Category Archives: Canadian Wines

13th STREET WINERY “ESTATE SERIES” GAMAY, 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

06 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $19.95

Grape Variety: Gamay Noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery (Coming to Vintages in November)
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

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

Positives: On the nose there are nice earthy notes followed by cherry & raspberry. The taste shows more wet earth notes of fall leaves, cranberry sauce & tamarind.  

Negatives: A little too much tartness for me. 

Interesting Things: Similar to Beaujolais village wine.  

Drink now on its own or pair with turkey dinner. 

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 3

13th STREET WINERY, ESSENCE SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2009 VQA Niagara Peninsula

06 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $34.95

Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

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

Positives: I love the nose on this wine. There is lots of creaminess, butter, limestone, peach and a smoky note that is reminiscent of amber glowing after a bonfire. The nose reminds me of a high end Californian Chard, but the taste says it’s not a Chard and more like Fumé Blanc from Loire. This is probably the best Sauvignon Blanc that I have ever tasted. There is lots of complexity and creaminess like the nose, with layers of taste from apples, guava, passion fruit, caramel and lemon candy. The finish is quite lengthy. I think I went for a mile run and I still tasted it.  

Negatives: None 

Interesting Things: 

  • The creaminess comes from the wine being aged in 40% French oak barrels. Make sure you don’t chill this too much, 13-14º C so you can taste all the different layers this wine offers.
  • I tasted this wine over a course of about 20 minutes and continuously found new notes. 
  • The grapes were picked the 1st week in November, which is very unusual for Ontario, heck it’s unheard of due to frost being a viable threat to the grapes. 
  • For those readers that follow my reviews, I am not a fan of high alcohol. This one is 14%, yet no heat from that, and on the plus side it adds to the full body this wine. 

Drink now or cellar it for another 3-5 years. Drink on its own or pair it with bacon wrapped scallops that are seared.  

Top Pick Price Not Withstanding 

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

13th STREET WINERY ESSENCE PINOT NOIR, 2009 VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

06 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $44.95

Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

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

Positives: Very clean & crisp grape-cranberry nose. The taste has the beginning of some earth notes followed by rhubarb & cherry. The fruit is very intense with a sweetish note due to the late picking of the grapes. 

Negatives: This is not a big Pinot with a lot of earth notes you would find in a Burgundian wine or the notes found in Oregon or Central Otego Pinots, somewhat like drinking a really good grape juice.  

Okay so that was my review of this wine when the bottle has been opened for 2 days! Here’s my review of a new bottle, and why it’s so important for you to ALWAYS ASK WHEN THE BOTTLE WAS OPENED. Don’t be shy anywhere, restaurant, bar, winery, etc to ask for a new bottle. 

Positives: The nose shows more Burgundian aromas of barnyard, suede along with the fruits of rhubarb, cranberry & cherry followed by some sandalwood. The taste is similar as the nose but with more fruit forward & intensity. Long length to this one. 

Negatives: The wine is a little weak in earthiness and it has that grape/cranberry juice taste, but not as bad as when I tasted the 2 day old bottle. In addition, I also found some bitterness on the finish.  

Interesting Things:

  • Picked in mid November that is very unusual as this is traditionally an early ripping grape.
  • The wine was aged in 60% old oak. T
  • his is Jean Pierre’s 1st foray in making Pinot Noir in Ontario.
  • Even though this wine is 14% in alcohol it doesn’t feel like it.

I would recommend laying this wine down for another 3-5 years to see if the secondary notes of the earthiness comes out more to the forefront, and easing the that intense fruitiness that you get now. There is good acidity here now that it should cellar well.  

Tasted: 30 Sept 2011

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 7/10, Total: 15.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 3

MALIVOIRE ALBERT’S HONOUR OLD VINES FOCH 2009, VQA Ontario

17 Saturday Sep 2011

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Malivoire Albert's Honour Old Vines Foch 2009, VQA Ontario Bottle

Cost: $16.45
Grape Variety: Maréchal Foch
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Malivoire Wine Co.
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “Foch (or Maréchal Foch, to use its full name) has a reputation for producing fully ripe, well-structured reds in cool-climate wine regions such as Ontario. This hybrid grape (along with Baco Noir) proved early on Ontario’s mettle for serious red wines. Malivoire happens to be an expert with the grape and this version, from 34-year-old vines, delivers plenty of solid dark fruit character, good concentration, and a touch of rustic charm. ‘Albert’s Honour’ is a tribute to Martin Malivoire’s great uncle, who was awarded the French Legion of Honour medal for heroism in World War I.” (LCBO)

Positives: Medium+ intensity on the nose. I found a lot cranberry with plums, blueberry & light earthy notes of fallen leaves. The nose has pretty violets.

Negatives: The acidity is a light bit high & combined with the low tannins makes this wine a little bit astringent.

Interesting items: One of the last true wines that originated here, & it’s still tasteful & unique. Make sure you chill it like a Pinot Noir to get the full flavours of the fruit & drink it from a ballon glass (same as you would do Pinot).

Drink now on its own or pair with Thanksgiving turkey.

Tasted: 16 Sep 11

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10, Total; 17.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO:# 551036

INNISKILLIN EAST WEST SERIES CHARDONNAY, 2010, Niagara-on-the-Lake & Okanagan BC

15 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $16.95 (on sale for $15.95)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: Wine Rack
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake (Ontario) & Okanagan Valley (BC)
Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Inniskillin Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Light golden in colour with a medium intense nose. 

Positives: This is a well balanced Chard. Good acidity and the oak is nicely integrated into the flavours of apple, pear and spring mix garden salad. (I have to thank Giulia from the Wine Rack in the Metro Supermarket in Woodbridge for the spring mix garden salad note). Very easy drinking that can be had on its own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter. (Metro had a sale on their lobster for $8.99/lbs).

Negatives: None, unless you taste it in the plastic cups that Wine Rack supplies. When I tasted it at the store I found that there was a bitter note, and again thanks to Giulia, the note was radicchio. 

Interesting Things: Firstly, if you are serious about wine or even want to enjoy wine, please please please buy some nice wine glasses and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Just make sure that the first thing you look for is a thin rim glass. Please email me if you have any question about glassware or wines. Secondly, I usually, ok never have, recommended wine from Canada that is not VQA. But there is always an exception, and this one is it. Thirdly, this is only available at this time at Wine Rack stores and the Winery. (Say hi to Giulia). And finally, this is a Best Buy wine, even at the full price. I just wish that Canada would be like the United States and have real sales on their wines. Seriously $1.00 off?! I guess we’ll take what we can get.   

Tasted: 14 Sept 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated it 4

Wine Rack product# 80007027                                                                                


THIRTY BENCH TRIANGLE RIESLING 2008, VQA Beamsville Bench

04 Sunday Sep 2011

Posted by in Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $30.00
Grape Variety: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Beamsville Bench
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Andrew Peller Limited
Alcohol: 11.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Sale price $21.05.

Shows petrol & lemon rind. Needs time to age as it’s too linear now.

Tasted: 31 Aug 11

Score: 8/10, Value: 7/10, Total: 15/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO:# 25031

TOP BENCH RED, 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula

25 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Red Wines

≈ Leave a comment


 

TOP BENCH RED VQA

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Merlot, Syrah, Cab Sauvignon & Pinot Noir
Category: Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Peninsula Ridge Winery has blended Merlot, Syrah, Cab Sauvignon & Pinot Noir. Pinot seems to dominate on site, nose & taste. I had a guest at Go Cooking (Hamilton Spectator), which I served this wine, and she said it so precisely describing this wine as “a lot going on, but it doesn’t know what direction it wants to go.” But she agreed that this is a good wine for the value.

The colour is medium minus ruby to garnet & medium+ intensity on the nose. The nose shows light cedar, cherry, rhubarb, cranberry, black pepper, forest with hints if a smoldering campfire. Taste is dry, medium minus tannins, medium acidity, medium minus body, medium+ length & balanced. The taste shows notes of cherry, rhubarb, cranberry, leather, pepper, light cedar, blueberry, plum & slate. This wine is easy drinking on it’s own or pair it with roasted duck.

Tasted 21 Aug 11.

Score: 8/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 17.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO: #226811

TOP BENCH WHITE 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula

25 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Top Bench White 2009, VQA Bottle

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay & 10% gewürztraminer
Category: Wine
Appellation: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: A blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay & 10% gewürztraminer with the Chard part aged sur lie in French & American for a year. Medium straw in colour with medium intensity. Gooseberry, light oak, lemon/lime, some fresh cut grass notes, apple, peach & melon. The taste is dry, medium acidity, medium minus body, medium length & balanced. The taste is more expressive than the nose elevating its notes to a higher level. Drink now on its own or with edamame.

Tasted 20 Aug 11.

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 226803

PELLER ESTATES FAMILY SERIES CHARDONNAY 2008 VQA, Niagara Peninsula

25 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


 

FAMILY SERIES CHARDONNAY VQA

Cost: $10.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Andres Wines Ltd
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium+ straw in colour with medium intensity. The nose has a light oak, nice lemon pie smell, mango, peach, apple, melon & honeydew. Taste is dry, medium acidity, medium body & length that’s balanced. Taste is as the nose & best part there’s no bitterness on the finish. Peller has done a wonderful job with this Chard. Easy drinking that can be drank on its own or pair excellently with rotisserie chicken. This one I would definitely take to a social or party. Drink now.

Tasted 30 July 2011.

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 582825

ANGELS GATE SUSSRESERVE, RIESLING 2009 VQA, Niagara Peninsula

25 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, White Wines

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Appellation:
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Angels Gate Winery
Alcohol: 11.5 %
Description: Medium minus straw colour with medium+ intensity. Lemon, grapefruit & pear predominate with limestone. The taste is slightly off dry due to the addition of unfermented grape juice that’s added before bottling (Sussreserve), medium+ acidity, medium length & body. The wine is balanced & shows lemon, grapefruit, pear, peach, limestone & ginger. The freshness with the ginger makes this a food friendly wine that will pair with any sweet sauce like BBQ. Drink now or cellar for up to 4 years.

Best Buy.

Tasted: 24 July 2011.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 620104