The Vintages release of Niagara wines on Saturday features a couple of intense reds and two nice whites to stock up on.
Here’s what I recommend:
Lailey Merlot 2010 ($25, 90 points) — Winemaker Derek Barnett says he’s “not looking for a big, jammy California style” of Merlot. Indeed, but his 2010 Merlot isn’t exactly a wallflower. It’s a meaty, manly version of Merlot with earthy-loam notes to go with ripe cherry fruit followed by a wall of interesting spice. It’s texturally beautiful in the mouth with red fruits, game notes, rousing spice and length through the finish. It can best be described as elegant in a macho man sort of way.
Coyote’s Run Red Paw Vineyard Pinot Gris 2011 ($18, 88 points) — A bright and expressive nose of apple, melon and fresh fruit salad. It’s lively and fruity on the palate and clean through the finish.
Malivoire Albert’s Honour Old Vines Foch 2010 ($25, 90 points) — Not a lot of wineries are crafting Marechal Foch these days but Malivoire sources the fruit from 38-year-old vines and harvests the fruit by hand. It’s always a big, dark red wine but in a vintage such as 2010, look out, this is super-sized Foch. It’s thick, smoky, rugged and wild on the nose with roasted coffee bean, plum, brambly dark fruit, loam and oak-soaked spices. This is big in the mouth with thick, dark plum, blueberry and blackberry fruits to go with campfire smoke, roasted meats and an array of spices. A rousing and flavourful wine for only the most adventurous of wine lovers.
Mike Weir’s Sauvignon Blanc 2010 ($15, 87 points) — The Weir label changes for this vintage, a modest redesign to focus on “Weir the personality.” As with all Weir wines, profits from the wines go to the Mike Weir Foundation that helps support children in need. This nice, little SB shows racy gooseberry, grapefruit and zesty citrus on the nose. A bit of tropical fruit emerges on the palate with good vibrancy through the finish. A fine SB at a great price.
Also being released but not reviewed:
• Peninsula Ridge A.J. Lepp Vineyards Reserve Merlot 2010 ($20)
• Angels Gate Mountainview Merlot 2010 ($19)
• Konzelmann Family Reserve Merlot 2010 ($27)
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