Sanbanks Estate Reserve Baco Noir 2009 – LCBO 225920 – $19.95 – This is a great baco full of Plum and Blueberry, Raspberry with a very jammy texture. But at the same time this wine is not lacking a wonderful earthiness, that is a little softer than the Henry of Pelham Baco. Now here is the important thing with this wine… It is very drinkable right out of the bottle, but once it has had a chance to decant it is truly divine and very dangerous to consume. Once decanted this wine becomes much more food friendly than many Baco’s, which I would typically pair with a heavy beef dish, I would say that this would go well with Tomato based pasta dishes, and of course you could always play it safe and pair this with a hearty beef stew or beef roast.
Kacaba Barrel Fermended Chardonnay 2009 – VINTAGES 262436 – $22.95 – Another wonderful Chardonnay, that is a little higher in acidity than my last pick from Tawse. This is not in any way inferior to the sketches of Niagara Chardonnay but another great example of balance. A nice mix of toasted oak and slight and subtle citrus flavours with a nice lingering aftertaste.
I know the prices have been getting up there over the past few weeks, but I assure you it is well worth the money. That being said I am going to try to find some cheaper picks in the upcoming weeks. But until then this weekend was the Cuvée awards where winemakers from Ontario celebrate their peers. Here is a list of the winners:
Cuvée Awards 2012
Red Wine / WINNER
Palatine Hills Estate Winery
Proprietor’s Reserve Merlot 2007
Limited Edition Red Wine / WINNER
Angels Gate Winery
Mountainview Pinot Noir 2009
White Wine / WINNER
GreenLane Estate Winery
Riesling 2010
Limited Edition White Wine / WINNER
2027 Cellars
19th Street Chardonnay 2010
LCBO Red Wine / WINNER
Creekside Estate Winery
Shiraz 2009
LCBO White Wine / WINNER
Hillebrand Winery
Trius Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Dessert Wine / WINNERS
G. Marquis Vineyards
Riesling Icewine 2009 1ST PLACE
Inniskillin Wines
Sparkling Vidal Icewine 2010 2ND PLACE
Limited Edition Dessert Wine / WINNERS
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery
Riesling Icewine 2007 1ST PLACE
Diamond Estates
Dan Aykroyd Signature Series Vidal Icewine 2006 2ND PLACE
Sparkling Wine / WINNERS
Tawse Winery
Spark Rosé 2009 1ST PLACE
Featherstone Estate Winery
Joy Sparkling Wine 2008 2ND PLACE
Peller Estates Winery
Ice Cuvée Rosé NV 3RD PLACE
Chardonnay / WINNERS
Stoney Ridge Cellars
Excellence Chardonnay 2009 1ST PLACE
Tawse Winery
Robyn’s Block Chardonnay 2009 2ND PLACE
Riesling / WINNERS
GreenLane Estate Winery
Riesling 2010 1ST PLACE
Hinterbrook Estate Winery
Riesling 2010 2ND PLACE
Cave Spring Cellars
Riesling CSV 2009 3RD PLACE
Gewürztraminer / WINNERS
Konzelmann Estate
Gewürztraminer Late Harvest 2010 1ST PLACE
Riverview Cellars
Gewürztraminer 2010 2ND PLACE
Sauvignon Blanc / WINNERS
Peller Estates
Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2010 1ST PLACE
Featherstone Estate
Sauvignon Blanc 2011 2ND PLACE
White Blend / WINNERS
Stonechurch Vineyards
Riesling Gewürztraminer 2009 1ST PLACE
Rockway Glen Estate Winery
Chardonnay/Riesling 2010 2ND PLACE
Diamond Estates
Hat Trick White 2009 3RD PLACE
Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris / WINNER
Fielding Estate Winery
Estate Bottled Pinot Gris 2010
Viognier / WINNERS
Fielding Estate Winery
Viognier 2010 1ST PLACE
Creekside Estate Winery
Reserve Viognier 2010 2ND PLACE
Cabernet Sauvignon / WINNERS
Peller Estates Winery
Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 1ST PLACE
Lakeview Cellars
Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2007 2ND PLACE
Cabernet Franc / WINNERS
Fielding Estate Winery
Cabernet Franc 2010 1ST PLACE
Vignoble Rancourt Winery
Cabernet Franc 2007 2ND PLACE
Niagara College Teaching Winery
Dean’s List Cabernet Franc 2009 3RD PLACE
Meritage / WINNERS
Kacaba Vineyards
Reserve Meritage 2007 1ST PLACE
Vineland Estates Winery
Cabernet Merlot Reserve 2007 2ND PLACE
Tawse Winery
Meritage 2008 3RD PLACE
Pinot Noir/ WINNERS
Angels Gate Winery
Mountainview Pinot Noir 2009 1ST PLACE
Niagara College Teaching Winery
Dean’s List Pinot Noir 2009 2ND PLACE
Merlot / WINNERS
Palatine Hills EstateWinery
Proprietor’s Reserve Merlot 2007 1ST PLACE
Kacaba Vineyards
Reserve Merlot 2007 2ND PLACE
Gamay Noir / WINNER
13th Street Winery
Gamay Noir Sandstone Old Vines 2010
Red Blend / WINNERS
Colaneri Estate Winery
Insieme 2009 1ST PLACE
Diamond Estates
Hat Trick Red 2010 2ND PLACE
Syrah / Shiraz / WINNERS
Creekside Estate Winery
Broken Press Syrah 2008 1ST PLACE
Colio Estate Wines Inc.
CEV Small Lot Shiraz 2008 2ND PLACE
