I had the pleasure of visiting Tantalus at the end of August. It was just the beginning of veraison. I got to walk the vineyards and pick out the few berries that had started to turn red. It was clear that the Okanagan valley had gotten an early start on...
2014 Henry of Pelham Estate Chardonnay – Vintages 268342 – $19.95 – **** – Wines at this price point are some of the most important wines coming out of Ontario right now. I have no issues getting a friend or family member to bring a twenty dollar bottle over for...
2013 Cave Spring Estate Bottled Gewurztraminer – Vintages 302059 – $17.95 – ****+ – Dear Gewurztraminer, Why do you insist on breaking my heart? I know there isn’t much left of you after a couple of very cold winters, but isn’t there some way we can compromise? Why do you...
One of my first stops in the Okanagan was to Sperling Estates. I have long been a fan of Ann Sperling’s work at Southbrook. So, as soon as I knew I was heading out west my first point of order was to make sure I got a chance to visit...
2009 Flat Rock Cellars Riddled Sparkling – Vintages 383315 – $29.95 – **** – Let me introduce this wine into evidence for my mounting case that we should be drinking sparkling wine all year round and without any special occasions. Thirty dollars may push the wine out of every day...
After five years of free beer in the dressing room you get tired of it. So the logical step (obviously) is to move to Grand Cru Bordeaux. This is what Jim Cuddy told me when I recently connected with him to talk about his new wines released through Tawse. In...
2014 Lighthall Progression – Vintages 468090 – $20.00 – **** – This is the perfect bubbly for the patio. The nose is bright clean citrus. The flavours are citrus with white flower. There is nothing too complicated about this wine, it just tastes good. The finish is clean and crisp...
I think at this point everyone is very familiar with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I have to tip my hat to the Kiwis for taking something and adding their own signature to it. Personally, I have grown a little tired of drinking only NZ Sauvignon Blanc. I have joked that...
I recently had the chance to taste through a few new wines coming to the regular list at the LCBO. As it stands right now California makes up 89% of the total production of wine coming from the United States with Washington state coming in a distant second at 4%....
2014 Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Baco Noir – Vintages 461699 – $24.95 – ****+ – Can Baco be refined? One of the reasons I love Baco from Henry of Pelham is that is comes a little rough around the edges. So it’s interesting to get a bottle with...
2014 Spier Merlot – LCBO 454827 – $12.95 – ***½+ – Straightforward and easy drinking. This is a bottle to enjoy with good company and a burger. I realize that for most people watching a football or baseball game calls for beer, but this is the sort of wine that...
This year at the Ontario Wine Awards Exultet regained their crown for the best Chardonnay and also the best White Wine at the competition. This means this small winery in Prince Edward County now holds the best Chardonnay award from the OWA’s five out of the last six years. Now...
