Category Archives: Non LCBO Wine

GREENLANE ESTATE WINERY OLD VINES RIESLING RESERVE 2011, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

11 Sunday Oct 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $35.00 (Clearance Price: 25.00)
Grape: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Greenlane Estate Winery
Alcohol:  10.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Here’s a nice dry Riesling that has already been nicely aged for drinking now & it’s on sale. For all this, you can’t beat the price. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, high intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon-lime, green apples, pear, dragon fruit & lovely petrol on the nose.  

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: In partnership with Trees for the Future, a nonprofit that has planted over 180 million trees, Trinity Oaks plants one tree per bottle purchased. The grapes are grown in sustainably farmed vineyards.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Jerk Chicken .

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: October 10, 2020

GREENLANE ESTATE WINERY CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

30 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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Cost: $27.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Greenlane Estate Winery
Alcohol:  14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

If the winemaker, Dianne Smith, wanted to make a quality, complex, balanced, full body buttery Chard in the style of California’s, at a reasonable price, well she has succeeded. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, pear, peach, pineapple, mango, dill, ginger, oak spice, limestone & vanilla custard.

Negatives: Some heat from the high alcohol

Interesting Point: “Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed, then fermented in 7 very different French oak barrels with 7 specially selected yeast strains, making this is our Winemaker’s ode to California. Aged in 20% new French oak barrels for 32 months, this hot climate style wine is luscious and ripe with notes of tropical fruit and custard.” Greenlane Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermidor.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 30, 2020

GREENLANE ESTATE WINERY MERITAGE 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario Canada

25 Friday Sep 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Cost: $29.95 (Sale price: $24.95)
Grape: 62% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Greenlane Estate Winery
Alcohol:  12.9% Alcohol/Vol.

An elegant, quality & aged Bordeaux style made in Ontario that is below $30. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features blackcurrants, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, anise, licorice, roasted green peppers, anise, chocolate, & Allspice.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Magret de canard.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy at the sales price

Tasted: September 25, 2020

GREENLANE ESTATE WINERY SUR LIE CHARDONNAY 2012, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

24 Thursday Sep 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $24.95 (Sale price $19.95)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Greenlane Estate Winery
Alcohol:  13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

If you like buttered popcorn, you’ll love this. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Yellow to old gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon meringue pie, pineapple, peach, pear, yellow apples, yellow plum, buttered popcorn, & oak spice.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The winery is getting low on how many bottles they have.

Pairings: Drink this now or in couple of years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken .

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 24, 2020

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE BRUT RIESLING, NV, Traditional Method, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

09 Sunday Aug 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $26.95
Grape: Riesling
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Could this be the best traditional made Riesling sparkling wine in Canada? Well, I don’t know as I’ve never tasted every one of them, but in the ones that I have & lets include Blanc de Blancs sparkling wines in general & further add that’s it’s under $27, this is definitely one of the best. Score: 93/100

Tasting Note: Straw with a green ting in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lime, green apples, pear & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I just love the colour coding labels the Teaching Winery is using for their sparkling wines.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 7-9 of years on its own or pair it with cucumber gazpacho, especially the one from the Teaching Winery food truck’s chef; Tarun makes.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: August 9, 2020

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN’S LIST PINOT NOIR 2018, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

07 Friday Aug 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $28.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Styled in classic Ontario Pinot style (Old Word meets New World) it’s taut, complexed & full of Pinot flavour. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light ruby to garnet in colour with high acidity, a medium to low intense nose, firm tannin & a very long length on the finish. Wine features Rainier cherries, pomegranate, cranberries, strawberries, red beets, sweet tobacco, a touch of vanilla, underbrush & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Chill to 15 C degrees & use a balloon style glassware.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 4-5 of years on its own or pair it with roasted duck & pickled red beets.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: August 7, 2020

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY WINE 101 RED, 2019 VQA Ontario, Canada

07 Friday Aug 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, On The Fence, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $13.95
Grape: 50% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 9% Baco Noir, 9% Gamay Noir, 7% Pinot Noir, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Syrah
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A mishmash of red wines makes this on the sweeter side but has some nice spice to add some complexity. Score: 85/100

Tasting Note: Light ruby in colour with average acidity, a medium+ intense nose, light tannin & a length on the finish. Wine features plum, Kirsch, blueberry pie, Bing cherries, raspberry, ripe tamarinds, black tea, raspberries & Allspice.

Negatives: Comes across a little like a commercial California red wine.

Interesting Point: This is where the quality of the stemware is important as if you use high quality glassware it will accentuate the negatives in this wine, therefore use the traditional Italian table wine glassware, just a glass will do.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Moroccan spiced lamb chops with allspice and thyme.

My Opinion: On the Fence

Tasted: August 7, 2020

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY TRADITIONAL METHOD ROSÉ, NV, VQA Niagara-On-The-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

02 Sunday Aug 2020

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $28.95
Grape: Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-On-The-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Niagara College Teaching Winery winemaker; Gavin Robertson, has outdid himself with his new traditional method Rosé sparkling wine, & I am putting it as one of Canada’s top Rosé sparkling wines that I have the pleasure of tasting.

Tasting Note: Pale salmon in colour with a fine mouse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features light yeast, strawberry, red apples, pear, kiwi & hazelnut.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The Teaching Winery now has 4 sparkling wines (Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Rosé & Riesling. The Riesling sparkling I will be reviewing next Sunday), & I love the colour labeling of all 4 wines.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Cajun spiced fries, especially made by the Teaching Winery chef; Tarun, from his food truck now on the premise serving excellent food.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Score: 95/100

Tasted: August 2, 2020

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE CABERNET FRANC 2018, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

29 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

It infrequently happens when I give a wine under $19 with a Top Pick, (Price Not Withstanding), & this Cab Franc gets into that category as the wine exudes elegance with mouth-watering fruits, spice & beautiful fragrant violets on the nose.

Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, smooth tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features bramble fruit, red currants, plum, white pepper, arugula & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Have it slightly chilled to 17-18 C in order to bring out even more of the freshness of the fruit.

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with arugula & prosciutto wood oven pizza.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: July 29, 2020

NIAGARA COLLEG TEACHING WINERY BALANCE MUSCAT 2019, VQA Ontario, Canada

15 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by in Niagara College Teaching Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Muscat
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  10.0% Alcohol/Vol.

People shy away from Muscat as they think it’s too sweet. However, NC Muscat, although stated as off dry, has a lot of acidity making this wine crisp than sweet, for now. Aging this wine will have the same affect as aging Rieslings, which will smooth out the acidity to leave leave it more palatable.

Tasting Note: Very light straw in colour with high acidity, an intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, green apples, pear,

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 3-4 of years on its own, but better off in pairing with food such as Applewood Cheddar cheese.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: July 5, 2020