Essex Wine Review

Winemaker’s Notes:
A medium/light colour suggests an easy-to-drink wine, which Barn Cat is, but at the same time, like an onion, you peel away the layers and there is much more there. The aroma’s lively and pleasing with cherry notes at the core and highlights of new leather, red licorice, and a touch of anise. These impressions are rounded out on the palate with some sweet vanilla/wood and a refreshing zest of acidity that lingers on a crisp finish. The mild tannins, the smooth mouth-feel … the pleasant bite on the finish. All indications point to a great wine drinking experience for the next few years to come. This guy is just the right weight and balance for a Berkshire chop or some spicy sausage right off the barbecue.

Barn Cat 2006 is a blend of these four grapes: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir

Non VQA
13.5 alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $16.95

Rate and review Sanson Barn Cat 2006

Winemaker’s Notes:
I really don’t think I have ever visited Sanson Estate without someone coming in during my time there and buying a couple of bottles of this wine. It seems to be a staple for Essex County locals.

Vidal is actually a hybrid grape that was designed to survive Canada’s inclement winters but it found a niche as icewine – actually celebrating those same cold months. Harvested a little late in the fall, after the fruit has had time to accumulate extra ripeness this wine shows round, honeyed aromas of pineapple and peach that carry to a soft, round, full palate. It’s simply an easy-to-drink, slightly off-dry, unoaked wine that is great on its own or will compliment a surprising range of foods – anything from pan-fried fish to roast fowl to spicy. The packaging for the 2008 has changed – the old cork has been replaced with a new a new Stelvin cap closure.

Non VQA
11.5 alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $12.95

Rate and review Sanson Autumn Harvest Vidal 2008.

Winemaker’s Notes:
I think I detect a slight change of style this year. Previous vintages seemed to have a more defined oak influence but this one is really focused on fruit character – Baco fans can rejoice! Lots of that brambly elderberry and wild currant aroma and flavour backed by the lively, juicy acidity that purists love. There are still evident notes of wood to add complexity but this wine is like the old Tiger’s Stadium compared to that damned new “ballpark” they have – one for the purists.

VQA Ontario
12.5 alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $24.95

Rate and review Sanson Baco Noir Reserve 2008.

Winemaker’s Notes:
When I first opened this Syrah it was very firm and smoky but as it opened over the course of an hour the smoke and mineral receded and sweet notes of new leather, vanilla, cedar and ultra-ripe black cherry/currant came forward. Often Syrah can be hard and tightly-knit in its youth but this one is round and generous now. It is framed by some pretty firm tannins and has that characteristic syrah pepper edge. This one cries out for a leg of lamb marinated in rosemary, garlic and mustard… roast to just-past-rare and carved into thick juicy slices.

Awards:
Gold – 2010 All Canadian Wine Championships (Syrah / Shiraz Under $25)

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
13 alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $19.95

Rate and review Sanson Syrah 2007.

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’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:
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:
Bird Dog has developed kind a cult following in “The County” and this ’05 is a great example of why. This a serious, full-bodied wine with a prominent whack of oak – however, with extended cellar time at the winery it has become really nicely integrated and lost most of the youthful, astringent edge seen in its earlier tastings. It is still very firm though, packing a good tannic punch on the finish and would continue to age nicely in your cellar through 2015. At the time of this tasting (Nov. 2009) it showed deeply extracted ruby colours and was just beginning to take on some lovely, mature, garnet hues. The palate was also evolved, with all that sweet, elegant oak and notes of old leather in the forefront nicely integrated into the core of jammy raspberry fruit. This is a great fall/winter wine to serve with hearty braised meats or Sunday roasts.

Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Cabernet Franc 35%, Merlot 25%

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
13.5% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $19.95

Rate and review Sanson Bird Dog Red 2005

Winemaker’s Notes:
I really don’t think I have ever visited Sanson Estate without someone coming in during my time there and buying a couple of bottles of this wine. It seems to be a staple for Essex County locals. Vidal is actually a hybrid grape that was designed to survive Canada’s inclement winters but it found a niche as icewine – actually celebrating those same cold months. Harvested a little late in the fall, after the fruit has had time to accumulate extra ripeness this wine shows round, honeyed aromas of pineapple and peach that carry to a soft, round, full palate. It’s simply an easy-to-drink, slightly off-dry, un oaked wine that is great on its own or will compliment a surprising range of foods – anything from pan-fried fish to roast fowl to spicy Asian cuisine… or just enjoy a glass on its own.

VQA Ontario
12% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $12.95

Rate and review Sanson Late Harvest Vidal 2007.

Winemaker’s Notes:
None yet.

VQA Ontario
12% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $15.95

Rate and review Sanson Sauvignon Blanc 2006