2013 Redstone Chardonnay – Vintages 511428 – $25.70 – ****+ – Fantastic Chardonnay at the price from anywhere. Nice aromas of apple and peach with a bit of spice mixed in. On the palate is nice concentration of fruit and vanilla and spice to round out the package. On the...
My last trip to Niagara in 2017 included a stop at Megalomaniac. THIS is the visit I have been waiting for as the wines that are currently available at Megalomaniac are the first that have been made start to finish by Winemaker Sebastian Jacquey. The white wines available over the...
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...
2016 Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Chardonnay – Vintages 616466 – $29.95 – ****+ – This is one of the first wines I have had an opportunity to sample what the very warm 2016 summer has to offer from Niagara, and I was not disappointed. Aromas of vanilla and...
I recently had a chance to speak with Barb DiGiulio of Newstalk 1010 about evidence of some very old wine being made. I confessed that old wines don’t really do it for me. I’ll admit that I find it interesting seeing how wines evolve and change with time. These are...
It has been a very exciting couple of years for bubbles from Prince Edward County. This year Hinterland released a new “top end” sparkling called Sacrament. Down in the south of the County stopping by Lighthall is essential when Culmination, a fantastic Blanc de Blancs is available. How could you...
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...
2016 Chateau des Charmes Barrel Fermented Chardonnay – LCBO 81653 – $14.95 – **** – This wine continues to over-deliver on price and lead the way for what is possible for entry level Chardonnay from Ontario. The wines that take place in the general list are extremely important – these...
2015 Trail Estate Unfiltered Chardonnay – $32.00 – ****+ – This Chardonnay is truly a show stopper, but not for the faint of heart. There is a little more Oak in this bottle than what we have come to expect from wineries in Ontario but it’s still well integrated. While...
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...
Blue Mountain Gold Label Brut Sparkling – Vintages 206326 – $30.95 – **** – This is the second visit to vintages for 2017 and I’m excited to see this hitting the shelf heading into fall. The price has crept up by a couple dollars but this is still outstanding value....
A couple years ago I had the opportunity to sit down with Pieter Badenhorst or Fleur du Cap. So I was thrilled to have an opportunity to sit down with him again this year. The wines from Fleur du Cap always offer great value and high quality. The Chardonnay and...
