Essex Wine Review

Winemaker’s Notes:
This year’s wine is quite the elegant lady. Her perfume is like licorice and raisin, and you taste the cherry when your lips meet hers. She’s bold and medium bodied, with a soft and gracious finish. Serve with tomato based sauces, veal, and cuts of well marbled steak.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
12.5% alc./vol.
Sugar Code: 0

Price: 750 mL $14.95

Rate and review Sprucewood Shores Lady In Red 2007

Winemaker’s Notes:
One of our four new wines in the “Alvar” collection. Pinot Noir’s flavours are reminiscent of sweet red berries, plums, tomatoes and cherries.

It is well-suited to pair with poultry, beef, fish, ham, lamb and pork. This wine should play well with creamy sauces, spicy seasonings and may just be one of the world’s most versatile food wines.

GRAPES: 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Cabernet Sauvignion
ALCOHOL: 13%
Sugar Code: (0)

VQA Ontario

Price: 750 mL $14.95

Rate and review Pelee Island Alvar Pinot Noir 2008.

Winemaker’s Notes:
One of our four new wines in the “Alvar” collection. A full-bodied wine characterized by plum, cherry, blackberry, vanilla and tobacco flavours.

Alvars comprise a small percentage of the Earth’s ecosystems by land extent; although some 120 exist in the Great Lakes region, they comprise only 0.2% of the land area there. They provide a natural habitat for many rare birds, butterflies, plants and trees. The hop tree is one of them. A rare tree found in such Alvars along the shores of Lake Erie.

Cabernet Sauvignon is often referred to as the “King of Red Wine Grapes”. This wine is full-bodied characterized by plum, cherry, blackberry, vanilla and tobacco flavours.

Try with red meats, heartier tomato- based pasta’s, lamb, strong-flavoured cheese and dark chocolates.

GRAPE: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
ALCOHOL: 13%
Sugar Code: (0)
VQA Ontario

Price: 750 mL $14.95

Rate and review Pelee Island Alvar Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Winemaker’s Notes:
Full bodied, bold tannins with blackberry and licorce flavours. Serve with steak, veal, chocolate or aged cheese.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
12.5% alc./vol.
Sugar Code: 0

Price: 750 mL $24.95

Rate and review Sprucewood Shores Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2007

Winemaker’s Notes:
You will find very ripe, plumy-sweet flavours and richness in this wine.
A rustic wine with character. Some would also call it a bistro, elbows on the table wine.

VQA Ontario

Grape Composition: 85% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 13 %
Sugar Code: (0)

Food Recommendation:
Great with stews, red meat or tomato-based dishes.

Price: 750 mL $11.95

Rate and review Pelee Island Lighthouse Cab Franc 2008

Colio Estate – Lake & River Series

Winemaker’s Notes:
Colour: Light garnet
Bouquet: Blackberry, raspberry and bing cherry
Taste: Tart dark berry, pepper and plum, light oak finsh
Serve at: 15º – 18º C
Brix at Harvest: 20.63 combined average
Fermentation: Stainless steel tanks, 10 to 14 days on the skins
Aging: 12 months in oak barrels
Residual Sugar: 2 g/l
Production: 4444 cases
Winemaker: Tim Reilly
Food Match: Beef-grilled, Cheeses-strong, Lamb, Pasta-tomato based

VQA Ontario

Blend:
Cabernet Franc 62.5%,
Shiraz 12.5%,
Merlot 12.5%,
Cabernet Sauvignon 12.5%

Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Sugar code: (0)

Price: 750 mL – $10.75

Rate and review Colio River Rock Red 2008.

Colio Estate – Lake & River Series

Winemaker’s Notes:
Coming soon.

VQA Niagara Peninsula

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 100%
Alcohol Content: 12.8%

Price: 750 mL – $13.65

Rate and review Colio Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Winemaker’s Notes:
This spectacular 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of sweet smoky raspberries and dark chocolate truffles. Flavours of black currents and roasted vanilla coffee bean dance along the palate. The well structured tannins will ensure graceful aging. Pair with roasted leg of lamb, prime rib and sharp cheeses.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
13.3% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $18

Rate and review Mastronardi Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Colchester Ridge Estate Winery (CREW)

Winemaker’s Notes:
A traditional Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot gives this wine beautiful balance. Ripe raspberry and cherry flavours on the nose showcase the exceptional growing conditions of the 2007 season. The buttery finish is promising with hints of vanilla which will evolve with aging.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
13.4 alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL – $19.80

Rate and review CREW Mertiage 2007

Winemaker’s Notes:
Not currently available.

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot

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

Price: 750 mL $19.95

Rate and review Sanson Bird Dog Red 2005