Southbrook Poetica Red 2012 (Niagara) - Wine Review

The final instalment of wines from Southbrook Vineyards is the Southbrook Poetica Red from their top-of-the-line "Poetica" collection. I wrote a brief introduction about this collection of wines during my review of their 2012 Poetica Chardonnay.

Featured on the label once again is an excerpt from a lovely poem by Chief Dan George. "Words to a Grandchild" speaks to the role that nature plays and that we must listen to it.

All Poetica wines are made in tiny, small batches, and only in excellent vintages. As such, only 85 cases of this red wine were produced. Like the Chardonnay, this benchmark red wine features limited edition numbering on the bottle - making an empty bottle a definite keepsake. The bottle I have is #307 of 1,019 and definitely one I'll be hanging on to once the juice inside is long gone.

You can purchase this wine through winery on its own or as part of the Poetica Holiday Gift Package. This 6-pack of wines includes the 2012 Poetica Red, the 2010 Poetica Red, and the 2007 Poetica Cabernet Merlot, as well as one bottle each of the 2007, 2011 and 2012 Poetica Chardonnay. This gift pack is offered with a complimentary wooden crate along with free shipping. You should also know that the 2010 Poetica Red is in extremely limited supply, so you'll need to hurry to reserve your gift package. Pricing and info about a smaller Poetica Gift Package are available on Southbrook's website.

Like nearly everything that Southbrook produces, this wine is both organic and biodynamic and is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Tasting Note:

SOUTHBROOK POETICA RED 2012 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#355859) (XD) - $54.95
A Bordeaux-blend consisting of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Cabernet Franc, 26% Petit Verdot and 2% Merlot. Organic and biodynamic. Plum and wood aromas from the cork. Highly aromatic earthy, barnyard nose followed by sweet spice and dark berries. It's medium-to-full bodied with dark, brooding and refined tannins. Delicious aroma replays offer rich layers of baking spice, cassis, floral, blackberry, and sweet oak that persist through to the long, slightly warm finish that is supported by excellent fruit concentration and tannin. Acids are mouth-watering. Amazing right now, this will improve with cellar time and easily offer enjoyment over the next decade. This might just be the best Ontario red table wine I've ever tasted. Score: 93 pts

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Southbrook Poetica Chardonnay 2012 (Niagara) - Wine Review

The next instalment of wines from Southbrook Vineyards features a white wine from their top-of-the-line "Poetica" collection.

Poetica wines are made only in excellent vintages. The poetry on the labels is drawn from the work of a wide cross-section of talented Canadian poets and reflects, in some way, a love theme. The wine honours the poem on the label, and the poem honours the wine in the bottle.

These wines are made mostly from tiny batches and feature limited edition numbering on the bottles - making an empty bottle somewhat of a keepsake. Only 222 cases of the 2012 Poetica Chardonnay were produced. This Chardonnay is also organic and biodynamic and suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

The Poetica Gift Package is currently available for the holidays as a 6-pack that includes the Chardonnay reviewed below, as well as the 2007 and 2011 Poetica Chardonnays, the 2007 Poetica Cabernet Merlot, and 2010 and 2012 Poetica Red. This gift pack is offered with a complimentary wooden crate along with free shipping. Furthermore, the 2010 Poetica Red is in extremely limited supply, so you'll need to hurry to reserve your gift package. Pricing and info about a smaller Poetica Gift Package are available on Southbrook's website.

Tasting Note:

SOUTHBROOK POETICA CHARDONNAY 2012 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#366500) (XD) - $49.95
The poem on the front is a verse from "Keep a Few Embers From the Fire" by Canadian poet Chief Dan George. Bottle 348 of 2,664, this has a reductive nose of yellow pear, toasted nuts and some subtle baking spice notes. On the palate it has vibrant acidity on a honeyed flavoured profile with hints of pineapple, Golden apple, butter and vanilla. Medium-bodied with a slight oily and creamy texture. It's mouth-watering throughout, while the finish length is excellent. A special wine that should mature well over the next 5-6 years. Score: 92 pts

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Lakeview Cellars Cabernet Franc Icewine 2013 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's treat for the holidays is a delicious Icewine from Lakeview Cellars, a brand of Diamond Estates.

Coming from a vintage that can be best described as average and slightly wet, approximately 6,600 tonnes of Icewine and Late Harvest grapes were netted for the 2013 season. It was a large crop that equalled the record tonnage of 2007.

For the holidays, not only would this Icewine be a nice gift for someone that enjoys sweet wine, but it would also be a nice accompaniment with dessert after a nice family dinner. The 200 mL is nearly sold out in LCBO VINTAGES, while the 375 mL is available online and at the winery.

Tasting Note:

LAKEVIEW CELLARS CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2013 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#053397) (S) (200 mL / 375 mL) - $29.95 / $65
Yummy strawberry jelly aromas from the cork. The nose is highly aromatic with strawberry jam, wild berry, cranberry and cherry aromas. The sweet, rounded palate is medium-bodied with rich aroma replays, delicately balanced acidity and a lengthy finish. Score: 89 pts

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Southbrook Vidal Icewine 2014 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's end-of-dinner treat is an organic Icewine that will be released in January. If you're heading to the Icewine Festival next month, make sure to stop by Southbrook Vineyards and taste this delicious nectar.

Although there is no special Holiday Gift Package for Icewine, the beverage in and of itself would make a very special gift indeed. Having said that, you can easily bundle up the 2013 Cabernet Franc Icewine and the fully mature 2006 Vidal Icewine that was just released from the library as a lovely duo of wines for that Icewine lover in your life. Both of these Icewines are only available through the winery. Visit their website for details.

Tasting Note:

SOUTHBROOK VIDAL ICEWINE 2014 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (S) (200 mL) - $34.95
Inviting nose of peach, honey and orange from the cork. Very appealing and highly aromatic nose of apricot preserve, peach, honey with hints of lemon and ginger. It's very sweet on the fullish palate with a somewhat syrupy mouthfeel and pleasing aroma replays. The acids provide vibrancy mid-palate, while the finish length is very good. Drink over the next 7-8 years. Score: 90 pts

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Southbrook Estate Grown Small Lot Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2013 (Niagara) - Wine Review

The next post in my series of Southbrook wines is a very unique Chardonnay whose primary fermentation and malolactic conversion were indigenous - also known as "Wild Fermentation". To put it another way, the yeast used to ferment this wine was naturally occurring in the vineyard and at the winery - instead of adding inoculated yeast.

Only 6 barrels (180 cases) of this wine were produced, all from estate fruit. It spent 20 months in French oak barrels (50% new). Once again, this wine is certified organic and biodynamic and is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

This wine is only available at the winery and is currently available as part of a lovely Holiday Gifting Estate Package. For fans of Chardonnay, this package also includes the 2013 Vosges, and the unreleased Moon Barrel, Allier and Jupilles wines. There is also a similarly packaged set of wines for Cabernet Franc aficionados. These wines are specially crafted by winemaker Ann Sperling to show the subtle differences in barrel wood. The names of these wines refer to either the forest from which the barrel wood came from, or the unique method of cooperage. Visit the Southbrook Vineyards website for more details and to place your order.

Tasting Note:

SOUTHBROOK ESTATE GROWN SMALL LOT WILD FERMENT CHARDONNAY 2013 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $34.95
Ripe pear, green apple and hints of butter aromas from the cork. Elegant bouquet of coconut, pear, Golden apple, with hints of honeycomb and white flower. The palate is medium-bodied and dry with vibrant acidity and honey-tinged aromas replays. A saline note comes through mid-palate. Finishes long with mineral, honey, apple, floral and vanilla aftertaste. Some intriguing coffee notes emerge as it warms up in the glass. Lots going on in this yummy Chardonnay. Eminently drinkable now and should be better in a couple of years. Score: 90 pts

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Toronto FOOD & WINE Festival 2015 - Review

On Sunday, September 20th, I had the pleasure of attending the Toronto FOOD & WINE Festival (formerly the Delicious Food Show) that was held at Evergreen Brick Works. This 3-day festival began on Friday and showcased familiar (and some unfamiliar) local food vendors, many of which have restaurants in the city. The show also featured many local Ontairo wineries, as well as regional wine booths pouring wines from countries such as New Zealand, Chile, Spain, Portugal, and South Africa.

The show had a high-tech feel to it with wristbands and hard plastic cards digitally storing your sampling tickets - quite different from what I'm normally used to. You would load up your wristband/card with sampling tickets ($1 per sampling ticket) upon entering the show and vendors would use their device to tap your wristband/card to deduct the appropriate amount of sampling tickets. Most food & wine samples ranged from 1-5 tickets, and if you ran out of sampling tickets, you could always add more at the point of entry.

I arrived early in the afternoon, but just missed the tutored wine tasting hosted by Adamo Estate Winery, a new winery based in Hockley Valley. Thus, I headed off to the Grand Pavilion where all the food and wine was being served. Since I had just eaten lunch, I wasn't too keen on trying many foods, but as soon as I got my wine glass and headed inside, I noticed a mouth-watering piece of fried chicken resting on a waffle. It was nicely displayed at The Dirty Bird Chicken + Waffles booth. I was in complete awe as I stared at the fried piece of boneless chicken on a thick, Belgian-style waffle covered with sauce. I knew I wanted to try it and I was very happy I did. It was absolutely delicious! Further conversations with staff at the booth determined that I enjoyed a Mini ODB - a Boneless #NorthernFried 5 oz. Chicken on a Golden Buttered Maple Waffle that was topped with their Tangy In-House "Dirty" Sauce. I am marking this Kensington Market restaurant on my list of places to visit in the near future.

After enjoying the chicken + waffle, I needed something to quench my thirst. Looking at the many booths featuring wine, I quickly realized that the wines being poured were the consumer-friendly type and cautioned me to temper my expectations. Having said that, I did find a few gems that you should discover as well. Full wine reviews and tasting notes of some of the wines I enjoyed are provided below.

My second delicious food stop was at Pizzeria Libretto for a spicy (by request) Montanara Deep-Fried Marinara Pizza topped with Mozzarella and Basil. This delicious "pizza" was melt-in-your-mouth light and fluffy, and really tasty. I haven't been to Libretto in a while, but hope they've added this item as an appetizer because it would make a very nice addition to their menu; I could totally foresee a wide range of offerings for this style of "pizza", including dessert options. Pizzeria Libretto did not offer wine with their pairing at the show, but at their restaurants they offer a wide range of wines (mostly from Italy), nearly all of which are available by the glass - something I've loved about this place ever since my first visit many years ago.

There were quite a few opportunities to sample some cheese as well. Free samples of the Upper Canada Niagara Gold - a semi-firm cheese made from cow's milk - were available, and tasted just as good as the first time I tried it. Also at the same cheese booth was a yummy appetizer consisting of dark berry compote and cheese that was deep fried.

The final treat of the day came courtesy of Magnum - where I had the opportunity to try one of their delectable mini ice cream bars. Options included Double Caramel, Double Chocolate, and the Classic. I opted for the lusciously sweet Double Caramel that had rich chocolate and caramel flavours complemented by vanilla ice cream. It was quite filling! They even gave me a gift card to redeem for a full box - awesomeness!

Overall, I really enjoyed the Toronto FOOD & WINE Festival. This is a show meant for foodies first and foremost, while also providing many complementary beverage options to wash it all down. I hope to attend this event next year on an empty stomach so I can enjoy many more of the food offerings as there were many that looked very appetizing.

Tasting Notes:

ADAMO WISMER FOXCROFT VINEYARD RIESLING 2014 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (MD) - $19.95
Medium intensity nose of citrus and peach aromas. Fleshy, medium-bodied palate with orange and tropical fruit flavours. Medium-dry sweet (i.e. a little more sweeter than off-dry). Medium length finish. Score: 88 pts

ADAMO LOWREY VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2013 - VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $33
Inviting earthy, beetroot, cherry and strawberry nose which echoes very nicely on the palate. It has soft, rounded tannins and gentle spice notes mid-palate, balanced acidity and excellent length on the finish. Well-balanced red wine. Score: 91 pts

MUSKOKA LAKES WINERY RED MAPLE CRANBERRY MAPLE 2012 - Product of Canada (#050039) (S) (375 mL) - $24.95
Inviting cranberry-maple, brown sugar liqueur aromas from the glass make you keep coming back for more. It's medium+ bodied with very sweet aroma replays. Finishes long. In VINTAGES on October 31. Score: 90 pts

STONELEIGH LATITUDE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2014 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#324228) (XD) - $21.95
Medium-to-high intensity nose with grassy, cat pee, gooseberry and kiwi aromas that echo very nicely on the balanced palate. Good fruit concentration, very good acidity and finishes long. Returned to VINTAGES on October 31. Score: 89 pts

BRANCOTT ESTATE LETTER SERIES B SAUVIGNON BLANC 2014 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#278689) (XD) - $19.95
Interesting smoky, herbally and kiwi aromas that replay on the medium-bodied palate. It has balanced acidity, some mineral notes mid-palate and finishes crisp with medium-to-long length. Score: 88 pts

CARMEN GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 - Maipo Alto Vineyard, Maipo Valley, Chile (#358309) (D) - $16.45
Medium+ intensity nose featuring blackberry, cassis, dark cherry, sweet spice and a hint of lead. The palate is medium-bodied with soft, dusty tannins, pleasing aroma replays with a hint of sweetness. Also hints of green pepper on the medium length finish. Score: 88 pts

QUINTA DOS MURÇAS RESERVA 2010 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#427229) (XD) - $40
Medium intensity nose consisting of ripe red & black fruits. On the palate, it's medium+ bodied with toasty oak spice and more red & black fruits. Simple, dry red wine with very good acidity and lengthy finish. Score: 88 pts

COSME PALACIO RESERVA 2009 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#014662) (XD) - $22.95
Exotic medium+ intensity nose of earth, spice, black and blue fruits that follows through on the medium bodied, subtle oak-spiced palate. Good balance overall with balanced acidity and a medium+ length finish. Score: 89 pts

ROSEHALL RUN THE RIGHTEOUS DUDE RIESLING 2014 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#426486) (M) - $19.95
Elegant citrus, orange, melon and Flintstones vitamin aromas which replay nicely on the balanced, medium-dry palate. It's medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a lingering, minerally finish. Well done! Score: 88 pts

BETWEEN THE LINES LEMBERGER RESERVE 2013 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $30
Medium-to-high intensity aromas of raspberry, red currant, a hint of lavender and some minerality. Gentle tannins on a medium-bodied frame with currant, lavender and some bitterness on the palate. It has good acidity and a medium-to-long finish. Score: 89 pts

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Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Merlot 2014 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine is the second in a series of wines from Southbrook Vineyards.

The grapes for this wine come from the Saunders Vineyard in Niagara. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks and ageing occurred in neutral oak barrels. This wine is certified organic and suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Currently available as part of the Triomphe Gift Package that also includes two other Southbrook Triomphe wines, a bottle of Southbrook Preserve Chardonnay Vinegar, and a copy of the Ontario Table Cookbook that features 109 recipes using local ingredients.

Tasting Note:

SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE CABERNET MERLOT 2014 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $22.95
Capped with a Stelvin closure, this relatively unique blend of 69% Cabernet Franc and 31% Merlot is an organic red wine with medium+ intensity aromas of raspberry, black cherry, licorice, and sweet tobacco. Some earthy and stewed fruit notes arrive later. Essentially dry aroma replays on the medium+ bodied palate with sandalwood and chocolate notes arriving mid-palate add complexity. Acids are fresh, while tannins are light and gritty. Finishes long and earthy. Enjoy over the next 3-4 years. This will go great with lamb and buffalo mozzarella pizza (recipe provided below). Score: 88 pts

Recipe: Lamb Meatballs, Red Wine Braised Shallots and Buffalo Mozzarella Pizza

Pizza Crust:

• K2
• Red Fife 60%
• 3 Star Canadian Flour 40% (This flour is comparable to the Tippo ‘00’)
• Salt 3%
• Bioflavia 3% (dry yeast if used instead will also be 3%)
• Cool water 63%
• 250 mL of Southbrook Wine

Technique:

1. Mix all of the ingredients except for the wine by hand for about 4 to 5 minutes or in a mixer on a lower speed for about two minutes. You do not want to over develop the gluten or each pizza will always shrink on you. After mixing the dough, drink the wine as your reward. You just made pizza dough from scratch!
2. Let the dough stand overnight, preferably in the pre-weighed balls. The typical individual pizza is about 140 g. The easiest ratio is to work with 1000 g of flour and do the percentages back from that. You will get about 10 individual pizzas.
3. Pull dough out 1 hour before rolling. If you don’t have a pizza oven, put your stove to 450°F and fill a small pot or pan with water and place on the bottom of the oven. Keep the dough nice and thin with a little corn meal on the bottom so it does not stick to the tray.

Pizza Sauce Pomodoro:

• 1 large 3.5 L can of quality whole tomatoes
• 5 mL of sea salt per litre of canned tomatoes
• 1/2 bunch of basil (optional)

Technique:

1. Pass the whole tomatoes through a food mill and bring to a slow simmer for about 2 hours.
2. When finished throw in salt a few leaves of basil.

Red Wine Braised Shallots:

• 2 lbs shallots
• 250 mL Southbrook Triomph Cabernet Franc
• 250 mL dark chicken stock
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp fennel
• 1/4 tsp chilli
• Pinch of salt and pepper

Technique:

1. Peel shallots and cover half way with red wine and dark chicken stock.
2. Add a pinch of salt and pepper, some sugar, dried chili and fennel.
3. Cover with tin foil and cook at 250°F for about two hours and remove the foil.
4. Keep cooking until they take on a nice caramel colour.
5. Make a lot at a time and just place them in the fridge.
6. Take two of the shallots and slice for the pizza

Lamb Meatballs:

1. Add chopped thyme, rosemary and parsley with a splash of 10% cream to ground lamb.
2. Roll meat balls at a size of about 40 g.
3. Cook for approximately 25 minutes at 325°F.

To Assemble Pizza:
To build the pizza, roll out the dough to create a thin layer and place on a tray with corn meal sprinkled on it to avoid sticking. Ladle on a thin layer of pomodoro sauce, add three sliced meatballs, two shallots, and 60 g of torn buffalo mozzarella cheese, and then sprinkle charred garlic scapes.

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