Essex Wine Review

Winemaker’s Notes:
Aged twelve months in French oak barrels, this wine is a well-balanced medium-bodied red wine. It exhibits an ideal balance of fruit, acidity and tannins, with elegant fine integrated oak flavours.

Pairs well with pasta, veal and grilled vegetable dishes.

Hand-harvested on October 22nd, 2008
Total production: 150 cases.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
unfiltered
12.6% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $16

Rate and review Muscedere Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2008.

Winemaker’s Notes:
From the start, Baco has been one of Sanson’s “go to” wines and the 07 is another great effort.

Deep ruby colour and staining concentrated purple hues. The aromas show classic wild berry/black currant and crème de cassis balanced with elegant, sweet oak bouquet – that’s one of the keys with Baco, getting the oak to balance the bold fruit without the whole thing getting too overblown.

On the palate it is full and round with ultra-ripe fruit , the other key is to keep the vigour of the vine in check to avoid green notes.

Baco is a workhorse hybrid around here and it really makes my day when I can pour it for those I-don’t-drink Canadian-wine-folks and have them tell me they think its “a pretty decent California Zin”.

VQA Ontario
13.5 alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $15.95

Rate and review Sanson Baco Noir 2007.

Winemaker and Pam’s Notes:
The 2008 Pinot Grigio has bright acidity and an opulent mouth feel of pear, green apple and honey dew melon. An essence of honey continues through to the crisp clean finish. Pairs well with seafood, light pastas and creamy cheeses.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
12.4% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $12

Rate and review Mastronardi Pinot Grigio 2008.

Winemaker’s Notes:
Reflections of 2008 include all the gamuts of the weather spectrum occurring at the appropriate time.

The 2008 Baco Noir offers depth in both colour and flavour. This full-bodied wine is intense with dark berry undertones and black pepper aromas. The flavours of black cherry are followed by a creamy finish. Pair wiith game meats, beefsteak or hearty stews.

12.8% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $14

Rate and review Aleksander Estate Baco Noir 2008.

Winemaker’s Notes:
This is really good stuff! The nose is textbook German Mosel with complex notes of green apples, flinty mineral and classic hints of petrol. The palate is drier that a typical German wine though – French Alsace through and through – with lots of bracing acidity. The kicker is this is all Ontario and a beautiful example of a truly world class Riesling. Drink it now with soft, runny cheeses or some fresh Lake Erie Perch… or if you have the self control, sit on it through 2020. Great Riesling will cellar beautifully and this one is just that.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore

12 alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $14.95

Rate and review Sanson Riesling 2008.

Winemaker’s Notes:
This wine has lots of vitality. Quite tangy, dry and refreshing so it really livens the palate and makes you hungry. These grape varieties produce a wine with a bright, cheerful character.

The Gamay Noir grapes were harvested in early October when the brix had reached 21.4 and the Zweigelt in mid-September, when the brix had reached 20. They were then left for four to six days in a temperature-controlled rotor fermenter under partial pressure.

This wine is an excellent companion to red meats and game without sauces.

GRAPES: 50% Zweigelt, 50% Gamay Noir
ALCOHOL: 13%
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 4.1 g/L
Sugar Code: (0)

Price: 750 mL $10.95

VQA Ontario

Rate and review Pelee Island Gamay Noir Zweigelt 2008.

Winemaker’s Notes:
Wine for Change! Bacobama is a unique Blend of Baco, with just a hint of white wine to offer you a lighter red. Softer notes and slightly on the off-dry side, this wine is perfect for the first time red wine drinkers or try chilling it 10 minutes in the fridge for an easy drinking glass of wine. This product is made from 100% Lake Erie North Shore Grapes, grown proudly at our Estate Winery.

Non VQA
12% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $13.95

Rate and review Sanson Bacobama.

Winemaker’s Notes:
Aroma: citrus, floral and white peach.
Palate: Nice acidity, long crisp finish, medium body, some mineral notes and citrus.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore

12.5% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $13.95

Rate and review Viewpointe Riesling 2006.

Winemaker’s Notes:
More than your typical Chardonnay! This crisp wine carries a delightfully un-oaked citrus twist and finishes with mineral and fruity notes on the palate.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore

12.5% alc./vol.
Sugar Code: 0

Price: 750 mL $11.95

Rate and review Sprucewood Shores Chardonnay 2008

Colio Estate – VQA Varietals and Premium Blends

Winemaker’s Notes:
Colour: Light straw
Bouquet: Sweet tropical fruit, melon, lanolin, fresh cut hay
Taste: Tropical fruit, asparagus, lemongrass and minerals
Serve at: 8º – 10º C

VQA Lake Erie North Shore

Blend: Sauvignon Blanc 100%
Brix at Harvest: 20.5
Fermentation: Stainless steel tanks
Aging: Stainless steel tanks
Residual Sugar: 2 g/l
Alcohol Content: 13.8%
Production: 2000 cases
Winemaker: Tim Reilly

Awards & Reviews: Bronze medal winner at the 2009 Intervin International Awards
Food Match: Pasta-cream based, Fish – Light Flavoured, Chicken

Price: 750 mL – $10.75

Rate and review Colio Sauvignon Blanc 2008.