From Family Wine Merchants there is a pair of exceptional Pinot Noirs from the United States available later this month. I am generally leery of Californian Pinot Noir – let’s face it, the style is usually overcooked and drinks more like Cabernet – but I am finding more bottles that...
We realize some of these rumours are a little old but we had to go through what was causing a stir in Niagara over the past month or so.
2012 Henry of Pelham Carte Blanche – Vintages 315200 – $44.95 – ****½ – Cuvée Catherine Sparkling from Henry of Pelham is a benchmark for Sparkling wine in the province. It would seem the Speck brothers aren’t content with setting the bar without exceeding it themselves. The nose offers a...
Here is a look at a couple bottles of Chardonnay that I can only describe as highly anticipated. Both Back 10 Cellars and Featherstone work with Canadian Oak barrels and have set a benchmark for consistency and quality. Every incarnation of this wine speaks to the vintage from which it...
André talks to Michael about Into The Vine a wine and art installation that was hosted recently in Toronto.
2016 Rosewood Sussreserve Riesling – Vintages 258806 – $15.95 – **** – Well this is something different – a little more serious – a little more complex. I have long used the Sussreserve as a go-to when talking about Ontario Riesling, it was straight-forward and easy drinking. It would seem...
This past weekend Ontario wine arrived into the city of Toronto with remarkable flair. Into the Vine was presented by Wine Country Ontario and Toronto Life as a “deconstructed” look at tasting wine. I’m not sure I knew what a deconstructed approach to wine tasting would look like but I...
The Nouveau wines are released today. I still look forward to this release every year. This year feels a little exciting and there is definitely something a little different about the 2017 vintage, especially from France. The wines this year are a little more austere and this may be a...
André and Michael sit down with Derek Barnett – winemaker of Southbrook, Lailey, Karlo and now Meldville fame.
Blue Mountain Gold Label Brut Sparkling – Vintages 206326 – $30.95 – **** – This is the second visit to vintages for 2017 and I’m excited to see this hitting the shelf heading into fall. The price has crept up by a couple dollars but this is still outstanding value....
A couple years ago I had the opportunity to sit down with Pieter Badenhorst or Fleur du Cap. So I was thrilled to have an opportunity to sit down with him again this year. The wines from Fleur du Cap always offer great value and high quality. The Chardonnay and...
It can be a challenge to redefine yourselves. One of the largest challenges facing the Canadian wine industry is gaining recognition on the world stage for more than just Icewine. The wineries of South Africa are facing a similar dilemma in that they are recognized internationally for great affordable bottles...
