2014 16 Mile Rebel Pinot Noir – Vintages 520783 – $22.95 – ****+ – The short note on this wine is that it’s the new benchmark for value Pinot Noir in the province. Everything in this wine is just harmonious from ripe fruit and earth to nice acidity on the...
I got a last minute email inviting me to taste through some wines from Ramos Pinto. I couldn’t resist – when I visited Porto in the spring of 2017 I had a few free hours before spending a few days visiting Vinho Verde. I took the opportunity to stroll on...
We sit down to discuss wine over a couple of bottles of old Cabernet Franc from Vineland estates – we also make this our very last podcast to ever talk about wine scoring.
2015 Gravity Pinot Noir – Vintages 1560 – $34.95 – ****½ – To call this wine a showstopper would still be an understatement. When I opened this bottle it was late into the evening with a couple of friends and we had opened some interesting bottles – some good bottles...
In June of this year the Ontario wine world was rocked when allegations of repeated sexual harassment surfaced thanks to the reporting of Ivy Knight and Ann Hui. You can read the full article here – https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-canadian-winemaker-norman-hardie-accused-of-sexual-misconduct/ . Out of more than fifty people who were interviewed only three had...
There are some proposed changes on the table at the VQA – what will they mean?
2015 Bachelder Saunders Vineyard Chardonnay – Vintages 324103 – $44.95 – ****½ – This Chardonnay is so freaking good. But this year when I open this bottle I am thinking a bit about the family that grew the fruit in the bottle. Beppi Crosariol profiled the Saunders family last year...
We sit down again with Thomas Bachelder – we tried to get him to talk about his eponymous virtual winery – but instead we got him to sing Barbie Girl by Aqua.
2016 Featherstone Canadian Oak Chardonnay – $21.95 – ****½ – Aromas of spice are layered over apples, peach and pear. The funky note from the wild yeast is present but well integrated and buried under very ripe fruit thanks to a very hot spring and summer. This opens up with...
2017 Flat Rock Cellars Nadja’s Vineyard Riesling – $24.95 – ****+ – Nadja’s vineyard has become a staple in my house. There is something special about Riesling from the bench. The aromas are bright lime and mineral and on the palate flavours to match with nice concentration and intensity. This...
We catch up with a couple of winemakers to talk a bit about what’s going on for the harvest so far in 2018.
2016 Flat Rock Good Kharma Chardonnay – #356873 – $16.95 – **** – This wine is solid value – and is a textbook example of what makes Chardonnay great in Ontario. There are nice flavours of peach and vanilla. But you can feel good drinking this knowing that a portion...
