2013 Marynissen Platinum Chardonnay – Vintages 471532 – $25.00 – **** – If you’re not a fan of oaked Chardonnay you may want to take a pass on this bottle. That being said this bottle does offer tropical fruit, oranges with butterscotch and woodsmoke. The key to this wine is...
I recently had the opportunity to taste the new VQA Fresh wines from Diamond Estates at the iYellow Wine Cave. In short, I was impressed. Wines like these are important. It’s the same reason I spend time looking at the Pelee Island wines. Let’s call them “entry level” wines. Let’s...
2012 Casa-Dea Pinot Noir – $19.95 – **** – This is a little rough around the edges, but that’s a good thing. There is a nice depth to this wine with good earthiness and smoke over black cherry and blackberry. This wine is a bit like a lion in a...
2014 Flat Rock Pinot Noir – Vintages 001545 – $20.20 – **** – This is solid Pinot Noir at a reasonable price. Bright red cherry on the nose with a nice earthiness. This wine is balanced with nice acidity but it finishes with a subtle earthiness. I know we don’t...
2013 Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Franc – Vintages 275958 – $21.95 – **** – I submit this wine as evidence that we should be flying the Franc flag high over the vineyards of Ontario. 2013 was a fairly typical summer in Niagara and this is reflected well in the bottle. This...
I was privileged to be one of the first journalists to taste the new vintage of Le Grand Vin. I was also privileged to get to visit the estate. This winery has no tasting room and the facilities in the vineyards are quite literally a working farm. When I met...
2012 Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Cabernet Merlot – $39.95 – ****½ – Right from the moment you open this bottle you know that there is something special in your glass. The depth to this wine is seriously impressive. There are aromas of Raspberry, Black Currant, Blackberry, Cocoa and...
2013 Domaine Queylus Tradition Chardonnay – Vintages 417774 – $24.95 – ****+ – The quality of Chardonnay at this price from Ontario is mind blowing. Beautifully complex with vanilla, butterscotch layered over apples and peaches. Flavours match the nose and bring a nice hit of baking spice on the finish....
See Ya Later Ranch Brut NV – $21.99 – **** – It has been a couple of years since i’ve seen this wine on the shelves of the LCBO. I hope we see it again soon. Clean and Crisp with nice acidity. There are nice apple notes over citrus. There...
2015 Dea’s Cuvée – $18.95 – **** – This is one of the best value wines in the province bar none. You will hear me talk about “Just Because” Sparkling wines with my meals and get-togethers, this is one of those wines. There is a hint of sweetness in the...
2013 South Bay Merlot – ****+ – $40.00 – The South Bay site for Huff Estates is certainly a magic place for growing grapes in the province. This bottle is most definitely labelled as VQA Prince Edward County. I have to rub my eyes in disbelief because even in Niagara,...
