SPARKLING WINE
13TH STREET CUVÉE 13 ROSÉ 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Traditional Method
Debbie Trenholm was the sommelier for the private luncheon held in Ottawa for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on Canada Day in 2010. She selected the 2007 13th Street Cuvée 13 Rosé as “a delicious way to begin [the] celebration.”
TASTING NOTE: This rare sparkling Rosé made with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and a splash of Syrah is extraordinary – dry, crisp with delicate aromas of wild strawberry, juicy red cherry with an elegant mousse that lingers as it refreshes. (Debbie Trenholm, winesavvy.ca, June 30, 2010)
Vintages # 147504 (D) 750 mL $24.95
WHITE WINE
FLAT ROCK CELLARS SWEET REVENGE
VIDAL ICEWINE 2007
VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula
TASTING NOTE: Shows light bright lemon colour. Very lifted aromas of peach-mango with lemon and a touch of plasticine that should fade with more bottle age. The whole thing has a light airy feel to it with a sense of purity despite some youthful bottling aromas. It has found icewine’s acid-sugar key. Excellent length. Score: 91 (David Lawrason, winealign.com, March 2009)
Vintages # 047803 (S) 375 mL $34.95
FLOURISH VIDAL ICEWINE 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula
TASTING NOTE: A very enchanting yellow-gold colour in the glass. Honeyed pear, mango, apricot and wet stone on the nose. Deliciously balanced, with the sweetness expertly counterpointed by crisp acidity. Smooth and mouthfilling, with plenty of apricot and honey on the palate. Medium-full bodied with sweet fruit and a hint of nutmeg on the medium-long finish. Try with bread pudding and French vanilla ice cream. (VINTAGES panel, Dec. 2010)
Vintages # 222356 (S) 200 mL $18.95
LE CLOS JORDANNE
LE CLOS JORDANNE VINEYARD
CHARDONNAY 2008
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Twenty Mile Bench
TASTING NOTE: Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard Chardonnay is just great, with flint, mineral and smoke notes, well integrated oak and lovely acids plus alcohols balance, I’d drink it now and years from now on. (Zoltan Szabo, zoltanszabo.org, Nov. 11, 2010)
Vintages # 033910 (XD) 750 mL $40.00
RED LEAF VIDAL ICEWINE 2006
VQA Niagara Peninsula
TASTING NOTE: Wine Style: white, sweet, medium-bodied. Appearance: deep lemon-gold. Nose: honey, citrus, apricot, floral. Taste: sweet, vibrant acidity, medium alcohol; balanced, luscious, honeyed. Score: HHHHJ (Tony Aspler, tonyaspler.com, June 2, 2010)
Vintages # 179705 (S) 200 mL $17.95
STRATUS RIESLING ICEWINE 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula
TASTING NOTE: Wine Style: white, sweet, mediumbodied. Appearance: medium straw. Nose: floral, lime, citrus, marmalade, melon. Taste: medium intensity, low to medium alcohol, underlying acidity; clean, minerally, bright. Score: HHHHK (Tony Aspler, tonyaspler.com, Oct. 17, 2009)
Vintages # 056671 (S) 200 mL $39.95
VINELAND ESTATES
SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008
VQA Niagara Escarpment
This is a light, crisp and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc that will pair wonderfully with sautéed shrimp in a butter sauce. Its ripe, lemony citrus and melon flavours are well balanced by a laserfocused acidity, and joined on the finish by a bright minerality. If you are feeling the mid-winter blahs, this wine brings a taste of summer sunshine back to the table.
Vintages # 551168 (XD) 750 mL $16.95
RED WINE
PILLITTERI ESTATES
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula
Cabernet Sauvignon can do extremely well in Ontario when the climate cooperates, and it cooperated brilliantly in 2007. The fruit was harvested when it was both phenolically and sugar ripe (exactly what a winery is looking for in any grapes at harvest). The result was a wine with fine balance. This 100% Cab Sauv is filled with cassis, raspberry, eucalyptus and hints of black pepper. Dry with very good fruit tones supported by fine tannins, it’s cellarable 3-4+ years. It can also be enjoyed tonight with a rare steak frites.
Vintages # 349233 (D) 750 mL $19.95
SANDBANKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY
SELECTION BACO NOIR 2009
VQA Ontario
TASTING NOTE: A crowd-pleasing red that’s chockfull of charm and rich, fruit flavour, it jumps from the glass with a whoosh of sweet vanilla and concentrated, dark field-berry aromas. Palatecoating flavours of black currant jam, plum compote, some spice and hints of dark chocolate persist through the lingering, lip-smacking finish. It’s medium-full bodied and looking for a hearty companion – grilled steak, osso bucco or leg of lamb … Score: HHHHK (Vic Harradine, winecurrent.com, Dec. 8, 2010)
Vintages # 211318 (D) 750 mL $19.95