It’s not a huge release of Niagara wines on Saturday, May 2 at Vintages, but there are a few wines with a Niagara connection that I can recommend.
As fate would have it, I just tasted the E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage Rouge 2011 at a tasting with winemaker Philippe Guigal (top photo with Brian Schmidt) at Vineland Estate in Niagara last week. Guigal was invited as a special guest and poured a selection of his wines for Vineland wine club members along side winemaker Schmidt’s Niagara wines (more on the event in an upcoming post).
It was a fun night and a rare opportunity to taste Rhone wines right here in Niagara with the winemaker. Also being released is an Oregon Pinot from prolific, globetrotting Niagara winemaker Thomas Bachelder that is worth seeking out. A red blend from Fielding Estate and a very fine Cabernet Franc from our neighbours in Lake Erie North Shore round out the highlights.
Here’s what to look for on Saturday.
From Rhone
Guigal Crozes-Hermitage Rouge 2011 ($29, 91 points) — The ’11 Croze-Hermitage, which is mad from 100% Syrah from vines that average 35-years-old, is a classic Northern Rhone style with a gamy, meaty, peppery nose that reveals a range of dark fruits, boysenberry, olives and savoury spices. There is good acidity in the mouth but not overly tannic with flavours of smoky black currants, lovely integrated herbs, spice and pepper. Can cellar for a few years but attractive right now.
From Niagara
Fielding Estate Red Conception 2013 ($19, 88 points) — A blend of Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with a fruit-focused nose of cassis, currants, cherry, pepper and spice. The sum of the parts plays nicely here with a meaty broth of currants, cherries and earthy bits with a dash of spice and soft tannins.
Bachelder Lowrey Vineyard Niagara Pinot Noir 2012 ($45, only in some key Vintages stores, 93 points) — One of the finest vineyards in Niagara for Pinot Noir, especially if you can acquire even a bit of the coveted original five rows on the property, which Bachelder does. The Lowrey Pinot is extroverted, with a ballsy nose of mulled red fruits, cassis and lavishly spiced notes. It has far-reaching depth and power on the palate with integrated cherry-cassis-raspberry fruit mated to gritty tannins and length through the finish. Showing some balance with room to integrate further. Buy, hold and wait.
From Lake Erie North Shore
Colio Bricklayer’s Reward Old Farm Cabernet Franc 2012 ($20, 90 points) — I continue to be impressed by the wines from this Lake Erie North Shore producer. This possesses a classic CF nose of rich cherry fruit, bell pepper, herbs, raspberry, bramble and spice. It is thick and rich on the palate with ripe red fruits, mulled herbs, licorice and oak barrel spices all nicely presented on a firm bed of tannins. Cellar worthy.
From Oregon
Bachelder Oregon Pinot Noir 2012, Willamette Valley ($35, 89 points) — Restrained, elegant nose of pretty cherry, raspberry, forest floor and spice from this Niagara winemaker who also makes wine in Oregon and Burgundy. Lovely finesse to this Pinot on the palate with earthy-savoury red fruits, ripe tannins and energy/verve through the finish.
Other Niagara wines released but not reviewed:
- Calamus Vinemount Ridge Riesling 2013 ($17)
- Frogpond Farm Organic Chardonnay 2013 ($19)
- Frogpond Farm Organic Cabernet/Merlot 2012 ($24)
- Sue-Ann Staff Merlot 2012 ($20)
- 13th Street Pink Palette Rose 2012 ($16)
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