The Saturday release at Vintages featured a wide selection of Niagara wines including the first wine from Moray Tawse’s new Redstone Winery.
Redstone is quickly rising from the red dirt of the old Thomas and Vaughan winery on Highway 8 (King Street), across the road from Malivoire. The wines will focus on the Bordeaux varieties while the Tawse winery will remain committed (for the most part) to Burgundian grapes.
The first release at Vintages is the Redstone Reserve Cabernet Franc. Here’s the review along with some other releases I’ve tasted and enjoyed recently.
Redstone Reserve Cabernet Franc 2010 ($30, 89 points) — From sourced fruit in the Lincoln Lakeshore sub-app. The nose shows cherry, currants, herbs, cedar and pepper notes. It gets really interesting on the palate with red and dark fruits working in tandem with fine herbs, tobacco, smoke and licorice. A very interesting CF with plenty of tannin and oak structure and length through the finish.
Château des Charmes Estate Chardonnay Musque 2012 ($17, 88 points) — Chardonnay Musque is a highly aromatic clone of the world’s most widely grown grape. The nose shows honeysuckle, pear, melon and spicy fruit (despite no oak used in this wine). It’s delicious on the palate with spicy apple fruit, some weight, and simply delicious.
Featherstone Gewurztraminer 2013 ($20, 89 points) — One of the most consistently well-made Gews in Niagara vintage after vintage. The nose shouts lychee, rose petals, spicy grapefruit, ginger, nutmeg and citrus. It has lovely texture on the palate with grapefruit-citrus and papaya-guava fruits all delivered with a touch of sweetness. A balanced wine with equal parts spice and fruit.
Tawse Sketches Riesling 2013 ($18, 89 points) — The Sketches Riesling is a blend of fruit sourced from sustainably-farmed vineyards in Niagara. The nose is expressive with grapefruit, lime and mineral notes. It’s taut and lively on the palate with fresh lemon-lime, a touch of sweetness and laser-sharp acidity.
Featherstone Rose 2013 ($15, 88 points) — A blend of 50% Gamay and 50% Merlot with a nose of sweet strawberry and ripe raspberry fruit. On the palate the red fruits are joined by a meaty-savoury note to add interest to this summer sipper.
Other wines that were released Saturday, but not reviewed:
• Cattail Creek Simply Stainless Chardonnay 2013 ($15)
• Peninsula Ridge Pinot Gris 2012 ($15)
• Seasons Summer White 2012 ($14)
• Wildass Sauvignon Blanc 2012 ($17)
• Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Franc Rose 2012 ($20)
• Wildass Merlot 2011 ($17)
• Frogpond Farm Gamay Noir 2013 ($16)
• EastDell Cabernet/Merlot 2011 ($18)
• Rosewood Harvest Gold Mead 2013 ($15 for 500 ml)
• Sue-Ann Staff Vidal Icewine 2012 ($25 for 200 ml)
• Cave Spring Estate Chardonnay 2012 ($19)
• Peninsula Ridge Barrel Aged Chardonnay 2011 ($16)
• Henry of Pelham Estate Pinot Noir 2010 ($25)
• Hidden Bench Terroir Cache Meritage 2010 ($38)
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