Category Archives: Winery Review Series

Upon visits to wineries, I will review their wines that they submit to me as well as the winery.

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY MERLOT-CABERNET 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

27 Thursday Jan 2022

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

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.


A pleasant easy drinking wine with some substance to it. Score: 88/100

Tasting Note: Medium dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Raspberry, plum, elderberry, blackcurrants, fennel, cocoa, spinach leaves, vanilla & leather.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3 -5 years on its own or pair it with smoked gouda.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: Jan 26, 2022

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

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE PETIT VERDOT 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

03 Friday Dec 2021

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

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Petit Verdot
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

And now for something completely different for Ontario wines, a Petit Verdot & winemaker Gavin’s first foray at NC with this grape is a success. Score: 91/100

Tasting Note: Medium to dark ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, green tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Blackberry, plum, dark cherry, sage, lavender, Champagne mushrooms, vanilla, light smoke & violets on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: As Petit Verdot is bold & tannic, it needs a large style Bordeaux glass & decant to soften the tanin.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with Biryani.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Dec 1, 2021

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE MALBEC 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

17 Wednesday Nov 2021

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

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Malbec
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Winemaker Gavin Robertson foray into Malbec, which is a rarity for any winery in Ontario to make generally succeeds. Score: 87/100.

Tasting Note: Medium purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, an intense nose, light tannin & an average length on the finish. This wine features: Blackberries, mulberries, eucalyptus & a touch of vanilla.

Negatives: A little too medicinal

Interesting Point: First couple of tastes, I wasn’t liking it, but the wine grew on me.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with Lamb Shank.

My Opinion: On-the-Fence

Tasted: Nov 10, 2021

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY 2015, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

29 Friday Oct 2021

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

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

This balanced wine makes it one of the better oak aged Ontario Chards for under $20. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, medium-low intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon drops, peach, pear, honeydew melon, ginger, dill, oak spice & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Using the right glass is key to enjoying this wine. Normally with an oak aged Chard I would use the larger open glassware. However, this wine is better with the Chablis style wine glass. I found the larger wine glass mutes the notes on this wine, while the Chablis glass lets these wonderful notes come to the surface.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Oct 28, 2021

BALANCE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

21 Thursday Oct 2021

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Niagara College Teaching Winery, Recommended, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol:  13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the better Ontario made Cab Sauvignon for under $30. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, plum, bramble fruit, pencil shavings, cassis & Allspice.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: A thousand times better than their 2018 vintage, which to me was too jammy, more Port style.

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years & pair it with Slow Cooker Beef Cheeks in Red Wine

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Oct 19, 2021

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

14 Tuesday Sep 2021

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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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

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCE DRY RIESLING 2020, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

31 Tuesday Aug 2021

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

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Riesling
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Region
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery,
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, clean, dry & not complex but has quality. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with high acidity, medium intense+ nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lime, kiwi, pear, green apples & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in next 10+ years on its own or pair it with sweet chilli wings

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: Aug 31, 2021

KACABA OAK AGED CHARDONNAY 2018, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada

13 Sunday Jun 2021

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $30.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Escarpment, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Vineyards & Winery
Alcohol:  13.1% Alcohol/Vol.

A restrained oaked Chard, which is a good thing as it’s delicious. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon, green & yellow apples, peach, pear, honeydew melon, oak spice, butterscotch & vanilla.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Pan Seared Halibut with Lemon Caper Sauce

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: June 10, 2021

KACABA EFFERVESCENCE SPARKLING ROSÉ 2019, VQA Ontario, Canada

07 Monday Jun 2021

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $32.15 (Sale price: $28.15)
Grape: 62.5% Pinot Noir, 37.5% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kacaba Vineyards & Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An easy drinking, not complex, off dry sparkling wine that will please those that don’t like the toasty, yeasty, brioche Champagne style. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Salmon in colour with fine mousse good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Wild strawberries, Bing Cherries, raspberries & sweet basil.

Negatives: Price point

Interesting Point: For a Charmat method sparkling wine priced at over $30 is way too much. Sale price brings it more palatable to buy, but still overpriced even at that point.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Ukrainian Beet Vinaigrette Salad – with fresh beets and pickled cucumbers

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: June 6, 2021