Category Archives: Canadian Wines

SOUTHBROOK ORGANIC WHITE CONNECT VQA, 2010 Ontario

30 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by in Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Southbrook Connect White 2010, VQA Ontario Bottle

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Vidal
Category: Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Southbrook Farms Winery
Alcohol: 9.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Peach, pineapple, hay, lemon & grapefruits predominate. Taste is off dry but it has good acidity to go with food. Medium minus body with a medium finish & low alcohol.

Negatives: A little too much tartness on the finish.

Interesting Point: It’s organic.

Drink now & serve with squash soup.

Tasted: 29 Nov 11

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17+/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 249078

COLANERI WINERY

20 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Colaneri Winery, Winery Review Series

≈ Leave a comment


I visited the Colaneri winery on Friday 7th October 2011, and was shown around by Tara Colaneri, daughter of Mike Colaneri. The experience was very moving for me as the winery is based on romantic values, family, friendship & good wine. Most of their wine labels have a story to tell, some even moved me to tear up, especially the story behind Tara’s label, which is reviewed.

Colaneri is a young winery to Ontario, but Tara’s grandparents used to sell the grapes to make juice and jams. Visit their website to view their family history.Owners-The Colaneri Family
Winemaker’s name-Andrzej Lipinski
First Crop- 2008
First Bottled-2010
Retail store opened-2010

The first thing you notice when you approach the winery is the large Tuscan villa rising above the grape fields. A beautiful piece of architecture that carries through to the interior, albeit it will not be completely finished for probably another two years. They have a bell tower that was rung when I was there for a couple on their anniversary symbolizing good luck. Even though there is construction, the winery is open for the public to sample their award winning wines.

Tara with Her Award Winning Gold Medal Riesling Wine

Once the interior is finished it will truly be a magnificent & unique place to visit. In regards to their wines that I tasted, they were all very good.  Their winemaker, Andrzej Lipinski, has done an exquisite job making delicious wines.

Tara in the Wine Cellar

Me Enjoying a Glass of Wine in their Wine Cellar

Once again, I would like to thank Tara for her hospitality and making me feel part of the family.

Tara and I in the Wine Cellar

COLANERI, STELLUCHA, RIESLING, VQA 2009, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Colaneri Winery, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Coraggioso

Cost: $15.95

Grape Variety: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Light gold colour with medium intensity on the nose. 

Positives: Very clean, smooth and a touch of creaminess. Notes of lemon/lime, peach, tangerine and a hint of grapefruit and minerality. This is a medium body wine with long length and good acidity. On the Riesling sweetness scale (not to be confused with the sugar content of wines) I would put this in the middle. Very pleasant to drink on its own or pair it with grilled shrimp on the BBQ. 

Negatives: None 

Interesting Points:

  • This is Tara’s wine that won gold medal at the Ottawa Wine Challenge (should have won diamond, if they had that category)
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 9 months
  • Stellucha means little star in Italian. Tara’s mom gave her that nickname when she was little. Tara competes in Latin dance & the picture is of her pose in the dance. On the upper right corner is a silhouette of her mother looking down from heaven to her Stellucha. Tara’s mother had passed away 2 years ago.  

Best Buy 

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011 

Score: 9/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

COLANERI, CAVALLONE, PINOT GRIGIO, VQA 2010, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Colaneri Winery, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Coraggioso

Cost: $25.00

Grape Variety: Pinot Grigio
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: A beautiful copper colour with medium intensity on the nose. 

Positives: This is in the Alsatian style with honeysuckle, orange rind, grapefruit, pear and peach on the nose. The taste has a wonderful oiliness to it along with peach, pear, orange, pink grapefruit, limestone and apples.  

Negatives: None 

Interesting Points:

  • This wine won gold at Intervin
  • This is Tara’s mom’s wine (Angiolina)
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 9 months Appassimento style
  • Cavallone means horse in Italian. Tara’s grandmother gave her mother that nickname when she was little, which meant in Italian that they were strong and free spirited. The little children on the horse is Tara holding onto her mother not to let to go, and her brother, Michael, pointing to the sky telling her that she is in heaven but saying that she is with them here. The rock on the lower right hand corner represents Tara’s father, who is the rock. 

Best Buy

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011 

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

COLANERI, UNITA, VQA 2009, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Colaneri Winery, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Coraggioso

Cost: $25.00

Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose. 

Positives: Complex wine showing cherry, blackberries, black olives, dill, basil, mocha, tobacco leaves and raspberry.  This wine is full body with a long length.  

Negatives: Needs to age as it is still a little green on the taste.  

Interesting Points:

  • This wine is in 50% Appassimento style
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 13months
  • Carposo means full body in Italian.
  • The label means Unity. This is Michael’s label (Tara’s brother), which represents happy times at the dinner table with his family.  

Best Buy

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011

Score: 9/10, Value: 910, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

COLANERI CORPOSO VQA 2009, Niagara Peninsula

20 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Colaneri Winery, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Coraggioso

Cost: $18.95

Grape Variety: 60% Cabernet Franc, 40% Cabernet Sauvigon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Colaneri Winery
Alcohol: 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium+  intensity on the nose. 

Positives: There is a lot going on in this wine. Cherry pie, blackberries, black olives, dill and basil predominate on the nose. Similar to the nose with the addition of some tobacco leaves and raspberry.  The wine has a Medium+ body with a long length. Easy to drink on its own or pair it pizza. 

Negatives: None 

Interesting Points:

  • This wine is in a Ripasso style
  • The label is of Tara’s grandfather pressing the grapes in the traditional Italian method “torchio”
  • The wine is barrel aged in new and old oak for 13months
  • Carposo means full body in Italian.  

Best Buy

Tasted: 7 Oct 2011

Score: 9/10, Value: 910, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

PELEE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE MERLOT, 2009 VQA Ontario

14 Friday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Pelee Island Merlot 2009, Ontario VQA Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General Listing
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pelee Island Vineyard Inc.
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Medium ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Beautiful nose full of bramble fruit pie, cherry & with a light touch pine & cloves. The nose reminds me of wine gummy berries. The taste is similar to the nose but without the sweet pie notes. Nicely balanced, medium tannins, medium body, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None for the price.

Interesting things: This vintage label is a lot nicer than their old one.

Drink now on its own or pair it with ham & pineapple.

Best Buy.

Tasted: 11 Oct 11

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/10

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 612622

STREWN CHARDONNAY BARREL-AGED, 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula

10 Monday Oct 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Strewn Chardonnay Barrel Aged 2009, Niagara On The Lake VQA Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Strewn Inc.
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Description: Medium gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A very nice Chard nose showing light oak & toast, buttery popcorn, lemon & golden apple. The taste is similar to the nose with a some added spice on the medium+ finish. The taste is smooth & creamy and still maintains good acidity. This medium body Chard is easy to drink on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: Use an old world or cool climate style Chard glass.

Best Buy.

Tasted 6 Oct 11.

Score: 9/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 19/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 522730

13th STREET WINERY, ST. CATHARINES, NIAGARA, ON

07 Friday Oct 2011

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Winery Review Series

≈ Leave a comment


This is my first foray into reviewing wineries. I would like to thank Peter Rod, Sommelier at 13th Street for setting everything up and the owner, Karen Whitty, for her hospitality.
DSCF0212
                Peter in the Garden

A word of caution in attending this winery: If you think that you can fully appreciate everything they have to offer in an hour or two, that’s not going to happen. There is too much to experience here, from the tasting of the wines, to pairing of the wines with their selection of cheeses and meats, visiting the bakery and just walking around the grounds. They encourage people to stay awhile to enjoy the ambiance with wine and food while on the property. They have picnic tables as well as tables & chairs around the wine tasting house so you can sit, relax, drink and eat at your own pace. Inside the tasting house you will find more than just wine and cheese, but also art work. They have beautiful paintings and pictures from local artist as well as jewellery, and other art works. Outside you will continue with your experience in viewing larger pieces of art.

 

                      Gallery Room
IMG_1261
The Gallery Room Set Up For Wine Tastings
IMG_1262
                      The Grounds

                           Patio

The bakery is an artwork itself. Besides the novelties that they have for sale, the food looks amazing. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to eat there, but it looked extremely enticing. Karen gave me some heirloom tomatoes and blackberries that were just delicious. I will definitely go back and try their butternut soup and flat bread pizza.

IMG_1279
Karen Welcomes You to the Bakery
IMG_1274
                                  Bakery

I tasted 7 wines that Peter provided for me, and all were good, some better than others. My full review is posted below. Winemaker Jean Pierre Colas has done an impressive job making wines that are for the most part drinkable now, both food friendly or to be drank on their own.

IMG_1280
Me in the Blackberry Orchard

The only downside that I found here was that they are not open on Sundays. The owners and their staff work long hard hours during the week and due to their religious beliefs, they put their values ahead of business. Kudos for them.

This Winery is highly recommended.

13th STREET WINERY WHITE PALETTE 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

06 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $14.95

Grape Variety: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay Musqué,
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery & LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Light straw in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose. 

Positives: I love the nose on this wine. It reminds me of late spring with all the flowers in bloom and freshly cut grass. Not surprising as the 3 major grape varietals are all very aromatic. The taste is just as wonderful with a myriad of layers from lychee, to peach & pear to grassy. This wine has a nice long length.  

Negatives: Found a slight bitterness and heat like radicchio & radish on the finish. 

Interesting Things: This is a blend of 6 grapes and they all seem to come out in this wine one way or another, either through the nose or taste. The Chardonnay Musqué is an aromatic clone of Chardonnay also known as Wente. (Yes same as the California Winery. Rumour has it they are credited with the clone). The varietal are: 32.4% Riesling, 24.8% Gewurztraminer, 21.6% Musqué, 7.7% Semillon, 7.7% Pinot Gris & 5.8 % Sauvignon Blanc. 

Drink now on its own or pair it with angel hair with olive oil, cracked pepper and Parmigiano Reggiano. 

Best Buy 

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

LCBO#: 207340