Cost: $19.95 Grape: 80% Chenin Blanc, 20% blend of: Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Verdelho, Clairette, Chardonnay, Colombard, Viognier Category: White Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: South Africa Region: Swartland Format: 750 mL Producer: Leeuwenkuil Family Winery Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
An interesting wine with good complexity & full of array of taste. Score: 90/100
Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon pith, pineapple, peach, green apples, mandarin, white pepper, limestone, white blossoms on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Nice classic style of the Southern France rosé bottles.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Cayman style conch ceviche.
Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: $16.00) Grape: Carignano 100% Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Italy Region: Carignano del Sulcis, Sardega Format: 750 mL Producer: Sardus Pater Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
And now for something completely different, but in a good way. Score: 89/100
Tasting Note: Light ruby to garnet in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, mild tannin & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features tart cherry, plum, blackberry, mulberry, arugula, white pepper, peppercorn, licorice & oregano.
Negatives: There’s some heat coming from the 14% alcohol
Interesting Point: Is Solus is a fountain of Roman origin present in the historic center of the town of Sant’Antioco. The label shows a mosaic present in the city archaeological museum, which depicts two wild beasts drinking from the vase from which the tree of life rises.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with brisket.
Cost: $25.95 Grape: Red blend Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: United States of America Region: Central Coast, California Format: 750 mL Producer: 22 Pirates Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Ok I confess, I bought this wine because I loved the name, the picture on the front label & the rear label summarizing the wine, even though it’s at 14.5% alcohol, & those that read my reviews know I’m not a person that likes high alcohol wines. After tasting this wine, I still don’t like the high alcohol, but I really like this wine. Score: 90/100
Tasting Note: Dark purple to ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features plum, blackcurrant, dark cherry, raspberry, blackberry, thyme, oregano, eucalyptus, white & black peppers, cigar box & lilac on the nose.
Negatives: Heat from the 14.5% alcohol.
Interesting Point: 1) Every bottle introduces you to a different member of the crew with a customized cork listing his name and role aboard the ship. Unfortunately, mine was Rusty Latches aka The Swab. 2) There may be up to 22 Rhône Valley varietals, but that’s a secret, as Pirates don’t tell. 3) “The label is an original artwork created by a French painter named Francois-Auguste Biard in 1855. Biard’s work tells the tale of treachery, as the thieving crew lures a passing ship to come closer with the promise of companionship and music. Completely unaware those are not women or fanciful passengers, but a crew lying in wait.” www.22pirates.com
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5 – 7 yrs. on its own or pair it with Roasted Quail with Rosemary Thyme and Garlic.
Looking Out Into the Vineyard with the Niagara Escarpment in the Background
The newest edition to Niagara College Teaching winery is their Food Truck 101 with Chef Tarun cooking up some amazing food Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm. The food truck is located at the back of the Teaching Winery’s boutique, where you can enjoy some of the best foods this side of Toronto on their large patio, along with some amazing wines which I have reviewed, and not only was I incredibly impressed with the wineries 2014 Balance Blanc de Blanc Brut, but it won Double Gold and Sparkling Wine of the Year at this years Canadian Wine Championships. Congrats to wine maker Gavin Robertson. My pairing suggestion would be with any of the fries on the menu, as there’s nothing like pairing fries with Champagne/Sparkling wines.
Rachel Serving the Double Gold & Sparkling Wine of the Year, 2014 Balance Blanc de Blanc with My Fries
Enjoying My Tacos with the 2014 Balance Blanc de Blanc
Retired Niagara College President Daniel J. Patterson Enjoying the Patio
Chef Tarun was born in India where he studied hotel management in IHM Mumbai and came to Canada in the Fall of 2018 where he studied culinary management at Niagara College. His goal is to open his own fine dining, fusion cuisine restaurant somewhere in Ontario where he can be close to local farms in order to provide patrons farm to table experiences and sustainable food options.
Chef Tarun
Chef Tarun makes everything fresh from scratch every morning
Lets talk about some of the delicious food that I tasted recently:
The Tacos are messy, but oh so good. Out of the four that he cooks, I would give the nod to the pulled pork as that is probably the best pulled pork I’ve ever had, so moist, tender & flavourful. His Baja fish tacos come a close second. The fish is marinated and so very moist and flavourful. Chef Tarun makes his tacos very spicy probably a few notches hotter than most people would be expecting from a food truck at a winery, so if you like it hot, leave it be, but if you want it toned down, please let your server know how you like it.
Left: Chicken Tikka, Centre: Pulled Pork, Right: Baja Fish (Soy-glazed Tofu not Pictured)
Now, let’s talk about fries. One word describes them: amazing. Thinly sliced, with crunchy exterior, yet perfectly tender inside and spices to match your palate. My favourite is his Cajun. He can up the heat if you like it, as I did as the top of my head was sweating, but I couldn’t stop eating them, so delicious. Masala spiced is my 2nd favourite followed by a tie with the salt n’ pepper and smoked paprika.
Pulled Pork Poutine
Salt’n Peper Fried
Cajun Fries
Smoked Paprika Paired With Balanced 2014 Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine
Chef Tarun’s nachos platter, which is a fusion cuisine dish influenced by his Indian culture and Tex Mex fusion, is deceiving large, and generally to be shared unless you’re really hungry.
Outside his regular menu, Chef Tarun will be featuring new options each week, I had the privilege to sample his Ice wine panna cotta with berry coulis, salted chocolate, strawberries, dehydrated mint and dill flowers. It was very flavourful, elegant and delicious. A true Niagara winery pleasure.
Photo by: Emily Beatty
Photo by: Emily Beatty
In conclusion Chef Tarun runs a great kitchen because he cares. There’s soul in his food and you feel that when you eat it; you just feel fulfilled.
Enjoying the Evening on the Patio with the Boutique Winery’s Manager; Chetan Chandratre and Chef Tarun
Cost: $16.95
Grape: Grenache blend
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Gard, Southern France
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maison Sinnae
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A fresh, delicious, elegant rosé. Score: 90/100
Tasting Note: Rose gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose & a fairly long length on the finish. Wine features Rainier cherries, pink grapefruit, watermelon, peach, wet stone & roses on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Nice classic style of the Southern France rosé bottles.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Soupe au Pistou (Pistou Soup).
Very rustic in nature, which one would expect from a Gran Reserva 14 yrs in age, but still very youthful. Score: 89/100
Tasting Note: Medium bright ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, fine tannin & a long length on the finish. Wine features dried cherry & cranberry, Allspice, Star Anise, leather, cedar, oak resin, vanilla and cigar box on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Love the bottle
Pairings: Drink this now or in 10 yrs. on its own or pair it with Pisto Manchego.
Cost: $17.95
Grape: Mainly Grenache
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Côtes du Rhône
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Brotte
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
It starts with roundness & elegance in the mouth & finishes with a nice clean crispness. Score: 89/100
Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with good acidity, a Low to medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features yellow plum, pear, white peach, apricot, green apple, wet stone & honeysuckle on the nose.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Crawfish Gumbo.
Cost: $17.95
Grape: Shiraz
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yalumba
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Even though there’s a lot of spice, which is to be expected from Shiraz, this wine is very smooth & nice to see that it’s under 14% alcohol. Score: 89/100
Tasting Note: Medium to dark ruby with some purple in colour with good acidity, a Low to medium intense nose, mild tannins & a good length on the finish. Wine features plum, blackberry, mulberry, blueberry, peppercorn, Allspice & violets on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Shiraz & Syrah are the same grape, but generally Australia’s Shiraz is different from the Rhône style Syrah. This is very noticeable if you compare these grape styles with their appreciate glassware. I tried this wine in both style stemware & found that when I had it in the Syrah style, it should more roughness, so I chose the Shiraz style. Other interesting point is that the wine is Vegan friendly and organic.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3 – 4 yrs. on its own or pair it with Roasted Duck Breasts with spiced blackberry Au Jus.
Cost: $17.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: United States of America
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Columbia Crest
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Years ago, this wine was one of my favourite Chards under $20. Today, with still being 2106 vintage, it’s past its prime, in fact it needs to be put out to pasture. Score: 75/100
Tasting Note: Yellow gold in colour with average acidity, a medium+ intense nose & an average length on the finish. Wine features lemon curd, butterscotch, cooked apples, banana, cantaloupe & lots of oak.
Negatives: Over ripe fruit with oak being at the forefront
This reminds me of sitting outside at a restaurant on the waterfront in the Cayman Islands feeling the Caribbean saltwater breeze on my face & having some calamari with some Scotch Bonnet sauce. Score: 92/100
Tasting Note: Straw with a green ting in colour with good acidity, a low intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features lemon-lime, green apples, pear, mango, white peach, vanilla, eucalyptus & limestone.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink now or over the next 4-6 of years on its own or pair it with calamari.
Twilight Wines 