May 1st Ontario Wine Releases at LCBO Vintages

Some interesting Ontario wines will be available in the LCBO Vintages section on May 1st.

BLACK PRINCE WINERY
RIESLING 2008
VQA Prince Edward County

A bracingly fresh Riesling with aromas of pear, lime and mineral. Dry, racy and crisp, this is an excellent palate-refresher between courses especially in an alfresco setting. It will be even better with 2-4 years in a cellar.
164236 (XD) 750 mL $18.95

CLOSSON CHASE CHARDONNAY 2007
VQA Prince Edward County,
Closson Chase Vineyard, Unfiltered

TASTING NOTE: If you ever need proof that Closson Chase’s winemaker, Deborah Paskus, is brilliant, then try this Chardonnay. Medium bright yellow. The nose is filled with baked apple, pineapple, fresh-baked bread and yellow plum. Perfectly balanced, this is a classic wine from a great vintage. Medium-full bodied with a medium-long finish, this wine will evolve and improve in a cellar (3-5+ years), or would make a delicious match now for grilled rosemary chicken with a shiitake mushroom sauce. (VINTAGES panel, March 2010)
148866 (D) 750 mL $29.95

ROSEHALL RUN VINEYARDS
CHARDONNAY 2006
VQA Ontario

TASTING NOTE: Fine Chardonnay with aromas of tropical fruit, coconut, butter, lemon zest and mineral. Dry, fruity, fresh and nicely textured overall. Ripe and round, pleasurable wine for grilled salmon or chicken in a light cream sauce. (VINTAGES panel, March 2010)
173203 (XD) 750 mL $15.95

VINELAND ESTATES
ELEVATION CHARDONNAY 2007
VQA Niagara Escarpment

A Gold Medal winner at the 2009 Cuvée Awards.

TASTING NOTE: This is a deeply impressive Chardonnay; one that is, surprisingly, unoaked. Surprising because there is a gentle toastiness to the wine that could easily be mistaken for oak ageing. In fact, this attractive quality is from lees contact. The aromas recall binned apple, mineral, grapefruit peel and that leesy toastiness. Dry, fruity, crisp and impeccably made – think fine Chablis. Medium-full bodied with a long finish. Enjoy it with grilled herbed chicken or pork roast. (VINTAGES panel, March 2010)
164459 (D) 750 mL $24.95

RED WINE

HENRY OF PELHAM GAMAY 2008
VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula

Gamay Noir is a somewhat under-appreciated grape variety, which is a shame because it grows really well in Ontario and makes for tasty, fruitpacked and food-friendly reds. The 2008 vintage in Niagara was cooler than the blockbuster 2007, but Henry of Pelham’s winemaker Ron Giesbrecht still crafted a Gamay with more stuffing than many of its lighter Beaujolais counterparts. Look for plush black cherry, flint and woodsmoke as well as a mellow earthiness. Dry, crisp and medium bodied, it makes a terrific match for vegetarian lasagna or veal chops.
291112 (D) 750 mL $14.95

TRUMPOUR’S MILL
CABERNET FRANC 2007
VQA Prince Edward County
(The Grange of Prince Edward Vineyards & Estate Winery)

TASTING NOTE: The 2007 vintage is going down in Ontario wine history as one of our best, and this fine Cabernet Franc provides a window into why. Raspberry pie, smoke, vanilla and bell pepper aromas dominate the nose. On the palate, the aromas replay nicely, with a fine overlay of cedar. Spicy fruit tones emerge on the mid-palate with well-typed tannins giving structure. Age it 2-3 years, or try it tonight with grilled lamb chops. (VINTAGES panel, March 2010)
173187 (D) 750 mL $17.95

ROSÉ WINE

CATTAIL CREEK SERENDIPITY
ROSÉ 2009
VQA Four Mile Creek

This wine is created by blending 35% Gamay Noir, 35% Pinot Noir and 30% Merlot. Each of the grape varieties were cropped at incredibly low levels and underwent aggressive leaf plucking throughout the growing season. The Pinot Noir was harvest on October 21, 2009 while the Gamay Noir was harvested on November 2, 2009 and the Merlot was harvested on November 13, 2009. Each grape was harvested much later than normal thereby taking full advantage of the ripening that occurred during the wonderfully warm and dry weather in September, October and November.

This drier style rosé wine exhibits a fruit salad of summer flavours with berry salad, Damson plums, cherry drops and cranberries with a bouquet of floral notes and just a touch of spice on the finish. An incredibly versatile wine, it is perfect sipping on its own but also goes will with crisp salads, charcouterie plates, roasted turkey with cranberry sauce, delicate white fish and BBQed meats. Drink now. Serve chilled.

118059 (D) 750 mL $14.20
 

ICE WINE

KING’S COURT
CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2008
VQA Niagara Peninsula

The Zimmerman family has been involved in winemaking in Germany’s Nahe region for seven generations. As Icewine specialists, they were interested in Ontario. In 1990, the youngest descendant, Josef Zimmerman, moved to Niagara and founded King’s Court. Since its first vintage in 2001, the winery has earned a reputation for making top-notch Icewines. This lively, strawberry scented Cab Franc is a fine example of the quality of wines they are capable of creating.
033274 (S) 375 mL $38.95