INAUGURAL - Chateau St Jean 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Knight's Valley (USA)

 

Here in Canada, many are pining for the day they can put a California Cab in their glass. The good news, there are wines like this Chateau St Jean 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Knight's Valley that could use the extra time in bottle to get to where it will be at its best

ALLURING Rodney Strong 2020 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Califor...

California Cabernet is more than just Napa Valley, 

as this delicious Rodney Strong proves: 

Rodney Strong 2020 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

DELICIOUS - Duckhorn 2019 Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon (California)

As a fan of this juicy Cabernet from Duckhorn it's time to talk about it; 

it's a second wine that drinks like top-shelf product

Duckhorn 2019 Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon

 

This is Duckhorn Vineyards’ second wine, and it’s a real treat. Powerful fruit offering red plum and plush chocolate along with hints of spice and smoke. It’s dangerously drinkable, on its own or with … whatever you want.  (****+)

STUNNING Stags' Leap Winery 2018 Petite Sirah (California, USA)

This is not a grape you seen on its own very often, 

but after tasting this my only question is - Why Not?

Stags' Leap Winery 2018 Petite Sirah

 

Stags’ Leap Winery 2018 Petite Sirah 

Now this is the bee's knees. Really good. Smile inducing – add your platitude here. Dark fruit and spice, subtle pepper, white smoke, cassis and black cherry; I love that spice on the end, the great length, I have much more to say about it, but I want to get back to the glass. You need this wine in your life.  (**** ½)

 

Erath 2020 Oregon Pinot Noir - Wine Review

Ya gotta love a bottle of wine that delivers for not a lot of dough

Erath 2020 Oregon Pinot Noir

WillaKenzie Estate 2013 Gisele Pinot Noir (The Wine Review - Ep. 89)

Wente 2013 Charles Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon (The Wine Review - Ep. 76)

The Wine Review: Esser 2013 Merlot (Ep. 71)

The Wine Review - Ep. 51: Terra D'Oro 2012 Zinfandel

The Wine Review - Ep. 44: Easton 2012 Zinfandel, Amador County

Report from: Profile Portfolio Tasting – September 29, 2015

 

Top 25 wines that I tried (broken down into country – but in no particular order) … there were hundreds of wines in the room but these are the ones that “spoke” to me and my palate (louder and clearer than the rest).

__________________________

Bersano 2010 Barolo Nirvasco, Italy ($29.95)
Good fruit, herbal, sour cherry and a little bit smoky; well-structured.  (****)

Bersano 2007 Barolo Riserva, Italy ($76.95)
Rich, ripe and fruit driven with great spice and a dark fruit linger with pepper on the backend.   (****+)

Fantinel 2014 Spumanti Prosecco Brut “One & Only”, Italy ($23.95)
Only 48,000 bottles are produced from this single vineyard offering:  great minerality and freshness with citrus, mac apple and good acid balance – not your same old same old Prosecco here.  (****)

Fantinel 2011 La Roncaia Refosco, Italy ($41.95)
2 years in barrel, 100% new but with very low toast has created a wine with coffee/mocha, black cherry, pencil shavings, boysenberry … a great marriage of fruit / spice and acidity.  (**** ½)

Cesari 2011 Bosan Ripasso, Italy ($34.95)
Great aromatics of Ripasso lead to a palate of cocoa, mocha, spice and black cherry.  (****)

Poggio al Tesoro 2010 Dedicato A Walter, Italy ($104.95)
7th release if this 10 barrel selection, special offering which is dedicated to the owner’s brother: herbal and olive aromas (trees are planted every 9 rows in the vineyard) great spice, tobacco and mineral – lovely.  (****)

Castello di Querceto 2009 Romantic, Italy ($199.95)
A three grape blend of Petit Verdot (50%), Merlot (30%) and Syrah (20%) aged for 24 months (Merlot and Syrah) and 36 months (Petit Verdot) – meaty, gamey, cassis, white pepper with nice tannin grit and some anise seed on the mid-palate. Only 3000 Bottles produced.  (****)

Farnese 2012 Edizone 14, Italy ($40.95)
Deep, rich dark fruit, smoky-mocha, plum and vanilla with hints of coffee on the lengthy finish.   (****+)

Velenosi 2010 Roggio del Filare, Italy ($38.95)
Name of the wine means “Fire” and is made up of 70% Montepulciano and 30% Sangiovese from 45 year old vines and aged 18 months separately in 1 year old barrels: deliciously red fruited with vanilla, cherry, plum and a touch of smoke, all with a licorice finish.  (**** ½)

Velenosi 2011 Ludi, Italy ($52.95)
Made with Montepulciano, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot from 38 year old vines, aged 24 months in oak: mocha, chocolate, spice, blackberry and cassis … quite delicious.  (****+)

La Gerla 2014 Poggio Degli Angeli, Italy ($23.95)
Sour cherry, raspberry, light and easy fruit with a touch of something herbal.  (*** ½+)

Juan Gil 2014 Bodegas Ateca Honoro Vera, Spain ($15.95)
A light and easy Grenache aged only 2 months in oak from 50+ year old vines: fresh, lively and truly delightful – red fruit, deep rich and gorgeous, what the real draw here is the boat-load of cherry fruit on the mid-palate to the finish.  (****)

Juan Gil 2014 Bodgeas Atalaya Laya Red, Spain ($14.95)
70% Garnacha and Tinto Rera with another 30% Monastrell aged 4 months in oak: mocha, cherry, strawberry, vanilla and a hint of white pepper.  (****)

Juan Gil Bodegas Tridente Entresuelos, Spain ($17.95)
100% Tempranillo with herbal, tobacco and a little raspberry and smoke on the finish.  (*** ½+)

Juan Gil 2013 Bodegas Ateca Atteca Old Vines Grenache, Spain ($24.95)
80+ year old Grenache aged 10 months, this is a true delight: rich dark fruit, plum, vanilla, and white smoke; the deep rich fruit caresses the tongue with flavour.  (**** ½)

Renwood 2012 Zinfandel, Fiddletown, California ($24.95)
Plum, cherry, mocha-chocolate, cola all with a little sweetness but quite nicely balanced by the acidity.  (****)

World’s End 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Crossfire, California ($166.95)
Rich cherry, plum, blackberry, black cherry and vanilla – very sweet fruited.  (****)

Chappellet 2013 Mountain Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, California ($54.95)
It says Cabernet blend on the label, but Merlot dominates at 43% with Cabernet Sauvignon being only 34% and even with the addition of Cab Franc (5%) it’s still only 39% in total … and don’t forget the Petit Verdot and Malbec in here as well – all aged 17 months in oak; smoky, cassis, hint of vanilla, plum, blackberry all with an elegant spiced finish.  (****)

Miner 2011 Chardonnay, Wild Yeast, California ($51.95)
I’m a sucker for wild yeast and here’s a Chardonnay with 12 months in oak (30% new) both barrel fermented and aged and has gone through 100% malolactic fermentation: peach pit, apricot, pear, vanilla, yellow plum with creamed pineapple and butterscotch on the finish.  (****)

Miner 2012 Pinot Noir, Garys’ Vineyard, California ($59.95)
Light and delicate in colour with raspberry and strawberry, hints of tart cranberry and a white pepper on the finish – it’s clean and delicate with refreshing acidity.  (****+)

Peter Franus 2013 Zinfandel, Brandlin Vineyard, California ($59.95)
Vineyard was planted in 1920:  90% Zinfandel with Mourvedre, Carignan and Charbono rounding out the rest of the grapes; it’s also dry farmed which (amongst other things) helps to concentrates the aromas and flavours in the finished wine.  Layers of flavour including plum, black cherry, vanilla-cola, mocha and a mid-palate minerality that’s just “wow”-good, it closes off with a luxurious finish.  (****+)

J. Lohr 2013 Petite Sirah, Tower Road, California ($37.95)
There’s also 3% Syrah in this wine, it’s bold and fruity: blueberry, black cherry, vanilla, all with a nice red fruit middle and a dry black fruit finish.  (****)

J. Lohr 2013 Pinot Noir, Falcon’s Perch, California ($28.95)
Fruit for this wine comes from the cooler region of Monterey and 17% of the wine sees 3rd fill barrels to keep things fresh and fruit forward:  lots of cherry yet really very delicate – it’s one of those by-itself Pinots you would happily just sit and sip on.  (*** ½+)

Young Inglewood 2012 Right Bank Blend, California ($123.95)
Winery was bought in 2007 and the first vintage was 2009 … 61% Cabernet Franc, 36% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot spent 2 months in new French oak:  smoky tobacco, blueberry skin, cassis and plenty of black pepper on the finish.  (****)

Long Meadow Ranch 2013 Pinot Noir, Farmstead, California ($52.95)
The first thing that grabs you is the great acid and pepper note, then there’s the cran-cherry tartness and the mineral / floral backing – good fruit and great length.  (****)

For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.michaelpinkuswinereview.com,while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.

The Wine Review - Ep. 41: Wines of Substance 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon

Report from: Ravenswood Tasting with Joel Peterson - Nov 16, 2015

 

As founder of Ravenswood Joel has some pretty interesting stories to share. He started the winery at 40 years of age (1976) and while many of his contemporaries are eyeing up retirement he says: "It's hard for me to ever consider [it]".

Joel got into wine at an early age and mostly because of his parents' love of it: his mother's first wine was a 1945 Chateauneuf-du-Pape (that's why mom loved the fermented juice) and he helped his dad simplify wine describing terminology at age 10 (as an official sniffer).

Joel Peterson (Nov. 16, 2015)

To keep his winery dream afloat Joel held down a second job till 1992. He saw his first profitable year (on paper) in 1987 and until 1982 when he open his own winery he was a "nomadic" winemaker - making his wines wherever he could.

He started with Zinfandel for two reasons: it had a past (arrived in California 1852) and by 1888 was the most planted variety, and it definitely had a future. He has a theory about Zinfandel that I have never heard before, but does make an awful lot of sense: "What ever you make you're always going to be compared to Bordeaux and Burgundy, except when it comes to Zinfandel." 

The 8 wines we tried - all Zin (no pink)

He calls Zinfandel a "chameleon" because it really takes on the character of the site it is planted on - and Joel should know because he makes quite a few single vineyard offerings. Today he makes 800,000 cases from 1000 acres of grapes.

Today's wines were both a look ahead and a look behind at the work of Joel Peterson and his icon Ravenswood (you will notice no wimpy or pink wines in these reviews) :

2014 Besieged

Known as a blend of "Mixed Blacks" - sounds racial but actually means: Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignan, Alicante and a few others ... traditional California field blend: Dark purple/red in colour with sweet black cherry and plum on the nose; ripe round chocolate-cherry, plum and vanilla on the palate. (*** 1/2+)

2013  Lodi County Series

20% new French, Joel is a fan of oak but only as a perfume on the wine. Aromas of black cherry, white pepper and hints of spice; good acidity on the palate with black cherry, plum and a blueberry-earthy type finish. Primarily made from 80 year old vines with a little Petite Sirah and Carignan added for depth.  (*** 1/2)

2012 Dickerson Vineyard

The Dickerson Vineyard is located in Napa on Zinfandel Lane and was planted in the 1920's ... the 2012 has aromas of strawberry, violets and mint (not surprising says Joel because there's a eucalyptus tree on the property); palate is strawberry, raspberry, cherry with hints of plum and violets on the finish - this is a very pretty Zin.  (****)

2006 Dickerson Vineyard ... mint, strawberry and raspberry lead things off; there's a little oak on this one and it's apparent along with earth, strawberry, pepper and raspberry that also show up - it's still quite powerful and intense.

1999 Dickerson Vineyard (from Magnum - 1500ml) ... a mint and tarry character start it off but gradually dried raspberry and herbal notes materialize ... palate is smoky with plenty of dried red fruit, herbal and pepper - very Barolo-esque.

2012 Old Hill Vineyard

Joel started making this wine in 1982 - the vineyard itself was planted in 1861 with some different different varieties, 75% Zinfandel and 25% mixed blacks (some of the grapes in this vineyard haven't even been DNA tested yet, so who really knows what's in here): Chocolate, cherry plum and white pepper followed by a rich plummy note with spices, cherries and great acidity making the whole thing a treat to drink - exceptionally pretty and pure; bright and flavourful ... simply put this wine was stunning.  (*****)

2006 Old Hill Vineyard ... aromas have a touch of plum and wood  but come across very Port-like; the palate has a sweetness of fruit with vanilla and dried cherry backing it up on the long finish.

1999 Old Hill Vineyard ... incredibly youthful wine with aromas and flavours that seemed much younger than the previously tasted 2006: chocolate, plum, black cherry all lightly smoked with a touch of vanilla added to season along with a dollop of sandalwood ... gorgeous for a 15 year old Zin, must another reason why I love this grape.

For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.michaelpinkuswinereview.com, while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.

The Wine Review Video - Ep. 30: Dusted Valley 2012 Boomtown Cabernet Sau...

The Wine Review Video - Ep. 35: Heart & Hands 2012 Paul's Legacy Pinot Noir

The Wine Review Video - Ep. 27: Carol Shelton 2012 Wild Thing Zinfandel

Report from ... Washington State Wines Dinner - August 11, 2015

Tonight we learned some interesting facts about Washington state:

The grape make up of Washington is 20% each Riesling, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Syrah is the grape that is making the most in-roads in the state, and is the grape that many would consider the signature of Washington state at this time.

One of the most interesting facts about Washington is that their sandy soils help to combat phylloxera.

As far as their winery stats, they have at present approximately 870 wineries and they are growing at about four wineries per month ... where it levels out, nobody knows.

The Night in Pictures ...

Looking over the menu, while sipping on sparkling ...

this one in fact, from Chateau Ste Michelle (Brut)

The best wine of the night was this Columbia Crest 2012 Merlot,
which continued to get better the longer it sat in the glass.

One of the most popular Rieslings in the USA is part of the
Charles Smith portfolio - and the label is a big selling point

Tonight's line-up of reds ...

Proving that Cabernet Sauvignon does well in Washington State,
this Milbrandt Vineyards version really was something delicious

So is this Airfield Estates Runway from Yakima Valley

This Nine Hats 2012 Red Blend was my second favourite
wine of the night (see review below)

Dessert was this Late Harvest Riesling from Washington Hills:
sweet, delicate and delicious 

The Dinner (there was a selection - I went all salmon) ...

Double Smoked Salmon
capers, rocket, dill cream

Heritage Salmon
potato, lemon

Vanilla Panacotta
berry compote, basil

The Wine Reviews ... (click on name for full review)

Airfield Estates 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Runway

Chateau Ste. Michelle NV Michelle Brut

Columbia Crest 2012 Merlot

Milbrandt Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Traditions

Nine Hats Wines 2012 Red Wine 

For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.ontariowinereview.com, while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.

Report from ... Finger Lakes Tasting and WBC15 - August 13-18

View from Ventosa Winery patio

I will talk with many people over the next 3-6 months (or so) about my trip to the Wine Bloggers Conference held in the Finger Lakes, New York – and inevitably I will be asked “How were the wines?”

As New York’s neighbor to the North and admittedly more serious wine producing region, Ontario, we have always looked down on New York wines as being too sweet – as someone said to me as explanation (while at the conference) “they’re burgeoning” – but when I was in the Finger Lakes 10-12 years ago and as recently as 7 years ago they held the ‘burgeoning’ moniker at that time too … how long can a region of this size be ‘burgeoning’?

As the second largest producer by volume of wine in the United States, New York has always been seen as inferior to California, Washington and Oregon (all serious wine producing regions) – New York is not to be taken seriously for wine; how can you take a place seriously that creates wines like Hot Tub Red, and uses grapes to make wine that most of us would use in the making of jam?

Well, I’m not about to tell you that New York has shed the “burgeoning” moniker – many of the wines I tried during the conference were on the way to being good – yes sweet still rules – though dry is starting to sink in and make in-roads more and more.  Among the sweet Rieslings are the dry versions. Atop the florally laced and sweet tasting Gewurztraminers there are the dry versions that really claw back on the rose-petal and sugar for a serious finish.  And the reds are showing potential as well (Cabernet Franc being the most promising), as both drink now and for wines that will require some serious ageing.  I also saw things like Lemberger and Gruner Veltliner being produced, with a moniker all their own “The Next Big Thing”.  Only time will tell if that is the case, but while the Lemberger was dry to sweet and at times more Pinot-esque in its make up; the Gruner tasted sweet and not at all like what the Austrian’s had in mind … there is only so long you can say “it is from New York so it is altogether different” – the tension, acidity and austerity in Gruner is what makes it so refreshing, so until they reduce the residual it’s just another white wine.

After the conference I selected half-a-dozen wineries to visit – with the help of some New York knowledgeable pals – specially selected for making “serious in-roads on the Lakes” and known for taking wine seriously – plus I visited a winery I was floored by at one of the dinners.  Below is a sampling of what I tried, was impressed with and the two-stars of my tasting days.

Best Wines at the Conference:

White ...

Keuka Springs 2014 Gewurztraminer
Dynamite Vineyard

Red ... 

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards
2012 Cabernet Franc

Sparkling ... 

Lamoreaux Landing
2009 Brut

The Best of the Winery Visits:

Inside Domaine LeSeurre and their line-up of wines

Best Wine:  2012 Barrel Select Cabernet Franc
Simple aromas of black cherry are followed on the palate
by smooth vanilla, cherry, hints of tobacco and all touched
by mocha-cherry on the finish.  Rating: *** ½+

Stop at Ravines where the wines were consistently good.

Anthony Road's best wine was this bottle of
2013 Cabernet Franc / Lemberger
14 months in a mix of French and American oak results in a wine
with a more than ample cherry nose followed by cherry, plum,
red currant, anise, cedar and hints of vanilla on the finish.
Rating: ****

Ventosa is a gorgeous and very big place - great pizza smells inside.

Best Wine: 2011 Lemberger
Winner of the 2015 Governor’s Cup at the New York Wine & Food Classic
3 years in second fill Hungarian oak delivers sour cherry and strawberry
to the palate with some weight and a cedary finish.  Rating: *** ½+

Looking up the path at Lamoreaux Landing

Plenty of great wines, including these two:
2010 Chardonnay and 2011 Cabernet Franc ...
but (aside from the Brut) there was one better

Best Wine: 2012 "76 West"
blend is 45% Cabernet Franc, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot
with the hallmark of an age-able red (5-7 years): blackberry, black cherry,
cedar, vanilla, smoke mid-palate and a black pepper, cedar-smoke and anise finish.
Rating: ****+

Heart & Hands Winery might be one of the most focused
wineries we visited, making wines from two varieties:
Riesling (white) and Pinot Noir (red)
More wineries in the Finger Lakes should be following this example.

Best Wine: 2012 Pinot Noir, Paul's Legacy
the most delicate of the 2012 Pinot from Heart and Hands is also the most juicy:
earthy, cherry and floral with a cranberry/strawberry cocktail on the mid-palate
leading to a fine tannin finish.  Rating: ****+

See the full line-up of wines tried over our 3 day visit click here.

For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.ontariowinereview.com, while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.

The Wine Review Video - Ep. 15: Seghesio 2013 Sonoma County Zinfandel

Report from ... Stem Wine Group Annual Tasting, 10th Anniversary - October 20, 2015

That the Stem Wine Group called this an "annual" tasting is a little bit of a misnomer, my understanding is that this is to become a biennial event ... so you have to wait every two years to enjoy / taste this level of quality wines.  The majority of the portfolio is Italian wine, 30 producers in attendance this year; four from France, eight from the US, two from Australia and one each from Argentina and New Zealand ... many had at least one wine that was worth the price of admission.

Italy ...

Villabella 2005 Amarone 'Fracastoro' ($56.99)
pleasant richness of black cherry and red cherry,
elegant tannins and a long finish (****+)

Delibori 2012 Ripasso della Valpolicella ($17.99)
finesse and elegance with rich cherry with really
pleasant mouthfeel and good flavour (****+)

Zyme 2009 Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($44.99)
rich red fruit from beginning to end; cherry up front
with a gentle, delicate finish - very drinkable (****+)

Zyme 2008 Kairos ($74.99)
a 15 grape variety blend which offers up complexity
and intensity with a big spicy/tannin finish (*** 1/2+)

Zyme 2007 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($144.99)
black cherry, coffee, mocha, blackberry, vanilla, rich and smoky;
nice balancing acidity on the finish - damn fine wine (****+)

Zyme 2003 Amarone Classico Riserva 'La Mattonara' ($379.99)
richer and smokier than the other Zyme Amarone with coffee,
toffee, and black cherry extract; rich and flavourful - there
are layers of flavour that make this very decadent (**** 1/2)

Casina Bric 460 2010 Barolo, Bricco delle Viole ($84.00)
elegant yet juicy with lovely fruit,
good acidity and chalky mineral (****+)

Casina Bric 460 2010 Barolo ($68.00)
fruit driven with raspberry, sour cherry and vanilla (****)

Ca' del Baio 2009 'Pianrosa' Barbaresco ($32.99)
2 years in oak, 6 months in bottle ... shows dried cherry, smoke,
nice mineral and acidity mix - lovely and elegant food wine (****)

Ca' del Baio 2013 Moscato D'Asti ($19.99)
pretty Moscato with tropical notes; sweet but elegant -
biscotti and almond notes on the finish, nice acidity (****)

Braida di Giacomo Bologna 2011 Montebruna ($29.99)
single vineyard offering Barbera
black cherry, cassis, raspberry, smoky-vanilla and a nice tannin grip (****+)

Braida di Giacomo Bologna 2010 Bricco Dell'Uccellone ($74.99)
grapes from 53 year old vines aged 14 months in oak
robust yet shows elegance, dark berries, coffee,
chalky / mineral and smoky (****)

Gaja 2011 Promis ($47.99)
great fruit forward wine with red and black fruit -
balances acidity, wood smoke and tannins (****)

Siro Pacenti 2012 Rosso di Montalcino ($45.00)
big coffee flavour with creme de cassis, red berries
and rich blackberries (****)

Collemattoni 2012 Rosso di Montalcino ($25.99)
easy drinking with cherry and spice (*** 1/2+)

Villa a Sesta 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva ($32.99)
rich, robust, and juicy yet shows backbone with blackberry,
cassis and other dark fruit and good spice  (****)

Villa a Sesta 2009 Chianti Classico 'Il Palei' ($22.99)
mocha, coffee, cinnamon, vanilla, smoke - very pleasant  (*** 1/2+)

Fattoria di Magliano 2011 'Sinarra' ($23.99)
100% Sangiovese
mineral and red fruit mix in this deliciously fruit-driven wine  (*** 1/2+)

Fattoria di Magliano 2010 'Poggio Bestiale' ($49.99)
40% Merlot / 35% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot
yummy - big black fruit, smoky yet with nice tannin backbone
and a deliciously long finish  (****)

Arnaldo-Caprai 2011 Montefalco ($22.99)
70% Sangiovese / 15% Sagrantino / 15% Merlot
lovely fruit of blackberry and cassis with gentle spice (****)

Arnaldo-Caprai 2008 Sagrantino di Montefalco ($89.99)
big, spicy and rich, full of dark fruit, and hard tannins;
it's a food wine and sipping it brings me back to Montefalco (****+)

Masciarelli 2012 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($15.99)
rich and fruity with red and black berries and gentle tannins;
this is a nice fruit driven wine (****)

Feudi di San Gregorio 2013 Primitivo di Manduria ($18.99)
always a pleasurable drink with rich red cherry, blackberry and plum (****)

Argiolas 2013 'Costamolino' ($17.99)
lovely floral, creamy mouthfeel, pineapple, good acidity (*** 1/2+)

Argiolas 2010 'Is Solinas' ($17.99)
Carignan and Bovale (same family as Mourvedre)
1 year oak / 1 year cement / 2 years bottle
herbal, raspberry, nice spice and good acidity with a long
salty/mineral finish (****)

France ...

Henri Abele NV Blancs de Blancs ($79.00)
almandine and bruised apple, crisp, clean and biscuity
toasty with hints of buttered bread (****)

Chateau du Val D'or 2010 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru ($34.99)
gentle and soft with nice balance of fruit and wood:
hints of smoke, blueberry skin and tannins (****)

Daniel Chotard 2013 Sancerre ($25.99)
nice mineral with grapefruit pith and grassy notes,
great mouthfeel and a stony mineral finish and good length (****)

United States ...

BNA Wine Group 2012 Butternut Pinot Noir ($24.00)
light and easy drinking with nice fruit (****)

BNA Wine Group 2012 Humble Pie Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.99)
red fruit with touches of red licorice and anise;
nice spiced finish with good length (****)

Other Wines ... (no pictures)

United States ...

Michael Sullberg 2012 Chardonnay ($16.99) - ****+

Michael Sullberg 2012 Merlot ($17.99) - *** 1/2+

Highway 101 Cellars 2012 Zinfandel ($18.99) - ****+ 

Husic Vineyards 2010 Palm Terrace, Cabernet Sauvignon ($66.99) - **** 

Merry Edwards Winery 2012 Sauvignon Blanc ($47.99) - ****

Merry Edwards Winery 2012 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($64.99) - *** 1/2

Merry Edwards Winery 2012 Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir ($74.99) - ****

New Zealand ...

Marisco Vineyards 2013 Sauvignon Blanc ($18.99) - *** 1/2+

Marisco Vineyards 2011 Pinot Noir ($20.99) - ***  1/2

Australia ...

Rockbare 2012 McLaren Vale Shiraz ($22.99) - **** 1/2

Woolshed 2013 Merlot ($14.99) - *** 1/2+

For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.ontariowinereview.com, 

while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.