines from Fleur du Cap always offer great value and high quality. The Chardonnay and...
2015 Trius Red – Vintages 303800 – $24.95 – **** – This continues to be a benchmark for Bordeaux varietals in Ontario. It offers fantastic value and continues to be a staple to build a cellar. The nose on this bottle offers up raspberry, blackberry and a nice cocoa note....
2015 Strewn Terroir Pinot Blanc – Vintages 520205 – $18.95 – ***½+ – Well this is interesting, it’s not as if there is a ton of Pinot Blanc from Ontario that makes it to the shelf. Rarity aside this is an easy drinking bottle of wine that is meant to...
2015 Hidden Bench Fumé Blanc – Vintages 68825 – $29.45 – **** – Well isn’t this something … I don’t think many people really think of Niagara when they of Sauvignon Blanc. Wines like this are going to change minds. A deeply complex nose offering tropical fruit and a mineral...
2016 Nyarai Pinot Gris – $20.95 – **** – Pinot Gris from Ontario needs to bring great texture to the glass to be interesting. This bottle from Nyarai is definitely interesting. The weighty nose climbs out of the glass with heavy baked apple and peach aromas. A bit of a...
2015 Creekside Iconoclast Sémillon/Sauvignon Blanc – Vintages 520627 -$22.95 – ***½+ – There is a charred wood aroma layered over tropical and citrus fruits on the nose. There flavours of lemon and passion fruit with a hint of grassiness tossed in for good measure. The finish is bright and crisp...
2016 2027 Cellars Wismer Vineyard Fox Croft Block Riesling – Vintages 225490 – $22.95 – ****½ – The wines from 2027 Cellars are something to anticipate. The virtual winery doesn’t have a retail shop to visit so we should covet these wines when they make it to the shelf. I...
2015 Flat Rock Unplugged Chardonnay – Vintages 68015 – $16.00 – ***½+ – As far as unoaked Chardonnay from Ontario goes there is something a little magical about this wine. The nose is bright, fresh and clean with lemon and lime notes and a potent mineral note that sails over...
2015 Kacaba Reserve Meritage – $45.15 – ****½ – Raspberry jam and currant on the nose. The way this wine starts it tells a story of fruit and a warm fall and a great vintage. But when you take your first sip you see that this isn’t a story, but...
I recently made a visit to Five Rows winery for the first time. There’s a good chance you haven’t heard of this small winery. The reason is simple, there really isn’t a lot of wine being made here. This winery is the definition of cult following. Winemaker and grape grower...
2016 Remy Pannier Muscadet – LCBO 13821 – $15.20 – **** – The problem I have with Muscadet is that it generally needs to be paired with food. This Muscadet, on the other hand, is welcoming and approachable. There is a nice citrus note, a grassiness and tons of mineral....
