Calamus 2007 Reserve Riesling - $15.95

I'm giving you the rating and the wine - now, head over to the podcast and check out what I have to say about it.

Calamus 2007 Reserve Riesling - $15.95
Price: $15.95 – Rating: ***½ 

Click here to listen to this Podcast.

Check out the OntarioWineReview.com main website ... catch up with the latest news and reviews from Ontario sign-up for the free biweekly newsletter and much more.

Calamus 2007 Vinemount Ridge Falls Vineyard Riesling - $16.95

It's Riesling season ... that's right. As the weather gets warmer and your thoughts turn to activities outside your drinks get paler in colour and crisper in flavour - which means: it's Riesling season, so drink up.

I am thrilled to announce that as of February 24, 2009, each Podcast has its own unique player - so you can listen to whichever Podcast you want to. So without further ado I will leave you with this week's Podcast, or if you decide not to check out the new format you can read the tasting notes below ... I recommend the Podcast, of course.

The Tasting Notes: The Tasting Notes: The nose is rich with mineral and mac apple – the palate doles out similar flavours, mineral and mac along with citrus and great acidity. The wine is listed at a 2 on the sugar code but with all that minerality and acidity it barely registers as a 1. Price: $16.95 – Rating: *** ½

Click here to listen to the Podcast.

Check out the OntarioWineReview.com main website ...
catch up with the latest news and reviews from Ontario
sign-up for the free biweekly newsletter and much more.

Calamus 2007 Gewurztraminer - $13.00

Last year Calamus called this wine “Segitta” and charged $15 for it – the name was silly but the wine in the bottle was serious. This year, they’ve come back to a serious name, “Gewürztraminer” (also the name of the grape – for those who don’t know) for this serious wine, and now it’s the price that’s the big joke here: thirteen bucks for this beauty, someone was asleep at the quality to price ratio button (thank goodness). The nose is spicy, floral, lychee, and exotic with a touch of orange peel and real appeal … the taste is even more enticing with more peachy-lychee goodness, the right amount of spice and even some white pepper. The finish is long with a spiced-orange-peel flavours left behind. This is a seriously good wine that requires you to pick it up by the case load (or half case if you prefer) … especially if you like Asian, Thai or are just serious about good wine at awesome prices.

To listen to the Podcast of this review click here.

For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.ontariowinereview.com,
while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.

Calamus Estate Winery 2006 Unoaked Chardonnay - $14.00

So I brought this wine to my mother who is always looking for a decent white to drink although she is a red fan at heart. I said, “Mom, you have to try this.”
“What is it?” She asked me.
“Just try it,” I said, and she did.
“Oh this is lovely,” she exclaimed after her first sip, she took another and another. “What are those flavours? Are you getting apple?”
“Maybe a little,” I said, “but this one has good tropical fruit too, like pineapple, kiwi and mango – lots of mango actually … oh, and there’s a touch of vanilla in there too.”
“I’m getting the vanilla,” she said, “and something else …”
“I find there’s some smooth buttery like softness,” I said pouring her another glass. “And the mangoes really come through on the palate. There’s also a touch of sweetness, it’s, I believe, a one on the sugar code … but it’s bright smooth, has good acid balance, not too tart and finishes well.”
“What is it we’re drinking?” She asked as I poured her a third glass.
“It’s the new Unoaked Chardonnay from Calamus.”
“I usually don’t like Chardonnay, but this really is quite good, and Calamus is making some really nice wines, I’m impressed … thank you dear.”
“You’re welcome mom – sleep well.”

For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.ontariowinereview.com,
while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.

Listen to the Podcast of this review - www.ontariowinereview.libsyn.com

Calamus Estate Winery 2006 Sagitta (Gewurztraminer) - $13

I am of two minds about this wine, don’t get me wrong I think it’s lovely, drinkable, pleasant, but what’s with the name. Let’s start with what’s in the bottle. Gewurztraminer is a great aromatic white and the team at Calamus has captured the best parts of it. Floral notes, orange peel, mango and lychee … the palate has a touch of sweetness along with typical spicy Gewurzt characteristics, also there’s some pineapple, mango, white peach softness along with some citrus tang … good fruitiness all the way through. This is another winner for Calamus, they’re starting to hit their stride and find their wine-legs, so to speak, in just their second vintage. As for what’s on the bottle, I understand Sagitta to be a constellation shaped like an arrowhead, very fitting with the winery’s image, but why on a bottle of Gewurztraminer. Sure it’s a tough name to pronounce, but when you have a tasty wine like this, that’ll help put Gewurztraminer on the map in Ontario, why screw with the name? It’ll just confuses people more – now you’ll have to explain both names … I think Gewurztraminer would’ve worked just fine on it’s own. Great wine … lousy name.

For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.ontariowinereview.com,
while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.

Listen to the Podcast of this review - www.ontariowinereview.libsyn.com

Calamus Estate Winery 2005 Calamus Red - $13.00 (till May 31st)

Here’s another great red from the now award winning Calamus Estate (they picked up two Golds at the recent Ontario Wine Awards); not as bold and powerful as their Meritage, but this is one packs enough stuffing to be considered a fabulous wine indeed. 62% Cabernet Franc and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon (all the Merlot when into the Meritage blend), this red has dark fruit written all over it: cassis, black raspberry, sour cherry along with some cinnamon and oak notes. The palate seems smooth at first with blackberry, black cherry and sweet oak; with vanilla and cherry rounding off the finish. After two hours of being open, chocolate joins the vanilla and cherry on the back nine (so to speak) making sure you go home happy – it’s there and it’s tasty. There’s also enough tannin and acidity to consider lying this one down in the cellar a few years. Good for pizza and pasta nights, as well as burgers and steak … this is truly a multi-purpose red that’s delicious and wonderfully cork-free so you can crack it anywhere. Act now because as of June 1^st, 2007 this wine goes up to $15.00 … don’t miss out on this steal of a deal.

For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.ontariowinereview.com,
while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.