Profiles

La Crema – Spring 2017

2015 La Crema Monterey Chardonnay – **** – This offers up a solid textbook California Chardonnay – this won’t be for everyone but If you’re looking for buttered popcorn, and pineapple this is your way in. The flavours are nice and concentrated and the creamy mouthfeel feels as though it...

KEW Vineyards – Spring 2017

I can’t believe I have never taken the time to stop by Kew vineyards. The wines that do make their way through the LCBO are always worth picking up. The few times I have had the opportunity to taste the sparkling wines have been eyebrow raising (and not just one...

Icellars – The New Winery On The Block

I visited Icellars recently and had a chance to meet Adnan and Elif the proprietors of their eponymous winery. The production is very small and the facility is a little unassuming on a stretch of road just up the road from Coyote’s Run. When you walk into the winery you...

Konzelmann – Chardonnay and Baco Noir

2015 Konzelmann Estate Winery Baco Noir – $12.15 – ***1/2 – I have recently been critical of Baco Noir with my podcast partner Michael Pinkus. For Baco producers that are not Henry of Pelham the bar needs to be raised. Konzelmann have done a great job pushing the envelope with...

Muscedere – pronounced Moo-Said-Ray

I want to start this post with a pronunciation clarification. This winery is named for the Muscedere family and it’s pronounced Moo-Said-Ray. Muscedere Vineyards is a family run winery in the Lake Erie North Shore. I had the opportunity to taste some of their wines last year and it’s something...

Chateau des Charmes for Spring

2015 Chateau des Charmes Cabernet Franc – **** – This was tasted in early February 2017, I need to point this out because when I opened this bottle the tannin was firm and grippy the whole way down. I don’t expect this to last for too long, but for a...

2015 Featherstone Canadian Oak Chardonnay

2015 Featherstone Canadian Oak Chardonnay – $21.95 – ****+ – The nose hits your immediately with the signature funk letting you know that this is an indigenous ferment but it quickly makes way to vanilla, citrus and golden delicious apple. The balance to this wine is outstanding with nice weight...

Kacaba Spring Roundup

2014 Terraced Vineyard Syrah – $29.95 – ****1/2 – Whispers of soft white and black pepper work their way out of the glass and layer over soft red fruit. This is elegant and well balanced. Perfectly ripe fruit unravels on the palate with a hint of smoke peeking through on...

Henry of Pelham – a couple wines for Spring

2015 Henry of Pelham Family Tree White – Vintages 251116 – $17.95 – ****+ – The blend on this wine is always a little different but every year this wine seems to deliver something delicious and unique. For 2015 the blend is mainly Viognier with Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Chardonnay Musqué....

King Estate Winery – Oregon

King Estate Winery has the largest contiguous organic vineyards in North America. It is also one of the largest producers in Oregon producing over 400k cases of wine a year. The family owned facility is impressive with a production facility that seems like stretches for miles under the beautiful tasting...

Iris Vineyards – Oregon

Southwest of Eugene, Oregon I had the opportunity to visit Iris Vineyards. The sprawling estate is impressive when you arrive on the property that is over 800 acres. The winery has Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay which is to be expected in Oregon… But it was also fascinating to...