Earlier this month I had the opportunity to taste a couple of outstanding wines from Umbria. There were two wines on the table from Tenuta Bellafonte. I’ll admit that I don’t drink a ton of italian wine, but even with my limited exposure to this wine region I can tell...
Michael and André talk about some wines they hope to drink over the holidays.
2014 Tawse Spark Limestone Ridge Sparkling Riesling – Vintages 370361 – $20.20 – **** – Simply put this should be essential for your holiday entertaining. Bright and crisp this will pair with any food that you can put on the table this time of year. Flavours are lemon, lime and...
2012 Chateau des Charmes “Old Vines” Cabernet-Merlot – Vintages 222372 – $21.95 – **** – This is very approachable and one of those wines that can drink a little too dangerously depending on the meal and company. Aromas of black currant and blackberry. There are hints of cocoa, and smoke...
2014 Henry of Pelham Family Tree Red – $18.95 – I always look forward to the Family Tree wines from Henry of Pelham. The blend in this wine is 33% Syrah, 29% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Baco Noir. Syrah is definitely the dominant theme in...
2014 Wildass Merlot – Vintages 376822 – $18.95 – ****+ – Beautifully ripe and juicy red fruit climb out of the glass. This is outstanding Ontario Merlot at any price. The Wildass wines from Stratus set the bar for “entry level” wines in the province. The price of this wine...
2012 Union Forté – Vintages 361758 – $16.95 – ****1/2 – There is a lot of people experimenting with fortified wines in Ontario, but the Union Forté sits above everyone else. This wine offers something very different from the nose until the finish. The nose is candied cherry, plum and...
2013 Burrowing Owl Meritage – Vintages 644906 – $54.95 – ****½ – The short word on this is that it’s outstanding. The nose is rich and complex – Lots of blackberry, black currant, cocoa, and licorice. The flavours in this wine are just as rich and complex as what you...
Michael and André go over some books and gadgets to get … or not get.
2012 Stratus Petit Verdot – Vintages 142638 – $38.20 – ****+ – We could call this wine fruit galore. There are aromas of Raspberry, Plum, Strawberry and Blackberry with flavours to match. This wine is approachable now, but will do better with 3 years in a cellar and it will...
Unfortunately my July 2016 visit to Black Hills Estate Winery this summer was abridged. Time had gotten the best of me and I was forced to cut the visit a little short. Without getting into my notes on the wine that winemaker Graham Pierce tasted with me, I can already...
2013 Megalomaniac Big Kahuna – $34.95 – ****+ – This is another great example of everything that’s right with Ontario in a typical summer. This wine calls itself the Big Kahuna, but it’s not as brash as the label would suggest. This wine is pure elegance. The aromas are ripe...
