Earlier this summer Peller Estates was awarded Canadian Winery of the Year at the WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada. Out of twenty wines submitted thirteen won medals (1 Platinum, 4 Gold, 6 Silver, and 2 Bronze). I have really enjoyed just about everything I have tried from Peller over the past few years so this award really isn’t much of a surprise. I recently had a chance to visit the winery to taste through some of the portfolio and let the wines speak for themselves.
2013 Private Reserve Rosé – $16.95 – 70% Pinot Noir/30% Gamay. Beautiful nose of Strawberry and Watermelon and flavours to match with a bone dry finish. This wine tastes like a glass of Strawberry Jam that is very easy drinking. This would make a perfect addition to your patio for the last days of summer… but will make a more than welcome addition to your table for the turkey days of fall and winter.
2012 Private Reserve Gamay – $18.95 – The best thing about Gamay in Ontario is that it is nearly always underpriced. At under twenty dollars you step into a bottle that is very well put together. It is extremely versatile with just about any food you could want to serve with it. It is loaded with bright, fresh cherry on the nose and palate with just a hint of spice and earthiness on the finish. While Gamay doesn’t have the potential to age like a bigger, full bodied red wine this should still last on the wine rack for a couple of years if you wanted to stock up on it.
2012 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – $21.95 – There is a lot of fruit that leaps out of your glass. Nose is loaded with Raspberry and Currant with nice smokiness buried in the mix. The palate is Raspberry, Currant, Plum, Blackberry with nice smoke and firm tannin on the finish. This wine is AMAZING. It has the potential to age for 5-8 years where the tannin should settle and make this wine dangerously easy to drink. If you drink it now open it for 30 minutes before pouring the first glass. Serve this with Steak, or Roast Beef. Buy lots!
2012 Private Reserve Cabernet Franc – $21.95 – I have made no secret to anyone that I am a huge sucker for good cab franc. The same price as the Cab Sauv there really is no reason to not pick up a few bottles of each. There is more pepper in the glass letting you know that you’ve got Franc and not Sauvignon. Raspberry and Currant are front and centre. This will also make a perfect match for Steak and Roast Beef or Lamb.
2012 Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc – $18.95 – Sauvignon Blanc from Ontario can often be all Citrus and acidity, which make them a great match for freshly shucked oysters, or fried fish… but can make them difficult to approach on their own. This is most definitely not the case from this very well made Sauvignon Blanc. There is a great balance of Lemon-Lime and a delicious herbaceousness on the finish. Serve this wine at fridge temperature and pair it with seafood of any sort … but frankly this wine is fantastic on it’s own.
