CHÂTEAU TOUR D’HORABLE 2005

Posted on December 14, 2010 by John Galea

When I see a Bordeaux with a reasonable rating from 2005 under $20 I jump at it. This one caught my eye, they had put Natalie’s write up on the wine there. The wine is dark in color with a lovely Bordeaux dark fruit nose. On the mid pallet the wine is a smooth well balanced wine with some edgeyness. It has some spice and a nice dry finish. It’s not too overwhelming on the pucker power. For the price this wine is a good deal. I think Natalie and I agree on this one. I would give it an 89-90. Very nicely done. I can gladly state CHÂTEAU TOUR D’HORABLE is absoloutely not horrible 🙂 Sorry couldn’t resist 🙂

From the LCBO web site:
CHÂTEAU TOUR D’HORABLE 2005 VINTAGES 174656 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 14.95
Wine, Red Wine 14.6% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Bordeaux, France By: J. A. Faytout, Prop.
Release Date: Sep 18, 2010

Tasting Note
A plummy, rich red that’s balanced and full-bodied with delicious dark berries and cassis and smoky long finish. Decant for 1-2 hours. Pair with: beef rib roast. Drink: 2010-2016. Score – 89. (Natalie MacLean, www.nataliemaclean.com, Oct. 2, 2009)

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BERTANI VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO

Posted on December 13, 2010 by John Galea

From Wikipedia

“In the late 20th century, a new style of wine known as ripasso (meaning “repassed”) emerged. With this technique, the pomace of leftover grape skins and seeds from the fermentation of recioto and Amarone are added to the batch of Valpolicella wines for a period of extended maceration. The additional food source for the remaining fermenting yeasts helps boost the alcohol level and body of the wines while also leaching additional tannins, glycerine and some phenolic compounds that contribute to a wine’s complexity, flavor and color.[9][12]”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. The wine is dark in color with that varietal dried grape almost raisin coming through on the nose. On the mid pallet this wine is slightly sweet as one would expect from a sugar level of 1. The wine is dominated by those dried grape flavors. If you like that then ripassos are a good choice with lots of value for the money. On the finish the wine is not as complex or tannic as I have had. I would have to say this is not one of the best Ripassos I have had. It’s smooth and well balanced, quite food friendly. We paired it with leg of lamb and it went well but did not have that magic pairing when you get it just right! I would give this wine an 88 or so.

From the LCBO web site:
BERTANI VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO LCBO 12443 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 14.85
Wine, Red Wine 13.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1

Made in: Veneto, Italy By: Cav. G.B. Bertani

Tasting Note
Ruby red colour; floral, black cherry and plum aromas with a touch of vanilla and spice; dry, medium body; ripe black fruit flavour, well balanced with a good finish.

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Corks

Posted on December 10, 2010 by John Galea


I first heard about Corks from the The Toronto Wine and Social Meetup Group. It is a restaraunt inside the Longo’s that serves a number of wines by the glass as well as micro brewery beers. A radical concept for Ontario given our anally retentive alcohol laws. After all, if alcohol was convenient we might all become alcoholics 🙂 I do digress. They have a unique gadget their I had to check out. The Enomatic is a system that keeps wine fresh longer by pressurizing the bottle with Nitrogen to keep it fresh and dispense by the glass. It is a neat system.

They serve 3 ounce and larger to allow you to taste a few. They even have flights you can order. The staff are reasonably knowledgeable about wine.

If your out and about for a game at the ACC be sure and check it out. I found it quite interesting. The food is average but it’s a neat idea. Support it so it doesn’t go away!

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2008 PHILIPPE DE ROTHCHILD Chardonnay

Posted on December 9, 2010 by John Galea

Yellow in color mild on the nose. On the mid pallet are some semi sweet honey suckle flavors with no oak, cream or butter. This is a mild non descript wine 87 or so. It’s not a bad wine, but not a good one either. Save your liver for something more worthy 🙂

From the LCBO web site:
PHILIPPE DE ROTHCHILD CHRD LCBO 407528 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 10.95
Wine, White Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1

Made in: Languedoc, France By: Baron Philippe De Rothschild S.A.

Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; soft apple, stewed pear, melon and vanilla aromas and flavours; dry, light-medium-bodied, with a touch of grapefruit in the finish.

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East Dell Winery/Wines

Posted on December 7, 2010 by John Galea

I’ve been to East Dell winery before but have not eaten there before. They have a lovely deck in the summer where they serve as well as an inside area for year round dining. We ate there this time and the food and service were good and the prices were not bad either. They offer a nice tasting room as well as flights that can be ordered with your meal.

East Dell wines are consistently good. Here are some mini reviews of the wines we tasted at the Winery.

East Dell wines at the LCBO

I try hard to capture good and thorough notes. Of particular importance is the year. Niagara really does vary significantly year to year. Unfortunately I didn’t get the year of what I tasted at East Dell. Sorry about that.

Riesling $12.95
This wine is pale in color sweet honey suckle on the nose. Varietal Auselese came to mind. On the mid pallet the wine is smack on what is expected but it is not as sweet as the nose. The wine is medium in length. Not a bad Riesling at all. And given the price it’s a good deal! I would give it an 88 or so.
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Pinot Noir $12.95
Ruby in color, with a smokey nose. Some lovely varietal Pinot smells coming through. Rustic notes and the like. On the mid pallet the wine is bang on with the flavors to match the nose. Some nice rustic flavors coming through. The finish is medium in length with a nice dryness to it. I enjoyed this one. Another 88! Again a good deal for the price. Given how pricey Pinot Noir’s often are, I will be getting one of these for a more detailed tasting. And this time I’ll note the year! DOH.
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2007 Cab/Merlot $12.95
Niagara cabs can sometimes be big tannic monsters. Taming this beast can be the challenge. One of the ways they do this is to cut it with Merlot to soften it. This wine is dark in color with lots of dark berry smells coming off the glass. On the mid pallet are dark fruits to match the nose. This wine is smooth and well made. East Dell has done a wonderful job of managing this one. It’s well balanced and food friendly. We had this one with lunch and enjoyed it. The finish is on the lighter side of medium. I would also give this one an 88.
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2009 Reserve Sauv Blanc ~$18
This wine is pale in color with lots of lemon and citrus coming through. On the mid pallet the wine’s flavors match the nose with lemon and citrus dominating the flavors. It has a medium finish that lingers nicely. This is a smooth well made, food friendly Sauv Blanc. They’ve done this one VERY well. Unfortunately it is not available in the LCBO. I would give it an 89. I bought one and had it and quite enjoyed it. Sauv Blancs are definitely amongst my favorite white wines. So food friendly. And this is a good one.

2008 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay Reserve $17.95
This wine has a not great nose with some sulphur coming through. On the mid pallet this wine is a slightly buttery chard I’d say right in the middle of the road. On the finish there is some tartness not consistent with a chard. For me this wine is not great and I found the chard and the tartness fighting. I would give this an 87 or so.
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2009 Black Cab $12.95
This wine is a blend of cab sauv/cab franc/baco noir. On the nose some wood and black fruits are coming through. On the mid pallet the dark fruits match up with the nose. On the finish the wine is slightly tart with some tannins coming through. This is not a bad wine and given the price it’s a good deal. I would give it an 87.

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2006 Cab franc Reserve $22.15
Deep red in color rich on the nose. On the mid pallet the wine is a big Niagara style Cab Franc. Loads of black fruits. This wine is big in the mouth and has lots of tannins on a long finish that builds in the mouth with some nice dry pucker power! The oak is present on the finish but not overwhelming. This is a well made cab franc, but it is a bruiser. Some time in the bottle will help smooth it out. Of course that will also take away some of it’s distinctiveness! I would give this one a 90.

Overall of the wines I tasted I was quite impressed with East Dell. They are continuing to make improvements in their product, and have kept their prices very reasonable. The restaurant is nicely done and well worth a stop over. In the words of the terminator … I’ll be back 🙂 End bad jokes here.

East Dell Winery

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INNIS & GUNN CANADIAN CASK

Posted on December 5, 2010 by John Galea

This is a little off topic, a friend gave me one of these. It is a beer that has been aged in 21 year old single malt Scotch Whiskey barrels. The beer is red in color. The color looks a little like a scotch. It is lightly carbonated. On the nose you can get some alcohol and typical beer bouquet. On the mid pallet is a lovely and smooth pale ale with some traditional malt flavors coming through and some sweetness. On the finish the beer has a nice smooth taste with some alcohol present but this beer does not give away the whopping 7.1% it has. All in all this was an interesting experience. I somewhat expected this to be like dropping a shot in a beer. BUt it was nothing at all like that. The casks do impart a nice bit of complexity to what is a good beer. I will have to try the non aged one for reference. Give it a try it’s quite interesting! Thanks Neil!

From the side of the box:
Color: Auburn
Nose: Malty, heather flowers and a hint of vanilla
Palate: Deep smooth and complex. Intense malt, marzipan and candied fruits mellowing to a get hop bitterness with a hint of roast malt character.
Finish: Creamy and mellow like hot buttered fruit toast.

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LES VIGNES DE BILA-HAUT 2008

Posted on December 3, 2010 by John Galea

This wine is dark in color with lots of nice dark fruits coming through on the nose. On the mid pallet the wine is a smooth well balanced wine with dark cherries coming through and some nice dry pucker power that builds nicely in the mouth. It has a medium finish with some oak coming through. The alcohol is well under control! It is very food friendly! I quite enjoyed this one. I would give it an 89 or so. A good deal for the price.

From the LCBO web site:

M. CHAPOUTIER LES VIGNES DE BILA-HAUT CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2008
VINTAGES 168716 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 15.00
Wine, Red Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : D

Made in: Roussillon, France By: M. Chapoutier S.A.
Release Date: Jun 26, 2010

Description
This wine was ranked #75 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list for 2009.

Tasting Note
A muscular red, with concentrated flavors of dark cherry, plum, raspberry tart and grilled fig. The dense finish of dark chocolate is firm and focused, with smoky notes. Best from 2010 through 2014. Smart Buy. Score – 90. (Kim Marcus, www.winespectator.com, Dec. 15, 2009)

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Hidden Bench winery/wines

Posted on December 1, 2010 by John Galea

I have not been to Hidden Bench before this was my first time. Here are some mini reviews of the wines we tasted. None of these wines are in the LCBO.

2008 ROMAN’S BLOCK RIESLING $34
This wine is pale in color with some honey suckle sweetness coming through on the nose. On the mid pallet there is some sweetness there to match the nose and then on the finish the wine has some tartness to finish it up. The finish is medium in length and nice and dry. This is a pretty good Riesling. I would give it an 88 but to be honest, for the price I can think of better wines.

Wimenaker’s Comments (from their web site)
A brilliant appearance with pale yellow straw colour. Classic and intense Riesling aromatics with hints of yellow grapefruit, lime, honey and a flinty minerality. The palate is vibrant and shows great depth of flavours. This concentrated wine has a core of yellow pomello with candied citrus and lime. An austere wine that shows great finesse, power, beautiful balance and an extraordinary length. These are trademark characteristics of the Rosomel Vineyard, specifically Roman’s Block terroir.

2007 FELSECK CHARDONNAY $38
This wine is golden in color with a varietal California style chard on the nose. On the mid pallet are some lovely California style chard flavors to match the nose. Some nice butter and complexity coming through. The finish is medium in length with alcohol and oak well under control. This is a beautiful wine, not over baked as some can be, probably one of the better Chards I have had from Niagara but I have to say the price is really high for this one. Again I would have to say you can do much better for this kind of money.

Wine makers notes (from their website)
Lively golden pale straw colour. The very concentrated nose shows aromas of ripe peach, caramelized apple, vanilla and clove spice. The powerful and rich palate is showing beautiful concentration of citrus and peach flavours with a well-integrated smokiness. The 2007 Felseck Chardonnay has great intensity and length and is best enjoyed with rich foods.

2007 LA BRUNANTE $85
This wine is very dark in color with loads of black fruits coming through. This wine is a blend of Merlot, Cab Sauv, Malbec and Cab franc so it is a heavily blended wine. On the mid pallet this is a big bold wine with loads of complexity in the mouth. Layers of flavors ripple through the mouth. Lots of black berries. The wine has a lovely dry finish that lingers nicely. A very well made wine. 89-90. This is a Bordeaux stlye wine and they have done it very well, but did you see the price? No that was not a typo. Wow!

Wine makers notes (from their web site) The colour is deep, opaque purple with hints of violet. An expressive, powerful and elegant nose with rich, ripe dark fruits layered in classic Beamsville Bench minerality. Super-fine luscious tannins frame the palette which expresses purity of black and blueberries. Extremely concentrated, the wine gives way to a velvety texture with a finish that extends into minutes. This wine is meant for mid to long-term aging.

2008 ESTATE PINOT NOIR $38
This wine is ruby in color with a varietal pinot noir nose with rustic notes coming through. On the mid pallet the wine is exactly what one would expect, some rustic flavors, some earthy notes, and none of none of less attractive barnyard characteristics that can plague some pinots. The wine is nice and dry on the medium finish with some nice tannins present. This wine is bold and concentrated, again a VERY well made wine, again one of the better ones in Niagara. I would give this one a solid 90.

I was really impressed with the quality of wines Hidden Bench are making. If price was seriously not an issue for me, I would definitely enjoy any of these. The reality, or my reality anyway, is price is an issue. I highly recommend you stop by Hidden Bench if for no other reason to try some of the best wines coming out of Niagara! In spite of the price I found the staff to be pleasant, approachable and not in the least bit pretentious (nothing like 30 Bench, my least favorite winery in Niagara). Staff can make all the difference. They also had on display that they have installed 105 solar panels and throughout the year are power neutral returning power back to the grid for most of the year. Nice!

The Winery

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FRANCIS COPPOLA CHARDONNAY 2008

Posted on November 29, 2010 by John Galea

This is a mini review from the Food and Wine show:
This wine is golden in color with a nice varietal nose of chard coming through. On the mid pallet the wine is a smooth wine with some butter coming through but definitely not over the top. This is a nicely made California style chard, well under control. I would give this one an 88. $19.95

From the LCBO web site:

FRANCIS COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION GOLD LABEL CHARDONNAY 2008
VINTAGES 708305 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 19.95
Wine, White Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Francis Ford Coppola Pres Rosso & B
Release Date: Oct 2, 2010

Tasting Note
This Gold Medal-winning Chard is dense with flavour yet remains light on its feet. Bright yellow with emerald highlights, it’s clean and appetizing with aromas of toast, vanilla, butter, sweet pear, apricot, mango and cantaloupe. Dry and medium bodied with plenty of smoky oak, though the tasty fruit character shines strong. Good acidity leads to a crisp, smoke-infused finish. Simply perfect for a juicy, buttery turkey at Thanksgiving Dinner, or try it with pan-fried scallops with butter and garlic. (VINTAGES panel, March 2010)

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Foreign Affair Winery/wines

Posted on November 27, 2010 by John Galea

We stopped by Foreign Affair winery. They are doing Italian Amarone style appassimento process. This consists of drying the grapes before crushing them. The tends to concentrate and focus the wine. In Amarone’s I find it brings out an almost dried grape/raisin flavor in the wine that can be VERY concentrated. Foreign Affairs are doing not only reds but also whites. In Italy they ONLY do reds and only specific grapes.

Some of the wines are 100% appassimento and some are partial to varying degrees.

2008 Riesling $24.95
This wine is only a partial appassimento. This wine is pale in color mild on the nose. On the mid pallet the wine is slightly sweet with some effervescent tingling going on in the tongue. On the finish the wine is slightly sweet and medium in length. If I had to close my eyes and taste this one Vs. one that did not see the appassimento process, I would be hard pressed (pardon the pun). I would give it a 88.
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2007 Chardonnay $34.95
This wine is only a partial appassimento. This wine is golden in color with a varietal Chard nose. On the mid pallet the wine is quite buttery in the California style. On the finish the wine is dominated by it’s 14.1% alcohol. I would give this one an 87. Not to my tastes.

2007 Cab Sauv $38
Again a partial appassimento. This wine is dark in color with a nose of big black fruits. On the mid pallet this is one of those BIG Niagara style reds where the tannins are out of control. This wine is way to young. Theirs lots of dry pucker power on the long finish as this wine continues in the mouth. For me this is an unrefined wine. Just a big bruiser. I would give it an 87.

2007 Cab Franc $110
This wine is 100% appassimento. Cab Franc is a signature Niagara grape (IMHO) so I looked forward to tasting it. If the cab sauv was a big wine, this one is even bigger. The appassimento process starts to shine through and there are some dried raisin tastes to this wine. It has some slight sweetness to it on the finish. 15.9% alcohol! Wow. I would give this one an 88.

I must say I was really curious to see what this process would do for Niagara. For my tastes, I just don’t see the point. It’s an expensive process that really did little to nothing to enhance the wine. Personally, if it were me, I’d do what Cave Springs are doing which is to focus the appassimento process on one red grape varietal and do it well. The Cab Franc would seem like the better choice.

The winery

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CLOS DU VAL ZINFANDEL 2008

Posted on November 24, 2010 by John Galea

Mini review from the Food and Wine show:
This wine is dark in color mild on the nose. On the mid pallet this wine is a soft, light thin varietal zin. There was not a lot happening on this one for me. There’s some oak present and the alcohol was under control. For this price I expect a whole lot better. I would give this an 87 or so. Skip it …

From the LCBO web site (Not the same year as was at the event):
CLOS DU VAL ZINFANDEL 2006 VINTAGES 590216 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 22.95
Wine, Red Wine 13.9% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Clos Du Val Wine Company Ltd.,
Release Date: Aug 29, 2009

Description
This zesty Zin is dominated by ripe, dark cherry and berry pie aromas with hints of anise and black pepper. Soft and creamy, with mixed berry flavours and gentle tannins, this wine is easy to love. You’ll definitely want to break out the barbecue for this one.

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Cave Spring winery/wines

Posted on November 22, 2010 by John Galea

I love coming down to Jordan where Cave Spring is located. You can stay overnight at Inn on the Twenty or if you want to save a few dollars stay at Jordan House just up the street. They are owned by the same people as Cave Springs. I’ve stayed there a number of times and really enjoy it. There’s lots of wineries close. The restaurant at Inn on The Twenty is excellent. They put on a fabulous meal for a reasonable price. It’s a real nice way to celebrate a special occasion. When your done a short walk up the street, Jordan House has a nice pub where you can unwind and enjoy some live music. Ah the bliss.

Cave Springs has for years made my favorite Riesling and Cab Franc. They have been focusing on what Niagara does well and doing some unique stuff. They started trying their hands at the Amarone style Appassimento process.

Here are the mini reviews from the visit:
2009 Estate Riesling $17.95
They explained to me that 2009 was a cool year for whites which brings out more acid in the grapes. For years this has been my favorite Niagara Riesling. This wine is pale in color with a sweeter nose. On the mid pallet the wine is slightly sweet (almost too much) and then finishes with a reasonably long tart finish. I would give this an 88. For my tastes this is not a great year for this wine. I previously considered this the benchmark but no longer sadly.
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2007 Estate Sauv Blanc $17.95
This wine has a slight sulphur odor on the nose. Something I never like. On the mid pallet are some nice varietal Sauv Blanc flavors but the wine is light on the finish and it does not last. I would give it an 87-88. Not bad, but not great either. A milder Sauv Blanc for my tastes.
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2008 Chenin Blanc Estate $17.95
This wine is golden in color with tropical fruits coming through on the nose. On the mid pallet this wine fails to deliver much and is a thin wine with not a great finish. A poor Chenin blanc. But then I have yet to have a good Chenin Blanc from Niagara. I would give this one an 87.
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2008 Dry Riesling $14.95
This wine is definitely not as sweet as the Estate Riesling, but it’s also much thinner. This is not a great one either. I’d give it an 87 as well.
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2007 CSV Chardonnay $29.95
This wine is golden in color, with a varietal California style chard. On the mid pallet are some nice buttery flavors but not out of control. On the finish the wine is smooth and medium in length. This is a well made California style chard. Very nice. I would give it an 89.
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2007 Cab Franc $34.95
This wine is dark in color with lots of black fruits coming through the nose. On the mid pallet the wine has some nice complex dark fruits smack on varietal (for me). It builds nicely in the mouth and has a medium finish. It’s nice and dry with some tannins. It’s still a little young but very nice. I would give it an 88.

2006 LaPenna $34.95
This is an appassimento wine. It is a blend of cab franc and cab sauv. This wine is dark in color with lots of dark fruits on the nose. On the mid pallet this wine is a big one with long tannins on a medium finish that builds in the mouth. The wine has some of that raisin flavor but nothing too overwhelming. I would give it an 88.

Cave Spring wines a the LCBO

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Gourmet Food and wine Expo

Posted on November 19, 2010 by John Galea

We hit the Gourmet Food and Wine Expo last night at the convention center here in Toronto. As always it was a great event. The place has lots to offer. As usual I HIGHLY recommend public transit. It is impossible at the end of the night to have any clue how much you have consumed. The pours are inconsistent and sometimes you dump, sometimes you drink. The food is good but very expensive so I recommend you have a bite to eat before you go. You can buy tickets online or at the door. LCBO’s have a discount coupon that saves you $3. You pay an admission fee then buy coupons worth $1 a peice. The cost of the tasting is dependent on the cost of the bottle of wine. For 8 tickets we were able to taste 2 ounces of a $100 bottle of wine. Most are between 1 (for the inexpensive bottles) and 3 tickets (so $1-$3). Food also is purchased using these coupons. You can buy the coupons in blocks of 20. My GF and I bought $60 worth of coupons between us and it worked out about right. We shared tastings so we could taste more! Be sure and stop by! Food and Wine Expo

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2008 Murphy Goode Chardonnay

Posted on November 18, 2010 by John Galea

We stopped by Rodney’s Oyster bar and they had this one on the menu by the glass. The wine is golden in color with loads of deep rich varietal chard smells wafting off the glass. Yumm. My taste buds are all ready. On the mid pallet this is a California style chard with lots of butter (but not over the top), lovely vanilla and the right amount of oak. This is a well crafted spot on varietal California style chard. The finish is medium in length and it lingers and builds nicely in the mouth. I would give this one a 90. Not available at the LCBO unfortunately but $14 at the winery. If your at Rodney’s this is an excellent choice. The wine by the way is from Sonoma California. I tried Natalie’s food and wine pairing and she suggests a chardonnay. So there you go. Oddly enough I would have chosen a Sauv blanc.

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Ridgepoint winery visit and tasting notes

Posted on November 14, 2010 by John Galea

Updated 11/16 with tasting notes …

I enjoy taking trips to Niagara to the wineries, the Inn’s and the wonderful food that has become a part of the wine industry. It’s a lovely place to visit and so close to home. I’ve been to Ridgepoint on a number of occasions and keep going back. They have some unique wines at Ridgepoint. They have planted an acre of Nebbiolo grapes. These are the grapes used in Italian Barolo’s and Barbaesco’s, a testimonial to the owner’s Italian background. I’ve always found the staff at Ridgepoint knowledgeable, friendly, approachable and attentive. Today we really lucked out that it was super slow which gave them lots of time to spend with us, which I REALLY appreciated. Ridgepoint has a lovely “casual dining” experience where they serve lots of Italian style food. We had the wild boar sausage that was prepared for us by the dish’s creator Christopher Knight. It was delicious. Each time I’ve been there the food has been excellent and at a fair price. In the summer they have nice big patio. They are very accommodating and unpretentious. We stopped by one time after mountain biking in Short Hills Provincial park and they welcomed us! Milly (spelling???) served us and she was excellent! Laura took care of us in the tasting room and spent lots of time explaining the wines, setting up a flight for us, just the right way! All in all I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Ridgepoint. I highly recommend a stop at Ridgepoint.

Ridgepoint wines in the LCBO

Here’s a mini review of the wines we tasted:

2007 Pinot Noir $25.25. This wine is pale in color with a mild pinot varietal nose. A little earthy, some rustic scents coming through. On the mid pallet wine is a smooth well balanced pinot with those same rustic earthy tones coming through. This is a milder pinot noir. So much so that Lorraine who was with me, who does not like pinot noir’s normally enjoyed this one! On the finish the wine is nice and dry with a medium finish. A very nice Pinot. I would give it an 89 or so.

2008 Merlot $14.25
My regular readers know I have a narrow version of what Merlot ought to taste like. Plum is what I look for. This wine is not a bad wine with some nice complexity, reasonable finish and lots of dark berries coming through, but to my tastes, this is more like a cab than a Merlot. I would give it an 88 or so. Still not a bad wine.

2007 Meritage $25.25. This wine is 35% cab sauv 35% merlot and 27% cab franc (no idea what the other 3% is, either I wrote it down wrong or …). The wine is dark in color with a nose of dark berries again. You can get the cab franc on the nose for sure. The wine has a very nice finish, medium in length with some tannins and oak that are well under control. I enjoyed this wine and was one the wines we had at lunch. I would give this a solid 89. Very nice. Check LCBO stock

2006 Nebbilolo $40. This wine is dark in color with lots of earthy notes coming up. The wine has some lovely dark berry, deep rich flavors consistent with a Barbaresco. Ridgepoint have done it. They have made a pretty reasonable facsimile of an Italian Nebbiolo. The wine is big with lots of pallet coating tannins. This wine will go fabulous with a steak or lamb. I was thrilled to be able to finally sample (and buy this wine!). I would give it a solid 89. Very well done. Niagara is not kind to this grape. It hates our winters!

2007 Chard $20.25. This wine is yellow in color (not quite golden). On the nose this wine is a varietal (albeit milder) chard. On the mid pallet are some varietal flavors with some butter coming through. This is a light well made chard. On the finish the wine is medium in length with some nice flavors lingering but not all that strong. This is a finesse wine. I would give this one an 88.

2008 Riesling Dry $15.26. Very pale in color with a varietal nose of honey suckle. Not too sweet though. On the mid pallet with wine is a lovely dry riesling, smack on. The finish is on the lighter side of medium. This one is displacing the Cave Springs as my favorite Niagara Riesling now. The current year from Cave Springs, even the dry one, is just too sweet for my tastes. I really enjoyed this one and would give it an 89-90!

All in all I was impressed with my visit to Ridgepoint. They are doing better and better each year hitting the points where Niagara does well while still having room to innovate. Ridgepoint wines are good value for your money. I hope they are able to continue the pace of continuous improvement! Great job folks.

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2008 Ironstone Merlot

Posted on November 12, 2010 by John Galea

This wine is dark purple in color, with a hint of merlot like plum on the nose. On the mid pallet this wine was dominated by alcohol right out of the bottle. It definitely needs some breathing and patience. At one point I breathed in near it and almost choked. Throughout the mid pallet are some hints of varietal plum, but these are dominated by more cab flavors. I’d say cherry and yes some licorice. The finish is medium in length and has some oak, some tannins and a bit of spice on it. This is not a bad wine if you ignore that it is not a Merlot. I would give it and 87-88. If you do pick it up be sure and let it breath a good hour or so.

From the LCBO web site:
IRONSTONE MERLOT 2008 VINTAGES 704353 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 15.95
Wine, Red Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Ironstone Vineyards
Release Date: Oct 2, 2010

Description
A terrific value, this bright and fruity Merlot is extremely well-balanced and very food-friendly. It’s dry, medium-bodied, soft textured with clean plum and cherry flavours plus notes of licorice and vanilla. Enjoy with roasted pork, veal chops, or a medium-rare steak.

From winecurrent.com:
Toast spice and mixed field berry on the nose this is smooth well balanced and mellow with a lovely wash of ripe fruit flavour”mint-infused cherry and mixed dark berry”that carry through the lingering aftertaste. Its medium bodied with a substantial texture and underpinned by ripe almost imperceptible tannin then framed by soft acidity. Its well paced and well priced from a top-notch producer consider picking up a handful. (Vic Harradine) (704353) $15.95 Rating 4/5

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2009 Robertson Sauv Blanc

Posted on November 10, 2010 by John Galea

I’ve written about this wine a number of times and it is continuing to be consistent. For a wine as inexpensive as this that’s impressive. The wine is pale in color with lovely cirtus coming through on the nose. On the mid pallet are lovely cirtus to match the bouqet along with some lemon and grass. This is a spot on varietal Sauv blanc. On the finish the wine is medium in length with a nice lingering citrus flavor living on in the mouth. This is a VERY food friendly wine. I would give it a solid 88-89. Try some, you won’t be disappointed (if you like Sauv blancs!).

From the LCBO web site:
ROBERTSON WINERY SAUVIGNON BLANC LCBO 129684 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 10.00

Limited Time Offer Was: $ 11.00 Now: $ 10.00 Until Nov 7, 2010

Wine, Still Table Wine, White Still Table Wine 12.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1

Made in: South Africa, South Africa By: Robertson Valley Wines

Tasting Note
pale straw colour; soft pear with lemon aroma; medium body; soft pear flavour with dry lemon finish;

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TENUTA DI CASTIGLIONI 2008

Posted on November 8, 2010 by John Galea

This wine is dark in color mild on the nose. On the mid pallet are some varietal cab flavors, cherries and dark berries. On the finish the somewhat typical dried fruits come through more strongly. The wine is medium in finish with some tanins and some dryness. The oak and alcohol are under control. Not a bad wine but nothing fabulous either. 88 or so …

What winecurrent.com had to say:
Heres an excellent addition to the cellar. The lifted nose of camphor and dark berry fruit segues a full-bodied mouthful of rich and concentrated flavour with juicy Bing cherry coffee-infused black currant and dark chocolate to the fore. Its beautifully textured with good weight and balance. Theres a generous ladleful of firm tannin. Drink 2015 to 2022. (Vic Harradine) (145920) $21.95 Rating 4.5/5

From the LCBO web site.
MARCHESI DE’ FRESCOBALDI TENUTA DI CASTIGLIONI 2008 VINTAGES 145920 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 21.95
Wine, Red Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Tuscany, Italy By: Marchesi De Frescobaldi Release Date: Oct 30, 2010

Tasting Note
A blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and sangiovese; aged for two years in new oak) Medium red. Floral red berry aromas complicated by chestnut and graphite. Sweet and smooth on entry, with juicy red berry and dark plum flavors and a fresh, moderately long aftertaste. Delicious, easygoing wine. Score – 88. (Ian D’Agata, International Wine Cellar, July/Aug 2010)

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2008 Grant Burge Shiraz

Posted on November 6, 2010 by John Galea

This wine is dark in color with a lovely nose of dark berries coming through. On the mid pallet are lots of varietal Shiraz flavors coming through. Some chocolate and mocha to boot. Lots of dark berries. The finish the wine has a nice bit of spiceyness, some pepper and some nice tanins. The finish is medium in length with a nice bit of dryness that lingers. This is a well made wine. The oaks and alcohol are well under control. I would give it an 89-90. Very nice.

What winecurrent.com had to say:
The price-quality ratio skews well in your favour pick up a few. Darkbrooding fragrant aromas of blackberry jam and mixed spice abound. The rich and balanced flavours”black currant plum compote and ripe mulberry mingle with spice toast and nuances of mocha. Its mid weight and smooth as silk throughout. The long juicy fruit-forward finish is underpinned by a ripe tannin structure. (Vic Harradine) (738567) $16.95 Rating 4.5/5

From the LCBO web site:
GRANT BURGE BAROSSA SHIRAZ 2008 VINTAGES 738567 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 16.95
Wine, Red Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D

Made in: South Australia, Australia By: Grant Burge Wines Pty Ltd
Release Date: Oct 2, 2010

Tasting Note
Fifth-generation winemaker Grant Burge is a master of Shiraz. This fine version showcases classic Barossa character, with individual flair to boot. Opaque ruby red in the glass, it’s brimming with spicy fruit – think fully ripe blackberry, plum and black cherry, with notions of menthol, cloves, dark chocolate and smoke. Dry, medium-full bodied and mouthfilling, with a silky texture, a ripe fruit core, and impressive tannic structure. Nice, lengthy finish. Hold for 1-2 years or savour it tonight with a sizzling steak. (VINTAGES panel, Aug. 2010)

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CHÃTEAU LARROQUE 2006

Posted on November 3, 2010 by John Galea

When I see an AOC Bordeaux below $20 with a good rating I run out and grab it. Generally they disappear quickly. This wine is dark in color with lots of black fruits on the nose but a little on the milder side. On the mid pallet are some lovely dark fruits to match the bouquet. This wine is exactly what one would expect from Bordeaux. Some lovely cherries and plums coming through. On the finish the wine is nice and complex with layers of flavors lingering on. It has a medium finish, quite dry with some tannins and just a hint of bitterness coming through. This is a well made wine for the price. I would give this a solid 90 and would agree whole heartedly with Winecurrent.com. With the change of the LCBO to this silly ebook format I rely heavily on Winecurrent.com. Thanks to the team at Winecurrent for their excellent, diligent and timely reviews! Be sure and run out and grab some of this one. You will be rewarded for your quest 🙂

From Winecurrent.com:
On the nose its ripe spiced black and red berry fruit plum tobacco and vanilla. Medium-full bodied the fruit flavours replay strongly on the palate with a hint of black pepper. The balance created by perceptible tannin and appropriate acidity along with a warm fruity peppery finish make this gold-medal winner very appealing. A great discovery it gets an extra half star for value. Drinkable now its also a candidate for short-term cellaring. (Susan Desjardins) (92536) $14.95 Rating 4.5/5

From the LBCO web site:
CHÃTEAU LARROQUE 2006 VINTAGES 92536 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 14.95
Wine, Red Wine 13.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Bordeaux, France By: M.C. Boyer de la Giroday/Ducourt, Prop.
Release Date: Oct 16, 2010

Tasting Note
Vibrant and fresh AC Bordeaux that is a terrific value to boot. Filled with raspberry, plum and cherry aromas, with hints of vanilla and black pepper. Dry with pretty, sweet fruit at the fore supported by firm tannins for some cellaring (2-4+ years). It will also match veal medallions in a red wine sauce if you want to enjoy it tonight. (VINTAGES panel, May 2010)

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Big yellow cab 2006 cab sauv

Posted on October 31, 2010 by John Galea

Dark in color with dark fruits on the nose and some earth coming through. On the mid pallet are some varietal cab with cherries coming through . On the finish are some pallet coating flavors, but the alcohol is really coming through. This really needs some breathing. At first I tried 1/2 hour in a decanter but that was not enough. We were a little short on time, dinner was ready so we resorted to an aerator. I’m always a little hesitant on these devices but tried it anyway. This is the one we tried:

Sure enough it did the trick. The alcohol flavors were gone and we were left with a much smoother well balanced fruit forward California style cab. Patience was definitely in order. You either need to let this age for a year or two, let it breath for 1-2 hours or use an aerator. On the finish are some tannins and it was on the lighter side of medium in length. Not a bad wine. 88 or so.

From the LCBO web site:

BIG YELLOW CAB CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 VINTAGES 35014 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 17.95
Wine, Red Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Mendocino Wine Co.

Release Date: Sep 4, 2010

Description
Here’s a Cab that is easy to hail. The whimsical name and label are all in good fun, but the wine inside is surprisingly serious. An excellent value, the wine is bursting with juicy blackberry flavours with notes of mocha and toasty oak. It’s dry, well-balanced and ready-to-drink. Well worth the fare. Enjoy it tonight with roast beef or grilled steak.

Here’s what winecurrent.com had to say:
13.5% alcohol Straightforward and bistro-styled this opens with a fragrant nose of smoky earthy tones mingling with mint-infused dark fruit. There are fruit-forward mouth-filling flavours of dark berry fruit and cherry that persist through the mid-length balanced finish. Pairs nicely with gourmet grilled sausage or backyard barbecued burgers. (Vic Harradine) (035014) $17.95 Rating 3/5 from Winecurrent
Featured 9/4/2010

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Chateau Des Charmes St David Bench 2007 Sauvignon Blanc

Posted on October 29, 2010 by John Galea

This wine in the past has been one of my favorite Sauv Blanc’s from Niagara. The wine is pale in color mild on the nose with some citrus coming through. On the mid pallet the wine has a bit of sweetness reminiscent of a Niagara Riesling. I’ve not noticed this before. On the finish the wine is long and lingering but in a good way, with some mild tartness coming through. This isn’t a bad wine but no where near as good as it has been in the past. It’s a little watery and flabby in comparison to the past. We paired it with a Tandoori chicken and it went well. I would give this wine an 88 or so. The wine definitely improved as it warmed up so be careful not to make it too cold.

From the LCBO web site;
CH DES CHARMES SAUV BLANC VQA LCBO 391300 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 14.95
Wine, White Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : 1 This is a VQA wine Made in: Ontario, Canada By: Chateau Des Charmes

Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; intense citrus and gooseberry aromas and flavours, with hints of pea pods; dry, refreshing lime acidity with a clean, dry finish. Excellent Sauvignon Blanc.

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Thorn-Clarke Terra Barossa Shiraz 2008

Posted on October 27, 2010 by John Galea

This wine is quite inky dark in color. Lots of lovely black fruits coming through on the nose. On the mid pallet the wine is smooth, slightly sweet wine with lots of blueberry jam coming through. It’s not jammy. But that’s the taste I get. Lots of black fruits. On the finish the wine is smooth and well balanced with tannins and alcohol well under control. For me, this is not a Shiraz but instead a Syrah. There’s no pepper to be found on the finish. We paired it with a rack of lamb marinated in the same wine. It went well and held it’s own. I would give this an 89-90.

From the LCBO web site:
THORN-CLARKE TERRA BAROSSA SHIRAZ 2008 VINTAGES 595306 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 15.95
Wine, Red Wine 15.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : XD
Made in: South Australia, Australia By: Thorn Clarke
Release Date: Sep 4, 2010

Tasting Note
The 2008 Terra Barossa Shiraz is opaque purple-colored. Aromas of pencil lead, pepper, violets, blackberry, and blueberry lead to a medium to full-bodied Shiraz with excellent depth and concentration, layered flavors, and a pure finish. It is an outstanding value for drinking over the next 5-7 years. Score – 89. (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, Dec. 2009)

Winecurrent.com’s comments:
Displaying its Barossa Valley provenance this rich and concentrated Shiraz deserves your attention. The price-quality scale tips well in your favour pick up a few. Beautifully balanced flavours ”this no fruit bomb” of racy red pie cherry and tangy red currant meld seamlessly with rich succulent dark berry fruit. The lingering aftertaste delivers an endless stream of more of the same. Perfect sipped on its own or paired with grilled lamb chops. (Vic Harradine) (595306) $15.95 Rating 4/5 from Winecurrent

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Skillogalee 2006 Take Two (Shiraz/Cabernet)

Posted on October 25, 2010 by John Galea

This wine is dark in color with a lovely bouquet of dark fruits jumping out at you. On the mid pallet are some lovely deep, rich and bold flavors. On the finish is a nice bit of oak and a medium finish with some nice tannins coming through. Overall this is a lovely wine. Not available at the LCBO yet but supposedly coming. I would give this one a 90 or so … Apparently $22.95.

Notes from the winery:
This is an 85:15 blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon – all dry-grown at Skillogalee and carefully made to retain good primary fruit characters and a fine acid tannin balance and structure. The wine was vinified in open fermenters and then basket pressed, matured in a combination of American and French oak before being bottled. It has rich, lively fruit characters on the nose and the palate with a light touch of oak showing through. The tannin structure is fine and soft, and there is enough natural acid to give it freshness and balance. This is an ideal wine for early consumption, but will last well in the cellar for up to five or six years.

Their web site.

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SKILLOGALEE BASKET PRESSED SHIRAZ 2006

Posted on October 22, 2010 by John Galea

This wine is dark in color with a nice nose of dark fruits. On the mid pallet the wine is slightly fruit forward with lots of varietal Shiraz coming through. On the finish the wine is quite complex with layers of flavors coming through on a medium finish. I would give this one an 89.

From the LCBO web site:

SKILLOGALEE BASKET PRESSED SHIRAZ 2006 VINTAGES 165753 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 20.65
Wine, Red Wine 14.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : XD

Made in: South Australia, Australia By: Skillogalee Wines

Release Date: May 15, 2010

Description
Clare Valley is known principally for its racy and fresh Rieslings, but its producers are also showing a deft hand with Shiraz. The valley’s warm days and cool nights mean the Shirazes show impeccable balance and structure. This Shiraz lives up to the region’s growing reputation. It shows classic Shiraz/Syrah aromas of blackberry, pepper and spring flowers. It’s a definite must-have wine for the barbecue season.

Winecurrent.com’s comments:
Deftly balanced and incredibly delicious this is the real deal at a very attractive price. Expressive aromas of minty cherry along with spice and floral nuances dance from the glass of this mid-weight generously textured beauty. The palates treated to a gusher of flavour with succulent mulberry black damson plum and mixed spice persisting through the lengthy balanced aftertaste. Each sip and glass is better than the one before. (Vic Harradine) (165753) $24.95 Rating 4.5/5 from

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