This week's wine is something special in the Icewine category ... now, if I told you why then you wouldn't have to listen to the Podcast, so I'll leave it up to you, Podcast or take the easy way out and read the brief tasting note below (the Podcast is always more interesting, and on occasion, amusing):
The nose is pleasant with lots of red berries - mainly strawberries and cherries ... bt I think the taste delivers even more: raspberry, strawberry, cherry and a kick of something spicy ... very nice.
Showing posts with label Dessert Wine - Niagara. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dessert Wine - Niagara. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Angels Gate 2007 Snow Angel - $23.00
Snow, snow go away come again another day ... from what I hear more snow is coming this week - and so in honour of more snow I give you this beauty. Now go listen to the Podcast, or, if you choose the more boring route, you can just read the tasting notes below (the Podcast is always more fun):
The smells are reminiscent of fresh strawberries and raspberries, while the taste delivers strawberries in spades. Light, refreshing and a barely noticeable 4 makes this a wine the whole family will love.
The smells are reminiscent of fresh strawberries and raspberries, while the taste delivers strawberries in spades. Light, refreshing and a barely noticeable 4 makes this a wine the whole family will love.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Cattail Creek Catastrophe - $20.00
This week Cattail Creek finally puts their name to good use by introducing "Catastrophe" ... have a listen to the Podcast to find out what the catastrophe is, or, if you choose the more boring route, you can just read the tasting notes below (the Podcast is always more fun):
This is a Riesling Icewine that has been infused with a blend of chocolate and orange. The nose is exotic, with mango, chocolate and a hint of orange, while what you get on the palate depends on what you’re looking for, some pick up on the orange, while others get the chocolate … on the finish there is definitely a bit of spice that everyone gets.
This is a Riesling Icewine that has been infused with a blend of chocolate and orange. The nose is exotic, with mango, chocolate and a hint of orange, while what you get on the palate depends on what you’re looking for, some pick up on the orange, while others get the chocolate … on the finish there is definitely a bit of spice that everyone gets.
Click here to listen to the Podcast.
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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.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Stoney Ridge 2004 Forte - $14.95 (375ml)
The buzz over at the Ridge, besides the new winemaker I mean, is that they have made a “Port”. Now before ya’ll go running out to Stoney Ridge to buy Canadian “port” let me quickly point out that what they are calling ‘port’ is a bit of a misnomer – it’s a fortified; and as we all know, not all fortified wine is Port. Port is usually dense, very sweet and very luscious … this wine lacks the density and a high sweetness level (I’d say it is about a 4 or a 5), the luscious is up to you. What I can tell you is that the smells are plumy, pruney and raisiny, while in the mouth it’s sweet black cherry, very smooth with a little tannin bite on the finish … there’s even a kick from some spices. It’s a wine made from Baco Noir and Cabernet Franc – as a quick aside, when I was in New York State this past summer I had the pleasure of trying a 100% Baco Noir port that had all the port-like characteristics; but this effort from Stoney Ridge is not “port” in the traditional sense. Don’t get me wrong, this fortified wine (19% alcohol) is very tasty, well made and great for dessert (especially for those not into the intensity or sweetness of icewine or real port) and I can say without a doubt it is priced very well. But I can’t stress enough: it is not “Port”, which is Portuguese for sweet and luscious. But the name of this wine, if taken literally, says it all – it’s “Forte” (French for “strong”), which rhymes with “Porte” – French for “carry” – meaning you’ll want to take some with you once you try it.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Stratus 2006 Red Icewine - $39.00
Whoa Nelly … here’s a real sweetie that’s just to-die-for, as long as you like your fruits red and sweet. This stunning version of red icewine blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah together and keeps your palate on its proverbial toes; there are plenty of surprises on this path to icewine Nirvana; and here’s why: The nose is very simple, honeyed-strawberries with a hint of apricot, but then you get it into your mouth and there’s an absolute explosion of flavours. Initially, you’ll get candy, in the form of a cherry drop, then raspberry and strawberry show up. You’ll assume that’s it, then you’ll take another sip. The flavours ramp-up to another level as candy apple races through the mouth and you smack your lips, delicious. Now that your mouth is coated with this lavish nectar, another sip kicks it up another notch delivering cinnamon-caramel-apple with a touch of something spicy. Finally, you’re nearing the end of your small glassful and you think, there’s nothing left to get out of this wine right? Wrong. The wine unleashes a red plum/cranberry-like tartness felt mainly in the roof of the mouth. Wow … there’s just so much going on here. Best of all, this sweetie foregoes the usual thick and syrupy; instead imagine smooth sweet red candied enjoyment, plus a whole lot more. What are you waiting for … stop reading … go get some.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Hillebrand Winery 2006 Cabernet Franc Icewine - $78
There seems to be a trend afoot to scale back on the sweetness of icewine. There was a time when 22 was the norm, then it skyrocketed up to a cloyingly sweet 28 … now it’s not uncommon to see icewine in the 19-20 range, which is a perfect amount of sweetness but still well-balanced with its acidity to make them pair well with, or have as, a dessert. This Cab Franc’s nose leaves little doubt as to what you are smelling: full-on strawberries. As icewine is apt to do the taste follows sweet with strawberry jam like flavours – you’d swear you could spread this on toast. As for the sugar code, this one’s only nineteen (old enough to drink itself here in Ontario). Someone remarked, “it tastes too sweet to drink on its own.” So try it with dark chocolate or some blue veined cheese … or better yet, pour it over fresh strawberries or cherries – but don’t forget to drink the resulting concoction left at the bottom.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Lakeview Cellars Estate Winery 2005 Starboard - $22.95
I have good news and bad news about this wine … the bad news is that it’s up in price, but what do you expect, it’s from the 2005 short-crop vintage. Short crop means less wine, which translate into more money for high-risk wines where the possibility of something going wrong is greater. The good news, nothing did, and Lakeview has made one fantastic port-knock-off. I’ll let you figure out the Starboard / Port reference on your own and instead give you the highlights of this beauty. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, fortified to 19% alcohol and topping out at a mere 7 on the sugar scale. This wine exhibits classic port-like characteristics: sweet black cherries and milk chocolate on the nose followed by full on dark chocolate covered cherries and sweet damson plum in the mouth, and a long sweet finish. Not as thick as port, nor as complex, but let’s give it some time and see how it develops – right now it’s quite delicious, I’d like to see what it’s like in 10 years or so.
Additional note: After 4 weeks of being open and taking a nip ever so often, the wine still retained great flavours and smoothness. Keep capped and at room temperature – and serve with dark chocolate.
Additional note: After 4 weeks of being open and taking a nip ever so often, the wine still retained great flavours and smoothness. Keep capped and at room temperature – and serve with dark chocolate.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Thomas & Vaughan Old Gold – Heritage Series
Let’s end the year on a sweet note by grabbing something out of the cellar and checking on it’s progress. Here’s a blast from the past that I uncovered at the back of my fridge.
Sometime over the last year I took a bottle of wine, put it in the fridge, and forgot about it. Not on purpose mind you. It was a dessert wine, and each time we got to dessert we decided against having it. Soon I had forgotten about it entirely. Now, basically what happened, besides getting really chilled wine, was I stopped the aging process – think of it as cryogenics for wine.
If you are, or have been, a fan of Thomas & Vaughan over the years you know they made a sweet half bottle of wine before it was fashionable to make a quality sweet half bottle of wine. They made it from Catawba grapes and they called it “Old Gold”. Catawba grapes were virtually banned in Canada during the rip out and re-plant back in the 70’s, when Ontario decided to go from the sweet Baby Duck type wines and start making the varietals we all know and love today. The Catawba is widely grown and made into wine down in New York State (believe it or not, the 2nd largest wine producing state in the US next to California). Catawba makes a sweet wine no matter what style you are trying for, though I can’t imagine a dry Catawba wine (I’m sure somebody has tried though).
This Thomas & Vaughan “Old Gold” has been out of production for sometime, and because there is no vintage date on the bottle I can not pinpoint the exact age of the wine, but I’ll hazard a guess at about 7 years … if somebody does know the last time they made this wine, I’d love to know. So how does this approximately 7 year old, slightly illegal, Catawba wine taste? Pretty darn good I must say.
Now, remember, mine has been sitting in the fridge cryogenically chilled for about a year – so if you have a bottle it may have a little more perceptible age on it, but these are my notes from the tasting. Amber in colour, which shows its age, because this wine is usually vinted pale-to-golden yellow (like an icewine). The nose shows signs of apricot, pear, apple, raisins and sweet cinnamon sugar. The taste is just as intriguing – a baked apple with cinnamon and nutmeg at the beginning, changing to a tart, unripened apple in the back palate, finishing off with a rusty (oxidized) apple finish. The medium body and low acidity really adds to the taste making it an exemplary dessert wine in its twilight years.
This wine, although no longer made, nor very popular, aged with great style, grace and complexity – too sweet in it’s youth it really shows something different and more pleasant in its latter days. Kudos to Thomas & Vaughan for taking the chance on this wine. No longer available anywhere – unless you have a bottle hidden somewhere.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mountain Road Wine Company NV Riesling Winter Wine Blend #4 - $17.95
Not a late harvest, not an icewine – a sweet “winter wine”, the back of the bottle says: “This unique blend of 2002 dry Riesling and 1999 Riesling Pure Winter Wine is aimed to please the palate of wine lovers who find traditional dessert wine too sweet.” And yes, at 7.7 on the sugar code it is less than half of most late harvests and about one-quarter that of icewine … so how does it stack up against those two popular sweeties? A complex nose of honey, cinnamon, caramel apple, candied orange peel and cantaloupe. The taste is similarly sweet but with less of that cloying sweetness you’ll find in those previously mentioned dessert wines; instead this one is crisp and refreshing - palate cleansing in a way. Sweetness of apples, honey and dried candied apricots. There might be the faintest hint of oxidation, probably from the percentage of 1999 Dry Riesling used, but it’s ever so slight that it’s barely detectable; heck I shouldn’t even mention it. I wouldn’t hold this one much longer, but it’ll make for a perfect dessert wine for the holidays ahead – drink up now and enjoy. Available at the winery only.
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Hillebrand Winery 2004 Late Harvest Vidal - $18.95
Many years ago I tried my very first late harvest vidal, it happened to be a ’98 Hillebrand Late Harvest Vidal, and at one point it was my favourite wine - not an every day sipper to be sure, but my favourite special occasion wine. To this day I still remember it’s luscious flavours and tropical nose - it became the benchmark for all the Late Harvests to follow. Now, the 2004 version tops what my memory recollects. Apples, pears, mangos, golden plums, honey, apricot and cantaloupe are all flavours that can be picked up by the nose – while the mouth simplifies matters a bit with honeyed-pear and nectarine flavours. And, of course, there is the balancing of elements the proper amount of sweetness with just the right level of acidity, making this wine pleasant and extra special to drink. In three words: luscious, thick and delicious. Don’t miss out on something this wonderful – perfect as a dessert on its own. Available at the winery.
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