TERRIFIC 2027 Cellars 2020 Grimsby Hillside Chardonnay

Chardonnay from a very sought after vineyard, you'll see what I mean

2027 Cellars 2020 Grimsby Hillside Chardonnay

EXCITING Malivoire 2020 Stouck Farmstead Red (Ontario Wine)

From a winery famous for Gamay, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir 

comes another in a steady line of Bordeaux blends : 

Malivoire 2020 Stouck Farmstead Red

 

 ... Written Review ...

A Merlot/ Cabernet Sauvignon blend the doles out a number of primary and secondary characteristics that are very appealing and approachable: dark fruit, like plum and blackberry meat up with licorice, vanilla and smoke, all the while it's plush with all that beautiful ripe fruit on palate. The real kicker, is the chocolate / mocha / latte finish and linger; that just makes this wine more unforgettable. It'll get better with some age, say 5 to 7 years.

IMPRESSIVE Kacaba 2019 Syrah, Proprietors Block (Ontario Wine)

Does Syrah belong in Ontario? The short answer is: probably not - 

but there are certain pockets of the province (and in Niagara) that does this grape justice. 

Here's one : Kacaba 2019 Syrah, Proprietors Block

 

You would not think 2019 to be a year for Syrah; but if you were one of the first to plant the grape, that makes your material old vines, and here that helps. Here Syrah was combined with 10% Viognier, all estate grown, then aged in a mix of American and French oak for 17 months, giving the wine elements of floral and hints of fruit sweetness in the process. Peppery and smoky notes lead things off, before the fruit really kicks in: raspberry, blackberry and creme de cassis ... This is elegant and stylish version Syrah - that's not just good for the vintage, but really good in general ... Vintage be damned. 

YUMMY Leaning Post 2020 Cuvee Winona (Ontario Wine)

This blend from Leaning Post is their 2020 Cuvee Winona,

 it combines the beauty of the vintage with great wine making skills

Westcott 2020 Estate Chardonnay - A Second Look

Just over a year ago, I looked at this very same wine 

Westcott Vineyards 2020 Estate Chardonnay

time to take a second look; here are my thoughts again

Vineland 2020 Cabernet Franc (Ontario Wine)

Consistency is key to this value priced Franc, but some years it just elevates to another level

Vineland Estates 2020 Cabernet Franc

 

>>> WRITTEN REVIEW <<<

Vineland Estates 2020 Cabernet Franc
Not since the 2016 has the basic Cabernet Franc from Vineland been this good ... Once again it feels like you're stealing from them at this price, so buy a bunch. Juicy with some rugged tannins that will make this one age a decade or more especially under screwcap. There's also some mocha, tobacco, chocolate-cherry and even some bittersweet chocolate on the finish. The fruit really is the signature here, but when that chocolate kicks in it takes it to the next level.  Rating: ****+

Malivoire 2021 Melon (Ontario Wine)

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.  (****)

Honsberger NV Blanc de Blancs (Ontario Wine #463)

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: ****+

Flat Rock 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Explore Series (Ontario Wine)

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.

 

Leaning Post 2017 Merlot (Ontario Wine)

Is Merlot Ontario's red grape? No. 

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: ****+

 

Le Clos Jordanne 2019 Jordan Village Pinot Noir (Ontario Wine)

Another new wine from the folks at Le Clos, still Pinot Noir, but from a different kind of location

 

Le Clos Jordanne 2019 Jordan Village Pinot Noir

 

 

--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---

 

This new line from Le Clos is a vineyard blend they’ve labeled “Jordan Village”: fruit comes from Talon and Claystone vineyards and celebrates the village closest to these vineyards. This Pinot is a juicy number with a lovely fruit core plus notes of floral, black raspberry and cranberry plus a bite of peppery-spice on the finish; but there’s also a silkiness here that makes it a pleasure to sip on.  (****+)

Malivoire 2019 Mottiar Vineyard Pinot Noir (Ontario Wine)

Single vineyard Pinot Noir is all the rage, but Malivoire has been doing it for years

 

Malivoire 2019 Mottiar Vineyard Pinot Noir 

 

 

 

--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---

The man's name is Shiraz (winemaker of Malivoire), but he seems pretty adept with more Burgundian and Beaujolais grapes like Pinot Noir and Gamay. Here he sources Pinot from his own eponymously named Vineyard and creates a real pleasant version: kicking off with light and earthy notes plus cranberry and sour cherry; add in some violets and subtle peppery nuances, good acid punch and a long finish, and you got one of Shiraz's tastier Pinots to date.  (****+)

Flat Rock 2020 Chardonnay, Foundation Series (Ontario)

It's a familiar name with a new face, today I's looking at the 

 

Flat Rock Cellars 2020 Chardonnay, Foundation Series 

 

 

 

 

The Written Review ...

 

Flat Rock Cellars 2020 Chardonnay, Foundation Series

It’s a new look for an old favourite. Flat Rock has updated their labels to better reflect what their wines represent. This is the base-model Chardonnay, one of the wines that Flat Rock was founded on; and because it’s from 2020 it's got something special about it: it’s a rich version of Chardonnay from a very ripe vintage ... ripe pear, peach, apricot, there’s even some notes of pineapple and vanilla cream, plus there's a touch of something tropical on the finish. You’re gonna love this one.  (****)

Pearl Morissette 2020 Racines du Ciel Cabernet Franc (Ontario)

First time Pearl has been on the video series, and what a great wine to introduce yourself 

(in case you don't know, or haven't heard about these wines)

Pearl Morissette 2020 Racines du Ciel Cabernet Franc

 

The Written Review ... check out the video review above

When it comes to Pearl Morrissette wines this one seems to be very standard in the way it came together. Take a great vintage (2020), pull fruit from your home vineyard, age it in neutral barrels for a mere 12 months (shorter than usual) - all while using whole cluster and indigenous yeasts (the usual stuff you do) … and you get this beauty. Nose is all about tobacco, raspberry and blackberry with a hint of blueberry; while the palate has lots of upfront fruit, of the dark and smoky variety - following the nose (almost) to a tee - plus there are notes of clove, spice and even some leather on the finish. Very interesting, very inviting, and a great representation of Ontario Cabernet Franc from the 2020 vintage. Price: $32.00 - Rating: ****+

Westcott 2020 Estate Chardonnay (Ontario Wine Review #451)

We've seen wines from Westcott before and we will see them again - no doubt

 

Westcott 2020 Estate Chardonnay 

 

($29.99 - available at the winery and online)

 

 

The Written Review ...

 

Oh snap! This is another well-made Chardonnay from Westcott, it has everything one wants in their Chardonnay: starting with some buttery - butterscotch notes and a good spicy nuance on the finish. Mid-palate we have the complexity of Mac Apple, pear, peach with a few other summer fruits emerging. Complex, and rich with a long finish and good acid punch to keep it from being weighed down.  Price: $29.99 - Rating: ****+

 

Le Clos Jordanne 2019 Jordan Village Chardonnay (Ontario Wine Review #446)

A new line of wines from Le Clos, this time it's not vineyard specific

Le Clos Jordanne 2019 Jordan Village Chardonnay 

($24.95 - available at the winery and online)

Le Clos Jordanne 2019 Chardonnay, Jordan Village

A new wine for the Clos but this one is not a single vineyard offering, instead it's a three-vineyard blend taken from the Estate vineyard plus Talon and Claystone vineyards. This 2019 Chardonnay has beautiful acidity that helps to balance this intensely fruit-forward wine that has notes of saline plus peach, apple cobbler, hints of pineapple all culminating with a buttery-spicy feel to the finish. The fruit comes across sweet across the mid-palate, but that acidity helps to keep everything in check and manages to balance it out ... Bottom line here: nice complexity with a long finish. Price: $24.95 – Rating: ****+

Leaning Post 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (Ontario Wine Review #445)

Looking for that last gasp of "nice weather" wine - I've got you covered

 

Leaning Post 2019 Sauvignon Blanc 

 

($28.00 - available at the winery and online)

 

Henry of Pelham 2019 Estate Pinot Noir (Ontario Wine Review #444)

One of the best Estate Pinot Noirs from this winery I have tried - they are upping their own bar

 

Henry of Pelham 2019 Estate Pinot Noir 

 

($24.95 - available at the winery and online)

 

Lundy Manor 2016 Lundy Red (Ontario Wine Review #443)

A red blend that misses the mark being called a Meritage, but hits the mark as a really good wine

 

Lundy Manor 2016 Lundy Red 

 

($21.95 - available at the winery and online).

Domaine Queylus 2017 Signature Chardonnay (Ontario Wine Review #438)

This is usually a restaurant only wine, but because of the pandemic it became available to the public

... can you say "bargain

 

Domaine Queylus 2017 Signature Chardonnay 

 

($24.95 - available at the winery and online).