I hosted a Cabernet Franc tasting earlier this year, and I am still sorting through my notes on 47 different wines from all over the province. I was fortunate to have the Bench Trial wines included in my panel. Currently operating as a virtual winery they have a 2010 and 2011...
2012 Henry of Pelham Estate Riesling – Vintages 557165 – $17.95 – ****+ – This is a bottle of awesome right here. Off-dry and perfectly balanced with acidity. With the warmer weather this can be a little too easy drinking on a patio on it’s own. The fruit is pear,...
Last month I attended a wines of Portugal tasting. Prior to a walk-around tasting there was a crash course seminar hosted by Master Sommelier John Szabo. I don’t know much about Portugese wines. For most people their knowledge of Portugese wines start and end with Port. There is obviously much...
I was really looking forward to my visit to Leaning Post. I had a chance to meet owners Ilya and Nadia Senchuk last summer at I4C. After that this winery has a bit of a buzz about them. I have a soft spot for Gamay and they have quickly joined...
2013 Cave Spring Estate Bottled Chardonnay – Vintages 256552 – $18.95 – **** – Chardonnay under twenty dollars is quickly becoming my favorite price point for Ontario… simply put, because I can afford to drink it. Cave Spring has given us a very tasty wine that gives us a nice...
The weekend I was in Niagara tasting this wine it wasn’t supposed to be Syrah weekend but I was tasting with my friend Julian who loves it. I tasted Syrah at Marynissen, Lailey and Leaning Post (review next week). Needless to say I came home after eating my words that...
My visit to Back 10 Cellars was long overdue. I have been told by many people that I had to make the stop to try the Cabernet Franc. It was nice to find that there was more to Back 10 than just the Cab Franc. The small focused portfolio is...
2013 Trius Red – Vintages 303800 – $22.95 – **** – I look forward to this wine every year. I have said this before, but this is still a benchmark for value. Coming off the heels of the warm 2012 version of this wine (which is hopefully still ageing in...
Marynissen isn’t a winery that many people are talking about these days. I have heard from other writer and people about the glory days of the winery and how great the wines were in the 90’s. Marynissen owns the oldest commercially planted Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the province. The winery...
2014 Jennifer’s Pinot Gris – Winery Only – $17.95 – ****1/2 – Let’s face it, Pinot Gris is generally boring, inoffensive and tasteless. This wine from Kacaba is anything but. Your eyes don’t deceive you, this has a beautiful pink hue to it. Subtle flavours of apple, peach are layered over...
2014 Malivoire Musqué Spritz – Vintages 189670 – $19.95 – ***1/2+ – This is an essential wine for the summer on my patio. It’s only 9% alcohol so it’s perfect to sip on a hot day… where it gets a little too easy to sip on wine. Peach and Ginger...
2012 Vieni Gamay Noir – Winery Only – $17.95 – ****+ – This was the gold medal winner at the Ontario Wine Awards. Coming from the hot 2012 vintage this wine still keeps all the signature qualities of great Gamay. The flavours are nice concentrated Cherry with hints of pepper...
