Cost: $34.95 Grape: Gewurztraminer Category: White Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: Niagara Peninsula Format: 750 mL Producer: 13th Street Winery Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A light style GW dominated by grapefruit. Score: 87/100.
Tasting Note: Bright gold with a green tinge in colour, good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Grapefruit, lychee, ginger & pear
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with jerk honey chicken wings
Cost: $21.95 Grape: Viognier Category: White Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario Format: 750 mL Producer: 13th Street Winery Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A dry, light, crisp & fruity style Viognier. Score: 89/100
Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lime, apricot pit, white peach, pear, oak spice & a touch of vanilla.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: 50% fermented & aged for 8 months in seasoned French oak barrels. 50% fermented & aged in stainless steel.
Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with spicy Pad Thai.
Cost: $29.95 Grape: Pinot Gris Category: White Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario Format: 750 mL Producer: 13th Street Winery Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Delicious Pinot Gris with elegance & complexity. Score: 92/100.
Tasting Note: Medium straw in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon-lime, pink grapefruit, pear, white peach, honeycomb, vanilla, thyme, limestone & honeysuckle on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Sourced from Home Farm Vineyard in Creek Shores, the grapes were fermented and aged in a selection of 228, 400 & 500 Litre French barrels for 12 months.
Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with seafood gumbo.
Cost: $34.95 Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario Format: 750 mL Producer: 13th Street Winery Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Classic quality cool climate, Vegan friendly, Chardonnay that will get better with aging. Score: 90/100.
Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green apples, pear, clementine, baking spice & limestone.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: 13th Street Viscek Vineyard Chards have consistently been good.
Pairings: Drink this now or in next 7-10 years on its own or pair it with garlic roasted chicken.
Cost: $19.95 Grape: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot Category: White Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Canada Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario Format: 750 mL Producer: 13th Street Winery Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Smooth easy everyday drinking wine. Score: 88/100
Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, plum, red & black currants, sweet toasted oak, white pepper & vanilla.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Wine was aged both in stainless steel & oak barrels. Also, please see my review on the 2019 vintage.
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Roast Beef with Plum Pudding
Cost: $21.95 Grape: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot Category: White Wine Location: Winery (See Interesting Point below) Country: Canada Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario Format: 750 mL Producer: 13th Street Winery Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
This delicious wine is 100%-barrel fermented & has a burst of fruit expression then it’s rounded out by the Merlot. Score: 90/100
Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, medium tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, mulberry, plum, pomegranate, sweet toast, malt chocolate, white pepper & vanilla.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: The 2019 vintage is currently available only at the winery, but the LCBO still carries the 2018 at $19.95
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with grilled T-Bone steak
Cost: $39.95 Grape: 41.5% Merlot, 41.5% Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon Category: Red Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario Format: 750 mL Producer: 13th Street Winery Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
This maybe the best Canadian red wine I’ve had & my best rated Canadian wine score, therefore well worth the price. This wine is balanced, complex with juicy fruit notes & spice. Absolutely delicious. Well done JP. Score: 98/100
Tasting Note: Deep ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, smooth tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dark cherry, plums, ripe tamarind, bramble fruit, pomegranate, dark chocolate, cloves, Allspice, cinnamon, sage, spinach leaves, leather, pencil shavings, turmeric with cedar & violets on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: My favourite wine of JP’s to date was his Viscek 2018 Chardonnay, & this is now my favourite of his wines (not including his sparkling wines, but it just maybe equal).
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 10 years & pair it with Rosemary Crusted Rack of Lamb with Pomegranate Shallot Sauce.
Cost: $27.95 Grape: Pinot Noir Category: Red Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario Format: 750 mL Producer: 13th Street Winery Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Beautifully crafted this Pinot shows classic & elegant notes that are well balanced between the fruit & acidity while any oak influence gives it some backbone. Score: 92/100
Tasting Note: Light bright ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Black & sour cherries, strawberry, raspberry, beetroot, Champagne mushrooms, peat moss & a touch of vanilla bean.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: “Sourced from Whitty Vineyards in Creek Shores. Fermented with minimum intervention & aged in new & seasoned French oak barrels for 8 months.” (13th Street)
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with
Cost: $34.95 Grape: Gewürztraminer Category: White Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: Creek Shores Format: 750 mL Producer: 13th Street Winery Alcohol: 12 % Alcohol/Vol.
I can’t think of a better Canadian Gewürz that I have tried; absolutely beautifully delicious. Score: 95/100
Positives: Gold in colour this wine features a beautiful highly aromatic wine with saffron, lavender, honeysuckle and lemon peel on the nose. On the taste there’s lychee, Honeycrsip apple, lemon pie, nectarine, yellow plum, apricot, loquat and honey.
Negatives: None
Ageability: Drink now or over the next 7-10 years on its own or pair it with Korean food.
Cost: $29.95 (Sale Price until Jan 3, 2021: $24.95) Grape: 54% Chardonnay, 46% Pinot Noir Category: Sparkling Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Canada Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario Format: 750 mL Producer: 13th Street Winery Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
This just might be the best Ontario sparkling rosé that I have tried to date; simply delightful. Score: 94/100
Tasting Note: Deep salmon in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features brioche, strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate, Spy apple, clementine, roasted almonds & limestone.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: This is JP’s 2020 batch, although it’s non-vintage, he has elevated it from his previous batches.
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next several years & pair it with Madawaska cheese & roasted almonds.
Twilight Wines 