Before the big awards are handed out (Gala, February 27, 2009 Fallsview Casino) the press is given a preview of the highest rated wine from each winery.
For those who don’t know, Cuvee is the Academy Awards of the Ontario wine industry. Panels of winemakers sit in a room with hundreds of submitted wines, blindly screening the work of their peers. Thing is, because it’s blind, y9ou don’t know if you voted Slumdog of Benjamin Button until the winners are announced at the Gala event and tasting. Nobody knows the outcome until Price-Waterhouse, or whomever is guarding the Cuvee knowledge, releases it on the big night ... the only thing the press can do is surmise as to who possibly could have won what. Though the wineries do know their top rated wine because they are asked to provide samples for this very tasting.
The following is a list of wines that impressed me – full reviews of these wines will be coming to my website (www.ontariowinereview.com), be featured in an upcoming Weekly Wine Note, or as a Pick of the Bunch in my newsletter in the coming weeks. All wines that were previously reviewed (before February 25, 2009) are linked for your perusing pleasure.
Whites:
Chardonnay …
Unoaked – Vineland 2007 Elevation Chardonnay ($25.20 – winery only) ... 3rd Place - Chardonnay
Oaked – Peller Estates 2007 Signatures Series Sur Lie ($30.00 – winery only) ... WINNER - Best Chardonnay
Gewurztraminer …
Calamus 2007 Gewurztraminer ($15.20 – winery only) ... WINNER - Best Gewurztraminer
Riesling …
Legends 2003 Riesling Reserve ($29.00 - winery only) ... WINNER - Best Riesling
Tawse 2007 Sketches of Niagara Riesling ($18.00 - winery only) ... WINNER - Best Riesling
Other whites …
Creekside Estate 2007 Viognier Reserve ($29.95 - winery only) ... WINNER - Best Limited Edition White
Peninsula Ridge Estates 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Wisner Vineyards ($18.95 - winery only) ... WINNER - Best Sauvignon Blanc
Reds:
Cabernet Franc …
The Grange of Prince Edward County 2007 Northfield Block Cabernet Franc ($29.80 -winery only) ... 3rd Place - Cabernet Franc
Limited release – Thirty Bench 2006 Small Lot Cabernet Franc ($35.00 - winery only) ... WINNER - Best Red and Best Cabernet Franc
Pinot Noir …
Niagara College 2007 Dean’s List Pinot Noir ($32.95 - winery only) ... WINNER - Best Pinot Noir
Red Blends …
Featherstone Winery 2007 Onyx ($24.95 - winery only)
Other Reds …
Thirteenth Street Wine 2006 Sandstone Old Vines Gamay ($25.00 - winery only)
Lailey Vineyard 2007 Syrah ($25.00 - winery only) ... 2nd Place - Syrah/Shiraz
Sweeties …
Inniskillin 2007 Riesling Icewine ($69.95 / 375ml - winery only) ... WINNER - Best Sweet Wine
Pillitteri Estates 2007 Sticky Beak Red Icewine ($50.00 / 200ml - winery only)
Riverview Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine ($59.95 / 375ml – winery only)
For those who don’t know, Cuvee is the Academy Awards of the Ontario wine industry. Panels of winemakers sit in a room with hundreds of submitted wines, blindly screening the work of their peers. Thing is, because it’s blind, y9ou don’t know if you voted Slumdog of Benjamin Button until the winners are announced at the Gala event and tasting. Nobody knows the outcome until Price-Waterhouse, or whomever is guarding the Cuvee knowledge, releases it on the big night ... the only thing the press can do is surmise as to who possibly could have won what. Though the wineries do know their top rated wine because they are asked to provide samples for this very tasting.
The following is a list of wines that impressed me – full reviews of these wines will be coming to my website (www.ontariowinereview.com), be featured in an upcoming Weekly Wine Note, or as a Pick of the Bunch in my newsletter in the coming weeks. All wines that were previously reviewed (before February 25, 2009) are linked for your perusing pleasure.
Whites:
Chardonnay …
Unoaked – Vineland 2007 Elevation Chardonnay ($25.20 – winery only) ... 3rd Place - Chardonnay
Oaked – Peller Estates 2007 Signatures Series Sur Lie ($30.00 – winery only) ... WINNER - Best Chardonnay
Gewurztraminer …
Calamus 2007 Gewurztraminer ($15.20 – winery only) ... WINNER - Best Gewurztraminer
Riesling …
Legends 2003 Riesling Reserve ($29.00 - winery only) ... WINNER - Best Riesling
Tawse 2007 Sketches of Niagara Riesling ($18.00 - winery only) ... WINNER - Best Riesling
Other whites …
Creekside Estate 2007 Viognier Reserve ($29.95 - winery only) ... WINNER - Best Limited Edition White
Peninsula Ridge Estates 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Wisner Vineyards ($18.95 - winery only) ... WINNER - Best Sauvignon Blanc
Reds:
Cabernet Franc …
The Grange of Prince Edward County 2007 Northfield Block Cabernet Franc ($29.80 -winery only) ... 3rd Place - Cabernet Franc
Limited release – Thirty Bench 2006 Small Lot Cabernet Franc ($35.00 - winery only) ... WINNER - Best Red and Best Cabernet Franc
Pinot Noir …
Niagara College 2007 Dean’s List Pinot Noir ($32.95 - winery only) ... WINNER - Best Pinot Noir
Red Blends …
Featherstone Winery 2007 Onyx ($24.95 - winery only)
Other Reds …
Thirteenth Street Wine 2006 Sandstone Old Vines Gamay ($25.00 - winery only)
Lailey Vineyard 2007 Syrah ($25.00 - winery only) ... 2nd Place - Syrah/Shiraz
Sweeties …
Inniskillin 2007 Riesling Icewine ($69.95 / 375ml - winery only) ... WINNER - Best Sweet Wine
Pillitteri Estates 2007 Sticky Beak Red Icewine ($50.00 / 200ml - winery only)
Riverview Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine ($59.95 / 375ml – winery only)
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