Tag Archives: wine review

2006 Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay

With both another gorgeous summer night in the big smoke and a need to clear valuable cellar space it was time to drink. This wine, according to Cellartracker was a year overdue drinking, which I doubted was accurate, but still … Continue reading

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2007 Stags Leap Napa Valley Chardonnay

October 8 2011 was a gorgeous day in Toronto: 24 and sunny, almost no wind, not a cloud in the sky. On a Saturday such as this there was no excuse to not sit on the terrace and have some … Continue reading

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2008 Hillebrand Carlton Vineyard Merlot

Looking for a wine last night to pair with good ol’ fashion spaghetti and noticed I had two of these in the cellar. Showcase is Hillebrand’s premiere wine label and this single vineyard comes from older Merlot vines on their … Continue reading

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2008 Thirty Bench Small Lot Cabernet Franc

One of the things I have been toying with is having long form and short form reviews based on my time availability. For long time readers you know I can be sporadic with reviewing, most of the time this is … Continue reading

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2010 Greenlane Pinot Gris-Riesling

2011 may go down as the summer of Pinot Gris in Niagara. All the vogue or all the rage some may say, but truth be told I am not sure why the region is pushing their Pinot Gris offerings as … Continue reading

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2009 Quinto do Crasto Douro

Another one of the wines we had at Salt Wine Bar a few weeks back, this wine left a much poorer impression on me. Quinto do Crasto is a large Portuguese producer located on the Douro River. Well known for … Continue reading

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2010 Calamus Pinot Gris

If you are looking for 3100 Glen Road in Jordan, take your time and try not to think about roads changing names or bending, all of this may lead you to not making it to Calamus Estate Winery. If it … Continue reading

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2008 Pedras do Monte

This is a mini review based on a tasting at Salt restaurant in Toronto. A Portuguese red blend with a strong nose of oak and red fruit. Tannins were bold and there is no doubt this needs some more time. … Continue reading

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2007 Fielding Estate Meritage

A bit of a shorter write up tonight, apologies to Fielding Estates in advance but a busy Saturday and prep for a week away has eaten into my time to blog. Fielding followed Angels Gate on the 6th day and … Continue reading

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2010 Angels Gate Pinot Gris

Angels Gate Winery is located on the Beamsville Bench, literally seconds/minutes from a handful of other vineyards recently reviewed (Hidden Bench, Tawse) or to be reviewed shortly (Fielding, Rosewood). Nestled midway up the Niagara Escarpment, the views as you drive … Continue reading

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2008 Hidden Bench Felseck Vineyard Pinot Noir

I am rather shocked that I have never reviewed a single Hidden Bench wine before. If you were to ask me to name my top three wineries in Niagara at any given time, I can guarantee you that it would … Continue reading

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2008 Ravine Vineyards Merlot

Last Friday we made our first ever visit to Ravine Vineyards. Nestled into the little community of St-David’s I have been aware of the winery for some time but had never made the effort to visit it. Why? I have … Continue reading

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2007 Château des Charmes Pinot Noir

After a long hard week of driving Gertrude, playing a few rounds of golf and visiting two wineries a day in the Niagara region I decided that Monday was a much needed rest day, and as such headed to the … Continue reading

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2010 Strewn Terroir Riesling-Gewürztraminer

Strewn is a vineyard just on the outskirts of Niagara on the Lake (NotL), only a stone’s throw from Lake Ontario. Only a dozen years old now, it is a relatively young winery that is probably better known for its … Continue reading

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2007 Stratus Petit Verdot

If you have ever driven down the 55 in Niagara, through Virgil to Niagara on the Lake, you have seen Stratus. An elegant looking set of buildings on the right hand side lead into a visually pleasing tasting/showing room (as … Continue reading

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2006 De Sousa Reserve Meritage

In all my time down in Niagara (either living here for a short period or just visiting) I have never found my way up Quarry Road to De Sousa Vineyards. Of the 43 vineyards that dot the Niagara Escarpment/Twenty Valley/Beamsville … Continue reading

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NV Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catherine Rosé Brut

As the first annual Niagara Wine has progressed it has been interesting to see and experience the reactions of the tasting room staff when I announced my intentions. So far the week has seen: Tawse, Malivoire, Strewn, Stratus, Angel’s Gate, … Continue reading

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2007 Malivoire Moira Vineyard Pinot Noir

The second day of the Niagara Wine Week started with a visit to Malivoire Wine Company. My history with Malivoire is both good and bad. In the early 2000’s I had one brilliant visit which yielded ample reds and whites … Continue reading

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2008 Tawse Estate Spark

If you do not follow Niagara wine, or simply show a passing fancy, the name Tawse may mean little to you. To those with a slight bit of knowledge the name may simply mean Chardonnay. To anyone who has spent … Continue reading

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2010 Coyote’s Run “Rare Vintage” Pinot Gris

For our Niagara Wine Week we start with our visit to Coyote’s Run Estate Winery a small winery that sits just below St. David’s bench in St. David’s, Ontario. This vineyard has started to make a name for itself in … Continue reading

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CWG First Annual Niagara Wine Week

I am down in Niagara for some much needed R&R, but unlike the last 20 odd vacations, there are no plans. Well there are plans to do very little besides drive Gertrude and play a few rounds of golf. So … Continue reading

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2010 Greenlane Old Vines Riesling

On such a nice summer day it is difficult not to want a fresh crisp white wine to relax with. Today is one of those days and a 2010 Greenlane Estates Winery Old Vines Riesling is the wine of choice. … Continue reading

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2007 Burrowing Owl Chardonnay

With a hectic month (who am I kidding, let’s just say year+) of travel behind me, not to mention a weekend day full of errands, high winds, cold temperatures (it’s May, enough already), I slumped into my chair at 17:00 … Continue reading

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2007 Cattail Creek Reserve Riesling

You may be shocked to know, but Niagara is very good at Rieslings. Well, okay, you may have already known that. With the similarities to Alsace in it’s growing conditions (is it more Burgundy or more Alsace?) it is not … Continue reading

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2003 Villa Antinori (Toscana)

This little bottle has sat in the CWG wine fridge for almost 3 years, while not expensive originally (~$30) it did however have some cellaring ability that led me to keep it safe and sound. This wine use to be … Continue reading

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