Maleta 2002 Gamay

Another surprise. This is a small winery that is just a little off the beaten path. The winery is a pretty ruby and is medium bodied. Lots of sour cherry, with a hit of chocolate on the finish. A decent wine.

Wine clubs in Ontario

When I was in Niagara, I decided to join a few more wine clubs. In addition to Peller, I am now looking forward to monthly selections from Puddicombe, Fielding and Vinelands Estates. Thanks to Lindsay (at Puddicombe), Joe (at Vinelands) and Heidi (at Fieldings.)

EastDell Estates 2002 Red Cab

I allowed this wine to breathe for 2 hours before sampling. This is a blend of cab Franc and Gamay. I think the winemaker was drinking a different wine - based on his notes versus my experience. The wine is medium bodied (at best.) While the winemaker 's notes suggest blueberry and raspberry, I did get some raspberry, but lots of unpleasant acidity and no blueberry. I also had earthiness and harshness, rather than "soft and supple." This isnt something you would pour out, but you really wouldnt want to cellar it.

Peller Estates 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Signature Series

I went to Peller on Saturday and had dinner at the restaurant. I have always liked the '02 Cab Sauv and decided to have a glass (or two) of the Signature series with dinner. Full-bodied. Black berries and plums on the nose. Deep reddish-purple. Tastes of plum, black cherries. A wonderful accompaniment with the venison.

Coyote Run 2004 Off-Dry Reisling

I bought this on my first extended weekend trip to Niagara. This was the first stop and the winery's boutique had only been open for a week. I decided to buy this wine blind - with a thought that I would return later.

Nice clean pale straw colour. Tropical fruits on the nose. Grapefruit comes through with some pineapple. Crisp and a bit too much acidity. The notes claim lychee, but it didn't happen for me. A reasonable first attempt.

Fielding 2005 Pinot Gris

Absolutely gorgeous colur. A lovely amber with just a touch of blush. Terrific balance of sweetness and tartness. Grapefruit/tangerine comes through and quickly balanced with peach and melon. If you can find it, buy it.

Cornerstone Estate 2004 Select Blend Red

A blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir. Medium bodied. There seems to be more Gamay than Pinot to my taste. Lots of earthiness and cloves. Some cherry in the background, but slightly overwhelmed by the tabacco and earth. A bit of a long finish that isnt unpleasant. Inexpensive, but not something you want keep in your cellar.

Birchwood Estates 2002 Pinot Noir

I wasnt hoping for much, but this wine was a very pleasant surprise. Light to Medium bodied. Definite sweet cherry, with some red tart fruit that balances extremely well. A definite keeper.

Lang Vineyards 2005 Viognier

The "Soaring Eagle" Limited Edition. "limited"? maybe that's for the best. Very pale colour. The nose promises peach, but the wine fails to deliver. Very light citrus taste with lots of acidity, but no sweetness to balance. The citrus is hard to describe. Its a bit like lemon water. Pass it by.

Lakeview Cellars 2002 Baco Noir Reserve

I decided to make a moose stew and wanted to use a Baco with the stock. I chose this wine assuming it had matured enough over the past 4 years. The best I can say about the wine is that it has a beautiful deep dark red. Tastes of cranberries and tobacco with some earthiness and a hint of chocolate. After 3 hours of breathing it was still tart - almost as though it hadn't been decanted. A disappointment.

La Frenz 2005 Alexandria

I bought this blind when I was in BC and have been looking forward to it for months. Its a Viognier blend and lives up to the winemakers reputation. Very pale colour but lots of legs - even a bit viscous. Tastes of honeydew melon, orange and some grapefruit. A hint of honey. definitely on the sweet side and very little acidity. Lovely clean honey/orange finish. If you are a Viognier fan, you are going to love this one.

Gray Monk 2005 Pinot Gris

A beautiful amber colour with tones of peach/rose. Absolutely stunning to look at. Tastes of grapefruit and peach with a hint of pear. A nice balance of sweetness with the sour, but a tad acid. Nice clean finish.

RidgePoint Wines 2002 Merlot

Ridgepoint is one of the newer wineries in Niagara. The 02 Merlot is almost invisible on the nose (hints of plum and spice), but lots of red fruit and pepper to taste. The finish is quite long. It probably needs some more time in the cellar.

Lakeview Cellars 2002 Pinot Noir Reserve

Coming soon

Thomas & Vaughan 2002 Cabernet Franc

Coming soon

Lakeview Cellars 2000 Marechal Foch

Coming soon

Stoney Ridge Estate Winery 2002 Pinot Noir

Light-bodied. A bit jammy with tastes of tobaccco, leather and black cherry. I bit of a lingering tobacco finish. Probably needs a couple of years for the tannins to develop more completely.

Peller Estates 2002 Cabernet Franc Private Reserve

Beautiful deep purple colur. Lots of sweet black fruits (plums, currants, etc.) Some spice. Medium body. A nice lingering finish.

Jackson-Triggs 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Proprieters Reserve

A beautiful deep purple colour and lots of legs. Hints of black cherry and plum with notes of chocolate and tobacco. Some pepper. Nice clean finish.

Puddicombe Estate 2001 Pinot Noir

Coming soon ...

Peller Estates 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve

Pretty garnet colour and decent legs. Medium bodied with tastes of boysenberry and other red fruits. A little chocolate on the finish.

Mountain Road 2000 Gamay

I had Russian food again for dinner and decided to open the Gamay for a nice change. I bought this wine on a whim, knowing that was probably not going to set my world on fire. I was right.

The wine is not very complex but it has a nice deep red colour and does exhibit some legs. Tastes of sour cherry and some earthy tones, but not much else. The sour cherry follows through the finish, which is long and not completely pleasant. A bit too much acidity and nothing to balance.

Pillitteri 1999 Cabernet Franc Family Reserve

What to choose after a 3 hour car ride, 5 hours of work and a 3 hour return ride. The cabernet virtually jumped out of the winerack.

Nce deep colour, decent legs and a lovely first impression. Black cherry, pepper, chocolate and even some coffee. A beautiful clean finish. Definitely recommended

Ridgepoint Wines 2002 Pinot Nior

I found a new Russian kitchen in the city and bought some things that looked great or they recommended (most I couldnt pronounce other than the borscht.) When I got home I had to decide which wine to open. I have been looking for an opportunity to try this Pinot Noir, so I took the chance.

The wine is a nice colour, exhibits some legs and tastes of cherry and some earthy notes. While the tasting notes suggest hints of licorice and eucalyptus, they werent present for me. This is a very easy wine to drink and has a very pleasant lingering finish.

Jackson-Triggs 2002 Proprieters Reserve Merlot

I went to the butchers after I left the office and found a lovely thick rib eye steak, so a Merlot was a natural wine selection. As I searched through the wine racks, I chanced upon the J-T '02 Merlot. This particular bottle was a Christmas gift from Judy. She swears she bought it just because it was from BC and it had my initials (JT) on the foil.

The wine is everything that you would want in a Merlot. A beautiful deep colour and big legs. Hints of black cherry and plum with notes of chocolate and tobacco. Very clean finish. Definitely a keeper.

Long Dog Winery 2002 Pinot Noir

I was really hoping for more from this winery. The winery itself is quite new, but the vineyard is known for producing some excellent crops of grapes. Unfortunately, the result of this crop is quite disappointing. The wine is weak in all regards - weak colour, weak body and weak taste. As I recall, it was over-priced as well. The best that can be said about it is that it does finish quite cleanly. Pass it by.

Ridgepoint Wines 2002 Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo is known as a very difficult grape, but Ridgepoint has done an admirable job. The wine is a beautiful deep burgundy colour, has decent legs and has the body of a pinot. But the most noticeable is the floral tones. The violet is immediate on the nose and follows to the mouth. A nice long finish.

I understand Ridgepoint have limited Nebbiolo vines. Lets hope the weather cooperates and they have some decent crops. Apparently Ridgepoint wants to make a name for themselves with Nebbiolo. They may very well do it if they can stay on this track.

Tinhorn Creek 2005 Oldfield's Collection

A Bucket of Wine and a Pail of Oysters

I am really a red wine fan, but I have discovered a white wine that I really love. Tinhorn Creek, Oldfield's Collection, "2 Bench" 2005. This is a complex blend from grapes grown on both benches in the South Okanagan-the eastern Black Sage Bench and the western Golden Mile Bench. This is a refreshing, lip smacking blend of Semillon 47%, Chardonnay 25%, Sauvignon Blanc 21% and Gewurztraminer 7%. Aromas of pears, tropical fruits and citrus notes with light pineapple flavors. The finish is clean. This wine will only get better with age. Now off to the back yard with my bucket of wine and my pail of oysters. Oh, did I mention that this is the perfect wine with Pacific, BC oysters?

Burrowing Owl 2004 Syrah

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, 2004 Syrah

Now this is Syrah the way it should be. I had to stand in line for this one and even at that it was only one bottle per customer. A deep ruby red in color with purple edges. An aroma of dark plums and flavors of ripe black cherries, cola, licorice and just a hint of spice. A nice lingering finish. This is a great food wine. Ready to drink now or hold onto for a couple of years. Hmmm, I know Jim has a couple of bottles in his wine cellar. Shall we head over there for one of those famous Bar-B-Ques that he's always bragging about?

Vineland Estates 2002 Reserve Meritage

A white meritage? Whodda thunk it? A beautifully crafted wine. Light amber in colour and great legs. Loads of tropical fruits - especially pineapple. A nice smooth finish. Definitely a winner.

Wine bottle deposit/refund announced

This weekend the Premier of Ontario announced that Ontario would implement a wine/liquor bottle deposit/refund system in February of 2007. Apparently, the bottles are to be returned to the beer store. Government cash grab or publicity stunt before a by-election ... you be the judge.

In any case, I guess I am going to save my empty wine bottles until February and turn them in then instead of recycling them now. I may have to hire Brinks to carry the money home.

Kacaba 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon

As cheap as I am, I am always looking for a little hidden gem and I was hoping to find something special here. Beautiful dark red colour, but little legs. Some decent red fruits and a bit of a long-ish finish. Drinkable but not very memorable.

Willow Heights 1998 Chardonnay Reserve

This chardonnay is a wine you would be happy to serve guests ... and even happier to squirrel away for yourself. A beautiful gold colour. Buttery with nice oak. Taste of pear and melon. A lovely clean finish.

Willow Heights 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon

I was really looking forward to this wine. A decent winery, and an excellent year for Cabs in Niagara. Nice colour but virtually no legs. Some red fruits, but washed out with no complexity. A clean finish but a real disappointment overall.

Ridgepoint Wines 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon

Okay, I know this is a young winery and I assume they have very young vines so I have tempered the review to be fair. I chose this wine to have with venison, corn-on-the-cob and brussel sprouts (all on the bbq) and stilton. Nice deep ruby colour, but less body than one would expect. Sour cherry flavour and not much complexity. A decent attempt, but needs work. Hopefully their '02s will be better. Stay tuned.

County Cider 2000 County2000 Sparkling Cider

Well, I wasnt really expecting much, so I wasnt too disappointed with this "wine." Methode Traditionelle but didnt develop much effervescence. Very weak cider taste remiscent of apple cider than has been left too land and started fermenting again. If you like your sparkling wines (as I do), stick with one made from grapes. You will want to take a pass on this apple one.

Osoyoos Larose 2002 Le Grand Vin

I was lucky enough to find a local organic vegetable market, and finally find the local Cheese shop, so tonight was a BBQ beef sausage, and organic vegetables night ... and Shropshire cheese for dessert. OMG, what wine should I choose? My office manager and friend Judy had bought me the Osoyoos Larose '02 for Christmas (at the insistense of the wine clerk since she knows nothing about wines) and I had been saving it for an occasion. Tonight was the night.

57% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Medium bodied with lots of legs. Beautiful dark burgundy red. Notes of red fruit and berries. Solid tannins. A lovely clean finish.

The bottle label explains the experiment (how and why it is made), but the vines are so young that this can only get better with each new vintage. Definitely a keeper, but stay tuned for even better things to come.

Hillside Estates 2005 Muscat Ottonel

I always jump at the chance to try a new Muscat (I love them for their unique fruit character.) The Hillside version is very light flavoured, but still exhibits the peach and pear that I love. Virtually no citrus. Very pale in colur but a nice clean finish.

Vineland Estates 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon

I visited Vineland Estates for the first time a year ago and regretted passing them by in the past. Since 2002 was such a terrific year for reds in Niagara, I chose a 02 Cab Sauv. It was worth the wait. Beautifully deep ruby red and good legs, the wine virtually explodes with ripe berry. A pleasant clean finish. Structured tannins should make this a fantastic wine in 2-3 years. A beautiful wine from a very lovely winery.

Black Hills Estate Winery 2004 Nota Bene

Well, after realizing how difficult it was to purchase the '03 Nota Bene I got my name on the mailing list with Black Hill's Estate Winery so I could purchase directly and not miss out on the 'o4 Nota Bene. I ordered two cases. By their release date of May 1st, 2006 they were completely sold out of all 2,800 cases. You can still purchase this wine from restaurant wine lists. This Bordeaux style blend is made up of 46/36/18. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc. The color of this wine is a vibrant garnet with aromas of cherries, mint, pepper and tobacco. The flavors include red currants, black olives and dill. Because of it's youth it really needs to be decanted for an hour. In 5 to 7 years this promises to be an outstanding wine and I for one am looking forward to that. If you happen to be travelling there is a great little restaurant in Canmore, AB, called the Copper Door. The chef/owner is an avid wine collector. He has added the 1999 thru to 2004 Nota Bene from his own private collection onto the wine list. You will pay top $$ for it. I sampled the 2002 Nota Bene when there in July, $150 a bottle.

Black Hills Estate Winery 2003 Nota Bene

Having moved to beautiful Vancouver, BC a year and a half ago, I was excited to start tasting what BC had to offer. On this particular Fri. night I ordered Black Hills Estate Winery's, 2003 Nota Bene to go with the tapas I was having. I had never heard of this wine and had no idea what to expect. With the first sniff I was blown away by the aroma of plums, black cherries and just a hint of earthy tobacco. It is dry, round and oh so smooth on entry with supple tannins. Spicy, peppery, vanilla, tobacco leaf and licorice flavors, balanced with a long plush finish. I was hooked from that moment on. This Bordeaux style wine is made of 46/34/20 Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc and has a cult like following. I can see why. Good luck in finding any. BC was sold out by the time I discovered this little jewel. I purchased the last 20 bottles from my favorite little wine store in Banff, AB last November. Another couple of years and this wine should really bloom with fruit tones.

Hillebrand 2004 Muscat Reserve

Okay, another confession - I love a good Muscat. This one is decent. Nice taste of peach and mango (and some citrus) with a very interesting hint of lavender. Nice clean finish. Its widely available at this writing.

Strewn 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon

I bought this wine in 2004 (it was one of the last 6 bottles they had) and cellared it for 2 years. A nice wine with full fruit. Lots of legs and a great smooth finish.

Peller Estates Cristalle

If you need a nice celebratory sparkling wine, this may be the one for you (it is probably my favourite.) Nicely dry, but a dosage of icewine has been added so it has the slightest hint of sweetness. An excellent accompaniment to almost anything, or nice for sipping on the porch, or in front of a fire. Try a bottle ... but make sure you invite me over before you open it.

De Souza 2002 Cabernet Franc

k, time to catch up on a few reviews. This wine was not something I would recommend. Not particularly fruitful and a harsh lingering aftertaste.

Puddicombe Estate 2002 Reisling Reserve

I am not a great fan of Reisling. I always find them too citrusy for my taste. Quite by accident I sampled this Reisling from Puddicombe and it instantly became one of my all-time favourites. A lovely balanced wine with tastes of tart apple and a hint of sweetness to balance. A very clean finish.

More wine clubs

I have been searching for wine clubs in the area and all I can find are Winemaking clubs (yawn, not interested.) I may have to approach the local wine merchants and see if they want to sponsor/support a local club and start my own. The search goes on.

Black Prince 2004 Zweigelt

I bought this at Black Prince last year and thought I would give it a try. First, its non-VQA but is made from 100% PEC grapes. Definitely needs more time to age, though it is weak in tannins. Light body, virtually no legs. Pleasant taste though I got a different taste with each mouthful. Nice cranberries in one, more earthy with the next. Best left to lighter meals, like soup.

Fork in the Road 2003 Oliver Block 249 Red

For my last BBQ, I opened a red that was highly recommended by friends. A very nice blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot and Shiraz. Tastes of Blackberry or brambleberry with hints of chocolate. Silky smooth with a very nice finish.

Carmela Estates 2001 Cabernet Franc

I decided to BBQ again tonight and chose a wine I wasn't really sure of. The wine is fairly nondescript. Nice colour, but no legs to speak of. Decent fruit (cherry) and a hint of vanilla & chocolate. A nice soft finish. Nothing to write home about, but certainly worth the $14 (or less if I recall correctly.)

Hawthorne Mountain 2003 SYL Brut

I admit it, I love sparkling wines. When I visited Hawthorne Mountain (you have to be a mountain goat to get there), I tried several of their wines, but really liked their champagn... oops, can't call it that any more, can I ... their "See Ya Later Ranch" sparkling wine. I pulled it out of the cooler last night to help celebrate. Nice and crisp some citrus zest and pear. A good wine to sip on the porch on a warm summer night.

Hernder 1999 Chardonnay

Sometimes it pays to be a cheapass. I bought a bottle of this $8.95 Chardonnay not expecting much. Imagine my surprise when I discovered its almost as good as the best chardonnay I have ever tasted. Deep gold colour, and very smooth with a nice viscosity. Very buttery with hints of vanilla. A pleasantly long finish.

Hillebrand 1999 Chardonnay

I have been saving this wine for a while and decided the last day of my vacation was as good a time as any. This is Hillebrand's "Showcase" Unfiltered Chardonnay "on its lees". Lovely golden colur - though cloudy due to the lees. Buttery with very light citrus. Lingers on the palate.

Mountain Road 2001 Cab Franc

For dinner I decided to BBQ steaks and curry lamb sausage. For some reason the Mountain Road 01 Cab Franc seemed to jump out of the wine rack. Deep colour and full bodied with lots of legs. Very fruity and a bit jammy (raspberries) with hints of tobacco. A nice clean finish.

Peller 2003 Gewurztraminer

OK I admit it - Gewurtz is not a wine I would normally buy or even try (I have always found them a bit too citrusy for my taste.) But I was able to enjoy this wine. An excellent balance of tartness and sweetness. A lovely perfume to the nose with taste of some lychee and a little grapefruit. A nice clean finish that doesnt linger long. I may change my mind about Gewurtz.

Tinhorn Creek 2003 Pinot Noir

When I visited Tinhorn Creek last week, I was offered a tasting of the 03 Pinot Noir. Very light bodied and some red berry. I tasted lots of tobacco and earthy spices. Some aftertaste and a bit of a long finish. I bought a case and will probably put it down for a couple of years. All in all a decent value.

Red Rooster 2005 Viognier

I tried the 05 Viognier from Red Rooster yesterday. Some tropical fruits (kiwi, etc) with just a hint of citrus. Relatively inexpensive for a difficult to find wine.

Looking for clubs

I searched for local wine clubs this morning and it doesnt look very positive. Apparently there are more foodies than winos locally. O well, the search continues.

Back

I returned from BC after a week. The mountains are terrirfic. The wine was worth buying.

I drove to the local wine making shop where I normally buy my wine racks to purchase another 104 bottle module and a couple of cubes. Much to my disappointment, they have raised their prices dramatically. The 28 bottle cube that was $40 is now $50. The 104 bottle rack that was $129 is now $149. Needless to say, they will have to find a new customer. I left and have no reason to go back.