Canadian Wine Guy

This wine caught my curiosity in that it is aged in whiskey barrels … Dark in color with a soft red berry nose. On the mid palate there are some soft red berries, cherries and the like. On the medium length finish … bam there it is solid dominant and overwhelming whiskey notes. This is NOT a subtle flavor. It’s really noticeable, and really overwhelming. There are some soft tannins and acidity. This isn’t a bad wine, but so not to my taste. To be honest, if I had some more left over, I’d take it back. I would give it an 86 at best. Yuck 🙁 Consider this a public service announcement … that is all.

From the LCBO web site:
Wayne Gretzky Whisky Oak Aged Red 2017
Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc — VINTAGES#: 617738
STYLE – Medium-bodied & Fruity
About 25% of this Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend was matured in whisky barrels. Ripe and beautifully textured, this is very enjoyable. Red cherry, blackcurrant and a good mix of lifted dark fruit and sweet spices with smoke and vanilla. This is long and luxurious with a velvety texture and moderately drying tannins. The whisky barrel ageing is noticeable but does not dominate; it’s marvellously integrated. Ideal for lamb stew. (Vintages panel, Aug. 2018) $19.95
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date: September 15, 2018
Alcohol/Vol 13.3% Made in: Ontario, Canada By:Andrew Peller Limited Sugar Content:7 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry

Back in 2012 I had the chance to try the 2008 vintage of this wine at a wine show and was impressed. Being a mini review I looked forward to trying a bottle with food. Well it came up on this month’s vintage release. This wine comes from the emerging area of Lake Erie, North shore. Dark in color with a nice black berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays beautiful, rich, bold black plums along with some nice cherry and a hint of mocha. On the medium length finish the wine displays some smooth tannins and acidity. This wine is nice and dry! and is is a smooth, elegant, complex wine. I would give it an 89 or so, which for the price is good. I’m not sure how long it will keep, and not sure how long it will last in the LCBO. On the back of the bottle it says 539 cases were made. GO GET SOME … NOW!

From the LCBO web site:
CREW Merlot 2016 — VINTAGES#: 310532
STYLE – Full-bodied & Smooth
For CREW, being a small family-owned and -operated winery is a point of considerable pride, and the effort and dedication shine through in their wines. This Merlot from the near-perfect 2016 vintage is ripe and savoury with superb complexity and is loaded with black plums, red and dark berry, cigar box, earth and spice. Tight and full with great poise, this will be ideal for hearty lamb stew or game meats such as bison burgers. (Vintages panel, March 2018) $17.95
PRODUCT DETAILS
Release Date:September 15, 2018
Alcohol/Vol 13.7% Made in: Ontario, Canada By: Colchester Ridge Estate Winery Inc.Sugar Content:3 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry

Pale in color with a mild varietal nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some lovely vibrant apple and pear to match the nose. The fruit is really quite expressive without being a friot bomb. On the medium length finish there’s lots of complexity, some nice oak notes, some vanilla and some nice minerality from the terroir of the county. This is a lovely expression of what the county can bring to the table. I would give the wine an 88+. It’s $29.95 at the winery. And if your in the county be sure and visit, it’s a lovely place!

I had the pleasure of spending some time in Alberta recently and it’s proximity to BC means you get some of the Okanagan wines we rarely see in Ontario. I’ve had Sumac ridge wines before and been impressed so I grabbed this one. The liquor stores are a lot more privatized in BC … Dark in color with a lovely black berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some lovely black cherry notes along with some nice chocolate/mocha. On the medium length finish the wine displays lovely smooth tannins and nice acidity. There’s also some nice earthy notes common with Okanagan wines. This is a nice, approachable, food friendly wine. I quite enjoyed it. I would give it an 88 or so. Sadly not in Ontario, but it was just under $20 in Alberta.

From the winery’s web site:
Harvest Report: The hot dry summer of 2015 led to the earlies harvest for us in the Okanagan Valley. This vintage saw some concerns due to the fires in the area as well as in Washington
State. No ill effects were seen from these events as the smoke came and went in a matter of days. Harvest proceeded, and the cool fall nights helped to enhance the varietal
flavours. All in all, 2015 was an outstanding harvest. The fruit was harvested early October and fermented in stainless steel for about 10 days. Increased flavour and colour extraction was achieved by pumping the wine over twice daily. The ferementation was allowed to go to 30C. The wine was pressed off and then it went through malolactic fermentation. Aged in a blend of French and American oak for about 6 months. 45% Merlot 35% Cab Franc and 20% Cab Sauvignon

Tasting Notes: Purple ruby colour with aromas of blackberry, dark plum and juicy oak. Flavours of dark berrry and dark plum layered with mocha and vanilla accents. Soft, approachable tannins and well balacned acidity lead to medium long finish Great with lasagna, roast lamb, sauteed mushrooms and aged cheddar cheese

Garnet in color with a mild soft red berry nose. On the mid palate the wine matches the nose with some nice vibrant soft red berries, strawberries and raspberries coming through along with some nice rustic notes. The fruit is really shining through without this being too fruity. On the medium length finish the wine has some nice smooth tannins and acidity. This is a smooth, elegant, varietal, approachable wine. I would give it an 88 or so. $28 at the winery in PEC.

I was wandering out of the grocery store and grabbed this one, solely for convenience. I hadn’t noticed it was a 2017, I guess it didn’t spend a lot time (if any) in Oak? Dark in color with a fruity cherry nose. On the mid palate the wine matches the nose with fruity cherry notes to match the nose. I’d love to rave about this wine, but it’s a disappointing fruit bomb. The kind of wine a friend shares with you that they made themselves and you smile and say how good it is 🙂 On the lighter finish the wine displays some mild tannins. I would give this wine at best an 86-87. If I had more I’d take it back. Now the only question is whether I dump the bottle (sorry fish) and not ruin the food, or endure. Either way, don’t buy this wine … yuk. ~$15

Dark in color with a nice red berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some lovely, smooth, vibrant, varietal cab franc notes, red cherries and the like. I always have difficulty describing cab franc’s eloquently. They are a unique flavor and this is a good one … On the medium length finish the wine displays smooth tannins, nice dryness and smooth acidity. This is a super food friendly, elegant approachable cab franc. Not as edgy as some, not as complex but very nice. I would give it an 88 or so …

From the winery’s web site:
2014 Cabernet Franc $29.00
Tasting Notes:
Classic cab franc with dark berry fruit notes and a hint of green herbs, crack black pepper and smoke. This will be a great BBQ wine for the season to come!

Peer Review:
“Prince Edward County wineries do Cabernet Franc well – and the Grange is no exception. A lovely medium bodied wine with aromas of red cherry, smoke, leather and tobacco. Tannins are present but not overwhelming. The perfect trio of fruit, tannins and acidity. Grown on a plateau on the deepest soils at the winery that once grew alfalfa. 36 months in neutral oak. The Grange is consistently using neutral oak to let the fruit shine through. A lovely dry – 2.3 g/l sugar medium bodied wine.” – Lori Killmartin

Production: 250 cases

Pale in color with nice crisp nose with some hints of stone fruit coming through. On the mid palate the wine displays some mild stone fruits along with some lovely crisp dry minerality. On the medium length finish the wine displays nice crisp food friendly acidity. The wine has some nice mouth grip with the minerality lingering beautifully. This is a really nice pinot gris. Very nice. I would give it an 88 or so …

From the winery’s web site:
2017 CLOSSON CHASE KJ WATSON PINOT GRIS
VQA Four Mile Creek
Cantaloupe, grapefruit pith, pear, white flower, all show the warm weather of September. The mouth opens with hint of floral, citrus, pear and spice; finishing with leesy notes. The minerality on the palette carries the fruit to a beautiful clean crisp finish.

Production: 1345 cases
Alcohol Content: 12%
Cellaring Potential: 1-3 years
Suggested pairing: Grilled Shrimp
Price: $22.95

Slightly garnet in color, with a slightly dried berry nose. On the mid palate there’s some nice red berries along with some dried fruit notes. On the medium length finish the wine displays smooth tannins and acidity. It’s a simple easy drinking wine. We paired it with a red pasta and it went well. I would give an -88. If you get a chance to stop by the winery, be sure and checout their amazing country kitchen!

From the winery’s web site:
VQA Twenty Mile Bench VQA

This Ripasso styled wine was made using the Italian tradition of aging wine on the pressed grape skins from wine made using the Appassimento method. The result is a wine that displays jammy raspberry and cassis aromas and flavours and is supported by notes of vanilla and spice.

This medium bodied wine with supple tannins pairs well with grilled meats, charcuterie and hard cheeses.

Slightly golden in color with a mild apple/pear nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some nice apple and pear to match the nose. On the medium length finish the wine displays some slightly creamy notes, and some vanilla. It’s a pretty nice chard, albeit lightly oaked. I would give it an 88 or so …

from the LCBO web site:
Trius Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2016 — VINTAGES#: 251470
STYLE – Full-bodied & Rich $19.95
PRODUCT DETAILS
Alcohol/Vol 13.5% Made in:Ontario, Canada By: Peller Estates Sugar Content:6 g/L Sweetness Descriptor:XD – Extra Dry Style:Full-bodied & Rich