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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Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Carmenère 2010 (Chile) - Wine Review

Opened this lovely Chilean red wine that was purchased from the June 23 Vintages wine release.

CONCHA Y TORO MARQUES DE CASA CONCHA CARMENÈRE 2010 - Peumo Vineyard, Rapel Valley, Chile (#169862) (XD) - $17.00

Tasting Note:
Plum and cherry cola nose from the cork. Alluring spice box and cherry aromas from the glass. Medium-bodied with savoury black cherry and dark red fruits on the palate. Very light tannins are backed by mouth-watering good acidity. Short finish is a touch hot. Could cellar for 2 years, but definitely enjoyable now. Tip: Serve this straight out of the cellar or even chill for 5-10 minutes prior to serving. Will pair well with the homemade pizza we're having tonight.

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Bosman Adama White 2010 (South Africa) - Wine Review

Purchased this white wine last month from the August 18 Vintages release.

BOSMAN ADAMA WHITE 2010 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#282764) (D) - $18.95

Tasting Note:
A white blend that is primarily Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Viognier and Semillon playing a supporting role. Peach and tart citrus aromas from the cork. Grapefruit, citrus, peach and mineral aromas. More grapefruit and stoney minerailty on the palate, joined by citrus and green flavours. Lively acidity with a short finish. Smells sweeter than it tastes, only very slightly off-dry on the palate. Quite good. Will be enjoyed with chicken kebabs off the BBQ.

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Sept. 1 LCBO Wine Picks: Fall Fêtes + Champagne

The next Vintages release will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on September 1. This issue celebrates wines for Fall Fêtes with different styles of wines (from light to the big & bold and everything in between) that would be suitable for your gatherings as we transition from Summer to Fall.

You can open your gathering with an extra dry Tavel Rosé that is made from 40-year-old vines using Grenache, Clairette, Cinsault and Bourboulenc. From there, we move to big & bold wines with a 2010 Rhône that is a Grenache-Syrah blend from Château de Galifay. We also have a big Californian Zinfandel from vines that were planted in 1918!

To end your gathering, go with the sweet Muscat from Greece, or the slightly less sweet Lillet Blanc from Bordeaux that is made with Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon varietals and fortified with brandy.

Also featured in this release, to coordinate with TIFF, are 5 Champagnes that are stars and will undoubtedly delight. Of course, there is the 2003 Dom Perignon (#280461, $219.95) and the 2005 Cristal (#268755, $286.95), but the best "value" of the bunch is the Non-Vintage (N.V.) Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve (#036962, $54.95).

And finally, this wine is not listed below, but if you would like to try something new, the Malvirà Favorita Langhe 2011 from Piedmont (#291336, XD, $19.95) is a white wine made using the Favorita varietal. We don't see this grape very often at all, so it's worth checking out as it does look tasty - think pineapples.

Enjoy my wine picks for this week!


Red Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DE GALIFAY CAIRANNE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2010 - AC, Rhône, France (#290080) (XD) - $17.00
• ROSS ESTATE LIGHTS OUT SHIRAZ 2009 - Barossa, South Australia (#285387) (D) - $19.95
• GÉRARD BERTRAND ST. CHINIAN SYRAH/MOURVÈDRE 2009 - AC, Midi, France (#281832) (XD) - $16.95
• CAROL SHELTON MONGA ZIN OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2008 - Lopez Vineyard, Cucamonga Valley, California, USA (#282525) (D) - $26.95
• CASCINA BUSSIA DARDI BAROLO 2006 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#268516) (XD) - $39.95
• SAMPIETRANA VIGNA DELLE MONACHE RISERVA SALICE SALENTINO 2006 - DOC, Puglia, Italy (#247908) (XD) - $15.95

White Wine:

• ANDRÉ BLANCK ET SES FILS ROSENBURG PINOT BLANC 2011 - AC Alsace, France (#626606) (D) - $13.95
• SCHLOSS REINHARTSHAUSEN ERBACHER SCHLOSSBERG RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2005 - Prädikatswein, Rheingau, Germany (#129858) (M) - $19.95
• PEDRO ESCUDERO FUENTE ELVIRA VERDEJO 2010 - DO Rueda, Spain (#218313) (XD) - $14.95
• MIKE WEIR RIESLING 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#229286) (D) - $14.95
• SÉGUINOT-BORDET VAILLONS CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2010 - AC, Burgundy, France (#289389) (XD) - $29.95
• ANTICA CHARDONNAY 2010 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#290536) (XD) - $35.95

Rosé Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DE MANISSY TAVEL 2011 - AC, Rhône, France (#276469) (XD) - $15.95

Dessert/Fortified Wine:

• LILLET BLANC - Bordeaux, France (#322297) (MS) - $15.95
• KOURTAKI MUSCAT OF SAMOS - AOQS Samos, Greece (#938407) (S) - $14.95

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

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Prince Edward County Wine Tasting

During the Spring earlier this year, I had the pleasure of attending the Prince Edward County wine tasting held at Berkeley Church in downtown Toronto.

Prior to this event, I had only tasted one wine from PEC and was left with the impression that Prince Edward County is still a maturing region. That impression did not change after this event, but I can tell you that there are some worthy wines to check out if you get the chance. With summer nearly over and having visited Muskoka earlier this month, I believe a visit to Prince Edward County will be in store next summer as most of these wines can only be found at the winery.

Here are some tasting notes from the evening. Enjoy my wine reviews!


HUFF ESTATES RIESLING MEDIUM DRY 2010 - VQA Ontario (#155606) (MD) - $17.95
Crisp lychee, peach aromas. Petrol, mineral and some lychee on the palate. Crisp acidity. Would go well with a mild cheddar. (88 pts)

HUFF ESTATES SOUTH BAY CHARDONNAY 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (#276006) (D) - $29.95
Crisp, ripe pear and apple aromatics. Fruit-forward with apple flavours on the palate, hints of sweetness. (88 pts)

KEINT-HE PINEAUX SAUVAGE 2008 - VQA Prince Edward County (MS) (375 mL) - $55.00
Botrytis affected Pinot Noir. Orange marmalade, honey and touch of oak aromas. On the palate there is dried apricots, caramel and ginger notes. Crisp acidity leads to a medium-sweet finish. Very nice! (91 pts)

KARLO ESTATES FRONTENAC GRIS ROSÉ 2011 (MD) - $16.00
Candied cherry, strawberry aromas and flavours. Starts off sweet and gives way to crisp, spicy, semi-dry finish. Quite pleasant. (88+ pts)

KARLO ESTATES QUINTUS 2010 (XD) - $35.00
A classic old-world blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot with classic aromas of currant and dark berries. On the palate, there is more currant, cassis, dark berries joined by spicy herbal notes. Balanced wine with ripe tannins and a long finish. (89 pts)

KARLO ESTATES THE 5TH ELEMENT 2010 (XD) - $39.00
Rare to see a 100% Petit Verdot. Dark fruits on the nose. Ripe dark fruit is well-integrated with oak. Full-bodied wine also has smoky flavours on the long finish. (88 pts)

KARLO ESTATES VAN ALSTINE WHITE 2010 (MS) (500 mL) - $29.00
Port-style wine made using Frontenac Blanc and Gewürztraminer. Lots of peach/apricot aromas with more of the same plus orange notes on the palate, in this medium- to full-bodied wine. Finishes with some spiciness and hazelnut notes. (88 pts)

SANDBANKS ESTATE RIESLING 2010 - VQA Prince Edward County (#139022) (D) - $14.95
Fresh floral and pear aromas. Off-dry lime-cordial on the palate, crisp acidity. (86 pts)

SANDBANKS ESTATE WINTER HARVEST - VQA Ontario (M) (200 mL) - $12.95
100% late-harvest Vidal. Lovely peach and honey aromatics with replays on palate, but is lacking acidity. (86 pts)

SANDBANKS ESTATE MOUTON NOIR - VQA Prince Edward County (XD) - $19.95
100% Marechal Foch. A style of red wine I haven't tasted in a while with aromas of concrete, tar, pencil lead, and steel. Dark fruits with lots of minerality, full-bodied and ripe tannins. (87 pts)

3630 CHARDONNAY 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (XD) - $25.12
Very fresh, clean and crisp lime aromas. On the palate, gooseberry and grass notes reminds me more of a Sauvignon Blanc, and finishes spicy. Not your typical Chardonnay. (86 pts)

LIGHTHALL CHARDONNAY RÉSERVE 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (#278226) (XD) - $25.00
Lightly oaked, but you wouldn't know it. Crisp and clean mineral characteristics with lime and citrus aromas and flavours in the background. Good acidity with a slight spritz on the finish. (87 pts)

ROSEHALL RUN SZ WHITE 2011 - VQA Prince Edward County (#214478) (XD) - $14.95
A medley of varietals used in this white wine brings citrusy and orange aromas and flavours. Starts off clean but finishes tart. (87 pts)

STANNERS PINOT GRIS CUIVRÉ 2010 - VQA Prince Edward County (XD) - $25.00
Light, crisp aromas of citrus, butter and pear that mingle nicely into a complex set of flavours on the palate. Dry with good acidity. (88 pts)

CASA-DEA PINOT NOIR 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (XD) - $19.95
Red berries aromas and flavours with smooth tannins that are a touch grippy. May need a bit of time for tannins to mellow out, or decant and serve now. Otherwise enjoyable. (88 pts)

CASA-DEA PINOT GRIS 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (#237883) (XD) - $18.95
Floral aromas with some citrus. Light bodied on the palate with clean, tangy citrus notes. Very smooth and crisp. (87 pts)

CASA-DEA CABERNET FRANC 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (#241612) (XD) - $18.95
Lovely fresh berry and strawberry aromas and flavours. Medium bodied with ripe tannins. Crowd-pleaser. (88 pts)

HARWOOD PINOT GRIS 2010 - VQA Prince Edward County (XD) - $18.00
Very clean, crisp white with light apple and mineral nose with replays on the palate. Backed by acidity, finishes soft and smooth. More of an Italian Pinot Grigio style. (87 pts)

HARWOOD PINOT NOIR 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (XD) - $29.00
Lots of spice, smoke and vanilla aromas that I found overwhelmed the fruit. Some bramble comes through on palate. Decanting for an hour may soften the tannins. Didn't enjoy this one.

HARWOOD ST. LAURENT 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (XD) - $20.00
The St. Laurent varietal is related to Pinot Noir. Another smoky wine with bacon and barnyard aromas. Palate is dominated by currant and leather flavours. Ripe tannins. (85 pts)

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Muskoka Lakes Winery - Wine Tasting

Over the Civic Holiday long weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the Muskoka Lakes Winery and Johnston's Cranberry Farm located in Bala, Ontario (just over 2 hours North of Toronto). I wasn't really sure what to expect as I had not tasted fruit wine in many years, but was pleasantly surprised by the quality of these wines.

If you're in the Muskoka region, I highly recommend that you visit the winery as many of these wines are not found at the LCBO. Also do the wine tour as you will learn about the winemaking process, which is slightly different than producing grape-based wines. After the tour, you can taste their full line-up of 8 cranberry, blueberry and raspberry-based wines, plus their wine spritzer. They have even started up a turkey farm on-site to go with their cranberry marshes... get it? ;)

Hope you enjoy my wine reviews!

Tasting Notes:
Muskoka Red Oak Aged Wild Blueberry 2010 - QC (Quality Certified) (XD) - $19.95
Lots of dark fruits, licorice and oak aromas, with licorice flowing onto the palate and joined by inky iodine, Christmas spice, and oak flavours. Medium-bodied with a long finish. (85 pts)

Wild Blueberry Wine 2008 - QC (D) - $18.95
Concentrated blueberry aromas with a zippy, crisp, light-bodied with a sweet-edged blueberry flavour profile along with some minty notes. (87 pts)

Georgian Bay Rosé 2010 - QC (#234880) (XD) - $16.95
Made with apples and cranberries. Earthy, musky aromas with hints of peach. On the palate, there are crisp, fruit forward red fruits and with good acidity. Finishes slightly spicy and dry. (88 pts)

Cranberry Wine 2010 - QC (#609701) (D) - $14.95
Candied cranberry aromas and flavours, crisp, chalky tannins lead to a very dry finish. Needs a couple of years in the bottle for tannins to settle. (85 pts)

Cranberry Blueberry Wine 2010 - QC (#609719) (D) - $16.95
Equal parts cranberry and blueberry. Aromas of candied blueberries and menthol with replays of both on the palate. Light bodied, off-dry with sweetness balanced by fine acidity. Relatively light in alcohol at 10.5%. (88+ pts)

White Cranberry Wine 2011 - QC (#621938) (M) - $18.95
Elegant aromas of candied cranberries. Fruit forward, tannic and lots of acidity on the spicy finish. Quite different. (86 pts)

Red Maple Dessert Wine 2009 - QC (#050039) (S) - $23.95
Made with cranberries and maple syrup. Closed nose, but flavours of cranberry, caramel and maple syrup come through on the lively palate. Sweetness cut by acidity from cranberries. Very nice! (90 pts)

Framberge Dessert Wine - QC (S) - $22.95
Made using raspberries and cranberries. Lots of rasp-cran aromas. On the palate, it leads with flavours of raspberries, and finishes with cranberry notes. At 15% alcohol, this is a hefty wine that should be chilled well prior to serving to suppress the alcohol flavours. (88 pts)

'Muskoka Moment' Cranberry Wine Spritzer - QC, Bala, Ontario, Canada - $17.95 / 6 per box
A very nice cranberry wine spritzer that smells and tastes like strawberries. Yum.

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Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (Washington) - Wine Review

Purchased this red wine earlier this year from the March 17 Vintages release and was re-released in the upcoming August 18 release as part of the mini-feature on wines from the Pacific Northwest. It's a beauty!

COLUMBIA CREST H3 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Horse Heaven Hills, Washington, USA (#210047) (XD) - $19.95

Tasting Note:
Currants, cassis, cedar and mint aromas with some earthy & herbal aromas at the tail end. Currant and dark fruits lead to dark chocolate and coffee on the palate. Good acidity with well-integrated tannins, full-bodied. Quite smooth. Oven-roasted chicken would go very nicely with this. Recommended.

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Aug. 18 LCBO Wine Picks: 2010 Rhône + Pacific Northwest

The next batch of Vintages wines will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on Saturday, August 18. In this release, the main feature is on the highly-praised 2010 vintage wines from Southern Rhône, in France.

I've always been a big fan of wines from Rhône and it is with delight I have a chosen a few for you to consume. First up is the Halos de Jupiter, made using 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre (i.e. a GSM blend) which you can drink now or cellar for 1-2 years. The Grands Bois Cuvée Philippine is another blend made up of equal parts Syrah and Grenache, and 15% Carignan. The third pick from Rhône is not cheap, but will delight for at least the next decade - the Siffrein Châteauneuf-du-Pape consisting of 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault.

The secondary feature in this release is on wines from the Pacific Northwest - British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. Of the (just!) 6 wines that were featured, only the extra dry Pinot Gris from Oregon made my list of wine picks. I would prefer this region be the main feature in a future release with many more selections, as this region is terribly under-represented here in Ontario.

From the rest of the release, the Saumur-Champigny from Loire is made with Cabernet Franc. From Italy, we have a Chianti Classico made with 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino, while the Brunello di Montalcino is strictly Sangiovese.

In white wine, the Bosman Adama is a really interesting dry (i.e. slightly sweet) wine from South Africa that is blended using 60% Chenin Blanc, 20% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Gris, 6% Viognier and 4% Semillon. Also interesting is the NZ Southbank Chardonnay because it is oaked, but comes off as dry. Hope you enjoy my picks for this week! Cheers!


Red Wine:

• LES HALOS DE JUPITER CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2010 - AC, Rhône, France (#276956) (D) - $17.95
• DOMAINE LES GRANDS BOIS CUVÉE PHILIPPINE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2010 - AC, Rhône, France (#286344) (XD) - $17.95
• LES VIGNOBLES TERROIRS ET LIEU-DIEU DE LOIRE SAUMUR-CHAMPIGNY 2009 - AC, Loire, France (#662585) (XD) - $15.95
• CENNATOIO ORO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2009 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#121210) (XD) - $21.95
• CALERA PINOT NOIR 2009 - Central Coast, California, USA (#933044) (D) - $31.95
• DOMAINE DE SAINT SIFFREIN CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2010 - AC, Rhône, France (#169771) (D) - $39.95
• VERBENA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2007 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#165126) (XD) - $37.95

White Wine:

• BOSMAN ADAMA WHITE 2010 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#282764) (D) - $18.95
• BOLLIG-LEHNERT TRITTENHEIMER APOTHEKE RIESLING KABINETT 2009 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#284448) (M) - $17.95
• SOUTHBANK CHARDONNAY 2010 - Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#278523) (D) - $17.95
• COQUENA TORRONTÉS 2011 - Tolombon, Cafayate Valley, Salta, Argentina (#287458) (D) - $19.95
• THE EYRIE VINEYARDS PINOT GRIS 2009 - Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#717421) (XD) - $21.95
• MACULAN PINOT GRIGIO 2010 - IGT Veneto, Italy (#734921) (XD) - $13.95

Sparkling Wine:

• CAVE DE LUGNY CUVÉE MILLÉSIME BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE 2009 - AC, Burgundy, France (#183764) (D) - $18.95

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

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Domaine Edmond Jacquin Roussette de Savoie Altesse 2010 (France) - Wine Review

This white wine is from the July 7 Vintages release that took us on a tour through France. I am very glad to have stopped in Savoie to sample the Altesse varietal (also sometimes known as Roussette). It's gorgeous and still available in stores! Here's my review:

DOMAINE EDMOND JACQUIN ALTESSE ROUSSETTE DE SAVOIE 2010 - AC, Savoie, France (#277335) (D) - $17.95

Tasting Note:
Notes of honey, apricot and melon aromas. Lovely light hints of apricot, peach, melon on the palate, along with some minerality. Some honey and spice come through on the long finish. Slightly off-dry. Medium bodied and very well-balanced. Tasty and highly recommended!

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Strewn Vidal Icewine 2006 (Ontario) - Wine Review

This was a spur-of-the-moment purchase while we were in Muskoka last weekend and wanted something sweet to finish off our Saturday night. This Icewine was the last bottle of its kind on the shelf and it showed when I opened the cork as some crust had developed. There was also some crust at the bottom of the bottle - not exactly sure how that would've happened.

STREWN VIDAL ICEWINE 2006 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#467746) (S) (200 mL) - $24.95

Tasting Note:
Aromas of peaches, apricot and honey. Palate has apricot, golden honey and some burnt orange notes. Finishes with hints of mulled spices. Medium-bodied with fine acidity that balances the sweetness. A very average Icewine that is past its prime. The 2002 vintage was opened 9 years later and tasted MUCH better than this vintage.

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Maycas del Limarí Reserva Especial Chardonnay 2010 (Chile) - Wine Review

Opened tonight is the first of two wines that I have in my cellar from Maycas del Limarí, a brand of wine produced by Concha Y Toro. This white wine was purchased from the June 9 VINTAGES wine release, where Chilean wine was the major theme.

MAYCAS DEL LIMARÍ RESERVA ESPECIAL CHARDONNAY 2010 - Limarí Valley, Chile (#162040) (XD) - $19.95

Tasting Note:
Citrus, apple and pear aromas from the cork. Toasty apple, buttered popcorn and pear aromas from the glass. On the palate, the bright acidity jumps at you, followed by layers of apple, pear, and spice. Medium-full bodied with a long finish. Extra dry. Will be enjoying this tonight with chicken biryani.

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Aug. 4 LCBO Wine Picks: Blockbusters + Single-Vineyard German Wines

The next Vintages wine release will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on August 4. The major feature is titled "Blockbuster" wines and focuses on customers' all-time favourite wines. I have tasted and enjoyed many of these wines from previous vintages, but in this release just one wine made my list of wine picks. It's definitely on the pricey side, but the Pinino Brunello di Montalcino (100% Sangiovese) can be decanted and enjoyed now, or wait at least 2 years prior to opening.

The secondary feature in this release is on single-vineyard German wines. I love German Rieslings because many samples are medium in sweetness, complex and have balanced acidity. The Reinhold Haart Kabinett from the Piesporter Goldtröpfchen vineyard is one such example, while the more expensive Markus Molitor Spätlese (late harvest) from the Zeltinger Himmelreich vineyard is also very nice.

From the rest of the release, I look to South America for yet another lovely Argentinean Malbec and a Chilean Carmenère. The Langeudoc region in France always serves up great value wines, so the Syrah from Domaine Les Yeuses comes as no surprise - it's a steal at $13.95. A rosé from Provence is in a very fancy bottle and consists of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah. The Castellani Filicheto Montepulciano is made up of 90% Prugnolo Gentile (the regional name for Sangiovese in Tuscany) and 10% Canaiolo Nero. The aromatic Terre Dora is made with the Fiano varietal.

Within Canada, we've got a medium-sweet sparkler from... Nova Scotia! Also in this release is an oustanding oaked Chardonnay made by Inniskillin right here in Niagara, Ontario. Enjoy my picks for this week!


Red Wine:

• PASCUAL TOSO RESERVE MALBEC 2009 - Barrancas Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina (#183897) (XD) - $19.95
• DOMAINE LES YEUSES LES ÉPICES SYRAH 2009 - IGP Pays d’Oc, Midi, France (#177584) (XD) - $13.95
• CONCHA Y TORO SERIE RIBERAS GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2009 - DO Peumo, Ribera del Cachapoal, Chile (#274043) (XD) - $16.95
• PININO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2006 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#032508) (XD) - $38.95
• CASTELLANI FILICHETO VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2009 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#184937) (XD) - $17.95
• SOTER VINEYARDS NORTH VALLEY PINOT NOIR 2009 - Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#289470) (D) - $37.95

White Wine:

• INNISKILLIN WINEMAKER’S SERIES MONTAGUE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#586347) (D) - $18.95
• REINHOLD HAART PIESPORTER GOLDTRÖPFCHEN RIESLING KABINETT 2009 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#282335) (M) - $19.95
• CAPE POINT VINEYARDS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010 - WO Cape Point, South Africa (#285221) (XD) - $18.95
• CLOS MARGUERITE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#281014) (XD) - $18.95
• TERRE DORA FIANO DI AVELLINO 2010 - DOCG, Campania, Italy (#120048) (XD) - $18.95
• MARKUS MOLITOR ZELTINGER HIMMELREICH RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2008 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#282350) (M) - $26.95

Rosé Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DE L’AUMÉRADE CRU CLASSÉ CUVÉE MARIE CHRISTINE ROSÉ 2011 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#282459) (D) - $15.95

Sparkling Wine:

• BENJAMIN BRIDGE NOVA 7 2011 - Gaspereau Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada (#256289) (M) - $25.95

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

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A History of Wine

Wine and the art of wine making has been part of human culture for eons. Indeed, archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest wine production came from sites in Georgia and Iran, dating from 6000 to 5000 BC. Evidence of the earliest European wine production has been uncovered at archaeological sites in Macedonia, dated to 6,500 years ago. Traces of wine dating from the second and first millennium BC have also been found in China. The history of people enjoying a good drop, therefore, stretches far into history, and far around the world.

Wine was also common in classical Greece and Rome, as you might expect with all the opulence, extravagance and sophistication of those societies. In addition, many of the major wine producing regions of Western Europe today were established with Phoenician and later-Roman plantations.

However, in medieval Europe, following the decline of Rome’s power and influence, there was a drop-off in widespread wine production. While the universal consumption of wine suffered a lull, wine production continued due to the fact the Christian church was a staunch supporter of the wine necessary for celebration of the Catholic Mass.

Similarly, whereas wine was forbidden in medieval Islamic cultures, Geber (a colossal figure in Persian science, alchemy, philosophy and geography) and other Muslim chemists pioneered the distillation of wine for medicinal purposes and its use in Christian libation was widely tolerated.

Wine production gradually got back on its feet in the West and its consumption became popularised from the 15th century onwards in Europe, surviving the devastating Phylloxera louse of the 1870s throughout the continent (a pest outbreak that nearly totally destroyed the wine plantations of France during this decade). After this, wine growing regions were established throughout the world, with wine production and the commercial nature of wine becoming recognizable as how we know it today.

Another particularly important development in the global wine trade was the expansion of production into the ‘New World’. In the USA, vineyards in Ohio were the innovators, before the industry firmly moved to California – American wine’s spiritual home to this day. Australia also picked up the slack in earnest in the late 19th century, while at the same time such things as port, sherry and fortified wines were becoming popular in Europe.

Other countries that have expanded wine production in the 20th century include South Africa, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, Japan, Romania, Brazil, Uruguay, China and Canada.

Written by Julia Binkheart, a commentator and amateur wine enthusiast specializing in Wine Australia.

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Video Wine & Cheese with Natalie MacLean

On Wednesday, July 25th we tasted three Ontario VQA wines and paired them with six Canadian cheeses. This is part 2 of this edition of #CdnCheese and wine pairing (here is part 1). Here is the recording of our Live Video Chat using the Hangout feature on Google+. We had lots of fun doing this, as you will see when you watch the video. :)

JACKSON-TRIGGS ENTOURAGE SILVER SERIES BRUT MÉTHODE CLASSIQUE 2007 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#234161) (XD) - $22.95
Yeasty with hints of floral and citrus aromas. More citrus on the palate, followed by flower, biscuit, nutty, and toast on the palate. Not overly carbonated. Extra dry.

Paired well with the Niagara Gold and the Alfred Le Fermier, while the Maple Smoked Cheddar dominated the palate when paired with this sparkling wine. Both the Île-aux-Grues 1-year-old cheddar and the Avonlea  Clothbound Cheddar are versatile cheeses that also paired well.

LE CLOS JORDANNE VILLAGE RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2009 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#033894) (XD) - $30.00
Intense smoky, meat, pepper, and dark fruit aromas. Bitter, dark fruits, minerality on the palate, finishing with sour cherry and touch of pepper. Balanced, light- to medium-bodied, extra dry.

The Albert's Leap brie soaked up the smoky/meaty flavours, while the Île-aux-Grues lended it's creaminess to further balance this Pinot. The complex flavours of the Avonlea cheddar also paired well. Once again, the Maple Smoked was much too strong.

FLOURISH VIDAL ICEWINE 2008 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#222356) (S) (200 mL) - $17.95
A wine pick of mine from the February 4, 2012 Vintages release. Gorgeous honeycomb, peach, apricot aromas with loads of replays on the palate. Enough acidity to balance out the sweet flavours, not syrupy. Medium-bodied with a long finish. Yum!

The Avonlea cheddar and Alfred Le Fermier go really well with this Icewine. The sweet flavours in this Icewine go up well against the strong, smoky flavours of the Maple Smoked Cheddar.

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Cheese & Wine Tweet-Up Natalie MacLean

Here are my tasting notes of the 4 VQA wines tasted last night during the #CdnCheese tweet-up with Natalie MacLean with actually trended to the #1 spot. Also included are my impressions of the 6 Canadian cheeses that were paired with each of the wines.

INNISKILLIN WINEMAKER'S SERIES TWO VINEYARDS RIESLING 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#105387) (D) - $17.95
This wine was one of my picks from the April 14th VINTAGES release. Screw cap. Fresh mineral, lemon, pear aromas, along with hints of honey and petrol. Tangy with grapefruit and lemon-lime zesty acidity, mineral, leads to an off-dry, bumpy finish that bounces between honey and slate notes.

The Île-aux-Grues 1-year-old cheddar and the Avonlea cheddar both paired really well with this Riesling, while the Alfred Le Fermier brought out some interesting orange notes in the wine; the Upper Canada Niagara Gold cheese also went well with this off-dry wine.

JACKSON-TRIGGS SILVER SERIES CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#252072) (XD) - $17.95
Screw cap. Delicious peach, apple and vanilla aromas lead to more of the same on the palate, joined by hints of butter and honey notes. Full-bodied for a white with very creamy mouthfeel with some herbal characters on the finish. Take the little edginess off the spicy finish and this becomes an excellent wine!

Once again, the Île-aux-Grues and Avonlea cheddar both balance the flavours and acidity of this wine, with neither the cheese or wine dominating the palate.

OPEN WINES RIESLING-GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#134965) (D) - $11.95
Screw cap. Tropical fruits and pear aromas from the glass. A simple, light and fruity easy drinking wine with tropical fruit and peach on the palate. Off-dry.

The Albert's Leap brie darkens the flavours and makes the wine more interesting; the Niagara Gold and the Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar both really balance well with this wine; both the Alfred Le Fermier and the Maple Smoked are much too strong for this pairing.

JACKSON-TRIGGS BLACK SERIES MERITAGE 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#526228) (XD) - $13.45
Screw cap. Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Black pepper, cassis, raspberry and dark fruit aromas. Medium-bodied with more raspberry, pepper and herbal notes on the palate. There's also a touch of smokiness. Balanced, structured tannins with plenty of acidity. Pretty good for the price!

Not a bad pairing of this wine and the Albert's Leap brie - brings out the smokiness in the wine; both the Niagara Gold and the Alfred Le Fermier really balance the wine well the, while the Île-aux-Grues cheddar really cuts through the acidity in this Meritage.


Join us next week as we host a Live Video Google+ Hangout Wine and Cheese tasting on Wednesday, July 25 beginning at 8 p.m. EST.

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July 21 Wine Picks: Cool-Climate Victoria + Loire

The next VINTAGES wine release will be in LCBO stores across Ontario on Saturday, July 21. The main feature in this release is on the cool-climate wines from Victoria, Australia, while the secondary feature is on wines from Loire. Overall, this is a very "cool" release, with white wines stealing the show.

From Central Victoria, we have a very intriguing Marsanne. From Malivoire in Ontario, we have the aromatic Gewürztraminer, while the Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is a steal at $20. My top white from this release is a 5-year-old Muscadet made with the Melon de Bourgogne grape from Loire (#653485, below) - the name is a mouthful, but I'm sure you will enjoy it if you like dry white wines.

Among red wines, the Grenache-blended Guintrandy from southen Rhône comes from the fabulous 2010 vintage, while the 2008 Grenache/Syrah/Carignan-blend from Gerard Bertrand comes from Midi. Pinot lovers will likely enjoy the De Bortoli offering from Victoria. My top value-red is the Castello d'Alba from Portugal and consists of Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) and the Port varietals Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional.

If you're in need of a summer rosé, the off-dry Syrah/Grenache offering from Château Saint-Roch is a tasty good value. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• CASTELLO D’ALBA RESERVA 2009 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#276204) (XD) - $14.95
• GÉRARD BERTRAND GRAND TERROIR TAUTAVEL GRENACHE/SYRAH/CARIGNAN 2008 - AC Côtes du Roussillon-Villages Tautavel, Midi, France (#272575) (XD) - $17.95
• DE BORTOLI WINDY PEAK PINOT NOIR 2010 - Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia (#048587) (D) - $17.95
• DOMAINE LA GUINTRANDY CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES VISAN LE DEVÈS 2010 - AC, Rhône, France (#277368) (XD) - $14.95
• DURIGUTTI MALBEC 2009 - Mendoza, Argentina (#246124) (XD) - $16.95
• TAHBILK SHIRAZ 2008 - Nagambie Lakes, Central Victoria, Australia (#214742) (D) - $20.95

White Wine:

• COMTE LELOUP DU CHÂTEAU DE CHASSELOIR CUVÉE DES CEPS CENTENAIRES 2007 - AC Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, Sur Lie, Loire, France (#653485) (XD) - $18.95
• WHITEHAVEN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#278556) (D) - $19.95
• TAHBILK MUSEUM RELEASE MARSANNE 2007 - Nagambie Lakes, Central Victoria, Australia (#276980) (D) - $22.95
• MALIVOIRE GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2010 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#542522) (D) - $24.95
• LA CHABLISIENNE VAULORENT CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2009 - AC, Burgundy, France (#111666) (XD) - $31.95

Rosé Wine:

• CHÂTEAU SAINT-ROCH SYRAH/GRENACHE ROSÉ 2011 - AC Côtes du Roussillon, Midi, France (#276352) (D) - $14.95

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

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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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