Another very fine selection of Ontario (and one B.C.) wines are being released on Saturday, April 30, at Vintages. Here are reviews of the wines.
Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Franc 2008 ($23, 89 points) — The certified organic wine is a perfect example of cool climate cab franc with cherry-bramble fruit, raspberry, spice and nice tobacco left note on the nose. The mix of red fruits and mingling smoke and pepper flavours and firm acidic backbone shouts out for a red meat pairing. Great price.
Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2008 ($35, 91 points) — The ‘08 version of Charles Baker shows perfect varietal fruit, with the flinty mineral notes that lovers of this grape crave. It’s drier than the 2007, but has enough ripe citrus fruit to balance out the racy acidity. This is a world-class riesling from one of the top three vineyards for this grape in Niagara — Vinemount Ridge.
Flat Rock Cellars Reserve Chardonnay 2007 ($35, 90 pints) — The reserve wines are only being made in exceptional vintages such as 2007. The fruit is from the Twenty Mile Bench in vineyards that surround the Flat Rock winery. Creamy aromas of Bosc pear, toast, spice and vanilla. It is pure elegance on the palate with rich, ripe pear and tropical fruits propped up by an array of spice, oak and a touch of citrus on the edges.
Stratus Red 2007 — ($44, 93 points) — The flagship red assemblage from Stratus, with a decadent nose of persistent red and black fruits, cinnamon and cloves. It’s shows juicy acidity in the mouth with an emerging array of fruits and spice yet maintains its youthful restraint.
Tawse Growers Blend Pinot Noir 2009 — ($32, 90 points) — Made from grapes sourced around Niagara and barrel aged for 15 months. Alluring dark cherry on the nose with clove spice, vanilla, and subtle earthiness from a vintage that is proving to be excellent for Pinot. The palate reveals cherry and rhubarb flavours with balancing spice, earth and length on the finish. Should age nicely for five years.
Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin 2006 ($45, 88 points, from the Okanagan Valley) — One to buy and lay down for a few years. Plums, blackberry and rich cherry fruits to go with roasted coffee bean and smoky spices on the nose. It’s tight on the palate, tannins definitely in charge at the moment, but has the fruit to bring it into harmony down the road. A savoury treat with raspberry, leather, spice and smoke built for lovers of big red wines. Cellar five to 10 years or more.
Some other Ontario wines released but not reviewed:
• Norman Hardie County Pinot Noir 2009 ($35)
• Malivoire Mottiar Chardonnay 2009 ($30)
• Peller Pinot Gris Private Reserve 2009 ($19)
• Jackson-Triggs Gold Series Meritage 2008 ($25)
growers blend pinot noir 2009 – made from organic estate grown fruit? i think not. “growers blend” signifies it’s a blend from various growers. they are not all farming organically. the tawse website supports this by stating “vqa niagara peninsula” not a single sub-appellation as some of the estate grown fruit does. do not think this “growers blend” is even worth close to a $32 price point.
Warren, Thank-you for correcting me. You are, of course, correct. My mistake and now rectified in the post. I wasn’t working from a tech sheet and made an assumption that I shouldn’t have.