THE LOW DOWN: Don’t miss this opportunity to experience wines from France’s Loire Valley. Red and white with bright flavours and a pure, spring-like quality. And a sensational sweetie. There is nothing like these at regular LCBOs.
Niagara Riesling is back on form with the 08 vintage so it’s time to start buying again. I’m recommending [...]
Every day people tell me that they’ve stopped drinking Chardonnay. “Too rich, too oaky, too whatever.” Chardonnay has become the unfashionable white wine. Well, I don’t mind being out of fashion because I thoroughly enjoy glasses of some of Niagara’s finest. Try these and I bet you’ll NOT be doing the non-Chardonnay thing.
Chateau des Charmes [...]
‘THE POWER OF THE UNDERDOG’
While it would be ‘cool’ to match local wines with each Olympic sport I’m not doing it because I didn’t get the contract. Nobody did. Besides it’s probably illegal to mention wine on sports programs. A TV producer once told me that I couldn’t be shown pouring or drinking the wine [...]
Do you get more when you pay more for bubbly? Not really. But the wine often feels more elegant, and the occasion may require a fancier label or gesture.
Niagara’s cool climate and soil structure are ideal
for producing classic-style Sparkling. Such as Ch. des Charmes which has the high-pitched note and pure quality of Champagne. [...]
THE LOW DOWN: Love the catalogue with the Italian feature – timely, as so many Italian reds have a woodsy, fall-day feeling. Check out the Capraia Chianti. But whites are best in this release, with outstanding local Riesling, Soave and Chardonnay from Burgundy. For Thanksgiving, I highly recommend going local – Henry of Pelham 07 [...]
With all the jazzy 08 Sauvignon’s arriving from down under countries it’s easy to think that 07 locals may be past their expiry date. Henry certainly isn’t. It’s mild flavoured – but turbo charged with citrussy refreshment. Drinks like a dip in the cool lake. Fantastic summer house wine. Handy screwcap.
Henry of Pelham 07 Sauvignon [...]
A little sweetness sells a lot of wine.
Niagara Wineries are finding great success with white wines that contain a little sweetness. And in many cases the spicy, exotic flavours of the Gewurztraminer. Flat Rock’s Twisted, Hillebrand’s Trius White and Inniskillin’s Brae Blanc have a big following and are likely to be joined by Henry of [...]
HENRY of PELHAM keeps inching its way closer to Champagne with its Brut ‘Cuvée Catharine’. Austere, and stony dry – almost no flavour but full of character. A high note that leaves you hanging and wanting more. Outstanding aperitif. Best batch yet of this wine – and possibly the best ever Brut out of Niagara.
HENRY [...]
THE LOW DOWN: New Zealand reds are the feature and I found three to recommend. The style could be likened to our local reds – bright, lively and appetizing. South African Shiraz and Californian Zinfandel are my favourite BBQ reds – check out Linton Park and Ravenswood. Pelham’s Cuvee Catharine is inching its way towards [...]
Posted in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks | Also tagged California, Cantina Tramin 07 Gewurztraminer, Carrick, Cider, Clos Saint-Denis, Coopers Creek, Cuvee Catharine, Kim Crawfored, Linton Park, Malivoire, New Zealand, Niagara, Palliser, pinot noir, Quebec, Ravenswood, South Africa, VQA, Zinfandel |
before you go Pick up a copy of Wineries of Ontario at LCBO stores. It has maps and all the contact info for wineries, restaurant and hotels. www.winesofontario.ca
the low down The wonderful 07 Vintage is the current hot topic but don’t overlook the wines of 06, which are drinking really well right now. This cool [...]
Posted in Food & Restaurants, Travel Notes, Wine Picks | Also tagged 13th Street, Add new tag, Angels Gate Winery, Calamus, Cave Spring, Charles Baker, Chateau des Charmes, Clos Jordanne, Coyote’s Run, Creekside, De Sousa, Featherstone, Fielding Estates, Flat Rock Cellars, Foreign Affair, Frogpond Farm, Hidden Bench, Hillebrand winery, Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs, Lailey, Malivoire, Megalomaniac, Mountain Road Wine Company, Niagara, Olson's Food & Bakery, Organized Crime, Peller Estates, Peninsula Ridge, Ravine Vineyard, red wine, Southbrook, Stone Road Grille, Stratus, Strewn Winery, Tawse, The Ice House, Thirty Bench, Vineland Estates, VQA, white wine |
