Wine Review

Portugese Wines: A Learning Experience

Last month I attended a wines of Portugal tasting. Prior to a walk-around tasting there was a crash course seminar hosted by Master Sommelier John Szabo. I don’t know much about Portugese wines. For most people their knowledge of Portugese wines start and end with Port. There is obviously much...

July 17 – 2013 Cave Spring Estate Chardonnay – 2013 Tawse Gamay

2013 Cave Spring Estate Bottled Chardonnay – Vintages 256552 – $18.95 – **** – Chardonnay under twenty dollars is quickly becoming my favorite price point for Ontario… simply put, because I can afford to drink it.  Cave Spring has given us a very tasty wine that gives us a nice...

2013 Lailey Syrah (June 2015)

The weekend I was in Niagara tasting this wine it wasn’t supposed to be Syrah weekend but I was tasting with my friend Julian who loves it. I tasted Syrah at Marynissen, Lailey and Leaning Post (review next week). Needless to say I came home after eating my words that...

Back 10 Cellars (June 2015)

My visit to Back 10 Cellars was long overdue. I have been told by many people that I had to make the stop to try the Cabernet Franc. It was nice to find that there was more to Back 10 than just the Cab Franc. The small focused portfolio is...

Marynissen (June 2015)

Marynissen isn’t a winery that many people are talking about these days. I have heard from other writer and people about the glory days of the winery and how great the wines were in the 90’s. Marynissen owns the oldest commercially planted Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the province. The winery...

Kacaba Summer Wines

2014 Jennifer’s Pinot Gris – Winery Only – $17.95 – ****1/2 – Let’s face it, Pinot Gris is generally boring, inoffensive and tasteless.  This wine from Kacaba is anything but.  Your eyes don’t deceive you, this has a beautiful pink hue to it.  Subtle flavours of apple, peach are layered over...

2012 Vieni Gamay Noir

2012 Vieni Gamay Noir – Winery Only – $17.95 – ****+ – This was the gold medal winner at the Ontario Wine Awards.  Coming from the hot 2012 vintage this wine still keeps all the signature qualities of great Gamay.  The flavours are nice concentrated Cherry with hints of pepper...

Profile: Casa-Dea (June 2015)

The last time I was at Casa-Dea in Prince Edward County I was introduced to their first appassimento wine called Adamo.  I had the opportunity to taste the white counterpart – Eva.  It is always exciting to see what comes out of the doors of the winery when you have...

Tenuta Frescobaldi Di Castiglioni 2012

2012 Tenuta Frescobaldi Di Castiglioni – Vintages 145920 – $21.95  – **** – Mainly Cab Sauv, with Merlot, Cab Franc and Sangiovese to round out the package this is a very nice full bodied, easy drinking wine.  The nose and flavours are licorice and black currant.  Flavours are very fruit...