New wineries don't always make a splash, but this winery made two: one with its winemaker of choice, and two with this amazing Pinot Noir that won awards right out of the gate. Tasted this at the All Canadian Wine Championships, was blown away by it ... Let me tell you about it in the video. today it's the
Wending Home 2020 Up Above Pinot Noir
With one of the preeminent events in Ontario approaching, Cuvee, it's time to take a look at the caliber of wines shown at that event - today it's the Tawse 2021 Robyn's Block Chardonnay
According to my rough count, this is video 950 and so it is time to celebrate this milestone with a little bubbly. Today, it's the Chateau des Charmes 2017 Sparkling Rose, a sparkling wine with a surprise under the caged-cork.
Chardonnay from a very sought after vineyard, you'll see what I mean
2027 Cellars 2020 Grimsby Hillside Chardonnay
Small producer, hand harvesting, single vineyard, great vintage ...
it all makes for one hell of a wine
De Simone Vineyards 2020 Merlot
WRITTEN REVIEW ... Any question that 2020 was a good vintage; heck, a great vintage, should be put to bed; especially after I tasted this awe-inspiring bottle of Merlot from De Simone - who has made some incredible wines in his short tenure on the Niagara wine scene. With 2 years in barrel, a mix of French and American oak, of which two-thirds was new. Aromas include notes of licorice, clove, vanilla and smoked cherry; and flavours that load on the blue and black fruit backed by vanilla and spices. It has a long finish with a robust richness that's elegant, smokey and spicy all at the same time... Great mouthfeel and acidity that's totally on point. Beauty. I thought his 2019 was good, but this 2020 is next level.
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.
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.
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
This wine might be sold out, but it does deserve to be looked at,
especially because it was in such limited release;
and quite possibly the best wine to come out of this winery in a long time :
Hinterbrook 2017 Cabernet Franc (Limited Release)
This isn't the usual blank label, on-descript wine from Hinterbrook - this one has Cabernet Franc scrawled across the front, in what looks like the handwriting of someone using a fountain pen and being chased by a bear. This is from their reserve series, but it does not proclaim it's reserve status anywhere on the bottle – it’s just the price that that tells us the winery believes this is something special. 100% French oak, 75% new, bottled unfiltered and resting in oak for a whopping 34 months. There's lots of hidden dark fruit that weaves its way between tobacco, cigar box, cinnamon and there’s even a lovely layer of spiced raspberry on the finish. Not much of this wine was made: 966 bottles, and each is numbered; get it while it's around. (****+)
Bachelder wines go quick, and this one might be gone;
but let's shine a light on a new Gamay Noir vineyard, in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Bachelder Wines 2020 Gamay Noir - Bai Xu Vineyard
... WRITTEN REVIEW ...
Right on the label Thomas tells us what he did: a 32% whole cluster pressing on this wine- it's amazing to see this die-hard Pinot Noir/ Chardonnay producer latch onto Gamay as hard as he has; he's really showing this "lowly", "disloyal" grape some real love and respect. The nose is floral and red berry, while the palate displays a juicy core of red fruit, a spicy finish that leaves peppery notes battling it out with subtle baking spices. And let’s not forget the great length to the finish. (****+)
Not usually a fan of Vincenzo's version/style of Chardonnay, until now
De Simone 2019 Chardonnay
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: ****+
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: ****+
