Niagara Wine Festival 2012 - A Review

During the last weekend of September, I had the pleasure of visiting the Niagara Peninsula for the 61st Annual Grape and Wine Festival that celebrated this year's vintage harvest. This was my first time attending the big harvest festival in about 8 years, so I was excited to see what's changed during my absence.

Discovery Pass in hand, we started off at Fielding Estate Winery for a smoked tomato & Niagara Gold grilled cheese prepared by August Restaurant. This was paired beautifully with Fielding's 2010 Cabernet Syrah, as the smoky flavours from the wine held up well against the somewhat strong flavours from the Niagara Gold (cheese) and smoked tomato. The live guitar performance definitely added some great ambiance under the outdoor tent.

Up next was a traditional wine & cheese tasting at Vineland Estates Winery. First up was the very soft and delicious Comox Brie (British Columbia) that paired very nicely with the sweet flavours from the 2008 Chardonnay Musqué. The second pairing was the firm, Aged Lankaaster (Ontario) that also paired quite well with the 2011 St. Urban Elevation Riesling. The third and final pairing was the firm Réserve La Pérade (Québec) washed rind cheese with the 2009 Elevation Cabernet. It was a balanced pairing with strong flavours coming from both the rind and wine.

Our third stop of the afternoon was at Niagara College Teaching Winery. I was very excited about this visit as I had heard many good things, but never had the pleasure of visiting or tasting any of their wines. Led by Chris from NCT, we took in a tour of the winery and facilities - which I highly recommend as you will learn quite a bit - and followed that up with a structured tasting of a few of their Dean's List wines and some delicious Ice Syrup! I can't wait to post a review of these wines - look out for them shortly.

The final stop on Saturday was Montebello Park in St. Catharines and, while we didn't stay long, we did get a chance to taste a few wines and sample some food. The park was buzzing and quite crowded (much more so than I expected) and queues for some popular food items moved slowly while stretching back 15 people. However, patrons were enjoying themselves as they listened to 60's and 70's classics while sipping wine, as the evening cooled under cloudy skies.

On Sunday, we began our Discovery Pass Experience in Niagara-on-the-Lake at Pillitteri Estates Winery with a very generously-portioned grilled cheese sandwich made with sweet onion and 1-year-old white cheddar. Their 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon complemented the grilled cheese well, but a smaller/thinner sandwich bun would have worked better to bring out the cheese. What happened to the "shredding of 4 unconventional cheeses"?

Off we go to Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery for a pairing of their 2010 Gewürztraminer Reserve with a Black Tiger Shrimp "Po Boy". Excellent presentation. A satisfying pairing that could have been outstanding if the shrimp was spicier to better balance the off-dry flavours from the wine. Warm bread would have been a nice touch.

The next stop was Hernder Estate Wines in Twenty Valley for some turkey bites - I didn't enjoy it. On the bright side, we did leave with Icewine Slushies, which made the stop completely worthwhile!

Since we were making good time, we made an unplanned stop at Featherstone Estate Winery to see if any of the sheep labourers were around and perhaps take a tour. Instead, we ended up doing a few tastings, including the just-released 2011 Cabernet Franc, which looks like it's going to be REALLY good! I enjoyed their 2008 earlier this summer, and the 2010 was one of my top picks from the Sept. 15 Vintages release. I also had the pleasure of meeting The Grande Fromage: Louise Engel - a very sweet lady and a pleasure to talk to.

Our next stop was GreenLane Estate Winery for some hearty gourmet pizzas, where the base was made of fluffy pastry dough. Really delicious and paired well with their 2011 Pinot Grigio. The pizza on pastry dough was a great idea that was executed well, and I'm sure will be replicated at our home one of these days.

The final stop of our wine tour this weekend was Tawse Winery for traditional cheese and wine pairings. All 3 pairings of cheese and wine were great. However, my attention veered towards the wines - as all 3 were extremely yummy - with the 2010 Sketches of Niagara Chardonnay being my favourite!

Detailed reviews of wines tasted are here.

Overall, I was quite satisfied with our visit to Niagara and believe our group enjoyed themselves too! Thank you to everyone that attended! We look forward to having you join us in January 2013 for the Icewine Festival (2012 review here).

View the tour photo gallery.

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Oct. 13 LCBO Wine Picks: Australia + Chile

The next Vintages wine release will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on Saturday, October 13. The main feature in this release is on five impressive artisanal wineries from Australia. Four of these wineries have wines among my picks in this release.

Australia is known for its Shiraz. But these four wines show that they are more than capable of producing outstanding wines using other varietals. In white wine, there is a delicious Chardonnay from Yabby Lake in the Mornington Peninsula. In reds, we have a Cabernet Sauvignon from Fraser Gallop in Margaret River, and a Pinot Noir from Oakridge in Yarra Valley. We also have a red blend from Spinifex in Barossa that consists of old vine Grenache, Cinsault and Mataró (a.k.a. Monastrell/Mourvèdre). All four wines will provide pleasure over at least the next 5 years, but I wish none of these start at $29.95.

The secondary feature in this release is on wines from some of Chile's finest vineyards. From Chile's most northern wine region, we have a fabulous Syrah from the Elquí Valley - it's also my top value red from the entire release. There are also two whites worth consideration - a Sauvignon Blanc from the Garuma Vineyard in Leyda Valley, and a Chardonnay from the Atalayas Vineyard in Casablanca Valley.

Among the rest of my wine picks, the Sasso Al Poggio is a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet, and 20% Merlot. The Guardian Peak is also a red blend, consisting of 60% Syrah, 31% Mourvèdre, and 9% Grenache. The Barolo from Piedmont is 100% Nebbiolo. One final note - don't miss the gorgeous Reif Vidal Icewine! Enjoy my picks for this week!


Red Wine:

• FALERNIA RESERVA SYRAH 2009 - Elquí Valley, Chile (#208371) (XD) - $16.95
• SASSO AL POGGIO 2006 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#134809) (XD) - $18.95
• GUARDIAN PEAK SMG 2009 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#296681) (D) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU LAFONT FOURCAT 2010 - AC Bordeaux, France (#295790) (XD) - $15.95
• SPINIFEX PAPILLON 2010 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#285205) (XD) - $29.95
• MARCHESI DI BAROLO BAROLO 2006 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#168179) (D) - $34.95
• OAKRIDGE PINOT NOIR 2010 - Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia (#284059) (XD) - $38.95
• FRASER GALLOP CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Wilyabrup, Margaret River, Western Australia (#283069) (XD) - $45.95

White Wine:

• TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA RIESLING 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89029) (D) - $17.95
• GIESEN THE BROTHERS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#247213) (XD) - $19.95
• WILLY GISSELBRECHT TRADITION GEWURZTRAMINER 2010 - AC Alsace, France (#928390) (M) - $18.95
• LEYDA SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 - Garuma Vineyard, Leyda Valley, Chile (#99309) (D) - $16.95
• CASA LAPOSTOLLE CUVÉE ALEXANDRE CHARDONNAY 2011 - Atalayas Vineyard, Casablanca Valley, Chile (#947937) (D) - $24.95
• YABBY LAKE SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2010 - Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia (#138628) (XD) - $39.95

Icewine:

• REIF VIDAL ICEWINE 2010 - VQA Niagara River, Ontario, Canada (#544791) (S) (200 mL) - $24.95

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

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Casa Castillo Monastrell 2010 (Spain) - Wine Review

Purchased this red wine last week from the September 29th Vintages release. Made from Monastrell (as it's known in Spain), this varietal also known as Mataró or Mourvèdre in other wine regions.

CASA CASTILLO MONASTRELL 2010 - DO Jumilla, Spain (#165621) (XD) - $13.95

Tasting Note:
Meaty and fleshy plum aromas from the cork. Aromas of blackberry, violet, cedar oak, and smoked meat from the glass. Medium-bodied on the palate with ripe, dark fruits and subtle violet notes. Very smooth and well-balanced with very finely-grained tannins. Delicious and a great value!

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Rubaiyat Koshu Sur Lie 2009 (Japan) - Wine Review

This white wine is my first time tasting a wine from Japan and was acquired during the spring. It is meant to be opened young and can be purchased via private order from Savia Wine.

RUBAIYAT KOSHU SUR LIE 2009 - Japan (XD) - $42

Tasting Note:
Made with 100% Koshu fermented on the lees. Mild clean fruit aromas from the cork. Soft floral, lavender aromatics from the glass that remind me of the last Sake I had. Medium weight and very dry with floral and mineral flavours. Drops of honey dance on the palate. Quite well-balanced with vibrant acidity. Finish is a touch hot. Drink now. Not surprisingly, this will pair nicely with sushi and sashimi.

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Sept. 29 LCBO Wine Picks: Tuscany + Pinot Noir

The next Vintages wine release will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on Saturday, September 29. This release focuses on Tuscan Traditions, which includes some very nice red wines at a very high price points.

The Poggio Al Tesoro (blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc) and the Tenuta (blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese) are both cellar dwellars right now should be aged for at least 3-4 years. While the Antinori Brunello di Montalcino is made using 100% Sangiovese (Brunello) and can be enjoyed now or cellared for at least the next decade.

The secondary feature is on Pinot Noir from two very specific regions in Australia and New Zealand, of which a version from the Mornington Peninsula (Victoria, AU) is worth checking out. There is also a small feature on pairing wine with Thanksgiving side dishes, with the Vouvray, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling Spätlese all making my list - and can be enjoyed on their own as well.

Among the rest of the wines from this release, the Spanish Monastrell (a.k.a. Mataró or Mourvèdre) offers great value at only $13.95, while the barrel-fermented Finca Nueva Blanco is made using the Viura varietal. The Finca Flichman from Argentina consists of 55% Syrah, 35% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. From France, we have a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend from the superb 2009 Bordeaux vintage, and a 2010 southern Rhône that is blended with 50% Grenache, 35% Mourvèdre, and 15% Syrah.

Enjoy my picks for this week! Cheers!


Red Wine:

• CASA CASTILLO MONASTRELL 2010 - DO Jumilla, Spain (#165621) (XD) - $13.95
• FINCA FLICHMAN PAISAJE DE BARRANCAS 2009 - Mendoza, Argentina (#017129) (D) - $17.95
• HOGUE GENESIS MERLOT 2008 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#349415) (D) - $18.95
• CHÂTEAU MAISON BLANCHE 2009 - AC Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#295824) (XD) - $19.95
• DOMAINE LES GRANDS BOIS CUVÉE MAXIMILIEN CAIRANNE 2010 - Unfiltered, AC Côtes du Rhône-Villages, France (#286336) (XD) - $21.95
• STONIER PINOT NOIR 2010 - Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia (#025338) (XD) - $24.95

• POGGIO AL TESORO SONDRAIA 2008 - DOC Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy (#292391) (XD) - $44.95
• ANTINORI PIAN DELLE VIGNE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2006 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#651141) (XD) - $59.95
• TENUTA SETTE PONTI ORENO 2009 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#735597) (XD) - $71.95

White Wine:

• DOMAINE DE VAUGONDY DRY VOUVRAY 2010 - AC, Loire, France (#189142) (D) - $14.95
• FINCA NUEVA FERMENTADO EN BARRICA BLANCO 2010 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#280560) (XD) - $15.95
• CAVE SPRING ESTATE BOTTLED CAVE SPRING VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#256552) (XD) - $18.95
• HOFFMANN-SIMON PIESPORTER GOLDTRÖPFCHEN RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2011 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#216499) (MS) - $21.95
• DOG POINT VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#677450) (XD) - $21.95
• PALMINA LARNER VINEYARD MALVASIA BIANCA 2010 - Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara, California, USA (#289157) (D) - $35.95

Icewine:

• TAWSE CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#306035) (S) (200 mL) - $34.95

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

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Pascual Toso Reserve Malbec 2009 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Picked up this gem of a red wine while I was in Muskoka as I wasn't able to find it at an LCBO near me. It was purchased from the August 4 Vintages Release and there are quite a few still available.

PASCUAL TOSO RESERVE MALBEC 2009 - Barrancas Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina (#183897) (XD) - $19.95

Tasting Note:
Earthy, mulberry and dark fruit aromas from the cork. In the glass, aromas of savoury spice lead to mulberry, bramble, vanilla and all surrounded by an earthy core. Full bodied on the palate with more mulberry and bramble replays, some earthy notes. Hints of milk chocolate and espresso on the long finish. Ripe fruit with mouth-watering acidity. Smooth tannins are well-integrated. Will be enjoyed with Chicken lasagne.

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Sept. 15 LCBO Wine Picks: Ontario Wines

The next LCBO Vintages release will be in stores across the province on Saturday, September 15. The theme of this release is on wines from Ontario, to coincide with the upcoming #LCBOgoLOCAL campaign that runs from mid-September to mid-October.

A mini-theme of my picks this week includes 5 Chardonnays of various styles that includes 2 wines from Niagara, and 1 each from Prince Edward County, Chile, and a Chablis from France. If you prefer the unoaked style of Chardonnay, your best best is the Chablis from Burgundy as it was aged in steel tanks. Having said that, the three Ontario Chardonnays from Lailey, Closson Chase and Bachelder are not the big, oaky-type, but do have just enough to be aged a few years in the cellar. All are very well-made.

If you didn't know already, Ontario does Cabernet Franc quite well. Among my red wine picks, there is a fine example from Featherstone, who is among the leaders of this varietal here in Ontario. They also have a very interesting set of eco-friendly practices that include sheep labour and falconry. Pinot Noir is also quite well-made here in Ontario, with Le Clos Jordanne among the best producers of this varietal with a focus on terroir.

Among the rest of my wine picks, the Côte de l'Ange is a 2010 Rhone blend consisting of 95% Grenache and 5% Mourvedre. The Brunello di Montalcino is the made with 100% Sangiovese (Brunello) and should be cellared for at least 2 years. While The Black Chook is mostly Shiraz, and fermented with some Viognier to add lovely aromatics.

This release also coincides with the annual Niagara Grape & Wine Festival, that runs Sept 21-30, of which I will also be in attendance. Say 'hello' if you see me around in Niagara during the Festival. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• FEATHERSTONE CABERNET FRANC 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#64618) (XD) - $16.95
• THE BLACK CHOOK SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER 2010 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#66738) (D) - $17.95
• JUANA DE SOL RESERVA MALBEC 2010 - Single Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina (#288381) (XD) - $15.95
• DOMAINE DE LA CÔTE DE L’ANGE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2010 - AC, Rhône, France (#074856) (XD) - $37.95
• COLLOSORBO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2006 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#285742) (XD) - $49.95
• LE CLOS JORDANNE CLAYSTONE TERRACE PINOT NOIR 2009 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Twenty Mile Bench, Ontario, Canada (#033951) (D) - $45.00

White Wine:

• LAILEY CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#193482) (XD) - $19.95
• SOL DE ANDES RESERVA ESPECIAL CHARDONNAY 2009 - Casablanca Valley, Chile (#254326) (XD) - $17.95
• DOMAINE SÉGUINOT-BORDET CHABLIS 2010 - AC, Burgundy, France (#289371) (XD) - $19.95
• DRIFT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#278465) (D) - $19.95
• NALS MARGREID PINOT GRIGIO 2011 - DOC Südtirol Alto Adige, Italy (#290924) (XD) - $17.95
• ROLLY GASSMANN STEGREBEN DE RORSCHWIHR GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2009 - AC Alsace, France (#289439) (M) - $27.95
• CLOSSON CHASE CHARDONNAY 2009 - Closson Chase Vineyard, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#148866) (XD) - $29.95
• BACHELDER NIAGARA CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#302083) (XD) - $29.95

Sparkling Wine:

• ROEDERER ESTATE L’ERMITAGE BRUT SPARKLING WINE 2003 - Anderson Valley, California (#183392) (D) - $54.95
• INNISKILLIN VIDAL SPARKLING ICEWINE 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#560367) (S) (375 mL) - $79.95

Icewine:

• CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES ESTATE BOTTLED VIDAL ICEWINE 2009 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#565861) (S) (200 mL) - $25.95

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

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