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.
Grapes come from Niagara, but Dan Sullivan makes this wine all his own
Rosehall Run 2019 UV - Nedelko Vineyard
... THE WRITTEN REVIEW ...
This Niagara-based Meritage blend comes from Niagara's Nedelko vineyard - and for 2019 it delivers so much more then I would have expected it to Cherry and sour cherry meet strawberry, but without being over the top, then there's mocha and pencil shavings with a juicy drink-ability that carries it right down the middle. It's quite a lovely bottle, proving Dan Sullivan can work with both Prince Edward County and Niagara fruit - but I think we've known that from his past endeavours. ( **** )
Such a cool wine made from a cool blend of grapes from a very special vineyard
own by a legendary winery:
Le Mortelle 2018 Poggio alle Nane
THE WRITTEN REVIEW ...
2018 Poggio all Nane - Le Mortelle
The "Le Mortelle" property was purchased in 1999, consisting of 170 acres and is home to three whites (Viognier / Vermentino / Ansomica) and three reds (Cabernet Sauvignon / Cabernet Franc / Carmenere) - you read that last one correctly, the grape that Chile is attempting to make famous also resides in an Antinori vineyard in Maremma, Italy. This Cabernet Franc dominated blend has Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere in the mix, which was added for the first time in the 2016 vintage, after 5-to-6 years of research to see if the variety was viable in this location - obviously it was, and is. The first vintage of Poggio Alle Nane was in 2009 - but was certainly made better with the addition of Carmenere in 2016. It is age 16 months in barrique, of which ⅓ is new. This was my favorite wine of the tasting with a complexity that blew me away: mocha and black fruit on the nose with a palate that delivers dark fruit, pepper, tobacco and the promise of so much more to come. It's a wild wine from its make up to its aromas right down to the flavours. I walked out thinking "Carmenere in Italy, who 'da thunk it?" - well Antinori obviously. (**** ½)
It's one of those little known grapes, but this one has quite the following :
Malivoire 2021 Melon
--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---
Malivoire has been making, and selling out of, Melon for over 20 years; and now to alleviate those demands for more, they've planted more Melon de Bourgogne. This is 64% estate fruit and 36% from winemaker's Shiraz Mottiar's eponymously named vineyard. The aromas are a real winner and they match the palate: melon (perfect for this wine), pear, mineral-floral with fresh acidity that allows the wine to linger with a stony finish. Another winner Melon, and having just come back from the Loire, I can tell you this bottle is truly on-point. (****)
Proving how amazing Montepulciano D'Abruzzo can be
without having to break the bank to get it
Jasci & Marchesani 2018 Rudhir
... THE WRITTEN REVIEW ...
Jasci & Marchesani 2018 Rudhir
A Montepulciano that spends 18 months in 2-year-old barrels. In bottle it delivers on absolute yumminess ... Lovely spiced-cherry, smoked-plum and coffee bean accost the nose, with raspberry and strawberry joining in on the palate. It is a fruit / spice dominant bomb of a wine - with a lingering finish. Might need a little more time in the cellar to come fully comes together, but it drinks nicely right now. (****+)
Blanc de Blancs made from 100% Chardonnay, their first and it's really good
Honsberger NV Blanc de Blancs
--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---
After playing around with Riesling bubbles, Honsberger finally gets serious and puts the 2019 Schuele Chardonnay into bottle for 24 months on lees and creates a beauty of a traditional method white of whites. Great acidity is the hallmark followed by a nice toasty-biscuity-ness along with green apple and a touch of floral. Great first effort using Chardonnay looking forward to the future vintages of this wine – maybe even with a date on them. Rating: ****+
This Super Tuscan international blend is one of those unforgettable wines
Castello Banfi 2018 Summus
--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---
(watch the video above)
Castello Banfi 2018 Summus
Very perfumed and very fruit forward with dark plums and black cherry dominating both the nose and palate. Elegant and delicate with a good backbone of acidity that manages to push its way through all that fruit to show it whose boss - but ultimately helps carry the wine to its next sip. Deep dark fruit wins the day here. (****+)
Ever wonder if Flar Rock is going to make more than Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling?
The answer might surprise you
Flat Rock 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Explore Series
--- THE WRITTEN REVEW ---
A Sauvignon Blanc from Flat Rock Cellars? What gives? It’s a way to try out new varieties without having to plant their own, but plant they must, as there is a plot of landing waiting for a new idea to bloom. This Sauv Blanc is subtly sweet with nice white fruit at its core, add in apple, citrus and guava plus a long finish and you have yourself a beauty of a barrel fermented Savvy B; if this is the future of Flat Rock I’m definitely in.
A real bruiser of a wine that gets better the longer it is open :
Luigi Bosca 2018 Finca Los Nobles Field Blend
--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---
This is one of those wines that really grows on you ... the more you sip the more you’re gonna love it - it also develops over the course of a few hours into something “wow”. Starts out smooth, supple and subtle - it has a little of a lot, but not too much of anything: dark fruit, pepper, mocha, charcoal, floral with a blueberry-esque finish, reminiscent of Brookside Dark Chocolate Covered Wild Blueberries ... And it just lingers and extra long time. Give it 5 years in the cellar before drinking or, if drinking now, decant. (**** ½)
I spoke about this wine in its first release, now here we are again, and this one might be even better:
Closson Chase 2019 Pinot Noir Stirling Barrique
--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---
This is the second iteration of this less than 100-mile wine ... Everything is not just Canadian (grapes, barrels, winemaker) but they are all within a short sip of the winery. This year the juice is 50% pressed and 50% free run and 100% from the Churchside vineyard. It spends 18 months in these barrels from Sterling Ontario - 3rd and 4th fill (two each) - so the fruit is what really shines here: violets, black cherry, smoke, sour cherry, cranberry with a nice tannin punch, while the acidity is on-point. And the finish goes on and on and on. This just might be even be better than the first time. (****+)
That can describe the wines from D'Abruzzo and this one fits the bill nicely
Novaripa 2020 Sotto il Cielo, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---
Novaripa 2020 Sotto di Ciele. Montepulciano D’Abruzzo ...
Seems like a simple version of Montepulciano, but then you realize how much it is over delivering for a wine that's just kissed by oak. Look this is a drink now wine but it's got lots of dark fruit and spice with blackberry, black cherry and spiced plum. It's absolutely delicious and worth every penny. It's what you want your Montepulciano to be. (****)
This is not a single vineyard Barolo, nor a special selection Barolo, but it is a damn good Barolo
Gianni Gagliardo 2017 Barolo
--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---
A 30,000 bottle production where all crus contribute to the blend; it's a majority of La Morra, admits Stefano, and it is a wine released “ready to drink, but will age as well.” Lovely red and black fruit notes with strawberry, cherry, floral and menthol aromas ... Palate is all about freshness; but also with dark and red fruit, subtle pepper and other spices - shows more elegance than power and it's incredibly drinkable the moment the cork is popped. The finish has a lovely linger with balsamic and herbs. (****+)
But in the right hands it can be made into some beautiful wines - like this
Leaning Post 2017 Merlot
--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---
Combine Ontario's miracle vintage with a grape that miraculously survived certain death at the hands of a popular movie, and you've got yourself something special. This Merlot saw 18 months in a mix of American and French (new) oak barrels with 20% going into neutral barrels. Surprisingly the nose is shy, but the palate more than makes up for it: blackberry, cassis, smoke, spice and even some vanilla notes give the palate a nice warm hug as the black cherry and black raspberry lingering on the finish. A super expressive, super complex wine that shows what Merlot, done well, can be in Ontario. Rating: ****+
