Wine Reviews - 2012 Niagara New Vintage Wine Festival

Here are reviews of some of the wines I tasted during my recent visit to Niagara for the 2012 New Vintage Wine Festival.

The highlights were definitely the Château des Charmes' Riesling Icewine and Equuleus, Flat Rock's Rusty Shed Chardonnay, the Passion from Stoney Ridge and lastly (but not least) the Meritage from Fielding.

For my review of the food & wine pairings using the Discovery Pass Experience, go here.

FIELDING ESTATE ROSÉ 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#053421) (XD) - $15.95
Muted aromas of cran-cherry and hints of strawberry that follow through on palate. Refreshing acidity leads to a clean, dry finish. Has good weight for a rosé. Pleasant. (86 pts)

FIELDING ESTATE PINOT GRIS 2011 - Estate Bottled, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#251108) (XD) - $21.95
Lovely floral, pineapple, melon aromatics. Balanced lime and citrus flavours on the palate. Finishes dry, with a touch spicy finish. (88 pts)

FIELDING ESTATE CHARDONNAY UNOAKED 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $14.95
Melon and kiwi aromas from the glass. Quite flavourful with more melon and kiwi on the palate. Dry, medium-bodied with fresh acidity. (88 pts)

FIELDING ESTATE CHARDONNAY MUSQUÉ 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (D) - $16.95
Lovely aromatics of honeydew melon and fruit salad. Replays of honeydew melon and fruit salad on the palate, plus hints of smoke and peach. Light-bodied, off-dry and with a long-finish. A nice summer wine! (89 pts)

FIELDING ESTATE CABERNET FRANC 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#036194) (XD) - $21.95
Lavender aromas and flavours, plus cassis, cedar and smoke on the palate. Very well-integrated tannins on the medium-bodied, long finish. (89 pts)

FIELDING ESTATE MERITAGE 2007 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#279760) (D) - $44.95 (direct)
Currant, cranberry, sweet dark fruits and smoke aromas all come nicely together on the palate, in a balanced, rich finish. Full-bodied with fine grain tannins. Delicious! (90+ pts)

STONEY RIDGE PINOT GRIGIO 2010 (D) - $16.95
Tropical fruits and melon aromas and flavours, slightly off-dry. Crisp, balanced wine. Quite nice. (88+ pts)

STONEY RIDGE CABERNET MERLOT 2009 (XD)
Spicy vanilla, currant, cassis, smoke and black pepper aromas and flavours. Perfect complement for goat cheese. (87 pts)

STONEY RIDGE PASSION 2009 - VQA Ontario (S) - $24.95
Fortified port-style wine made with Cabernet Franc Icewine (50%), Baco Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Strawberry, rhubarb and toffee aromas and flavours. Orange marmalade also on the palate, finishes spicy. Tasty! (90 pts)

FLAT ROCK PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2011 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench (#039974) (XD) - $16.95
Cranberry aromas lead to green, herbal notes on the palate with crisp acidity and finishes a bit spicy. Some tannins evident. Easy-drinking rosé that has some body to it. (88 pts)

FLAT ROCK CHARDONNAY 2009 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench (#286278) (XD) - $16.95
Fresh, clean aromas of apple, pear and buttered popcorn notes. On the palate, slight oakiness with more apple/butter leading to spicy mid-palate that continues to the finish. (86 pts)

FLAT ROCK CHARDONNAY 2008 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench (#681247) (XD) - $13.95
Smoky, oak aromas. Palate has ripe fruits with oak nuances balanced throughout along hints of tropical fruit sweetness. Full-bodied and very smooth. (89 pts) I actually tasted this white wine back in October 2011 as well.

FLAT ROCK THE RUSTY SHED CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench (#001552) (XD) - $24.95
Fresh aromas of apple, pear, butter and some oak which all follow through very smoothly on the palate. Juicy, with creamy body and finishing clean. Very nice! (90 pts)

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES 'OLD VINES' RIESLING 2010 - Estate Btld, VQA Niagara Peninsula (#277228) (D) - $16.95
Lime, citrus aromas and hints of lemon with replays on the smooth, full-bodied palate. Finishes clean and off-dry. Quite nice. (89 pts)

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES CABERNET FRANC 2010 - VQA St. David's Bench (#453415) (XD) - $25.95
Vanillan oak and dark fruit aromas. Spicy pepper and dark fruits on the palate with big, chewy tannins and finishing long. (88 pts)

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES CHARDONNAY 2009 - VQA St. David's Bench (#430991) (XD) - $19.95
Melon aromas follow through on palate, leading to fresh, clean mineral notes. Full-bodied with crisp acidity. (88 pts)

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES CHARDONNAY 2007 - Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard, VQA St. David's Bench (#287268) (XD) - $21.95
Smoky, mineral and butter aromas. Very smooth on the palate with butter, melon and mineral notes. Full-bodied. (89 pts)

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES EQUULEUS 2010 - Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard, VQA St. David's Bench (#319525) (XD) - $40.00
Blend of 50% Cab Sauv, 25% Cab Franc and 25% Merlot brings aromas of cassis, smoke and oak. On the palate, there is more cassis, plus vanilla, oak, and chocolate. Very smooth with well-integrated tannins. Lovely! (90 pts)

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES 'OLD VINES' CABERNET-MERLOT 2007 - Estate Btld, VQA Niagara Peninsula (#222372) (XD) - $19.95
Aromas of barnyard and dark fruit with replays on the palate, some chocolate notes. Very dry with chalky tannins. Needs time. (86 pts) I tasted 2006 version back in January.

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES RIESLING ICEWINE 2009 - Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard, VQA St. David's Bench (#413724) (S) (375 mL) - $59.95
Gorgeous aromas of apricot, peach and honey which all come through very nicely on the palate and balanced with fine acidity. Absolutely delicious! (93 pts) I tasted the 2007 vintage last January.

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2008 - Estate Btld, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake (S) (375 mL) - $75.00
Tart cranberry and raisin aromas. Very pleasing ripe strawberry notes on the palate that balances the acidity quite nicely. Tasty. (90 pts)

INNISKILLIN WINEMAKER'S SERIES VIOGNIER 2011 (XD)
Fresh, clean, mineral and citrus aromas in the glass with replays on the palate. Some lime flavours also on the palate leading to a crisp finish with mild acidity. Dry. (87 pts)

INNISKILLIN WINEMAKER'S SERIES PINOT GRIS 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula (D)
Mineral, lime aromas that follow through on palate and joined by spicy and herbal notes at mid-palate towards the crisp finish. Off-dry and enjoyable. (88 pts)

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Reif Estate Vidal Icewine 2003 (Ontario) - Wine Review

My record keeping was sometimes a bit shoddy back in 2005, but based on evidence that lay before me, it appears I bought this wine from the November 12, 2005 VINTAGES release, where Icewine was the secondary theme of the wine release. However, the bottle I have is the 2003 vintage, while the vintage featured in the magazine is 2002. C'est la vie...

REIF ESTATE VIDAL ICEWINE 2003 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#544791) (S) (200 mL) - $24.95

Tasting Note:
Peach, apricot and some raisiny aromas from the cork. Quite aromatic with apricot, plum, raisin and hazelnut aromas from the glass, with more apricot, peach and raisin on the palate. Sweet, but has slight tartness on the medium-bodied finish. Still has good acidity. I wish I had opened this Icewine years earlier as it's definitely passed it's prime. Their recent vintages look much, much better!

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June 9 LCBO Wine Picks: Chile + South of France + Father's Day

The next VINTAGES Wine Release will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on Saturday, June 9. The major feature in this release is on food-friendly Chilean wines - and there are some good values to be had.

We've got two wines from Concha y Toro's "Maycas del Limarí" label. Their Reserva Especial Syrah and Chardonnay are both very good. Chile is known for it's Carmenère and is one of my favourite varietals; if you've never tried this grape, the Mayu Reserva is a good place to start.

The 1st of two secondary features in this release focuses on wines from the South of France. In general, I have found that this region in France offers the best value wines in the country. Among these wines, the Syrah/Carignan/Grenache blend from Mont Tauch made my picks. The 2nd minor feature in this release is all about Father's Day. From this section, the Barolo from Marziano Abbona is a heavy-hitter and would make an excellent cellaring candidate.

A couple of wines that struck me, but aren't listed below, are worth a look if you want to try something a bit different. Firstly, the Domaine Boyar Royal Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (#259747, $13.95) is a nice introduction to wines from Bulgaria. The second wine is an unusual Italian red that tastes like a Gewürztraminer - the Ramosceto Lacrima di Morro d'Alba 2010 from Marche (#277889, $14.95).

Enjoy my picks for this week! Let me know if you try any of these. Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#269357) (XD) - $19.95
• MAYCAS DEL LIMARÍ RESERVA ESPECIAL SYRAH 2008 - Limarí Valley, Chile (#269423) (XD) - $19.95
• MAYU RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2009 - Elqui Valley, Chile (#090035) (XD) - $17.95
• LAKEVIEW RESERVE SYRAH 2007 - VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#264150) (D) - $19.95
• MONT TAUCH LE TAUCH FITOU 2009 - AC, Languedoc, France (#272484) (D) - $19.95
• HEGARTY CHAMANS NO. 2 GRENACHE/MOURVÈDRE/CINSAULT 2009 - AC Minervois, Provence, France (#277061) (D) - $21.95
• MARZIANO ABBONA PRESSENDA BAROLO 2007 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#276584) (D) - $43.95

White Wine:

• MAYCAS DEL LIMARÍ RESERVA ESPECIAL CHARDONNAY 2010 - Limarí Valley, Chile (#162040) (XD) - $19.95
• HUNTER’S JANE HUNTER SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#280271) (XD) - $19.95
• COOPERS CREEK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#957407) (XD) - $18.95
• DR. PAULY-BERGWEILER WEHLENER SONNENUHR RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2009 - Pradikätswein, Mosel, Germany (#197186) (M) - $21.95
• COYOTE'S RUN BLACK PAW VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#049775) (XD) - $21.95

Rosé Wine:

• CARTE NOIRE ROSÉ 2011 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#319384) (XD) - $14.95
• KAIKEN MALBEC ROSÉ 2011 - Mendoza, Argentina (#169375) (D) - $14.95

Dessert Wine:

• PANNON TOKAJ 3 PUTTONYOS TOKAJI ASZÚ 2005 - Hungary (#074328) (MS) (500 mL) - $21.95

The rest of the wines from this VINTAGES release can be found here.

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May 12 VINTAGES Wine Picks: California Legends + Rosés

The next LCBO VINTAGES release will be out in stores on May 12, and the main "attraction" in this release are California Legends starring Cab, Zin and Chard. However, as is the par for Cali wines in Ontario, many are over-priced and out of budget. However, the Ravenswood Zin is a "star" in this release and worth checking out.

The secondary attraction in this release is on Rosé wines and features 11 wines of various different styles, from dry to off-dry, and made using many different varietal combinations. The Mas des Bressades is made in a dry style using Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault, while the dry Carpineto is made using Sangiovese and Canaiolo. The off-dry Ontario versions from Fielding Estate is a blend of Cab Franc, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah, while the Featherstone is made up of almost 50/50 Gamay and Cab Franc.

Among the rest of the release, Morgon is made using Gamay, the Cinghiale is a blend of Syrah, Cab France, Merlot and Petit Verdot, while Vouvray is made with currently trending varietal Chenin Blanc. If you want something sweet, definitely check out the Yalumba Muscat.

When you head into the LCBO this Saturday, you may notice updates to shelf tags. Among other things, the sugar code levels (0, 1, 2, 3, etc...) have been replaced with XD, D, M, MS, S (i.e. Extra Dry, Dry, Medium, Medium-Sweet or Sweet) and indicate the perceived sweetness level of any wine. These sweetness levels are always indicated for wine picks and reviews found on my blog, and now also fall in line with the rest of the world. Alongside this you will also find the actual sugar content, which may or may not affect your decision to purchase a particular bottle of wine. Enjoy shopping on Saturday!


Red Wine:

• MONTES ALPHA CARMENÈRE 2009 - Colchagua Valley, Chile (#143230) (XD) - $19.95
• RAVENSWOOD OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2009 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#673798) (D) - $23.95
• GEORGES DUBOEUF DOMAINE MONT CHAVY MORGON 2010 - AC, Beaujolais, France (#276477) (D) - $17.95
• GRAFFIGNA GRAND RESERVE MALBEC 2008 - Pedernal Valley, San Juan, Argentina (#162149) (D) - $16.95
• CAMPO DI SASSO INSOGLIO DEL CINGHIALE 2010 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#277012) (D) - $29.95

White Wine:

• ANGELS GATE MOUNTAINVIEW CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#116384) (D) - $18.95
• MONMOUSSEAU VOUVRAY 2010 - AC, Loire, France (#271940) (D) - $14.95
• GEIL BECHTHEIMER ROSENGARTEN RIESLING KABINETT 2011 - Prädikatswein, Rheinhessen, Germany (#994764) (MD) - $14.95
• PENINSULA RIDGE BEAL VINEYARDS INOX RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#007328) (D) - $18.95
• TALBOTT LOGAN ESTATE SLEEPY HOLLOW VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2009 - Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, California, USA (#716290) (D) - $26.95

Rosé Wine:

• MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE TRADITION ROSÉ 2011 - AC Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#950576) (XD) - $13.95
• FEATHERSTONE ROSÉ 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#117861) (D) - $14.95
• FIELDING ESTATE ROSÉ 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#053421) (D) - $15.95
• CARPINETO ROSATO 2011 - IGT Toscana, Tuscany, Italy (#699934) (XD) - $12.95

Dessert Wine:

• YALUMBA MUSEUM RESERVE MUSCAT - South Eastern Australia (#963488) (S) (375 mL) - $24.95

The rest of the wines from this release can be found here.

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Konzelmann Select Late Harvest Vidal 2004 (Ontario) - Wine Review

Purchased back in 2007 from the April 14 Vintages release, this fabulous dessert wine was opened, almost to the day, 5 years later.

KONZELMANN SELECT LATE HARVEST VIDAL 2004 - VQA Ontario, Canada (#409474) (MS) (375 mL) - $19.95

Tasting Note:
Aromas of candied oranges, honey and peach from cork. Soft toasted honey notes, slight citrusy aromas in the glass.Honey, peach, nutmeg and orange flavours on the palate. Light texture. Very sweet for a late harvest. Delicious, but doesn't quite match up to the sweetness of this Cadbury Creme Egg that I'm enjoying.

This wine is no longer available from the LCBO. However, you can purchase a similar, newer vintage wine directly from the winery.

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Mar. 31 Wine Picks: Food-Friendly Easter Feasts Wines

The next release of wines from LCBO Vintages is on the March 31 and the main feature in this release is on food-friendly wines that go well with Easter feasts.

Among these wines, the Auntsfield Sauvignon Blanc will pair nicely with seafood and light salads, while the off-dry Riesling Spätlese will pair nicely with spicy Asian dishes.

In reds, there are three French wines that are worth a look, with the Grenache-blended Hecht & Bannier that offers impeccable value and is my top pick from the entire release. Also from France, we have two Bordeaux blends - from the great 2009 vintage is the Haut-Surget, and the 2008 La Bourrée. From Australia, we have the Salmagundi which is blended with more than half Shiraz, followed by 4 other grapes.

If you're looking for something sweet, then you will enjoy the Elysium Muscat from California. Want to pop something sweet for a celebration? Go for the sweet Moscato d'Asti, which typically goes over quite well in my circles. A very nice summer patio sipper is the Rosé from our local Tawse Winery. Enjoy my picks for the week!


Red Wine:

• ZUCCARDI Q MALBEC 2009 - Mendoza, Argentina (#723478) (XD) - $19.95
• HECHT & BANNIER CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2008 - AC, Midi, France (#142802) (XD) - $22.95
• GOTHAM OLD VINE SALMAGUNDI 2008 - Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia (#265942) (XD) - $29.95
• GÉRARD BERTRAND MINERVOIS SYRAH/GRENACHE 2009 - AP, Midi, France (#952804) (XD) - $15.95
• CHÂTEAU HAUT-SURGET 2009 - AC Lalande-de-Pomerol, Bordeaux, France (#268680) (XD) - $24.95
• CHÂTEAU LA BOURRÉE 2008 - AC Côtes de Bordeaux, Castillon, Bordeaux, France (#138800) (D) - $17.95
• TYRRELL’S RUFUS STONE SHIRAZ 2009 - Heathcote, Victoria, Australia (#091488) (D) - $19.95

White Wine:

• PETER LEHMANN LAYERS WHITE 2010 - Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (#167171) (XD) - $15.95
• STUDERT-PRÜM WEHLENER SONNENUHR RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2007 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#114777) (M) - $17.95
• JOSEPH CATTIN GEWURZTRAMINER HATSCHBOURG 2009 - AC Alsace Grand Cru, France (#259770) (D) - $19.95
• VINTAGE INK RITE OF PASSAGE CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#245712) (D) - $16.95
• AUNTSFIELD ESTATE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010 - Southern Valleys, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#663286) (XD) - $19.95

Rosé Wine:

• TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA ROSÉ 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#172643) (D) - $15.95

Dessert Wine:

• QUADY ELYSIUM BLACK MUSCAT 2010 - California, USA (#276840) (S) (375 mL) - $14.95

Sparkling Wine:

• BOERI RIBOTA MOSCATO D’ASTI 2010 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#184978) (S) - $15.95
• CAVE SPRING CSV BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT Méthode Traditionnelle 2004 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#237198) (XD) - $39.95

All the wines from this release can be found here.

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Wine Reviews from 2012 Niagara Icewine Festival

During the 2012 Niagara Icewine Festival, I had the opportunity to taste many wines. Most of them were (obviously) sweet, but I was able to taste a few dry table red wines and white wines. Below, you will find  tasting notes of some of the wines I tasted.

The best Icewine of the bunch was, by far, the Chateau des Charmes Riesling Icewine. Among dry wines, I look forward to getting my hands on the Legends Estate Shiraz and serving with goat curry. I'm also looking forward to the GreenLane Cabernet Sauvignon, when it's ready.

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES ALIGOTÉ 2009 - Estate Btld, VQA (#284950) (XD) - $10.65
Crisp apple, floral, grassy. A tinge of butter. Light, easy drinking white wine reminds me of a cross between Sauvignon Blanc and an unoaked Chardonnay. Quite nice.

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES RIESLING 2008 - Estate Btld, VQA (#061499) (D) - $12.55
Lovely floral aromas. Mineral, slate and petrol on the palate. Crisp acidity allows it to be paired with meals. Off-dry and delicious.

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES GENERATION SEVEN WHITE - VQA (#197988) (D) - $13.95

Soft, easy drinking white wine featuring aromas and flavours of kiwi, grapefruit and floral notes. Good "food wine" with balanced acidity.

CHÂTEAU  DES CHARMES GAMAY NOIR 2008 - Estate Btld, VQA (#057349) (XD) - $12.55

Smoke, dark fruits, white pepper, herbal aromas with a touch of cherry. All follow through on palate, with dark fruits dominating; pepper on the mid-palate. Medium-bodied red wine.

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES 'OLD VINES' CABERNET-MERLOT 2006 - Estate Btld, VQA (#222372) (XD) - $19.95
Notes of currant, cassis, mint, oak and chocolate. Smooth and silky tannins make their presence felt. Tastes expensive.

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES RIESLING ICEWINE 2007 - VQA, Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard (S) (375 mL) - $65.00

Seductive aromas of honey and apricot that follow through on the palate. Very good acidity that will allow this Icewine to be paired with a meal. Outstanding offering that is excellent right now, and could rested for up to 5 years. Buy online

CATTAIL CREEK SELECT LATE HARVEST VIDAL 2008 - VQA Ontario (MS) (375 mL) - $20.95
Mild honey, apricot, petrol aromas and flavours. Acidity a touch strong, providing harsh experience.

PONDVIEW VIDAL ICEWINE 2010 - VQA (S) (200 mL) - $25.15

Strong burnt honey aromas and flavours leaving tingling sensation in mouth. Some apricot notes. Strong acidity. Serve with mild blue cheese.

PONDVIEW CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2009 - VQA (S) (200 mL) - $35.10
Strong nose of red berries - strawberry and raspberry dipped in sugar. Pairs well with chocolate and acidity strong enough for meal pairing. Buy here

RIVERVIEW CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2010 - VQA (S) (375 mL) - $59.95

Full of strawberry and honey notes. Not too sweet; serve with milk chocolate or light cheese. Buy direct

JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2007 - VQA (#264325) (S) (200 mL) - $19.95 (from JT website)

Aromas of raspberry. Intense flavours of sweet red berries interplay with some raisin and fig notes. A deal at $20.

PELLER ESTATES VIDAL and OAK AGED VIDAL ICEWINE - VQA (S)

Both were outstanding - delicious honey, apricots, mineral/petrol, with the Oak Aged having more peppery, spicy notes.

GREENLANE RIESLING ICEWINE 2008 - VQA (S) (200 mL) - $29.95

Honey, citrus and candied lime aromas. Lovely honey and candied fruits on the palate. Balanced wine that pairs well with (blue) cheese.

GREENLANE GREETINGS CABERNET MERLOT 2007 - VQA (#256271) (XD) - $12.95
Cassis, herbal, spicy notes. Ripe, round wine that has some tannin grip, but is easy drinking. Would match well with a wide variety of foods.

GREENLANE GREETINGS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 - VQA (XD) - $23.95
Dark fruit, spice and hints of chocolate. Very tannic and needs more time to develop, but has excellent potential.

LEGENDS ESTATES SHIRAZ RESERVE 2006 - VQA (XD) - $19.95
Lots of smoky, pepper notes. Full bodied. Beautiful Shiraz made for lamb. Buy here

LEGENDS ESTATES VIDAL ICEWINE 2006 - VQA (S) (375 mL) - $39.95
Thick and syrupy with the usual honey, apricot aromas and flavours. A little low on sweetness for my taste.

MAGNOTTA VIDAL HARVEST MOON 2010 - VQA (MS) (750 mL) - $9.95
Medium-sweet wine with orange and tangerine on the nose. Passionfruit and apple on the palate. Tangy. Buy here

MAGNOTTA CANADIAN PASSITO VIDAL 2006 - VQA (MS) (375 mL) - $14.95
Another medium-sweet offering with melon, apricot, honey, floral and some raisin notes. Pair with cheese.

MAGNOTTA VIDAL ICEWINE 2008 - VQA (#587154) (S) (375 mL) - $29.95
Fabulous Icewine with honey, toffee, apricots and peach. Suitable for cheese and desserts. Great value!

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California Cabs + Greek Revival: Feb. 4 LCBO Vintages Wine Picks

The next LCBO Vintages release is on Saturday, February 4th and the major feature in this release is titled "California Cabs". I find most Cabernets Sauvignons from California to be relatively high-priced and don't provide high QPR (quality-price ratio). However, the Sebastiani Cab Sauv did make my list of top wine picks.

Secondary feature of this release focuses on popular varietals from Greece. I've always enjoyed Greek wines and believe you will too! Some grape varietals to discover are the white Assyrtiko and Moschofilero (see Tselopos below), and the red grape Agiorgitiko.

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, some sweet wine that won't break the bank would be nice. I've chosen two such wines that will satisfy you and/or your partner's sweet tooth.

The rest of the release features a few quality wines, including the 'Wine of the Month' Plunkett Fowles Shiraz. Jip Jip Rocks also made my list of wine picks for the second time in three releases.

If you try any of these, send me a note or post a comment and tell me what you thought. Enjoy my picks for this week! Cheers!


Red Wine:

• PLUNKETT FOWLES STONE DWELLERS SHIRAZ 2008 - Strathbogie Ranges, Victoria, Australia (#265967) (XD) - $19.95
• MAETIERRA DOMINUM QUATRO PAGOS 2005 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#246660) (XD) - $19.95
• JIP JIP ROCKS SHIRAZ/CABERNET 2009 - Padthaway, South Australia, Australia (#186114) (D) - $16.95
• LA POSTA ANGEL PAULUCCI VINEYARD MALBEC 2008 - Mendoza, Argentina (#075515) (XD) - $15.95
• ALBINO ARMANI EGLE RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE 2008 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#247916) (XD) - $15.95
• SEBASTIANI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#640573) (D) - $19.95

White Wine:

• BELJE GRAŠEVINA 2009 - Suho Vrhunsko, Croatia (#264200) (D) - $16.95
• JOSEPH CATTIN RIESLING 2010 - AC, Alsace, France (#259788) (XD) - $14.95
• SMALL GULLY THE FORMULA HELEN’S HARMONY VIOGNIER 2008 - Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia (#269332) (XD) - $19.95
• TSELEPOS MOSCHOFILERO MANTINIA 2010 - PDO, Greece (#724583) (D) - $16.95

Icewine:

• FLOURISH VIDAL ICEWINE 2008 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#222356) (S) (200 mL) - $17.95

Dessert Wine:

• COTNARI GRASA DE COTNARI 2009 - DOCC, Romania (#073205) (MS) - $12.95

The rest of the wines from this release can be found here. Enjoy!

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2012 Niagara Icewine Festival - Review

Wow! What a weekend. By the time we were done mid-Saturday afternoon, I could not believe we were Icewine-d out! Here's why:

Our first stop was Château des Charmes for their mini Icewine glazed New York-style cheesecake and mocha cheesecake. Both were delicious and paired extremely well with the Icewine cocktail made with fruit juices. We also took in a tour of the facilities as we heard it is one of the best in the region. We heard correctly - it is very good and Rose is an excellent and entertaining tour guide. We also tasted quite a few of the wines and was extremely impressed with the 2007 Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard Riesling Icewine. Full review of this fantastic Icewine and other wines we tasted along the tour will be available in another post later this week.

Cellar at Château des Charmes

The next stop was nearby at Cattail Creek Estate Winery for some butter chicken. In a word - disappointing. The butter chicken was nothing like I had seen before - it was dry and mixed with rice, and I did not see/taste the mango chutney. It was also paired with the 2008 Select Late Harvest Vidal (the Official Icewine Festival booklet states 2006 Barrel Fermented Vidal Icewine). What happened? Seems like everything was off base here. Off to PondView Estate Winery...

"Fire and Ice" Wine Jelly

Two Icewines - Cabernet Franc in chocolate cup, and Vidal in glass. Both were very delicious. The Vidal Icewine was paired with a slice of baguette topped with blue cheese. The surprise was a cucumber topped with some cream (soft cheese?) and "Fire and Ice" wine jelly. Everything here was tasty with top-notch presentation!

Next up - Riverview Cellars Estate Winery for some homemade biscotti, and skewers of banana, strawberry & marshmallow - all dipped in a fountain of Belgian chocolate. Messy, but tasty. The Cab Franc Icewine was delicious, but it's flavours were drowned out by the chocolate. It was busy here! I also experienced for the first time the glass holder attached to the plate - it works, but I was nervous the whole time. :)

Icewine Marshmallow

Since we had some time, we made an unplanned visit to Peller Estates Winery for Icewine and marshmallows and wow! This was a hot spot, lots of people everywhere. Marshmallows were large, and took no time to crisp. How did they do that? Two Icewines were served - Vidal and the Oak Aged. Both were delicious!

Our final winery visit of the day was Jackson Triggs. Here, we sampled a few table wines, followed by the 2007 Cabernet Franc Icewine and the 2007 Delaine Vineyard Riesling Icewine. Both were impressive (and on sale)!

By now, we were quite Icewine-d out, but still had to check out the main event: The Icewine Village. Located on one block of Queen St. in the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake, the street was buzzing with people sipping Icewine as they mingled outdoors from booth to booth and shop to shop. Many (if not all) Niagara-region wineries were represented. The ice sculptures were cool, but I felt a little bit more could have been done to make it more festive - perhaps some lights or colourful decorations?

Ice Sculpture at the Icewine Village, Niagara-on-the-Lake

On Day 2, as we made our way back home, we stopped at GreenLane Estate Winery for some gourmet grilled cheese. These two grilled cheese - one gorgonzola, the other cheddar - paired very well with their 2008 Riesling Icewine and red wine (2007 Cabernet Merlot?). Even though they were small-ish, they were very flavourful and filling.

Gourmet Grilled Cheese

Then, we made an unexpected stop at Legends Estates Winery for pulled lamb souvlaki. Wow! Another great appetizer that paired perfectly with their Reserve Shiraz, not so much with the Sauvignon Blanc. The Icewine for dessert was icing on the cake.

For our final stop, we visited Magnotta Winery for three sweet wines, paired with the classic: cheese. Amanda, our host for the tasting was very knowledgeable about the wines and winemaking process - you can tell she loves wine! We tasted the 2010 Vidal Harvest Moon, 2006 Passito Vidal, and 2007 Riesling Icewine. All three were delicious and paired well with the 3 cheeses offered: cheddar, friulano and blue cheese.

That's it for my review of the 2012 Niagara Icewine Festival. The festival will run one more weekend on January 28-29. If you enjoy Icewine, I highly recommend you go because the food and wine was fabulous.

You can purchase Discovery Passes on-site at any of the participating wineries. If you can hold back the urge, buy only 1 Pass and share the 6 tastings with your partner or loved one OR buy 2 passes and share 12 tastings. The weather looks like it will be pretty good this weekend too! Enjoy!

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2008 Chateau des Charmes Vidal Icewine (Ontario) - Wine Review

Got this one specifically for the #winechat on Icewine that took place on Twitter on December 21st at 9pm EST. And wow - was it ever a GREAT choice.

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES VIDAL ICEWINE 2008 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#565861) (S) (200mL) - $25.95

Tasting Note:
Icewine goodness from the cork - apricot, honey aromas. Peach and honey aromas from the glass. Syrupy mouthfeel with notes of peach, burnt honey, apricot and red apple. Absolutely delicious! If you've never tried an Icewine or are craving some, this is one that will fulfill your taste buds and won't hurt your wallet too much! I wish there was a 375mL version.

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Holiday Cheer Wine Picks: Dec. 10 LCBO Vintages Release

The next LCBO Vintages release is nearly upon us, and just in time for the holidays. The new release of wines will be in stores on December 10. To get ready for the holiday season, which typically means at least few get-togethers with friends & family, I have chosen something from each of the 5 major types  of wine - red, white, icewine, sparkling wine, and even a rosé.

Among the reds, two Malbecs from Argentina stand out. In white, the Pinot Gris from Alsace is off-dry. If you prefer something a bit sweeter and different, try Musqué Spritz from our local Malivoire Wines.

Want something even sweeter? Try the Stoney Ridge Vidal Icewine or the Sparkling Vidal Icewine from Inniskillin.

Enjoy my picks this week as you celebrate the holidays with your friends and family!


Red Wine

• MAIPE RESERVE MALBEC 2009 - Mendoza, Argentina (#247320) (XD) - $17.95
• FINCA EL ORIGEN GRAN RESERVA MALBEC 2009 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#065425) (XD) - $19.95
• LES HAUTS DE CASTELLAS VACQUEYRAS 2009 - AC, Rhône, France (#177634) (XD) - $19.95
• MONTES ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile (#322586) (XD) - $19.95
• RAMON RAMOS MONTE TORO ROBLE 2008 - DO Toro, Spain (#247783) (XD) - $14.95

White Wine:

• ANNE BOECKLIN PINOT GRIS RÉSERVE 2008 - AC Alsace, France (#106831) (D) - $18.95
• MALIVOIRE MUSQUÉ SPRITZ 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#189670) (M) - $19.95

Rosé Wine:

• DOMAINE DE RIMAURESQ ROSÉ Cru Classé 2010 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#226647) (XD) - $18.95

Icewine:

• STONEY RIDGE VIDAL ICEWINE 2007 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#337402) (MS) 375 mL - $34.95

Sparkling Wine:

• FLAT ROCK RIDDLED SPARKLING Méthode Classique 2008 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#187377) (D) - $29.95
• INNISKILLIN SPARKLING VIDAL ICEWINE 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#560367) (MS) 375 mL - $69.95
• FOSS MARAI EXTRA DRY PROSECCO - DOC Treviso, Veneto, Italy (#729392) (D) - $18.95

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Master Works - Finest Wines & Spirits for Celebrations: Nov. 26 Vintages Release

The latest Vintages release is titled "Master Works: Our finest wines and spirits for splendid celebrations" and will be in stores on November 26. As is par for the season, many of these wines are available at a very high price point, and even though they are good quality, they are not affordable. Thus, I will skip over that section and move into the rest of the release.

South Africa was the big winner among my picks - making the cut on three occasions. If you would like to venture out into the world of South African wines, now would a great time!

The very aromatic Chardonnay from Liberty School will satisfy your senses, as will the two Icewines I've recommended from Reif and Strewn. Treat yourself to these Icewines, or wrap them up to make great gifts.

Enjoy my picks! If you do purchase any, let me know. I would love to hear your reviews!


Red Wine:

• FLAGSTONE WRITER’S BLOCK PINOTAGE 2009 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#243337) (XD) - $19.95
• 13TH STREET GAMAY NOIR 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#177824) (XD) - $19.95
• VALIANO POGGIO TEO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006 - DOCG, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Tuscany, Italy (#250563) (XD) - $17.95
• CAVE DE ROQUEBRUN LA GRANGE DES COMBES SAINT-CHINIAN-ROQUEBRUN 2009 - AC, Midi, France (#155804) (XD) - $16.95
• MOOIPLAAS THE BEAN COFFEE PINOTAGE 2010 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#251165) (XD) - $13.95
• CONCHA Y TORO WINEMAKER’S LOT 115 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 - Palo Santo Vineyard, Rapel Valley, Chile (#030965) (XD) - $17.95

White Wine:

• LIBERTY SCHOOL CHARDONNAY 2008 - Central Coast, California, USA (#960120) (XD) - $18.95
• AMANI CHARDONNAY 2009 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#687442) (XD) - $17.95

Icewine:

• REIF VIDAL ICEWINE 2008 - VQA Niagara River, Ontario, Canada (#544791) (S) 200 mL - $24.95
• STREWN CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2008 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#251140) (S) 375 mL - $59.95

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Wine Picks: Holiday Magic + Sweet Wines: Nov. 12 Vintages release

As we get closer to the holiday season, it's time to think about wines for get-togethers. The November 12 Vintage release primary focus is on premium (i.e. expensive) wines. I mostly skipped over these as nearly all were out of budget. However, there are some gems should you wish to purchase a premium wine for your special occasion.

The secondary focus in this release is on the sweet wines. I have chosen two dessert wines, including one Icewine that should satisfy your sweet tooth - or someone else's while making a nice gift.

As for the remainder of this release, there is something for everyone (including your guests) among my top selections. The Sonop Cab Sauv from South Africa is organic and made in a slightly lighter style, while the remaining red wines are on the "big" side.

Among the white wines, the Chardonnay is intriguing. the Pinot Gris is off-dry, and the Savvy is almost made in the classic style. Enjoy!


Red Wine:

• MAIPE RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Mendoza, Argentina (#246116) (D) - $17.95
• FERNANDEZ ESCUDO DE PLATA GRAN RESERVA 2004 - DO Jumilla, Spain (#246751) (XD) - $19.95
• DELAS FRÈRES SAINT-ESPRIT CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2009 - AC, Rhône, France (#729962) (XD) - $14.95
• TERRA NOBLE GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2008 - Maule Valley, Chile (#957050) (XD) - $15.95
• SONOP CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#606160) (XD) - $13.95
• PODERE L’AJA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2007 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#234948) (XD) - $17.95

White Wine:

• LUIGI BOSCA RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2010 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#142836) (XD) - $17.95
• KUHLMANN PLATZ PINOT GRIS 2008 - AC Alsace, France (#224204) (D) - $17.95
• WITHER HILLS WAIRAU VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#919514) (XD) - $17.95

Icewine:

• HENRY OF PELHAM CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2010 - VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#672402) (S) 200 mL - $39.95

Dessert Wine:

• SIVIPA MOSCATEL DE SETÚBAL 2008 - DOC, Portugal (#246652) (MS) - $15.95

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2000 Kiralyudvar Tokaji Furmint Late Harvest (Hungary) - Wine Review

This white wine / dessert wine was purchased waaaaayyyy back in April, 2006 and opened to celebrate Diwali.

KIRÁLYUDVAR 'LAPIS' TOKAJI FURMINT LATE HARVEST 2000 - Hungary (#681338) (M) - $19.95

Tasting Note:
Cork smells of orange blosson and honey. Burnt caramel, brandy, apricot, marzipan and touch of citrus aromas. Raisin, brandy, apricot on the palate. Reminds me of a light Port. I think it was kept too long as it does taste a little washed out. I was expecting to be 'wow'-ed.

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2002 Strewn Vidal Icewine - Review

Bought this one in 2007 and only realized during the Easter long weekend that I should have opened it sometime in 2009. Oops! Let's see how the extra ageing affected this Icewine.

STREWN VIDAL ICEWINE 2002 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#467746) - $24.95 (200 mL)

Tasting Note:
Honey, peach and toast aromas. On the palate it's Syrupy honey, peach, toast (butter). Creamy texture and sweet. Looks like the extra time in bottle did not hurt at all! I enjoyed this with a triple-berry cream cake from Longo's. Yum!

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February & Valentine's Day Release - Vintages Wine Picks

Here are my top picks from the today's Vintages Release. The release has a sub-theme on Tuscany, Valentine's Day, and has a spotlight on Washington State - I have chosen at least one from each.

Red Wine:

• COLUMBIA CREST H3 MERLOT 2007 - Horse Heaven Hills, Washington, USA (#209874) - $19.95
• LORNANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2007 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#211599) - $15.95
• LE CINCIOLE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2007 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#207795) - $19.95
• RINGBOLT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 - Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia (#606624) - $19.95
• LANGA CENTENARIA GARNACHA 2006 - DO Calatayud, Spain (#194795) - $13.95
• CHÂTEAU LE GRAND MOULIN 2008 - Cuvée Grande Réserve, AC Premières Côtes de Blaye, Bordeaux, France (#198994) - $15.95
• GEORGE WYNDHAM FOUNDER'S RESERVE SHIRAZ 2007 - Langhorne Creek, South Australia, Australia (#107904) - $19.95
• L.A. CETTO PETITE SIRAH 2008 - Guadalupe Valley, Baja California, Mexico (#983742) - $11.95

Previous vintages of the Ringbolt from Australia and L.A. Cetto from Mexico are a couple of my favourites. I recall the Mexican wine used to cost $9.95 - and was a steal!

White Wine:

• JOSEPH CATTIN PINOT GRIS 2008 - AC Alsace, France (#196956) - $18.95
• YEALANDS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#199935) - $17.95

Rose Wine:

• DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER ROSÉ DE CHEVALIER 2009 - AC Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France (#209734) - $18.95

Icewine:

• FLOURISH VIDAL ICEWINE 2007 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#222356) - $18.95 (200 mL)
• RED LEAF VIDAL ICEWINE 2006 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#179705) - $17.95 (200 mL)
• FLAT ROCK CELLARS SWEET REVENGE VIDAL ICEWINE 2007 - VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#047803) - $34.95 (375 mL)

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