I made a long overdue visit to Rosehall Run in the spring and had the opportunity to see what winemaker Dan Sullivan is working on in the cellar. Some of the most creative winemaking in Ontario is taking place on Greer Road whether it’s at Norman Hardie’s, Casa Dea or...
2014 Trius Red Shale Cabernet Franc – ****½ – $45.20 – The 2014 Vintage wasn’t anything that during the summer and fall I envisioned being exceptional. It would seem that every bottle of Cabernet Franc I manage to get my hands on reveal something I didn’t notice at the time....
2014 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – Vintages 331603 – $22.95 – **** – There is a lot of fruit in this bottle, and frankly, this is what you should expect from California during the very hot and dry 2014 summer. In spite of the concentration of fruit flavours there...
In March I made a visit to Domaine Queylus. There’s a good chance you’ve never made a stop by this winery because it’s a little out of the way on Sixteen Road. I had to double check my GPS a few times as I moved further away from the QEW....
2011 Hinterland Sacrament – Winery – $55.00(probably) – ****½ – This is a 50/50 Chardonnay Pinot Noir blend that winemaker Jonas Newman has told me is a one-off from the 2011 harvest. Let’s hope that this isn’t as unique as he says because it’s damned good. The nose is bright...
Let’s call this post an epilogue on my visit to Oregon last summer. I drove from Oregon to Regina, Saskatchewan to finish off my summer road trip last year. I couldn’t resist making he pit stop in Walla Walla, Washington. Apart from being one of the most fun places to...
2014 Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay – Vintages 302083 – $24.95 – **** – This vintages essential continues to be a staple in my home when I am looking to show off great Chardonnay from Ontario. The nose is bright golden delicious and granny smith apple and a nice citrus note. The...
Earlier this year I had a chance to do a broad tasting of the current offerings from Southbrook. Last year I had an opportunity to taste a depth of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon. It would seem the wines for sale this year offer something a little bit interesting. Vidal served...
2016 Flat Rock Pink Twisted – Vintages 39974 – $16.95 – ****+ – This screams summer as watermelon and raspberry make appearances in the glass. I hesitate to use the word “serious” to describe this wine, but there is nothing more serious and versatile at your table than a well...
2015 Cabernet Franc – $19.95 – ****+ – The Cabernet Franc from Featherstone is always a strong offering and one of my go-to bottles when cooking red meat around the house. The 2015 offering from Featherstone is one of the best vintages in recent memory. Beautiful aromas or raspberry and...
2014 Cesari Mara Valpolicella Ripasso – LCBO 506519 – $18.95 – **** – A nice black currant note climbs out of the glass with layers of cocoa mixed in there. For a bottle that comes from the general list there is nice structure and a bit of dustiness that takes...
I stopped by Creekside as one of my first winery visits for 2017. It has been a while since i’ve stopped but the recent releases making their way to Toronto through Vintages have been fantastic. Needless to say there is a lot to look forward to available from Creekside. From...
