I had an opportunity to stop by Organized Crime Winery to chat with their new winemaker Greg Yemen. After recent discoveries of their 2012 PIpe Down and 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, I needed to see how the rest of the portfolio stacked up. This winery is going to be a regular stop for me with Greg at the helm, the portfolio is now full of great value wines and an elegance that really works with the terroir of this estate. There is also a certain humility from proprietors Jan and Ania as they greet you at the back door of their home. Here are some wines that you really should go taste.
2017 Sauvignon Blanc – $19.00 – **** – This is a worthy follow up to the wonderful 2016 incarnation of this wine. This definitely tells a story of the cooler summer in 2017. There is a nice grassy note, citrus, and subtle tropical notes on the nose of this wine. This wine is crisp and clean on the palate with bright acidity. The tropical fruit is still present in this wine, but it’s a nice lime note that really dominates the flavours. This is an essential wine for your summer fish fry.
2017 Pinot Gris – $21.00 – **** – I’m told that this wine is a fan favorite for regular visitors at the winery. I can understand why – the colour in the glass offers a slight copper tinge, but it’s not full blown pink pinot gris. The aromas have honey, peach, and honeydew melon with flavours to match. There is noticeable sweetness to this wine, but it’s met with nice acidity. The sweetness amplifies the fresh fruit flavours and it leaves your mouth craving for more. Pinot Gris may have a bad rep in Ontario as being boring, but this wine is anything but.
2016 Gewurztraminer – $22.00 – **** – Gewurztraminer from Ontario is something unique – the fact that it’s a little lighter in texture makes it easier to put on your table next to food than Alsace or Germany. The cool climate also helps this fruit retain its acidity. The aromas are concentrated lychee and rose petal with flavours to match. There is a nice sweetness on the palate, but it is met with nice acidity. Food pairings are Thai, Vietnamese, or Mexican cuisines – but the acidity in this bottle would make it at home with other lighter fare from the grill.
2016 Break-In Pinot Noir – $21.00 – **** – While the bordeaux style Pipe-down is what got me into the door – the Pinot Noir was truly impressive. Great Pinot from the bench offers nice complexity with a rich cherry, heavy violet, and a subtle earthiness. What’s remarkable is the price of this bottle. Finding great pinot from Ontario isn’t a challenge – but finding it at this price point is nearly impossible. A wine of this quality, at this point should be stocked up and savoured. This is a bottle that’s drinking great right now, but I wouldn’t feel guilty about storing a few bottles for 3-5 years.
2012 The Download – $45.00 – **** – The appassimento bottle in the portfolio offers something polished, clean, and a beautiful sample of the stellar 2012 vintage. Given that this has had a few years in bottle the tannin is soft and well integrated. There is no sign of any age showing on this bottle as the notes of cassis, raspberry, strawberry, and woodsmoke are still young and vibrant. A beautiful bottle to buy and enjoy now, but if you want this to sit in your cellar for a few years expect to have this evolve nicely over the next 5-10 years.
