Showing posts with label ontario. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ontario. Show all posts

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  • Date publishedMonday, March 11, 2024

Kacaba Cabernet/Syrah 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review



red wine review is a lovely Cabernet Franc and Syrah blend that was locally and sustainably grown and crafted in Niagara and arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Like the 2019 Kacaba Cabernet Franc that I enjoyed last year, this red wine is also produced by Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, a premium, small-batch winery located on prime, winegrowing land on the Niagara Escarpment in Vineland, Ontario. The history of the winery begins in 1997 after the land was purchased by Michael Kacaba, a Bay St. lawyer in Toronto of Ukrainian descent and a Saskatchewan background. Although the land was slated for a subdivision, Mr. Kacaba had other visions and began the work to establish a vineyard and winery. Only two years later, in 1999, Kacaba had their first vintage and consistent success followed thereafter.

The choice of establishing the vineyard and winery on the Niagara Escarpment - the slope leading to the lake bed of the prehistoric lake that covered southern Ontario - has greatly contributed to Kacaba's success. This unique geographical area sets up a circulating air flow whereby cold air naturally moves down the Escarpment and over Lake Ontario, where it warms, rises, and returns to heat the Escarpment. This process helps extend the frost-free season through spring and fall, thereby extending the growing season, which allows grapes such as Syrah and Bordeaux varieties, such as Cabernet Franc, to develop phenolic maturity.

Today, while no longer owned by Michael Kacaba, the wines of Kacaba Vineyards & Winery are produced using only the finest grapes on the estate or from partner growers in surrounding vineyards. The philosophy at Kacaba is dependent on producing small quantities of wines by limiting the quantities they can handle such that they are able to manage all aspects of the winemaking process mainly by hand. By focusing on small-batch winemaking, Kacaba is able to produce wines of merit that are deep in colour, rich in aromas and character. Kacaba also strives to encourage sustainable agriculture on their land, as well as their partner growers.

This red wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Syrah, and due to the stellar growing season in the Niagara region, the Cabernet Franc was harvested in early November, while the Syrah was harvested in mid-October. Each varietal was picked separately at slightly different times and kept separate throughout the vinification process. The grapes were gently destemmed and fermented in stainless steel containers. After pressing, the wines were aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels for 17 months. In the spring of 2022, Winemaker Vadim Chelekhov tasted the various barrels of wine and selected the unique tasting casks that showed elegant tannins and overall balance. The chosen barrels were then blended, filtered, and bottled on May 17, 2022.

The 2020 growing season started off warmer than average and was mostly dry with only a few snow storms in January and February. The warm trend continued into March, but then slowed in April, which included a cold snap in the latter part of the month, and kept the vines dormant. The great growing season took off once spring arrived in May, followed by a dry and warm summer, which was followed by a cool, dry, and long fall season. With extensive crop thinning, leaf pulling, and constant vineyard monitoring, the Cabernet Franc grapes hung on to the vines into October and early November. From a vintage that has been deemed the vintage of the century in Niagara, let's see how this 2020 Cabernet Franc - Syrah blend from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Kacaba Cabernet/Syrah 2020 (90 pts)

Tasting Note:

KACABA CABERNET / SYRAH 2020 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#26424) (XD) - $24.95
A blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Syrah, this has a rich, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that offers pleasing, ripe red & black fruit, currant, raspberry, oak spice, chocolate, and savoury earth aromas, plus hints of plum, meaty, and mineral notes. It's medium-bodied on the dry palate with delicious, tangy red & black fruits, currant, raspberry, savoury earth flavours, plus subtle oak spice, black pepper, and meaty notes add further character. It has fresh, lemony acidity, while the smooth, supple, and refined tannins are well-managed. There's a touch of chalky grip on the back palate. Tangy with savoury earth and mineral notes linger on the long, fresh finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 5+ years. Score: 90 pts

Some of the fine wines by Kacaba Vineyards are available at the LCBO, while the full range is available direct from winery in Niagara.


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  • Date publishedSunday, January 21, 2024

Chilled to Perfection: Inniskillin Icewine Harvest and Brunch (Jan. 2024)

Inniskillin Vidal Icewine Tasting
Earlier this I had the pleasure of attending an exclusive media preview of the Chilled to Perfection: Inniskillin Icewine Harvest and Brunch event that is taking place on at Inniskillin Estate winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The event begins with a welcoming cup of Icewine Hot Chocolate, followed by an opportunity to mingle and get warmed up before heading outdoors. Up next on the itinerary, we were joined by Inniskillin's Winemaker, Nicholas Gizuk, and he took us through an Icewine Harvest in the vineyard.

We headed out to the vineyard to inspect and cut bunches of Vidal grapes for the production of Icewine. It was very interesting to see the grapes still on the vines, many of which were turning brown - a sign that the grapes are freezing, sugars concentrating, and just about ready for picking. Keep in mind that according to VQA Ontario standards, grapes for Icewine production must be picked at temperatures no warmer than -8º Celsius. Within the bunches we noticed that some of the Vidal grapes were still green. We also got the opportunity to taste the green grapes and compare them with their brown counterparts, with Nicholas explaining some of the various changes occurring within the grapes, as well as some of the flavour differences we could expect to taste between the green and brown grapes. You will also get the opportunity to experience this when you attend on the 27th.

Inniskillin Vidal Icewine Vineyard

After finishing the harvest portion of the experience and walking among the vineyards, we headed inside with Nicholas for a guided tour of the facility as he explained the process for producing Icewine from selecting and pressing the frozen grapes to fermentation, maturation, and finally bottling. At the end of the tour, we got to taste some 2022 Vidal Icewine Juice, a 2022 Inniskillin Vidal Icewine (93 pts, $50), and the 2019 Inniskillin Vidal Icewine (93+ pts). It was a cool experience to taste Icewine Juice prior to it becoming the finished product. It was also very nice to compare the 2022 and 2019 vintage Icewines side-by-side, with the 2022 offering a fresher profile, while the 2019 showing some tertiary, caramelized characters - both were excellent!

At the conclusion of the tour, we headed to the underground cellar room to enjoy an Icewine-inspired Brunch Buffet. Each item in the buffet was made with Icewine and offered a wide variety of options for all tastes. While I didn't try everything, I did enjoy everything that was on my plate, which included delicious portions of chicken, salmon, penne pasta, and cheese. The desserts were also tasty.

Inniskillin Icewine-inspired Brunch Buffet

Inniskillin Icewine-inspired Dessert Buffet

Inniskillin Icewine-inspired Brunch

Co-founded in 1975 by Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser, Inniskillin is Canada's first estate winery. Situated in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Inniskillin is internationally renowned for its wines, especially Icewine, and played a pioneering role in establishing the Canadian wine industry. In 1984, Inniskillin had its first successful Icewine harvest of naturally frozen Vidal grapes, and in 1991, the 1989 Inniskillin Vidal Icewine was brought into the international limelight when it won the Grand Prix d'Honneur at Vin Expo in France. In 1999, Riedel Glassware and Inniskillin collaborated to create the ultimate Icewine glass - a shape that was perfected to guide the wine to parts of your palate that best interpret the nuanced flavours of Icewine. Today, Inniskillin Icewines are among the best and are enjoyed both locally and internationally.

Nicholas Gizuk joined Inniskillin in 2013, and it was clear right from the start that he was a perfect fit for the iconic winery. Nicholas was trained under the guidance of renowned Winemaker Bruce Nicholson from 2013 to 2021, and was promoted to Assistant Winemaker in 2017. Four years later, Nicholas Gizuk was promoted to Estate Winemaker at Inniskillin in Niagara. Nicholas' philosophy is about making varietally true wines, while also allowing the soil and sense of place to also be expressed in each wine, with as little intervention as possible.

Chilled to Perfection: Inniskillin Icewine Harvest and Brunch tentative event schedule on :
  • 7:00 am - Welcome with Icewine Hot Chocolate
  • 7:45 am - Join Inniskillin Winemaker Nicholas Gizuk as he guides you through an Icewine harvest
  • 8:15 am - Finish harvest, take a guided tour with Nicholas explaining the Icewine production process
  • 9:00 am - Mimosas in the cellar
  • 9:30 am - Icewine-inspired Brunch Buffet
  • 11:00 am - Departure
Only a limited number of tickets are available for this exclusive event and the cost is $65+HST & Gratuity per guest, or $55+HST & Gratuity for Wine Club Members.

Get your tickets to Chilled to Perfection: Inniskillin Icewine Harvest and Brunch today!

Inniskillin Icewine Ice Bar


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  • Date publishedSunday, December 24, 2023

Fogolar Hughes Vineyard Riesling 2019 (Niagara) - Wine Review

white wine review is a lovely Riesling that I purchased in December of last year. It was a brand-new arrival in the LCBO VINTAGES Release and was slated to be opened during the holidays last year, but it never happened, so here we are a year later.

Surprisingly, there are still about 30 bottles available at the LCBO, while the latest vintage can be ordered via Collab Wine & Beverage.

Fogolar Hughes Vineyard Riesling 2019 (90 pts)

Tasting Note:

FOGOLAR HUGHES VINEYARD RIESLING 2019 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#30664) (M) - $19.95
Screw cap. The fragrant nose offers attractive honeyed and floral characters nuanced with lemon/lime citrus and petrol aromas. It has good weight on the medium+-full bodied, concentrated palate, with lovely honey, floral, lemon/lime citrus, and petrol replays joined by peach, apple, and leesy mineral flavours. It's medium-dry in sweetness, with a crunchy mouthfeel and well-balanced acidity, while tapering to a dry-ish, lightly chalky textured finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts


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  • Date publishedFriday, September 8, 2023

September 9, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Ontario

LCBO Wine Picks: September 9, 2023 VINTAGES Release
Here's my top wine picks from the September 9, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. As per usual, the first release of September coincides with harvest here in Ontario and, as such, the theme of this release focuses on wines from Ontario. It is a fairly sized release with 132 wines and more than 30 of which fall into the "Online and Flagship Exclusive" category. All of the wines should be in stores by this Saturday.

We begin with the theme, which features the brilliant wines from Ontario. There are 20 wines from 20 different wineries in the theme, and includes a mini-profile of each winery in the printed catalogue. There are many nice wines among the 20, with a few recommended previously, so I have elected to include just three wines among my top wine picks this time around - a pair of delicious Niagara Riesling wines, with the one from Vineland Estates the sweeter of the two, and the Late Harvest Vidal dessert wine which is very sweet for a Late Harvest wine.

Vineland Estates Elevation St. Urban Vineyard Riesling 2021 (90 pts)

Among my red wine picks, dominating the list is Italy with 6 recommendations. We start in Piedmont with a pair of Barolo wines which are, of course, made with the noble Nebbiolo grape varietal. The next three wines are all Chianti Classico wines from Tuscany - the Castello di Bossi, which is the Wine of the Month, is made with 100% Sangiovese, while the Volpaia is 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot, and the organic Trasqua is mainly Sangiovese with about 10% each Merlot and Cabernet completing the blend. The last wine from Italy is from the volcanic soils of Mount Etna in Sicily and it is composed of Nerello Cappuccio and Nerello Mascalese. Red wines from France include a Bordeaux blend of 75% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot, while the Languedoc red is composed of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache, and the Crozes-Hermitage is straight Syrah.

Aurelio Settimo Barolo 2017 (93 pts)Michele Chiarlo Tortoniano Barolo 2018 (92+ pts)

Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico 2020 (90 pts)Château de Tréviac Corbières 2020 (90 pts)

Villa Trasqua Chianti Classico 2018 (89 pts)

All of my white wine picks from the main release are single varietal wines. For Sauvignon Blanc fans, there is a Sancerre from Loire, as well as a pair of Sauv Blanc wines from Marlborough. For Chardonnay wine lovers, there is a fine Chablis Premier Cru from Burgundy. Other fine wines include a pair of Grüner Veltliner wines from Austria, and an Assyrtiko from Santorini. If you like some sweetness in your wines, try the latest vintage of a lovely Riesling from Mosel.

Domaine Hamelin Beauroy Chablis 1er Cru 2021 (94 pts)Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Les Caillottes Sancerre 2021 (93 pts)

Pauly Generations Riesling 2021 (90 pts)Hãhã Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (90 pts)

The only bubbles among my recommendations is a vintage Crémant from Loire that is a blend of 60% Chenin, 20% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir, and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Henkell Brut Crémant de Loire 2016 (88+ pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

  • CHÂTEAU DE TRÉVIAC CORBIÈRES 2020 - AP, Languedoc, France (#670505) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
  • VILLA TRASQUA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#121160) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  • BYRON & HAROLD ROSE & THORNS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Great Southern, Western Australia (#30891) (XD) - $21.95
  • CASTELLO DI BOSSI C. BERARDENGA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#994608) (XD) - $22.95  90 pts  wine review
  • TORNATORE ETNA ROSSO 2019 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#487090) (XD) - $25.95
  • CAVE DE TAIN HÉRITIERS GAMBERT NOBLES RIVES CROZES-HERMITAGE 2021 - AP, Rhône, France (#572230) (XD) - $33.95
  • VOLPAIA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#953828) (XD) - $36.95
  • MICHELE CHIARLO TORTONIANO BAROLO 2018 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#586388) (XD) - $49.95  92+ pts  wine review
  • AURELIO SETTIMO BAROLO 2017 - Sustainable, DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#291559) (XD) - $57.95  93 pts  wine review
  • CHÂTEAU BRANAS GRAND POUJEAUX 2019 - AC Moulis-en-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#34383) (XD) - $65.95  FE

White Wine:

  • HÃHÃ SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#388363) (XD) - $18.95  90 pts  wine review
  • LITORALE VAL DELLE ROSE VERMENTINO 2022 - DOC Maremma Toscana, Italy (#17703) (XD) - $18.95
  • ATTEMS PINOT GRIGIO 2022 - DOC Friuli, Italy (#707950) (XD) - $19.95
  • LEINDL GV GRÜNER VELTLINER 2021 - Niederösterreich, Austria (#30599) (XD) - $19.95  FE
  • 13TH STREET JUNE'S VINEYARD RIESLING 2021 - Sustainable, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#147512) (D) - $21.95
  • VINELAND ESTATES ELEVATION ST. URBAN VINEYARD RIESLING 2021 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#38117) (M) - $22.95  90 pts  wine review
  • PAULY GENERATIONS RIESLING 2021 - Qualitätswein, Mosel, Germany (#21033) (M) - $25.95  FE  90 pts  wine review
  • STADT KREMS RIED WEINZIERLBERG 1ÖTW GRÜNER VELTLINER 2021 - DAC Kremstal, Austria (#33783) (XD) - $28.95
  • SAINT CLAIR WAIRAU RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#415653) (XD) - $32.95  FE
  • JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE LES CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2021 - AC, Loire, France (#65573) (XD) - $36.95  93 pts  wine review
  • DOMAINE HAMELIN BEAUROY CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2021 - AC, Burgundy, France (#391805) (XD) - $45.95  FE  94 pts  wine review
  • VASSALTIS SANTORINI ASSYRTIKO 2022 - PDO, Greece (#33859) (XD) - $70.95  FE

Sparkling Wine:

  • HENKELL BRUT CRÉMANT DE LOIRE 2016 - Traditional method, AP, Loire, France (#29893) (D) - $21.95  88+ pts  wine review

Dessert Wine:

  • HENRY OF PELHAM SPECIAL SELECT LATE HARVEST VIDAL 2019 - Sustainable, VQA Ontario, Canada (#395228) (S) (375 mL) - $19.95


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  • Date publishedMonday, August 21, 2023

Hidden Bench Béton Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (Niagara) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2022 Hidden Bench Locust Lane Rosé last month, white wine review is another lovely organic wine from the same producer. In fact, this is the first vintage for this wine and also brand new to the LCBO, arriving in-stores and online as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on .

Hidden Bench Estate Winery is one of Niagara's leading boutique wineries. It was founded in 2003 by Harald Thiel and family in Beamsville Bench when they acquired the Locust Lane vineyard. A year later, Hidden Bench purchased the Rosomel Vineyard, where this white wine was grown. Today, the focus at Hidden Bench is on artisanal, terroir-focused, and premium wines using grapes from their own, organic, estate vineyards. Their philosophy is based on a non-interventionist, quality-focused, and terroir-driven approach. Hidden Bench has a long, well-established reputation for excellence both domestically and internationally, and their wines have earned numerous accolades over the years, and much of their success can be attributed to their location within the VQA Beamsville Bench sub-appellation in Niagara.

This 100% Sauvignon Blanc was organically certified and estate grown at their Rosomel Vineyard on the Beamsville Bench. The Rosomel Vineyard is set on a broad terrace where the escarpment forms a double bench. The vineyard gently slopes northward towards the lake, with the edge of the vineyard bordered by wooded thickets on three sides, while the Bruce Trail runs along the upper bench, directly behind the vineyard. Because the vineyard is positioned between two benches, it is protected from harsher winds, while the gentle slopes and its proximity to the lake ensures that air circulates throughout the vineyard, and helps prevent frost or Botrytis.

In 2021, because of the wet growing season, they exposed the bunches at fruit-set to sunlight by removing leaves on the east side of the canopy, which also opened up air flow from the west side. A green harvest was done at the start of véraison, and they left only the healthiest bunches on the vine in order to promote ripeness, concentration of flavours, and the expression of terroir. The grapes were harvested and sorted by hand, then gently whole bunch pressed. The wine is named "Béton", which translates to "Concrete", because it was naturally fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete tanks and remained in concrete for 7 months to age on its lees, until bottling.

The growing season in 2021 started with a mild and relatively dry winter which protected the buds. Spring was warm, leading to an earlier than average budbreak and was coupled with an excellent vegetative growth phase through May and June which resulted in early and complete flowering towards the Summer Solstice. The fruit set was excellent, while the crop size was larger than average and was supported by ample moisture and heat during July and August. Anticipating an excellent (and large) vintage, leaf removal to open the canopy, as well as fruit thinning and balancing throughout the summer to the end of August kept the winegrowing team busy. Rainfall during harvest presented challenges, but overall they were pleased with the quality of the fruit. The 2021 growing season will be remembered as a winegrower's vintage, where a nimble approach and attention to detail from vineyard to bottle helped produce very good, early varietal wines. Let's see how this 2021 Sauvignon Blanc from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Hidden Bench Béton Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (90+ pts)

Tasting Note:

HIDDEN BENCH BÉTON SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Rosomel Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#33552) (XD) - $27.95
Fermented and aged in concrete tanks. Enclosed by screw cap. This lovely, organic Sauvignon Blanc has a fragrant nose that leads with intriguing flinty minerality aromas, followed by ripe lemon citrus and pear, plus some ripe tropical fruit, thyme, herbs, and grass notes that add complexity. It is impressively weighted on the medium-full bodied, nicely textured palate with lovely, dry flavours of ripe lemon citrus, pear, grapefruit, and flinty mineral, with touches of white peach and cucumber. Fresh acidity is juicy and succulent. It's somewhat spicy on the mid-palate, while citrus and mineral notes linger on the long, textured finish. Different, intriguing, and a highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other fantastic wines from Hidden Bench are available through the LCBO, their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits, or direct from the winery in Niagara.


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  • Date publishedSaturday, August 12, 2023

Kacaba Cabernet Franc 2019 (Niagara) - Wine Review

red wine review is a lovely local offering from Niagara that arrived at the LCBO in last weekend's LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is available for purchase online at LCBO.com and Flagship Exclusive stores.

It is produced by Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, a premium, small-batch winery located on prime, winegrowing land on the Niagara Escarpment in Vineland, Ontario. It's history began when the previous owner, Michael Kacaba, a Bay St. lawyer in Toronto of Ukrainian descent and from a Saskatchewan background, purchased the property in 1997. Although the land was slated for a subdivision, Michael had other ideas and began the work to establish a vineyard and winery. In 1999, Kacaba had his first vintage and consistent success followed thereafter.

Much of Kacaba's success can be attributed to its location on the Escarpment - the slope leading to the lake bed of the prehistoric lake that covered southern Ontario. This unique geographical area sets up a circulating air flow whereby cold air naturally moves down the Escarpment and over Lake Ontario where it warms, rises, and returns to heat the Escarpment. This process helps extend the frost-free season through spring and fall, thereby extending the growing season, which allows grapes such as Syrah and the Bordeaux varieties to develop phenolic maturity.

Kacaba wines are produced using only the finest grapes grown on their estate or partnered grape growers from surrounding vineyards, and their philosophy is based on small quantities. The production is limited based on their ability to handle and manage quantities that can be produced mainly by hand, with pumping kept to a minimum and using gravity for racking and bottling. By focusing on smaller batch sizes, Kacaba is able to produce wines of merit that are rich in aromas, and deep in colour and character with velvety finishes. While encouraging sustainable agriculture, their main goal is to produce ultra-premium wines. However, they also produce moderately priced wines that are necessary for the economic well-being of the company, while striving to produce more fruit-driven wines with more finesse and character.

This red wine is from Kacaba's "Escarpment" range of wines and crafted with 100% Cabernet Franc that was grown in their vineyards situated on the Escarpment Bench, where the soil helps produce quality wines even during an average growing season such as 2019. On the Escarpment Bench, the landscape's elevation and dense clay/loam soils naturally stress the vines which concentrate the flavours in the fruit, and when coupled with strategic crop thinning, this concentration produces balanced tannins with ripe fruit flavours.

The grapes to craft this red wine were carefully harvested and gently de-stemmed. It was fermented over 14 days using select yeast strains, with twice-daily manual pump-overs and punch-downs. Upon completion of primary fermentation, the wine was pressed from the skins and racked into a combination of 29 slightly older French and American oak barrels, where it finished malolactic fermentation. The wine remained in barrels for 12 months for further maturation, and was filtered and bottled. Let's see how this 2019 Cabernet Franc from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Kacaba Cabernet Franc 2019 (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

KACABA CABERNET FRANC 2019 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#272146) (XD) - $33.15
Lovely, medium-high intensity nose offers ripe red & black fruits, grilled herbs, black cherry, currant, and leather aromas with hints of tobacco. It's medium+ bodied, dry, and well-structured with delicious ripe currant, black cherry, grilled herbs, leather, and tobacco flavour replays, plus touches of pepper and spice. It's all supported by fresh acidity and supple, gently chalky textured, and well-structured tannins. Currant, black cherry, and savoury oak notes with a hint of dark plum lingers on the finish, with very good length. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next 4-5 years. Score: 89 pts

Other fine wines by Kacaba Vineyards are available at the LCBO, with a wider variety available direct from winery in Niagara.


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  • Date publishedTuesday, July 18, 2023

Hidden Bench Locust Lane Rosé 2022 (Niagara) - Wine Review

rosé wine review is a lovely organic and dry rosé from Niagara that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Hidden Bench Estate Winery, one of the top wineries in the Niagara Peninsula. Hidden Bench was founded in 2003 by Harald Thiel and family with a dedication to artisanal, terroir-focused, and premium wines using grapes from their own, organic, estate vineyards situated within the sup-appellation of VQA Beamsville Bench in Niagara, Ontario. With a non-interventionist, quality-focused, and terroir-driven approach, Hidden Bench has long-established an ongoing reputation for excellence both domestically and internationally.

The Beamsville Bench is home to many of the best wines produced in Ontario. Much of this success is attributed to the limestone-rich, clay-based, and glacial till soils - all three of Hidden Bench's estate vineyards are situated on these soils and allow them to produce complex, mineral-driven wines that are old-world in style, age worthy, and have a definitive sense of place. The three estate vineyards are farmed for low yields using organic and biodynamic practices to produce approximately 120,000 bottles of wine with pronounced complexity and character which bear a sense of place and time.

Hidden Bench also employs the latest technologies to enhance the viticultural and winemaking processes, while respecting their traditional non-interventionist winemaking style. As stewards of the land, Hidden Bench has also embraced sustainability as they apply Procert certified organic and sustainable best practices in the vineyard, at the winery, and the marketing of their wines to reduce their environmental footprint on the land, and impact on their neighbours, and society as a whole.

I've had the pleasure of tasting many wines over the years from Hidden Bench, and their passion is always on full display as they embrace a whole-team approach that is founded upon a shared, ongoing passion for excellence, as well as a contagious enthusiasm. Their ongoing and uncompromising attention to detail distinguishes and differentiates their wines and winery from their contemporaries.

Having tasted this rosé wine several times in the past, I know that the exact composition changes with each vintage. For the 2022 vintage, this dry rosé is composed of 88% Pinot Noir, 6% Viognier, and 6% Chardonnay. All of the grapes were grown organically on the estate and crafted using a combination of both "direct to press" and "saignée" techniques. As this blend is predominantly Pinot Noir, the elegance of whole-cluster pressed Pinot Noir, combined with a small percentage of the richer saignée portion, provides a unique complexity to the finished wine, while both portions were fermented in neutral French oak and aged for 5 months prior to racking and blending.

The 2022 vintage began with cold temperatures in January, with overnight lows close to -21°C. This cold snap caused some primary bud damage, and was partially responsible for a 25% reduction in grape yields compared to their historical average. Spring brought better weather with seasonal temperatures and minimal precipitation. Flowering started earlier than normal, while the berry set was complete by late June. Summer was moderate and dry, with seasonal rainfall. The main challenge in the vineyard was managing disease pressures, which were the result of high humidity from June through August. Disease pressure was reduced by keeping the fruit clean through timely leaf removal, crop thinning, and a disciplined and timely organic spray program. Veraison began in early August and was completed towards the middle of the month, while harvest began in the middle of September and lasted until mid-to-late October. Hidden Bench was blessed with consistent and favourable weather during harvest, which allowed them to choose pick dates based on flavour and ripeness.

It is often said, particularly in Niagara, that the quality of the vintage is determined by the weather in September and October. Overall, Hidden Bench was pleased with the quality of the harvested fruit, albeit in smaller-than-normal quantities. It is expected that the 2022 vintage is excellent across the board with wines that will truly showcase the terroir of the Beamsville Bench in Niagara. Let's see how this 2022 rosé from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Hidden Bench Locust Lane Rosé 2022 (91+ pts)

Tasting Note:

HIDDEN BENCH LOCUST LANE ROSÉ 2022 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#68833) (XD) - $24.95
This organic rosé is blend of 88% Pinot Noir, 6% Viognier, and 6% Chardonnay. The deep and intense nose offers lovely, complex aromas of grapefruit, citrus, orange, stony minerals, and floral accented with strawberry, melon, watermelon, and peach. It's medium+ bodied on the dry, lightly honeyed palate with fresh, juicy acidity supporting grapefruit, citrus, strawberry, watermelon, melon, orange, mineral, and floral flavours. Slightly viscous mouthfeel on the mid-palate. It's nicely balanced with pleasing mineral, grapefruit, and citrus flavours that are joined by spicy notes on the long, crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Many other lovely wines from the fine portfolio of Hidden Bench Estate Winery can be purchased through the LCBO, their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits, or direct from the winery in Niagara.


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  • Date publishedSaturday, April 22, 2023

Southside Fizz by Aloette (Ontario) - Cocktail Review

cocktail review is a delicious, brand new, ready-to-drink cocktail that just arrived at the LCBO. It is produced locally in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is widely available across the province now.

Southside Fizz by Aloette is a mojito-esque twist on the classic Southside cocktail where London Dry Gin (plus Vodka according to the ingredients) is mixed with lime juice, muddled mint, and a hint of fresh cucumber to create a cool and refreshing carbonated cocktail that is light and citrusy on the palate, and enjoyed chilled or over ice.

It was created by Aloette, a neighbourhood bistro located in downtown Toronto and imagined by Alo Food Group. At Aloette, they take pride in using only the finest ingredients to create the perfectly crafted cocktail. Let's see how this new Southside Fizz cocktail by Aloette is tasting tonight...

Southside Fizz by Aloette

Tasting Note:

SOUTHSIDE FIZZ BY ALOETTE - Ontario, Canada (#31248) (355 mL) - $2.95
It smells very fresh with hints of cucumber, lime, and mint, all of which is echoed on the very fresh and flavourful palate, joined by some savoury London Dry Gin notes on the finish. It's not very sweet, while the carbonated bubbles add to the overall freshness. Chill and enjoy! Perfect for sipping on hot summer days and a recommended buy!


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  • Date publishedSaturday, April 1, 2023

Cabana Coast Dirty Shirley (Canada) - Cocktail Review

cocktail review is a delicious, ready-to-drink, hard cocktail that was launched just a few weeks ago and is widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

It is produced by Cabana Coast Cocktails right here in Canada and they are one of a number of brands that are part of Ace Beverage Group. Cabana Coast Cocktails produces a few hard cocktails, including the Original Mule, and the Dirty Shirley is their newest creation!

The Cabana Coast Dirty Shirley is an adult take on a nostalgic, sweet, and classic beverage that many of us know from the good old days. The Cabana Coast Dirty Shirley is the Shirley Temple flavour you love that is infused with premium vodka to create a tasty, alcoholic twist on an all-time nostalgic drink. Let's get dirty and see how Dirty Shirley is tasting tonight...

Cabana Coast Dirty Shirley

Tasting Note:

CABANA COAST DIRTY SHIRLEY - Ontario, Canada (#31253) (473 mL) - $3.15
Small-batch crafted, it has delicious maraschino cherry, currant, and grenadine flavours with a touch of citrus in a fresh, carbonated style with bright bubbles. It's smooth and refreshing, while citrusy, cherry, and vodka notes linger on the crisp finish, with very good length. A delicious, recommended buy suitable for year-round sipping!

Cabana Coast Dirty Shirley


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  • Date publishedMonday, March 6, 2023

Creekside Red Tractor Cabernet/Merlot 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review

red wine review is a delicious Cabernet-Merlot from Niagara that returned to the LCBO over the weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Red Tractor Wines are produced by Creekside Estate Winery. This new world wine brand was established by Creekside in 2011 to celebrate the past, present, and future of farming in Ontario. The red tractor symbol comes from an old Massey Harris tractor that Creekside owns and serves as a symbol of the hard work required to farm the vineyards. Red Tractor Wines honours this hard work and salutes their family of growers.

The grapes used to craft Red Tractor Wines are sourced from family farms across the Niagara Peninsula - because place matters. The wines pay homage to the vineyards and growers such as the Serluca and Smith Families, as they work alongside these second-generation farmers as they push the boundaries on innovation and lead with sustainable farming practices.

And thinking ahead to International Women's Day, which is held annually on March 8th, Yvonne Irvine leads the winemaking for Red Tractor Wines. She has over 12-years of viticultural and winemaking experience, and works closely with the family of growers while embracing the honest, hard-work required to grow and harvest quality fruit. Each vintage is a labour of love as she celebrates the growers by crafting their fruit into strong, powerful wines.

I was first introduced to Red Tractor Wines in 2019 when they launched their first Cabernet/Merlot and Cabernet Franc wines. The range now also includes a Shiraz Cabernet and a Chardonnay. While the 2017 vintage of this red wine blend was Merlot-based, this particular vintage is composed of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon (47%) and Merlot (46%), plus 7% Cabernet Franc to complete the blend. This blend celebrates the vineyards of the Niagara Peninsula and the growers that have shaped the landscape. The grapes were harvested from three vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It was vinified and aged in separate small lots, and then blended after 16 months in barrel.

From the near-perfect 2020 growing season that provided structure, ripeness, and longevity to age, let's see how this 2020 Bordeaux-blend from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Creekside Red Tractor Cabernet/Merlot 2020 (88+ pts)

Tasting Note:

CREEKSIDE RED TRACTOR CABERNET/MERLOT 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#11851) (D) - $17.95
A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc, this has an attractive, medium-high intensity nose that offers ripe black currant, cassis, black cherry, chocolate, and oak spice aromas with some earthy undertones and a touch of olive. On the medium-full bodied palate it has ripe, dark currant, cassis, black cherry, plum, and earthy oak spice flavours supported by fresh acidity. Structured tannins are gritty textured and quite drying, while savoury earth, cedary, and cocoa notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Enjoy this recommended buy with big red meats. Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious Red Tractor Wines are available direct from Creekside Estate Winery in Niagara.


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  • Date publishedSunday, February 19, 2023

Queenston Mile Pinot Noir 2017 (Niagara) - Wine Review

I first tasted this lovely 2017 Queenston Mile Pinot Noir back in June 2019 and for red wine review I'm delighted to see it return to the LCBO this weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release as an Online and Flagship Exclusive.

It is produced by Queenston Mile Vineyard, a 50-acre vineyard and winery that launched as a brand in early 2019. Queenston Mile is located in the St. David's Bench sub-appellation of Niagara Peninsula, within the Niagara-on-the-Lake region. They are located just 10 kilometres south of the shores of Lake Ontario, an area formed when glaciers carved out the Niagara Escarpment and arose from the historic shoreline of Lake Iroquois towards the base of the Niagara Escarpment. Today, the escarpment's steep ridge collects winds off the lake and circulates them back over the low-lying plains of Niagara-on-the-Lake, creating a warmer climate that extends from early in the spring to lengthen the entire growing season.

The small, dedicated team behind Queenston Mile Vineyard is led by talented winemaker Rob Power of Creekside Estate Winery. Rob and his team had been growing grapes and making wine from the land where Queenston Mile resides for over twenty years, with the first ten years spent waiting for the newly planted vines to mature. They discovered that Queenston Mile has one of the warmest and longest growing sites in the Niagara Peninsula. During the next ten years, they began to see the special qualities of the vineyard, with soils consisting of red sandstone bedrock and rich layers of silty clay and loam. Today, they grow seven varieties on the property, with the primary focus on crafting wines mainly with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, including sparkling wines.

Crafted with 100% Pinot Noir, the fruit in this wine is from their estate vineyard in the St. David's Bench sub-appellation of the Niagara Peninsula. It was small-batch fermented in stainless steel tanks after a 3-day cold soak, and aged for 16 months in French oak barriques and demi-muids, 40% new.

The 2017 growing season near the estate featured a rainy spring and moderate summer. But things turned around in the fall when the sun started to shine brightly and delivered a hot and dry September, bringing extended heat to record one of the nicest fall seasons on record. Although this vineyard always creates a powerful wine, this particular vintage produced a Pinot that not only comes across as more restrained and smooth, but also elegantly styled with balanced structure. Let's see how this 2017 Pinot Noir from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Queenston Mile Pinot Noir 2017 (93 pts)

Tasting Note:

QUEENSTON MILE PINOT NOIR 2017 - Estate bottled, VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#10138) (XD) - $40.00
Screw cap. Evolved to a medium-pale garnet colour, this has a beautifully fragrant and highly aromatic nose of black cherry, raspberry, Damson plum, and subtle spice with some earthy and mushroomy characters while continuing to evolve in the glass. It's mid-weighted and well-structured on the palate with lovely black cherry, sour cherry, raspberry, and Damson plum flavours joined by savoury wet earth, beet root, and subtle spice and smoky notes adding further complexity. Touches of tea leaf on the mid-palate. It's nicely textured with some grip and a pleasant, lightly chalky mouthfeel, while acids are fresh and succulent. Smoky and savoury on the long, juicy finish. Wow! Highly recommend buy! Score: 93 pts

Other fine wines by Queenston Mile Vineyard come through the LCBO from time to time, but can also be ordered direct from the winery in Niagara.


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  • Date publishedSaturday, February 11, 2023

Creekside Laura's Red 2018 (Niagara) - Wine Review

red wine review is the latest vintage of a terrific red blend from Niagara that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Creekside Estate Winery in small-town Jordan, Ontario, within the Niagara Peninsula. Creekside was founded in 1997 by Laura McCain and has a been a leader in producing distinctive, premium wines, and introducing grape varieties to Niagara that have expanded the horizons of the region. They are also known for their eclectic blends such as this wine - Laura's Blend - which has been made since the winery's founding in the late 90s.

Today, Creekside is owned by Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc., but they are still led by the same group of passionate (and some say fanatical) group of industry veterans, chief among them winemaker Rob Power, who have decades of experience in their respective fields. The team of self-described cork dorks love what they do, and have fun doing it.

This lovely red wine is always a blend whose exact composition changes with each vintage, but always consists of red vinifera varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, and often includes other varieties as well, with the end goal of creating the best wine possible. This particular edition was meticulously crafted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Syrah to create a wine with structure and ageing potential, but also with a core of good fruit that can also be enjoyed in its youth.

The 2018 growing season in Niagara was one of the most difficult vintages ever in terms of weather calamities with a hot summer season and very little rain, followed by rain, rain, and more rain mid-harvest. However, this didn't seem to impact grape quality too much as the resulting wines were all quite good in a moderate climate idiom. Let's see how this 2018 red wine from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Creekside Laura's Red 2018 (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

CREEKSIDE LAURA'S RED 2018 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#117960) (XD) - $25.00
Screw cap. This blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Syrah has a fragrant, open, and medium-high intensity nose that delivers a fine, complex mix of red & black fruits, currant, cassis, oak spices, and grilled herbs with savoury earth undertones. It's medium to medium-full bodied on the dry palate with ripe black cherry, peppery spice, grilled herbs, currant, and cassis flavours all supported by fresh acidity and grainy textured, lightly grippy tannins. Flavours taper to savoury, chocolate, and oak spice notes on the finish, with very good length. A delicious, recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Creekside are widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario, and direct from the winery in Niagara.


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  • Date publishedThursday, February 2, 2023

Dam Chardonnay 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review

white wine review is a lovely Chardonnay from Niagara that was quietly released last fall without much of the usual fanfare, and I had the pleasure of tasting in a virtual tasting with one of the partners at 80x Wine Company, André Proulx.

It is produced by 80x Wine Company, a virtual winery that started as an idea in 2015 when Vadim Chelekhov and André had a conversation at a wine gala in Niagara and asked each other "Wouldn't it be great if we made some wine together?"

André is a wine writer based in Ontario and not only believes you are what you drink, but also that it is important to understand what it takes to go from vineyard to bottle. Vadim wanted an outlet to explore some more experimental winemaking, while Guillaume Frénéhard studied the wine business in France and assured André and Vadim that he could help them sell their wine. Since all of the partners in this project were born in the 80s, they named the business 80x Wine Company.

In 2019, Adam Kern joined the team as dedicated winemaker, bringing with him years of experience being trained as a somm and working at some of Ontario's best wineries. As a virtual winery, 80x Wine Company purchases grapes from selected vineyards across the Niagara Peninsula and vinify their wines at Rockway Vineyards in St. Catharines, Ontario. Together, they believe that great wine is the result of passion, insanity, and friendship.

This Chardonnay gets its name after a contentious discussion within the company on what wine they were going to make next - their first wine was a Gamay, which I recall tasting several years ago, and was followed by Pinot Noir. The conversation ended with one of the partners saying "Fine, You can have your damned Chardonnay".

It is crafted with fruit from vines planted in 1983 at the famed Erv and Esther Willms Vineyard within the Four Mile Creek sub-appellation in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The 80x team didn't hesitate to purchase the Willms fruit when presented with the opportunity as they knew quality wines were produced by other well-known Niagara wine producers using fruit from this vineyard in the past.

The growing season in 2020 in Niagara was exceptional, in spite of a challenging year for humanity. Conditions were near perfect and favoured both white and red varieties. Grapes reached phenolic ripeness while retaining the all-important acidity. Days were warm, but nights were cool, allowing the grapes to rest and retain its acidity. The high diurnal temperature range between warm days and cool nights is almost unheard of in Niagara and helped greatly in achieving high quality wines across the board.

Harvest day was one of the highlights of 2020 for 80x Wine Company. It was an opportunity to get a small team of close friends to help them pick the fruit from the vineyards that looked like they had been photoshopped by mother nature. It was vinified by slow fermentation over several months in 2nd and 4th fill puncheons with indigenous yeast, with winemaker Adam keeping a close eye on it. In January 2021, they were forced to cover their puncheons with blankets to raise the temperature and feel that their patience was rewarded.

Only 99 cases and 16 magnums were produced and it is currently available for purchase direct through 80x Wine Company, on-site at Rockway Vineyards, and at select bottle shops in Ontario. Let's see how this 2020 Niagara Chardonnay is tasting tonight...

Dam Chardonnay 2020 (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

DAM CHARDONNAY 2020 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $30
Elegant, medium-high intensity aromatics are a little musty, revealing golden apple, lemon citrus, butter and lactic aromas with a hint of vanilla spice. On the dry, creamy, medium+ bodied, and nicely textured, palate it offers delicious ripe golden apple, pear, lemon citrus, and buttery flavours with a hints of spice, peach, and honey. It's all supported by fresh, mouth-watering acidity. Citrus and apple notes are joined by touches of spice and earthy minerals on the finish, with very good length. This is indeed a Dam good Chardonnay and a recommended buy! Score: 89 pts


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  • Date publishedSunday, January 8, 2023

Lakeview Cellars Riesling Icewine 2019 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Continuing the recent trend of enjoying fine Icewines, which included the 2017 Lakeview Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine last month, Icewine review is a lovely, vegan Riesling Icewine from Niagara that returned to the LCBO this weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Lakeview Cellars, a brand that was established in 1991 by Eddy Gurinskas in Vineland, Ontario, within the Niagara Region. Having built a worldwide reputation over the years for creating premium Niagara wines that are both high quality and affordable, Lakeview Cellars is now owned by Diamond Estates and is one of their oldest wine brands. Lakeview Cellars wines are crafted and sold at Lakeview Wine Co. on Niagara Stone Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Leading the team at Lakeview is Thomas Green, VP of Winemaking and Winery Operations. The Lakeview Cellars brand is nostalgic for Thomas as he began his career at the company in the late 1990s as an apprentice to winemaking under Eddy. After graduating as part of the first graduating class of the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture program at Brock University in 2000, he remained with Lakeview Cellars. Following Eddy's retirement, Thomas took over head winemaking duties for Lakeview Cellars in January 2003, and Diamond Estates in 2005.

Although the Vidal grape is the main variety used to craft Icewine in Niagara, Riesling comes a close second due to its ability to retain freshness and acidity, which helps balance the sweetness in the wine. The grapes for this Riesling Icewine were sourced from their best vineyards in the Niagara region, kissed by Lake Ontario's offshore breeze. The grapes were harvested in late-December, when they were frozen and temperatures were between -10°C and -13°C. Like the other Lakeview Cellars Icewines I tasted recently, the juice was settled in stainless steel tanks, followed by a cool-fermentation, and then placed outside to complete a natural cold stabilization. Let's see how this Riesling Icewine from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Lakeview Cellars Riesling Icewine 2019 (92 pts)

Tasting Note:

LAKEVIEW CELLARS RIESLING ICEWINE 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#471839) (S) (200 mL) - $34.95
The fragrant nose offers gorgeous aromas of honeyed apricot and peach mingling with candied lemon, ginger, orange peel, and apple. On the medium to medium-full bodied palate it is lightly spicy and has lusciously sweet aroma replays of honey, apricot, peach, lemon, and orange peel with a slightly viscous mouthfeel. Bracing acidity provides just enough freshness to balance the sweetness, while caramel and faintly mineral notes emerge on the lingering finish. Delicious and a highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Other lovely Icewines (and table wines) from Lakeview Cellars are available not only at the LCBO, but also direct from the winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.


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  • Date publishedTuesday, December 27, 2022

13th Street Cuvée Rosé Brut NV (Niagara) - Wine Review (Dec. 2022)

For sparkling wine review, I opened this excellent sparkling rose wine from Niagara that is a VINTAGES Essentials product at the LCBO and is readily available throughout the year. You will want to get your hands on it today as it is currently on promotion at $3 off until .

Like the lovely 2020 13th Street Blanc de Blanc that I enjoyed last month, this bubbly is crafted by 13th Street Winery - Niagara's sparkling wine specialists. Established in 1998 in St. Catharines, Ontario, 13th Street was acquired in 2008 by the Mann and Whitty families - John & June Mann and Doug & Karen Whitty. Both families have deep roots in the Niagara community and started out as four amateur winemaker friends. As owner, partners, and friends, Doug and Karen Whitty and John and June Mann share a common love of wine, food, art, and a genuine heart for hospitality, and had a strong desire to create exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of Niagara.

In 2009, talented winemaker Jean-Pierre Colas, originally from Chablis, France, joined 13th Street and success soon followed. Jean-Pierre's winemaking philosophy is that great wines come from the best grapes grown in the best vineyards, with winemaking techniques only utilized to supplement and capture the very essence of the grapes' terroir and character. 13th Street's success has culminated with them being awarded the #1 Winery in Ontario and #2 in Canada at the 2022 National Wine Awards of Canada.

I most recently enjoyed the 13th Street Cuvée Rosé Brut in December 2020, and while that bottling was predominantly Pinot Noir, this particular edition is composed of 54% Chardonnay and 46% Pinot Noir. Since the wine is a majority of Chardonnay, the white grape provides structure and backbone, while the Pinot Noir provides fruit, power, and richness. Crafted in a dry style, this sparkling wine was fermented and aged in the traditional method, undergoing second fermentation in the final bottle, and was aged sur lattes (en tirage) for a minimum of 18 months during which the bubbles became smaller and more compact, while also developing a slight autolytic, or toast and bread character. After dosage mixed with reserve Pinot Noir was added, the wine was aged a further 3 months prior to release. Let's see how this delicious, locally-crafted pink bubbly is tasting tonight...

13th Street Cuvée Rosé Brut NV (91 pts)

Tasting Note:

13TH STREET CUVÉE ROSÉ BRUT NV - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#147504) (XD) - $29.95 $26.95 until
Pretty pink-orange colour, this blend of 54% Chardonnay and 46% Pinot Noir has a fragrant, medium-high intensity nose with attractive aromas of strawberry, red cherry, autolytic, watermelon, and peach with touches of toast and pastry. On the medium+ bodied palate it is clean and crisp, with fine mousse that delivers lightly honeyed, yet dry, flavours of strawberry, red cherry, raspberry, lemon, and peach. Fresh acidity is clean and crisp, with a succulent, slightly chalky mouthfeel on the mid-palate. Lovely red berry and strawberry flavours are joined by mineral notes on the long-lasting, dry finish. Always a delight and my favourite bottling so far. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines by 13th Street are available at the LCBO and direct through the winery in Niagara.


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  • Date publishedSaturday, December 17, 2022

Lakeview Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine 2017 (Niagara) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2019 Lakeview Cellars Gewürztraminer Icewine last month, Icewine review is another lovely Icewine from the same producer. This lovely red Icewine returned to the LCBO today as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Lakeview Cellars was established in Vineland in 1991 by Eddy Gurinskas. Today, Lakeview Cellars is the oldest of several wine brands owned by Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc. and is situated at Lakeview Wine Co. on Niagara Stone Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

At present, Thomas Green is the Vice-President of Winemaking and Winery Operations at Lakeview. He began his career at Lakeview Cellars as an apprentice to winemaking under Eddy. After graduating in 2000 as part of the first graduating class of Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture (CCOVI) at Brock University, Thomas remained at Lakeview Cellars and worked with Eddy for three more years until Eddy retired. In 2003, Thomas took over head winemaking duties at Lakeview Cellars, and then Diamond Estates in 2005. As a nostalgic brand for Thomas, he is proud that Lakeview Cellars has built a worldwide reputation for creating exquisite Niagara wines that are both high in quality and affordable. Although the label has changed over the years, the high quality wines produced by Lakeview Cellars has remained consistent for over two decades.

Crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the frozen grapes were harvested in early December when temperatures fell between -10°C and -13°C, After settling the juice in stainless steel tanks, a cool fermentation was completed in late-February when the wine was placed outdoors to stop fermentation and complete a natural cold stabilization. Let's see how this Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Lakeview Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine 2017 (92 pts)

Tasting Note:

LAKEVIEW CELLARS CABERNET SAUVIGNON ICEWINE 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#471813) (S) (200 mL) - $39.95
Pours a medium garnet colour. The lovely, highly aromatic nose is open, fresh, and fragrant with ripe raspberry, strawberry jam, cran-cherry, and plum aromas, plus subtle spice notes. It's medium to medium-full bodied on the sweet palate with lovely strawberry jam, raspberry, cran-cherry, and subtle spice flavour replays. Harmonious and well-balanced throughout with a subtle chalky mouthfeel adding a nice textural element. Fresh, lively, and juicy acidity holds it all together, while the red berry flavours give way to faintly mineral notes on the long, juicy finish. Delicious and a highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Other lovely Icewines and table wines from Lakeview Cellars are available at the LCBO and direct through the winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.


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  • Date publishedMonday, December 12, 2022

Creekside Iconoclast Syrah 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review

For red wine review, I am sipping local with this lovely Niagara Syrah that arrived at the LCBO a couple of months ago as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Founded in 1997 by Laura McCain in Jordan, Ontario, and acquired by Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc. last August, Creekside Estate Winery has been a leader in producing premium wines of distinctive, eclectic blends, and introducing grape varieties to Niagara that have expanded the horizons of the region. The winery is run by a passionate, and some say fanatical, group of industry veterans, including winemaker Rob Power, who have decades of experience in their respective fields. The team of self-described cork dorks love what they do, and have fun doing it. Early on, Creekside was outside of the mainstream fold as their signature wines were Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah - neither very common in Niagara back then.

Creekside first began extensively planting Syrah in the late 1990's. With each passing vintage, they witnessed first-hand the grape's huge potential and now, more than two decades later, Syrah is what Creekside is best known for. With the grape's popularity surging and having garnered many awards over the years, Creekside has developed a reputation as a pioneer in Canadian Syrah.

This particular bottling is from Creekside's Iconoclast range of wines. Iconoclasts in history are those that ignore conventional practice and lead the charge for change, and the Iconoclast bottlings reflect that pioneering spirit.

Personally, I'm a big fan of Syrah in general, and have been a Niagara Syrah wine lover for many years now. I've enjoyed quite a few previous vintages of this wine over the years, last writing about the 2012 Creekside Iconoclast Niagara Syrah a few years ago, and am ecstatic to see what this latest vintage tastes like. This wine always includes a dollop of Viognier, and for the 2020 vintage it is a co-fermented blend of 99.4% Syrah and 0.6% Viognier. All of the fruit for this wine was selected from their Queenston Road Vineyard's three nuanced blocks in the VQA St. David’s Bench sub-appellation of Niagara-on-the-Lake, an area that is typically warmer than where the winery is located and offers a slightly longer growing season that is ideal for Syrah. The Queenston Road Vineyard is known as the birthplace of the Syrah-volution in Niagara. The grapes were fermented in stainless steel tanks and individual fruit bins. It was aged for 19 months in mostly older, neutral oak, and mostly French with a little bit of Hungarian and American.

From the highly-acclaimed 2020 vintage that has been described as one of the best ever with wines showing elegance and balance, let's see how this 2020 Niagara Syrah is tasting tonight...

Creekside Iconoclast Syrah 2020 (91 pts)

Tasting Note:

CREEKSIDE ICONOCLAST SYRAH 2020 - VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#471797) (XD) - $25.00
A co-fermented blend of 99.4% Syrah and 0.6% Viognier enclosed by screw cap. Ripe, fragrant, and wonderfully perfumed aromas of great intensity rise out of the glass with dark berry, black pepper, spices, meaty, and dark plum notes with hints of purple fruit and florals. It's medium-full bodied, ripe and quite chewy on the palate with lovely, balanced aroma replays supported by fresh acidity and ripe, firm, and grainy tannins. Finishes long, juicy, and minerally with subtle smoky notes. Enjoyable now, but will reward ageing and drink well over the next 5 years or so. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines by Creekside are available at the LCBO and direct through the winery in Niagara.


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