On my maternal side I am a third generation Canadian. My great grand parents emigrated from Europe – my grandmother of Hungarian descent, and my grandfather of Prussian descent. In three generations I don’t speak a single damned word of Hungarian, or German – but I remember my grandfather making...
2015 Redstone Chardonnay – Vintages 398966 – $19.95 – **** – I really shouldn’t be surprised at how great this wine is – Chardonnay at twenty dollars from this province is one of the best ways to spend your money at the LCBO. The acidity keeps this wine light on...
2012 13th Street Premier Cuvée – Vintages 142679 – $34.95 – ****+ – This wine took top honours at the 2018 Ontario Wine Awards winning white wine of the year – for good reason. This bottle easily goes toe to toe with Champagne double the price, so there really is...
I had an opportunity to stop by Organized Crime Winery to chat with their new winemaker Greg Yemen. After recent discoveries of their 2012 PIpe Down and 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, I needed to see how the rest of the portfolio stacked up. This winery is going to be a regular...
2012 Redstone Limestone Vineyard Pinot Noir – Vintages 546473 – $22.00 – **** – It’s always exciting to find a quality Pinot from Ontario under thirty dollars. This has a little more weight and the tannin is a little firmer than what you would expect from a Pinot on the...
I first met Jerry Kopanski a few years ago at the Wychwood Barns Farmer’s Market. I was enamoured with his 2011 Cabernet Franc made in a ripasso style. I bought a case of that wine and sadly have none left … it’s hard to hold onto a bottle priced at...
13th Street has recently finished building a new addition to their facility. I was shocked to see how quickly the new addition had been built. I usually make a few pilgrimages to the barn to grab some buttertarts or stock up on Saskatoon jam (one of the few places in...
This is not another turkey column… and it’s not “not another turkey column”. The video posted by Rick VanSickle is still one of my favorite commentaries on what to pair with Turkey. Let’s face it, Rick makes some great points. The most exciting herb or spice that sees most of...
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...
2015 Hidden Bench Fumé Blanc – Vintages 68825 – $29.45 – **** – Well isn’t this something … I don’t think many people really think of Niagara when they of Sauvignon Blanc. Wines like this are going to change minds. A deeply complex nose offering tropical fruit and a mineral...
2016 Nyarai Pinot Gris – $20.95 – **** – Pinot Gris from Ontario needs to bring great texture to the glass to be interesting. This bottle from Nyarai is definitely interesting. The weighty nose climbs out of the glass with heavy baked apple and peach aromas. A bit of a...
2016 Reif Estate Sauvignon Blanc – Vintages 247825 – $14.95 – **** – In a few words this wine hits way above the price point. The aromas a nice pink grapefruit with tropical fruit that is nicely layered over it. On the palate this opens up with more tropical fruit...
