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March 28 - 2012 Vineland Elevation Riesling - 2012 Organized Crime Chardonnay

2012 Vineland Elevation St. Urban Vineyard Riesling - Vintages 38117 - $19.95 - ****1/2 - This wine is as close to perfect as you might find in the vintages section whether you're a wine noob or a hardened snob.  First off - this wine is under twenty dollars a bottle.  If you have any questions about whether a top notch bottle of wine needs to cost a lot of money look no further.  Secondly - If you want to start a wine cellar this is a great bottle to stock up on.  This will age gracefully, easily for twenty years if you have the patience ... but let's face it you're probably not going to wait.  Unlike a fine Bordeaux from the glass case at the back of the store there is nothing wrong with enjoying this wine immediately.  This is off-dry but balanced with great palate cleansing acidity.  Flavours of apples, peach and a nice mineral note on the finish help round out this great wine.

2012 Organized Crime Chardonnay - Vintages 408435 - $19.95 - **** - The nose on this wine is toasty oak.  In the glass you will notice a cacophony of fruit with Peach, Apple and Lemon taking turns at front and centre.  The oak pressence is very nice bringing butterscotch and vanilla that rise right to the roof of the mouth on the finish.  A Chardonnay like this could divide a dinner party because it does have a stong oak pressence.  If you're used to serving your white wine right out of the fridge you will want to resist the urge with this bottle.  This will taste much better at just a few degrees below room temperature (16-17 degrees if you have to be precise).  If this wine is served too cold all you will taste is wood and unless you're a beaver you probably won't enjoy that.

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March 21 - 2013 Cave Spring Chardonnay Musqué - 2012 Pondview Reserve Cabernet/Merlot

2012 Pondview Reserve Cabernet/Merlot - Vintages 307561 - $18.95 - ***1/2 - As the weather outside warms it's time to start thinking about wines to eat with grilled meats.  This is one that will do the trick.  Fruit flavours in your glass will be Plum, Blackberry, and Blueberry with a nice finish that is mocha and slight spice.  2012 was a very warm summer in Ontario so the great news is that this wine is something that, while drinking great now, will also age for a few years if you feel so inclined.  Your ideal food pairings are Steak, or Burgers.  But, If you don't feel like firing up the grill homemade Pizza will make a great match.

2013 Cave Spring Estate Bottled Chardonnay Musqué - Vintages 246579 - $15.95 - ***1/2+ - What does spring in a glass smell like?  Don't be fooled, this may say Chardonnay on the bottle but this isn't your ordinary Chard.  Musqué is a cousin to regular Chardonnay leaving you with a wine that has a lot of what you would normally expect in the glass; citrus flavours, and yellow apple with a bright clean finish.  What is unique about Musqué is it has a floral aroma like a field of white flowers.  Perfect for sushi or just for sipping on it's own.

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Wine Release Preview - 2013 Lailey Unfiltered Cabernet Franc

2013 Lailey Unfiltered Cabernet Franc - ****+ - (Price TBD) - This is an elegant follow up to big 2012 vintage.  This wine is made from a block of thirty year old vines and is only made in years that winemaker Derek Barnett feels worthy.  There are layers of Raspberry, and Currant with smoke on the finish and to wrap up the whole package nice acidity kicks up the finish.  It's because of wines like this that I believe that the future of Ontario is Cabernet Franc.  For food pairings I will let the photo speak for itself and pair this with homemade pizza (or roast beef, or burgers, or on it's own)

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Wine Tasting - Montes Wines

What exactly is dry farming?  When I got my invitation to the Montes tasting hosted in Toronto on March 2, 2015 Three vintages of the Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon were presented.  This was interesting because starting with the 2012 vintage we are seeing the results of "dry farming".  The long and short of it is that Montes is using less water in their grape growing process.  The end product is lower yields on the vines and smaller berries but the quality of the fruit is much higher.  When I spoke with winemaker Aurelio Montes he explained to me that while Montes wasn't doing organic farming they believe in low intervention in the vineyards.

I tasted 1999, 2011 and 2012. 

1999 - ****+ - This is balanced and ready to drink.  Flavours of Cedar, Smoke are front and centre.  Once the smoke rises you find raspberry and cherry.  As the fruit rolls off the back of your tongue you're left with a strong tobacco note on the finish.  This wine will still last for another 3-5 years ... but it won't last forever.  For a wine where the current vintage is listed at just under twenty dollars this is fantastic value! 

2011 - **** - There are lots of Raspberry, Strawberry, Blackberry and Currant in the glass.  Once the fruit is done being center stage you finish with licorice and mint notes. This is very well made Cab Sauv and should easily age as well as the 1999.

2012 - ****+ - There is noticeably more concentration in the fruit flavours in the wine.  Lots of Strawberry, Raspberry, Cassis and Blackberry that is followed up by Tobacco and Mocha notes.  This wine easily outperforms it's price point and it will easily age as well as the 1999 if not longer.  If this is the product of dry farming I am looking forward to future wines from Montes.

The Cab Sauv flight easily highlighted both the quality of the wines prior to and after the implementation of dry farming.  To be honest every wine on the panel was affable and easy to drink.  The Sauv Blanc and Cinsault were both fantastic.

 2013 Montes Outer Limits Sauvignon Blanc - Vintages 389643 - $19.95 - **** - This Chilean Sauvignon Blanc could go toe to toe with any New Zealand offering and hold it's own.  The nose is intense gooseberry and grassy notes and it definitely leaps out of the glass.  The flavours are loads of tropical fruits - passion, pineapple and lime underneath a refreshing herbaciousness that is begging to be paired with grilled chicken or pork.  

2014 Montes Outer Limits Cinsault - **** - What would Beaujolais Villages taste like if it came from the southern hemisphere?  This wine has gone through carbonic maceration that brings out sour cherry on the nose and lots of sour cherry on the palate. Light and refreshing with clean acidity this wine is almost as food friendly as a well put together Rosé

Lastly I got a chance to taste through the ultra permium offerings from the winery.  

2012 Purple Angel - Vintages 62364 - ****+ - The nose and palate on this wine is all fruit on the nose and in the mouth.  This is drinking dangerously easy even though the wine is still young. Your first sip of the wine will be a giant fruit bomb in your mouth.  The second sip will show you the structure of the wine and you will find the acidity and caramel on the finish.  This should age 15-20 years.

2007 Taita - ****1/2 - ($350CDN approx) Taita is going to be the halo wine from Montes.  There are supposed to be 35 bottles released in Canada.  This is the sort of wine that could age for 15-30 years easily (in a proper cellar).  The nose is very intense mexican vanilla with very ripe blueberry, raspberry, cassis layered over cedar, tobacco and mocha.  To steal a line from Ferris Bueller "Should you have the means I highly recommend it"

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Wine Review March 14 - 2013 Fielding Unoaked Chardonnay - 2012 Keint-He Voyageur Pinot Noir

2013 Fielding Unoaked Chardonnay - Vintages 164491 - $14.95 - ***1/2 - Apple, and Lemon.  This is easy drinking white wine with refreshing acidity on the finish.  The great thing about Unoaked Chardonnay is that it is unpretentious and easy drinking.  This wine makes me yearn for summer... It will make a great patio sipper.  

2012 Keint-He Voyageur Pinot Noir - Vintages 373407 - $18.00 - **** - Delicious well priced Pinot Noir, simply put.  You may be a little leery seeing Canadian Pinot Noir under the twenty dollar price point but don't be wary.  This wine is loaded Dark Cherry with Vanilla and some Spice on the finish.  This wine is easily outperforming its price.  This will make a great match to Roast Duck or Chicken.

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Cuvée 2015 - is it too early to set my calendar for 2016?

The question you answer for the next few days after Cuvée is "What was your favorite wine?"... Truthfully I can't answer.  Cuvée is hosted at the Fallsview Casino.  It is one of the events that I look forward to every year.  You take as many wineries as you can fit into the event space and they each bring their favorite wine to pour.  The best part about this is that it is completely subjective and up to the winemaker to decide what they bring ... there is really no rhyme or reason to it.  Now this is precisely why the budding oenophile should head down to Fallsview next year.  If you want to hear about where your wine comes from and talk directly from the people who make it Cuvée is the place to do it.  

This year there were 52 wines being poured ... needless to say that sampling all the wines is a near impossibility.  This year Pelee Island and Cooper's Hawk from Lake Erie North Shore were pouring at the event giving me hope that at future events we will see wineries from all the wine growing regions represented.  

Between chatting with winemakers you never know who you will bump into at the event.  This year was attended by the Lieutenant Governor, The Leader of the Provincial NDP and countless media.  This is the sort of event where you can get a crash course in Ontario wine in one night... If you don't leave the event without at least a half dozen favorites you haven't done it right (or you are very picky) 

Here are a few of my favorites and some thoughts about them...

2012 Stratus White - This blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon is very intense on the nose and in the mouth.  Very ripe Pear and Peach with vanilla that rises up right to the roof of the mouth on the finish.  

2013 Peller Private Reserve Gamay - This would fall into the category of Cru Beaujolais if we were comparing this to it's french cousin. It's medium bodied with dark cherry and ripe grape in the bottle with hints of pepper on the finish. 

2012 Lailey Impromptu - This is a blend of Syrah, Malbec and Petit Verdot.  It is nice and peppery on the finish underneath layers of very ripe raspberry.  This is the sort of wine that will challenge your very belief on what varietals can be grown in Ontario successfully.  This is selling for $45.20 and worth every penny. 

2013 Gewurztraminer - Beautiful, Elegant, Floral, Tasty ... but hard to pronounce.  I always remember which wineries bring Gewurztraminer to Cuvée because it is one of the underrated varietals in the province.  Bright and Crisp with Rose and tropical flavours with nice clean acidity on the finish.

2012 Rennie G - I got the opportunity to taste the Rennie G a few weeks ago at an Ontario/Italy tasting and it shone next to some very good Italian appassimento wines.  Tasting it on its own is a real treat.  Rich, Full bodies and loaded with raspberry, strawberry... a wine like this is a little higher in alcohol which is something you need to be mindful about at an event like Cuvée.

2013 Westcott Chardonnay - Westcott used last year's Cuvée as an opportunity to open the doors to their winery.  This year the follow up was equally impressive with well balanced chardonnay loaded with peach, pear and slightly pineapple notes with well integrated notes of vanilla.   

2012 Trius Grand Red - This is a massive wine and the tannin is still very firm in it.  Even being poured from a big decanter this wine won't be ready for at least a year and it should age for at least a decade.  Lots of Raspberry, Blackberry and Cassis with nice smoke on the finish.  The blend in this bottle is Cabernet Sauvignon 37%/Merlot 36%/Cabernet Franc 27%

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Cuvée En Route - Stratus Sidebar

I hadn't planned on making any stops for Cuvée En Route.  But next year when you're in town for Cuvée make sure you plan on a few for yourself.  I did however get a chance to stop by Stratus to see what was going on.  Stratus was pouring their 2012 White the previous night at the grand tasting and it was easily one of the highlights of the night.  So when I saw the tweet from @Stratuswines saying that they were pouring 06, 07, 08, and 12 vintages of the white, I knew I had to drop in.  

2012 - 43% Chardonnay/42% Sauvignon Blanc/15% Semillon - This is a very exciting wine and hasn't been released yet ... but I will be lining up for my bottle the day it's released.  Vanilla on the nose comes from the time in oak.  The nose is so powerful it almost feels like it's reaching out of the glass and into your nose.  Fruit is all over the place in this wine ... Peach, Pear, Apple, Citrus.  To pair this wine with food would almost be a damned crime this is meant to be enjoyed on it's own. 

2008 - 37% Chardonnay/28% Semillon/23% Sauvignon Blanc/6% Gewurztraminer/6% Viognier - This wine was served very cold (close to fridge temperature) and it's remarkable at the cold temperature how the small amount of Gewurztraminer really shone through with aromas of rose wafting up.  As the wine warmed the flavours came into focus with a wine that is significantly more crisp in spite of the wider use of new oak than the 2012.  

2007 - 46% Sauvignon Blanc/29% Chardonnay/ 14% Semillon/10% Gewurztraminer/1% Riesling - 2007 was a very warm summer for Ontario and this wine reflects that.  Fruit flavours of ripe peach and roasted pineapple dominate this wine.  The oak flavours in this wine are very muted over the dominant fruit and the finish is long.

2006 - Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Riesling, Viognier (% not listed) - The first note I wrote on this wine is that it is essentially a pineapple bomb!  Pineapple and Orange are what you will find in this bottle.  The acidity is holding on and the finish is a little more crisp.  

If you're not familiar with Stratus wines, their winemaker (J-L Groux) is very talented at blending wines.  All four of these wines are excellent expressions of the vintage in which they were made.  This is why the blends vary wildly from year to year.  Comparing 2007 and 2012, which were both very hot summers, you might expect the "recipe" of the wines to be similar but that's not the case.  The only thing that ties these two wines together are the intense ripeness from the additional heat of the summer that comes through in the wines.  This is the first opportunity I have had to taste this many back vintages of the Stratus White but I already can't wait to dig back in to the 2012 when it comes out for sale.

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Winery Profile - 2 Sisters

I had a chance to recently visit Two Sisters winery in Niagara.  There is quite a buzz about the new impressive facility and the wines since they opened their doors.  I had to go and check it out for myself.  

Lush Brut Rosé - $35.00 - **** - 50/50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.  This is a bone dry pale pink sparkler.  There are flavours of apple and bright lemon.  There is just a hint of herbaciousness on the finish of this wine.  This wine spent two years on lees.  This is another reason to drink sparkling without a special occasion especially at this price.  

2013 Sauvignon Blanc - $29.00 - **** - Subtle and restrained tropical flavours of passion fruit with lemon dance on the palate.  The finish is clean with a strong acidic backbone.  I love Ontario Sauvignon blanc as a match to Fish dishes using Cod or Halibut and freshly shucked Oysters.  

2013 Unoaked Chardonnay - $24.00 - ***1/2 - There is a lot going on in this Chardonnay.  The nose is baked peach and pear with apple mingled in there.  The real surprise on the nose is a hint of white flower that rolls in and just builds with each sip of this wine.  The flavours of this wine match the nose but the signature crisp acidic backbone washes away clean.  This is the sort of wine that has me yearning for warmer weather.

2010 Merlot - $48.00 - **** - Two Sisters is very fortunate to have 2010 as their first vintage for sale.  The ideal growing conditions created some very nice Red wines.  The only thing to shed a tear about is that these wines come from young vines which means we likely won't see any long ageing potential from these wines.  That being said this wine is drinking great right now with Cedar, Dark Chocolate and Jammy Strawberry notes with a nice bit of smoke on the finish.  While this may not age 10 years it should improve over the next 3-5.  

2010 Cabernet Franc - $48.00 - **** - Lots of Raspberry and Blueberry are what you will find in this bottle with the signature subtle hints of spice and dark chocolate on the finish.  This is a very fine example of what came out of the great 2010 vintage and should be enjoyed over the next 3-5 years.  

2013 Riesling Icewine - $45.00 - ****+ - Honey, Peach and Mango.  Riesling is something I hope to see more often as an Icewine.  The high acidity in the wine helps to cut through the sweetness in the wine.  

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine - $55.00 - ****+ - Red Icewine is a treasure that is still overlooked even though it's made in our own backyard.  If your only experience is with Vidal Icewine this would be a reason to come back.  This has a nose of Nibs (yes... the Cherry Licorice Rope) and Strawberry Jam.  As with Riesling this has a nice acidity to the finish to help cut through the sugar.  

Overall the portfolio is very solid for a winery that has just opened their doors.  It is clear that they have spared no expense in setting up the winery.  However the table wines do seem a little pricey.  That being said the Icewines and the Sparkling wine alone are worth the trip.  What will be exciting is waiting to see what future vintages will hold and we should be seeing some very good wines with ageing potential coming out.  (They do still have their 2012's yet to be released)  

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Wine Review March 7 - 2013 Malivoire Pinot Gris - 2012 13th Street Gamay Noir

2013 Malivoire Pinot Gris - Vintages 591305 - $19.95 - **** - I get nostalgic whenever I see the Pinot Gris from Malivoire.  Going back to 2008 this is a wine I look forward to every year.  With a nice acidic backbone, but flavours that are more subdued than Riesling makes this particular wine even more food friendly.  What you will find on your glass are wonderful flavours of peach and white flower.  There is just a slight hint of sweetness on the back of your tongue... but this wine finishes clean.  This is a wine that I would refer to as a "Perogy Wine" it will cut through the fats and salts in Bratwurst and Perogies making a perfect match.

2012 13th Street Gamay Noir - Vintages 177824 - $19.95 - **** - Here is a challenge for those of you who say that Gamay can't age ... pick up a few bottles of this wine and cellar it over the next 5-8 years.  The concentrated fruit flavours of Raspberry and very Ripe Cherry dominate this beautiful Gamay.  There is nice acidity on the finish of this wine which will make it a great match to stews, duck or bbq ribs.  I don't know if I am going to have the patience to age this wine... It is drinking beautifully right now.  

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Air France Wine List Review

When I went to France in November I flew Air France.  I was fortunate enough to fly Business class for my trip to Paris.  I was curious to see how Air France modeled their wine list especially after the stirs in social media about Air Canada (you can read my original column here).  I wasn't sure what to expect from the flag carrier of France but I think it's fair to say that their list could easily be a template for other wine producing countries.  

There were four wines on the list in Business class all coming from different regions.  I think it's safe to say that even a hardened wine snob could find something to their taste on the list.  

White wine on the flight consisted of Deutz Champagne and 2011 Chablis from Jean-Marc Brocard.  Obviously one cannot stock a full cellar on a plane and sticking to Champagne and lighter Chardonnay are good bets to be crowd pleasing wines.

Red wine onboard consisted of a Vallée du Rhône Perrin et Fils Cairanne Peyre Blanche 2010 and Bordeaux from Lalande de Pomerol Chateau Siaurac 2008.  The Rhône was loaded with heavy, ripe fruit with a bit of spice and smoke on the finish.  The Bordeaux was also affable and drinking very well. 

The wines in economy class are also easy drinking and accessible ... While they may come across as nothing spectacular in terms of "fine wine" but they are French.  Let's face it we're not usually too concerned about getting the best of the best in economy class but at least they are locally sourced.  

With the wines in business class Air France has done a great job covering several regions geographically and different styles of wine.  I am already looking forward to my next flight to see what will be new and how the list will change.  If you are planning a trip to France I highly recommend checking out Air France, even if you can't afford to fly business class the food and wine is distinctly french and a great way to start and end your trip.  

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Eye on Pelee Island - March 2014

I love Pelee Island wines.  As much as I love reviewing and tasting the new released from the Vintages section as they come out, I do remember that for most people the regular list is where they do most of their shopping.  Quality VQA products are essential in the regular list.  The wines from Peller, Trius, Chateau des Charmes and Pelee Island are essentially the flag bearers for Ontario wine.  Just because these wines come in at the lower end of the price range doesn't mean they should be over looked.  

2013 Cabernet Franc - LCBO 433714 - $11.95 - ***1/2 - This is one of my go to red wines for cooking.  It is very typically Cabernet Franc with lots of red fruit and just a slight savory edge.  The extra heat from the southernmost wine region in Canada really comes through in the Franc with the very ripe flavour coming through in this wine.  The fruitiness of this wine will make it seem like there is some sweetness but it is very dry with almost no residual sugar.  I enjoy using this wine for tomato sauces, au jus with roast beer, or using it in stews.  No need to cellar this bottle enjoy it right now until the next vintage comes out. 

The new label design from Pelee Island really pops on the shelf.  I have admitted before that I am a sucker for a snazzy label.  But when push comes to shove the wine still has to be good.

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon - LCBO 214957 - $14.95 - ***1/2 - The theme from Pelee Island is a lot of fruit in the bottle.  This Cabernet Sauvignon has a lot of Raspberry, Blackberry and Plum with hints of smoke and mocha on the finish.  Just like the Cabernet Franc this will make a welcome addition to your table anywhere red meat can be found whether it's burgers, steaks or lamb.  

2013 Pinot Noir Reserve - LCBO 458500 - $15.95 - ***1/2+ - Affordable Pinot Noir (I hesitate to use the word cheap) that tastes like Pinot Noir can be a challenge in Ontario.  Loads of cherry with nice earthiness on the finish and great acidity make this a very food friendly Pinot.  

2012 Vinedressers Chardonnay - 700400 - **** - This Chardonnay definitely benefits from the longer growing season on Pelee Island.  This is a big, buttery Chardonnay with ripe Orange and Pineapple flavours with vanilla and some spice on the finish.  This is a big Chardonnay but still has nice acidity on the finish to keep the wine balanced.  This will make a great match to creamy pasta dishes, fish and chips, or on its own.  Make sure you don't serve this too cold or the Oak flavours in the wine may overpower.  

2010 Vinedressers Cabernet Sauvignon/Petit Verdot - 530000 - **** - While the Cabernet Franc and the Cabernet Sauvignon are unpretentious and easy drinking right out of the bottle this is a nice Bordeaux style blend.  The tannin is just starting to soften in the bottle but there is still some life left in this bottle if you were looking for something that would age for another 5 years or so.  That being said you   There is lots of Blackberry, Black Currant, and Blueberry with nice bit of spice on the finish.  This will pair well with roast beef, or a nice steak.  Pelee was pouring the 2012 version of this wine at Cuvée this year.

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Wine Review February 28 - Bricklayer's Reward Block 7 Cabernet Sauvigon 2012 - Chateau des Charmes Old vines Riesling 2012

2012 Bricklayer's Reward Block 7 Cabernet Sauvignon - Vintages 406124 - $19.95 - **** - So far every bottle from the Bricklayer's Reward series has impressed ... this Cabernet Sauvignon is no exception.  The nose has Pencil Shavings and Cedar notes with Currant and Blackberry.  The flavours in this wine are smoky with firm tannin but lots of black cherry and raspberry push their way through.  It would be worth picking up a few bottles of this and a few bottles of the Bricklayer's Reward Cabernet Franc (vintages 395277/$18.95) drink the Franc now and let the Sauvignon age for a few years.  If you don't have the patience let this decant for an hour before serving with rare beef.

2012 Chateau des Charmes Old Vines Riesling - Vintages 277228 - $16.95 - ****+ - This is the second time I have had the opportunity to taste this wine.  It keeps getting better and better with more time in bottle.  Lots of mineral and good acidity on the finish of this wine.  Bright and vibrant flavours of Apples and Peaches.  This wine is slightly off dry but with very well balanced acidity.  

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It's #Shirazweek!

Shiraz is a wine that I love ... but don't drink enough of.  The thing about Shiraz is that it's something that Australia has taken and made their own.  Shiraz is begging to be paired with grilled meats of any sort.  Frankly, this is the sort of wine that you don't want to drink on an empty stomach because the alcohol content does start to get quite up there (15% is not unusual).

The iYellow Crew was out in full force pouring 17 wines from Australia.  This was a perfect way to spend a cold February night.  My hat goes off to Angela Aiello for pouring one mystery wine (to the far right).  The end of the night it was revealed that it was Yellow Tail.  Once you become a seasoned wine snob Yellow Tail becomes the butt of many jokes when it comes to talking about cheap wine... but even I'll admit that I didn't hate it.  There is definitely some residual sugar in the wine and it fell to the middle of the pack of the wines being poured.  What I found most interesting was talking to people about what they thought about the "Mystery Wine".  Most people sipping on it really enjoyed it not knowing what was in the glass.

None of the wines being poured are terribly expensive with the most expensive wine being the Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz that comes in at $34.95.  Tasting wines like this is a great way to see how price doesn't always dictate quality.  

There were three wines that stood out over the 17.  I will be enjoying all three of them with Barbeque Sauce on Pork or Beef Ribs or Steak seasoned with Montreal Steak Spice.  The big fruit and smoky flavours beg to be paired with red meat. 

2010 Small Gully Formula - Vintages 142935 - $19.95 - ***1/2+ - Smoky with lots of red fruit and a finish that is almost mellow... I realize it's hard to picture a big, in your face varietal like Shiraz coming off as elegant but Formula definitely does it.

2013 Jim Jim The Down-Underdog - Vintages 682005 - $15.95 - ***1/2 - A little rougher around the edges than the Small Gully Shiraz but still very nice with flavours or Blueberry and Raspberry.

2012 Teusner The Independent Shiraz/Mataro - Vintages 289876 - $19.95 - ***1/2 - The wine for the crazy cat lady in your life.  The label is fun and the wine is easy drinking.  Blueberry, and Raspberry are dominant on this wine with a nice smoky, earthy finish and rolls off the back of your tongue softly like a kitten landing on it's feet.  

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Eye on Huff Estates - February 2015

I don't make it to Prince Edward County enough.  The list of wineries worth visiting keeps growing that I can no longer do the trip in a day or two.  If you haven't been to the County yet it is mandatory to stop by Huff Estates.  I had an opportunity to taste through a couple of wines 

2010 Peter F. Huff Cuvée - $39.95 - ****+ - This is one of my favorite sparkling wines in the province.  It's very rich and heavy right from the first sip with loads of Orange and Green Apple layered over top of Caramel.  As soon as you really get a grasp on the full symphony of flavours in your mouth the palate cleansing acidity washes it all away leaving you ready for your next sip.  This will pair with just about anything you can throw at it foodwise but it will make a great match to roast chicken or turkey, or roast pork.  Even though this wine is getting close to forty dollars it is still exceptional value and while it may be out of the budget to drink on a tuesday with Swiss Chalet (but you definitely could...) it is definitely affordable enough to open with good company, no special occasion required. 

2012 South Bay Chardonnay - $29.95 - ****+ - A beautiful example of Chardonnay from the County.  Grapefruit and Lemon are the first thing you will notice from the bottle followed by Pineapple and Vanilla with the barrel flavours quite present.  This still needs another 6-12 months in the bottle to settle before it will really shine.  If you don't have patience make sure you don't serve this wine too cold.  A slight chill to 15 degrees should keep the oak flavours in check and let the fruit shine through.  Pairings for this wine are creamy pasta, or chicken of any sort.  

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what is appassimento

Appassimento is a method for drying grapes so the juice becomes more concentrated before they press them and turn it into wine.  

The end effect is that you end up with wines that generally taste fruitier and have a little more alcohol.  

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Hello Andre, I am sending out a media advisory for a wine launch event happening in a couple of weeks. I was hoping I could get your email to send this to you. The launch is for Doug Gilmour Wines. Would this be possible?

andre.proulx (at) bellmedia.ca

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Wine Review February 21 - 2013 Burning Kiln Stick Shaker Savagnin - 2010 Ridgepoint Merlot

Three of the four wines in this weeks review are made in an appassimento style.  This means that some of the grapes used to make the wine have been left to dry before they were pressed.  Drying the grapes allows some of the water to evaporate and concentrate the juices and sugars.  The fruit flavours in the wine are generally more intense, and there is a little more alcohol in these wines.

2013 Burning Kiln Stick Shaker Savagnin - Vintages 367144 - $24.95 - ****+ - It is amazing how the appassimento treatment of aromatic white grapes really boost the nose and intensity.  Loaded with apricot, peach and hints of floral that roll off the back of your tongue and linger.  In spite of the intensity of the wine it is still bone dry with good acidity which makes this wine food friendly.  However, the intensity of the flavours in this wine will make it a perfect match for roast or barbecued chicken and may clash with creamier dishes.  To be frank I will not be pairing this wine with anything and I will be enjoying it on it's own.

2010 Ridgepoint Merlot - Vintages 270488 - $19.95 - **** - Right after opening this wine has a dangerously soft finish.  Coming from the very warm 2010 vintage this is loaded with dark fruit.  Plum, Blackberry, Blueberry and Black Currant are all present in the bottle as the wine moves to Chocolate and Licorice on the finish.  This will make a great match to braised beef ribs, stews or would make an interesting addition to a Coq au Vin. 

2013 Malivoire Riesling - Vintages 277483 - $15.95 - ***1/2+ - Bright and crisp with lots of lemon and lime.  This is a very dry Riesling with a lot of acidity and slight chalkiness on the finish.  This wine would fall into the category of swiss army knife when it comes to meal planning because it will pair with just about anything.  It is next to impossible to pick up any sugar in the wine because of the acidity making the finish very clean.  

2011 Burning Kiln Kiln Hanger Cabernet Franc - Vintages 367136 - $49.95 - ****1/2 - This is an impressive wine.  This would be a fun wine to blindfold someone who loves Amarone and have them tell you that this isn't from Italy.  Lots of very ripe Raspberry and Cherry with Cedar notes to accent the fruit.  This is drinking fantastic right now but will age well for another 5-7 years.  Round and full in the mouth but even with the intensity of the wine it is still elegant and soft on the finish.  Just like the Savangnin I believe this is not meant to be paired with anything... but if you must braised beef ribs would be a great match.