Category Archives: 13th Street Winery

1776 Fourth Ave, St. St. Catharines, ON
905-984-8463

13th STREET WINERY RESERVE PINOT GRIS 2019, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

15 Wednesday Dec 2021

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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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.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: Oct 25, 2021

13th STREET WINERY L. VISCEK VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2019, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

14 Tuesday Sep 2021

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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.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: Sept 11, 2021

13th STREET WINERY CLASSIC SERIES CABERNET MERLOT 2018, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

29 Thursday Apr 2021

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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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: April 28, 2021

LCBO: 56598

13th STREET WINERY CABERNET/MERLOT CLASSIC SERIES 2019, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

25 Sunday Apr 2021

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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

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: April 24, 2021

LCBO: 56598

13th STEET WINERY MERITAGE 2018, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

18 Thursday Mar 2021

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Red Wines, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Picture is of 2016, but same label for 2018

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. 

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: January 5, 2021

Re tested March 8, 2021

13th STREET WINERY PINOT NOIR 2019, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

14 Sunday Mar 2021

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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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: March 13, 2021

13th STREET ESSENCE GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2017, VQA

22 Friday Jan 2021

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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.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: August 29, 2019

13th STREET WINERY CUVÉE BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING WINE NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

03 Thursday Dec 2020

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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.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy at sale price

Tasted: December 3, 2020

LCBO: 147504

13th STREET WINERY L. VISCEK VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

08 Monday Jun 2020

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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:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Pure elegance; balanced, smooth, complex & only 13% alcohol. Truly impressive Chard that can compete with the best in the world, and at this price for the quality that you get, I haven’t had a Chard anywhere in the world that is better.

Tasting Note: Light bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon, peach, Gala apples, pineapples, Edward mangos, light oak spice, baby dill pickles, ginger & white flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Every year JP keeps improving his Viscek Chard, and here I thought his last 2 were great, so does this make it great-great-great?

Pairings: Drink now or over the next 4-6 of years on its own or pair it with Gunn’s Hill Brigio’s Brie (sold at the winery’s bakery store).

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: June 5, 2020

13th STREET WINERY ESSENCE PINOT NOIR 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

10 Friday Apr 2020

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Cost: $44.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: 13th Street Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic quality in the Burgundian style

Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with mild tannin, high acidity, an intense nose & long finish. Wine features sour cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, wild mushrooms.

Interesting Point: Chill this pinot to 15 C, and use a balloon style stemware.

Pairings: As this wine has high acidity & will still age well over the next 7-10 years, it needs food to really complement it so pair it with rabbit Cacciatore.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: April 9, 2020