The wine release at Vintages this Saturday has some fine Niagara wines going on sale as well as one spectacular Riesling.
The virtual winery, 2027 Cellars, is getting shelf space for its Fox Croft Riesling 2009, named by this website as the white wine of the year in 2010.
Winemaker and proprietor Kevin Panagapka calls this single-vineyard wine his most “showy” Riesling. The wine continues to evolve in the bottle and, if you are going to buy some, please lay down a few bottles and watch and taste as they age.
Also being released is the very first Riesling under the Mike Weir label. This is a Niagara-on-the-Lake appellation wine made at Chateau des Charmes.
Here’s what’s coming out Saturday at Vintages.
2027 Cellars Fox Croft Vineyard 2009 Riesling ($25, 94 points) — This is a phenomenal wine with grapefruit, petrol and crazy-beautiful citrus zest and minerals on the nose. It’s explosive on the palate with bracing acidity to go with citrus, underlying minerality, and a finish that goes on and on.
Mike Weir Riesling 2008 ($15, 89 points) — The grapes for this first Riesling from Team Weir were sourced from Chateau des Charmes’ Creek Road Vinyard. The nose shows quince, lime, citrus and an underlying wet stone minerality. It’s made off-dry but the perception is of a dry and crisp wine on the palate with a racy, juicy acid spine to go with lemon-lime, grapefruit and melon notes. Very nice wine for the price.
Southbrook Connect Rose 2010 ($19, 87 points) — An organic rose with strawberry and raspberry fruits and a nice floral note. This fun wine is finished with a touch of sweetness to go with red berries and juicy acidity.
Angels Gate Mountainview Chardonnay 2008 ($19, 90 points) — Such a lovely Chard with ripe tropical-pear fruit bolstered by vanilla bean, cream and spice. The buttery-creamy notes are sublime in the mouth and work beautifully with the rich fruits and spice. Well done at this price.
Fielding Estate Red Conception 2009 ($19) — Fielding only made two reds in 2009, the Red Conception and Pinot Noir. It made the decision based on overall quality of red grapes in 2009. It usually makes six or seven red wines. The Conception is a 45-45 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with 10% Syrah. I tasted this unbolted, so didn’t score it, but the wine shows smoky berries on the nose with decent balance and berry fruit in the mouth.
Also being released, but not reviewed:
Cattail Creek Serendipity Rose 2010 ($15)
Featherstone Estate Rose 20101 ($15)
Kacaba Summertime Series Rebecca Rose 2010 ($15)
Mike Weir Riesling 2008 ($15)
Southbrook Triomphe Syrah 2009 ($25)
Comment here