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...
2016 Hidden Bench Estate Chardonnay – Vintages 68817 – $29.95 – ****+ – This is rich and concentrated and exceptional value even at this price. The fruit is very ripe orange and peach and it’s met with caramel and vanilla. This opens up in your mouth with a flavour explosion....
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...
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...
2016 Charles Baker B-Side Riesling – Vintages 523845 – $22.20 – **** – When U2 released “Where the Streets Have No Name” the b-side to that single was “The Sweetest Thing”. This feels like a literal interpretation of that release. The other side of the record would be Picone or...
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...
Everyone these days seems to be enamoured with Prince Edward County. There is some fantastic, gritty winemaking taking place to the east of Toronto. There are a lot of reasons to pay attention to the County. But there is a renaissance taking place in Niagara. It started when Two Sisters...
2014 Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling – Vintages 241182 – $35.20 – ****+ – I love it when my Riesling has a hint of sugar. But sweetness needs balance and this is perfectly balanced. The sweetness brings some golden delicious apple to lemon drop. The mineral note adds even more...
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...
It can be a challenge to redefine yourselves. One of the largest challenges facing the Canadian wine industry is gaining recognition on the world stage for more than just Icewine. The wineries of South Africa are facing a similar dilemma in that they are recognized internationally for great affordable bottles...
2015 Trius Red – Vintages 303800 – $24.95 – **** – This continues to be a benchmark for Bordeaux varietals in Ontario. It offers fantastic value and continues to be a staple to build a cellar. The nose on this bottle offers up raspberry, blackberry and a nice cocoa note....
2015 Strewn Terroir Pinot Blanc – Vintages 520205 – $18.95 – ***½+ – Well this is interesting, it’s not as if there is a ton of Pinot Blanc from Ontario that makes it to the shelf. Rarity aside this is an easy drinking bottle of wine that is meant to...
