If you scour the internet, you'll find lots of quotes about Pinot Noir,
I was looking for one to fit;
but this kind of California Pinot Noir breaks a lot of molds.
Cool climate California Pinot at its best:
Peay Vineyards 2021 Pomarium Pinot Noir
As a wine writer and wine lover, I attend a variety of events and get to try a number of wines from all over the world as well as some pretty amazing food. For those reviews visit my website : https://michaelpinkuswinereview.com/ ... Here I am now posting my video review of wines from both Ontario (where I live) and from around the world. Feel free to leave comments about the wines you find interesting.
If you scour the internet, you'll find lots of quotes about Pinot Noir,
I was looking for one to fit;
but this kind of California Pinot Noir breaks a lot of molds.
Cool climate California Pinot at its best:
Peay Vineyards 2021 Pomarium Pinot Noir
Ontario really can hang its hat on Cabernet Franc.
Here is yet another exemplary example :
Tawse Winery 2020 Growers Blend Cabernet Franc
Pecorino, a great cheese, an even better wine (sometimes) -
this is one of those wines :
Agricola Pasetti 2022 Collecivetta, Abruzzo Pecorino
Is Pinot Noir a good grape for the Okanagan Valley?
Time will tell. But Martin's Lane winery is betting is it :
Martin's Lane 2020 Dehart Vineyard Pinot Noir
When one thinks of Sicily, I suspect Cabernet Sauvignon
is not the grape that comes to mind - maybe it should be
Feudo Arancio 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon
Here's the Written Review ...
This comes from the aforementioned Sicilian project ... A wonderful Cab from Sicily that's silky on the palate with notes of chocolate, red cherry and black cherry plus subtle tannins... Hidden behind that fruit our notes of vanilla and molasses. Only 10% new oak keeps the fruit fresh and forward ... A steal in Ontario at $15.95.
Entry-level wines are rarely this good,
but Cave Spring has raised the bar here's why
Cave Spring Vineyard 2021 Chardonnay
THE WRITTEN REVIEW
This is not a straight Chardonnay it is Chardonnay (65%) and Chardonnay Musque (35%); it is 52% estate (grown on the Beamsville Bench) while the rest is grown in the Lincoln Lakeshore sub appellation (closer to the lake). A majority of the wine is fermented in stainless steel; another 5% sees neutral oak and the final 5% sees new oak. Ageing happens for 6 months on lees and only 15% of the wine goes through malolactic fermentation - keeping the wine fresh and fruity. Melon, apple, floral all meet up with good acidity and hints of minerality. You'd be hard pressed to find as good a Chard for the price.
Talk about a takeaway.
This wine from the Roussillon was an eye-opener about how good the wines of the region can be:
Domaine Boudau 2020 Patrimoine
Chardonnay from Chablis is not your same old-same old.
There is something about these wines that just sing in the mouth :
William Fevre 2020 Petit Chablis
Ontario Merlot does not always have the best reputation,
but this one is so good it is gone
Malivoire 2020 Stouck Merlot
The Written Review ...
Merlot from a hot vintage aged in American oak for 12 months, and 6 months in neutral: notes of cocoa, blue and black berry with a nice tannin seam. Vanilla and smoke jam with silky tannins on the finish. This is approachable now, but also has a decade ahead of it.
Bandol is part of Provence and while there is Rosé there,
it is primarily known as a red wine region embracing Mourvedre :
Domaine Tempier 2020 Bandol
You wanna bring in the New Year in style and drink Canadian in the process?
Have I got the bottle for you
Blue Mountain 2019 Brut
Montepulciano D'Abruzzo is used to make Rosé, or is it light red?
This is the rosé of Abruzzo and a delicious version at that
Masciarelli 2022 Villa Gemma Cerasuolo Superiore
Rediscovered in 1994, Carmenere has become the icon grape of Chile (like it or loathe it) -
here is one of the country's icon producers doing it justice, in a big way
Montes Wines 2020 Purple Angel
Spicy, earthy and coffee bean notes mix it up with blackberry, cassis and black cherry - there's a whole lot of more-ish-ness about this wine and age ability too. (****+)
This wine has all the hallmarks of great Cabernet Frank in Ontario,
it's the Ravine Vineyard 2020 Cabernet Franc
The amazing 2020 vintage brings about another winner in the Franc category. The Ravine FranC has all the hallmarks of good Ontario Cabernet Franc... Tobacco, black cherry, blackberry with a hint of vanilla... There are also subtle notes of earth, a little char from the barrel and some toasty smoky notes on the finish; those should hopefully settle in time.
For a part of the country known for wines made from the Tannat grape,
how does Madiran do with white wines? Let me tell you
Chateau Boucasse 2017 Les Jardins Philosophiques
... The Written Notes ...
A white blend made from the indigenous Petit Courbu and Petit Manseng from Boucassé’s 85-hectare vineyard. The vines are 45 years of age and these grapes take up nine hectares of the vineyard, at no more than 110 m above sea level. It is fermented in stainless steel and then aged in same for 12 months, but on fine lees.
The note … Grapefruit peel and pith that plays off of an oxidized sensation on the tongue. Great acidity back stops the wine giving it an exceptional length on the finish. A beauty of a sipper.