2015 Hidden Bench Estate Riesling – Vintages 183491 – $23.95 – **** – When it comes to consistency and quality for Riesling in the province of Ontario the Beamsville bench sets the bar. I look to bench Riesling as a way to help form the backbone to my collection because...
I stopped by Creekside as one of my first winery visits for 2017. It has been a while since i’ve stopped but the recent releases making their way to Toronto through Vintages have been fantastic. Needless to say there is a lot to look forward to available from Creekside. From...
2015 Flat Rock Chardonnay – Vintages 286278 – $18.95 – ****+ – Every vintage the Chardonnay from Flat Rock offers something to open with anticipation. The nose offers vanilla, orange and an apple note. There is a slight creaminess on the mid palate and balanced with nice acidity. The fruit...
Vieni Momenti Extra Dry Sparkling Rosé – Vintages 486357 – $16.95 – ***½+ – The bottle says extra dry, but you will be doing a double take when you take your first nose of the wine in your glass. This smells like candied strawberry, and cherry – Everything about the...
2011 Eastdell Cuvée Brut – Vintages 485615 – $24.95 – ***½ – I personally find it a little exciting when a new bottle of sparkling wine from Ontario makes its way up the highway and onto the shelves of the LCBO. This is a traditional method sparkling wine made from...
I visited Icellars recently and had a chance to meet Adnan and Elif the proprietors of their eponymous winery. The production is very small and the facility is a little unassuming on a stretch of road just up the road from Coyote’s Run. When you walk into the winery you...
2016 Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling – Vintages 80234 – $16.95 – ****½ – This is a benchmark wine for Riesling in Niagara. When I’m talking about quality and value this is a flagship for the province and a perfect way to either build or bolster a cellar. The concentration of...
2015 Flat Rock Unplugged Chardonnay – Vintages 68015 – $16.00 – ***½+ – As far as unoaked Chardonnay from Ontario goes there is something a little magical about this wine. The nose is bright, fresh and clean with lemon and lime notes and a potent mineral note that sails over...
2015 Henry of Pelham Family Tree White – Vintages 251116 – $17.95 – ****+ – The blend on this wine is always a little different but every year this wine seems to deliver something delicious and unique. For 2015 the blend is mainly Viognier with Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Chardonnay Musqué....
Southwest of Eugene, Oregon I had the opportunity to visit Iris Vineyards. The sprawling estate is impressive when you arrive on the property that is over 800 acres. The winery has Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay which is to be expected in Oregon… But it was also fascinating to...
2014 Kew Marsanne – vintages 485334 – $19.95 – ****+ – This is the only Marsanne in the province, that makes this wine both unique and special. The aromas are tangerine and vanilla making this seem like a creamsicle in a glass. There is a nice note of baking spice...
2016 Rosewood Nebulous – $24.95 – **** – This is the first “sparkling” offering from Rosewood. I am putting the Sparkling in quotes because it’s not really a Sparkling in the sense that most Ontario wine lovers are familiar. This is essentially an Ancestral style sparkling wine made with the...
