PALATE PLEASING - Konzelmann 2016 Family Reserve Cabernet-Merlot

This might just be one of the best wines to come out of the Konzelmann cellar - 

and that is saying something : 

Konzelmann 2016 Family Reserve Cabernet-Merlot

 

Already 6 years from vintage date (at time of writing) and this wine is drinking in accordance with how a 6-year-old red blends from a hot vintage should. Smokey-black cherry, vanilla oak, cassis, blackberry and even a cedarish finish that adds black fruit tannins into the mix. It's a straight-forward bottle of deliciousness with another four years, easily, ahead of it, maybe more.  Rating: ****+

Konzelmann 2008 Sparkling Secco - $12.75

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.

Konzelmann 2008 Sparkling Secco - $12.75
Price: $12.75 – Rating: ***½ 

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Konzelmann Estate Winery 2006 Shiraz - $12.95

If you haven’t been to Konzelmann lately might I suggest you get out there this summer. They have been very busy over the last little while with the building and now completion of their new look wine store, a huge step up from its predecessor. Because of this their wines have to reflect their more modern surroundings, and they do … starting with this beauty right here. A nose that has pepper, black cherry and spice, and when sipped produces the same tastes in the mouth; but it’s not just the smell and taste that’ll get you – check out that $12.95 price tag – now that’s something to celebrate, so grab a glass and start pouring.

To listen to the Podcast of this review click here.

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Konzelmann Estate 2006 Riesling - $11.00

I tasted this one during my visit around the time of the Icewine festival … I wanted to compare it to Konzelmann’s newest Riesling addition “The White Moose”, a $15 riesling that is said to undergo better treatment: hand-harvesting and such. I guess you could say it’s a reserve (if you want to use that terminology). But I wasn’t convinced about the $4 jump – the White Moose was .5 higher in residual sugar and lacked the complexity of the regular 11 dollar Riesling. My server informed me that the winery wanted to raise the price, but because it is an LCBO general list product the boys at the Lick-Bo said “no” (score one for the government monopoly) … when asked why my server told me point-blank “because we’ll sell it no matter what the price, so why not get a few more dollars out of it.” Not exactly the answer I thought I’d get, but there is something to be said for honesty. So why pick the $11 Riesling over the $15, besides the price … simple: a nose of peach, apple, tropical fruit and lemon drop proves to be more than just a little inviting – it’s downright delicious smelling – as for the palate, you’ll find a tart apple middle with a lemon crisp finish – and that’s downright delicious in the mouth … as it turns out the 11 dollar Riesling is very appealing to both your sense of taste and smell, as well as to your sense of frugality.

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.