I had a chance to taste through some wines from Pelee Island. It’s been a while since I’ve visited some of these wines. I know that I’ve said it many times on this blog, but my go to cooking wine is the VQA Cabernet Franc. What’s really cool about this...
2016 Flat Rock Chardonnay – Vintages 286278 – $19.95 – **** – I offer this to anyone who gripes about the price of Ontario wine. I defy you to find a bottle of Chardonnay from anywhere in the world that delivers on quality the way Flat Rock has with this...
2016 Locked and Loaded Red – $19.95 – ****+ – The blend from this vintage is 34% Merlot, 27% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot. Given that 2016 was an unusually hot and dry summer it’s remarkable the amount of restraint that is in the...
2015 Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay – Vintages – $24.95 – ****+ – Rich, and complex – this is a return to form after the leaner more mineral driven 2014 vintage of this wine. The aromas of peach and creamed corn climb out of the glass with nice intensity and a dash...
I think my biggest surprise going through the newest wines from Sue-Ann Staff was that there was a definite hint of sweetness on the Red … but I liked it anyways. I’m not talking Yellowtail sweet – it was just enough sweetness to help pump up the ripe fruit flavours....
2016 Henry of Pelham Family Tree Red – Vintages TBD – $18.95 – **** – I love Family Tree blends from Henry of Pelham. These are wines designed for entertaining. They over deliver on their price and offer something that everyone at your table can enjoy whether they are a...
2015 Intersection Unfiltered Cabernet Franc – Winery Only – $28.90 – ****+ – Cabernet Franc from BC is a thing of beauty. The extra heat on the fruit oozes out of the glass with very ripe and almost jammy aromas of raspberry and cassis. Somehow in spite of the massive...
2015 Cave Spring Estate Bottled Chardonnay Musqué – Vintages 246579 – $16.95 – **** – It’s always nice to see this bottle make an appearance on the vintages shelves. There is a lot of apple, lemon and peach on the nose and on the palate. There is a signature note...
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...
2016 Vineland Cabernet Franc – $14.95 – LCBO 594127 – **** – The Cabernet Franc from Vineland that occupies space in the general list at the LCBO is one of my go-to bottles to enjoy and rely on. In my home I have an adage that I won’t cook with...
I’ve always been a fan of The Good Earth Winery. The focus on this winery has never just been on the wine and I was thrilled to check out their new cookbook . I spend so much time tasting wines in Niagara that often I forget about how great the...
One of my last winery visits of 2017 was a stop at Rosewood Estates. Winemaker Ryan Corrigan has taken the helm from Ross Wise. Both are very good winemakers but dramatically different in style. Ryan joins Rosewood from Pearl Morissette, which leads me to ask the question – how much...
