2014 Canadian Oak Chardonnay – Vintages TBD – $21.95 – ****1/2 – The nose is rich and complex there is Pineapple, Peach, Vanilla and a hint of something funky. It really doesn’t get more local than this wine. The barrel is made with Canadian Oak and the grapes are fermented with indigenous yeasts. It would seem that with the past few vintages this wine pushes the bar a little bit higher. It’s perfectly balanced in every sense of the word. There is a great balance of Peach, Pear and Apple flavours and Vanilla and Spice granted from the barrel. The oak doesn’t overpower anything in this wine. The texture of this wine is creamy and full on the mid palate. There is terrific acidity on the long rich finish. Part of that finish is baking spice that just grips the back of your tongue and refuses to let go. To be honest, this is one of those wines I refuse to pair with food because It’s so good. Be mindful of serving temperature, if you serve this too cold the oak flavours will overpower it. Put it in the fridge for 30-45 minutes before serving.
2014 Cabernet Franc – Vintages TBD – $18.95 – ****+ – I don’t know if any tasting note I can make about this wine will top the tweet below:
Holy crap the 2014 @featherstonewne Cabernet Franc is magic. Unrefined and Elegant at the same time … like a prairie dude in a bowtie #me
— André Proulx (@andrewinereview) June 9, 2016
But seriously. This wine walks a perfect balance between unrefined and elegant. This isn’t the sort of wine you need to put in your cellar locked away for a special occasion. But — having recently visited a few older vintages from Featherstone if you’re able to hold onto a few bottles you won’t be disappointed. The nose offers perfectly ripe Raspberry and Cherry with bits of roasted herb. This wine rolls into your mouth like a red carpet. It’s smooth on the entrance and on the exit. The fruit flavours of Rasbperry, Cherry, Blackberry are concentrated and perfectly ripe. When the wine is rolling off the back of your tongue the savory notes start to make an appearance again and a whisper of cocoa. This is a perfect wine to pair with a nice steak.
2012 Joy – Vintages TBD – $34.95 – ****+ – I love this wine. Consistently this Blanc de Blanc has me excited from when I pop the crown cap until it gets to my lips. The nose is bright and citrus, the aromas of Lemon and Orange with hints of Vanilla. The flavours on this wine bring orchard fruit to the party with lots of apple and subtle peach layered over the citrus. The finish is bright, crisp and clean. This continues to be one of the best values for sparkling wine on the market and easily out delivers it’s price.
(From June 17) 2015 Sauvignon Blanc – Vintages 89011 – $17.95 – ****+ – Sauvignon Blanc, along with Pinot Gris, may be the two most underrated varietals in Ontario right now. Aromas of lemon, lime and a bit of grassiness. While the nose is straightforward once the wine hits your mouth this is where things really get interesting. The citrus flavours are definitely dominant with the lemon and lime from the nose taking over. You also find peach, apple and a very strong mineral note. The best part about this wine is a subtle creamy texture that caresses the mid palate and helps some of the more subtle orchard and mineral notes linger in spite of high palate cleansing acidity. I would look to enjoy this with freshly shucked oysters.
(From July 2) 2015 Four Feathers – Vintages 341586 – $14.95 – **** – The thing I love about this wine is that it’s a reminder that not everything in the vintages section is aiming to be a “serious” wine. This is the perfect wine to put on your table if you’re trying to please a crowd. This is a blend of Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Riesling and it’s as if the three grapes are keeping each other in check to create harmony in the blend. Light, crisp and easy drinking there is a bit of sweetness on the finish. The slight sweetness does linger, but it is matched up with near perfect acidity. This is perfect for summer, and I assure you the wine tasted better and drinks easier as the temperatures rise so keep a bottle on hand for when it’s hot outside. Pair this with Seafood or Chicken of any sort.
